  Two weekends ago ( sorry,  hard to find the time- surprisingly- to fully update)  I went to the 2004 Nagano All-
Star Baseball Game. nbsp; nbsp;  Katy and I got tickets because Aika's ( one of Katy's co- workers,
 and the nicest person on the face of the planet)  brother Shin camped out for three days. nbsp;  THREE DAYS! nbsp;  I hadn't even met this guy before,
 and he slept in his car,  and endured torrential rains by standing in the bathroom for three friggin days. nbsp;  Really,  sometimes the absolutely genuine goodwill of people in Japan astounds me!  &
nbsp;  Now,  I've been to baseball games in the States. nbsp;  I mean,  afterall,
 it is the " American past time"  right? nbsp;  So I've seen my Orioles play,  and I've even seen the Yankees get their butts kicked by the Mariners in Yankee Stadium (
a routing which I took particular satisfaction from since I hate the Yankees)  BUT ( getting to my point)  nothing can compare to seeing a game in Japan. nbsp;  Seriously,
 the enthusiasm ( or mania,  if you prefer)  is quite shocking. nbsp;  Every is issued (
purchases)  empty bats to smack together in pre- ordained routines,  while singing different fight songs for their specific teams ( different songs for different plays AND players) nbsp;
 Sounds a bit much,  but it is seriously so f- ing cool and fun.  & nbsp;  Aika's whole family is unbelievably awesome (
that's like,  um,  awesome to the fifth power or something. and that's a lot of awesome) nbsp;  It was one of the best days I've had in Japan,
 and in my life. nbsp; nbsp; nbsp;  I don't really think that there's anyway that I can fully repay them,  but I did give them my baseball,
 and maybe making a Persian food feast will be a step in the right direction ( that's my solution to everything- shove food at it and maybe the problem will go away. nbsp;  That's how I survived for two years on a raft with a rabid giraffe,  a kodiak bear,
 a yak,  and the vicious kodiak marmaset)  & nbsp;  On to pictures- enjoy!
 urlLink Katy and Aika at the stadium in Shinonoi ( looks like a flower) GO TIGERS! nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Aika and her family:  (
from bottom left to top left- Kei,  Aika's mom,  Aika,  Dai,  and Shin)
nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Us and our front row lawn seats ( left- center field) nbsp;  urlLink urlLink This dude here gave me tossed me up a baseball do to my enthusiastic chants of "
U. S. A. nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Have you seen my basthball? nbsp;
 urlLink urlLink Pretty good ad for KFC,  neh? nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Never seen a stadium quite like this. absolutely stunning. nbsp;
 urlLink urlLink Shin preparing to launch off the screamer at the bottom of the 5th ( or maybe seventh. i forget) nbsp;  urlLink So that was two weekends ago.  Now,
 on to the afore- promised ( if the handful of readers out there remember)  evidence of my amazing impact as a teacher in Japan.  The following are selections taken from my 3rd Graders Writing Tests.  The theme as write a "
fan letter"  and before you think I am just trying to publicly hail myself as some sort of Gaijin God,  it should be noted that this is a test,  and the kids are clearly blowing copious amounts of smoke up my ass.  I meant to include one that even acknowledges this,  which basically says everything that the one's below followed by,
 " Of course,  all this is jokes.  I don't mean any of it.  Without further adieu,  enjoy my meaningful impact.
 urlLink Now isn't this nice?  Really makes one feel that a difference has been made,  right? nbsp;  urlLink urlLink How bout this one. don't know why I need luck on my face,
 but maybe something is going to happen that I don't know about. nbsp;  urlLink urlLink This boy is just very confused,  it seems.  Make up your mind!  Do you want to be as buff as me (
for the record,  I have never been buff,  nor do I think I have,  and I've lost 15 pounds since moving here) nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Another angry "
fan" nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Now this one is actually remarkably advanced in creativity ( although I have no idea who Gager is,  or what it means) nbsp;
 urlLink So that's my teaching,  at it's finest.  This entry,  thus far,  has not been true to the theme of this page.  Barring a couple of mullet's that might be in the background of the baseball pics,
 I feel as though I have let the mullet- crazed fans,  which I know you all are,  down.  HOWEVER,  check out this beaver paddle and the aftermath,
 artfully created by yours truly.  urlLink " Three point stance= best mullet pose,  say Brandon ( and who has a mind to disagree?
nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Sassy anyone? nbsp;  urlLink urlLink Ladies and Gentlemen!  I give you,  Brandon "
Scott Maynard"  Lindsey& nbsp;  urlLink urlLink JEEEsus CHRIST why dont you come save my life now. nbsp;  urlLink urlLink The coup'd'gras:
 If this room's a rockin,  don't come a knockin. nbsp;  urlLink NEXT on Rock the Room:  Sunshine and Sushi.
