Laker ball, accidental suicide attempts, congratulations are in order

Well done Lakers. For reals. You were discounted all season and got your act together to dominate the tough Western Conference. And you are young, so you didn't know that it's not supposed to be that easy. The finals were tough though; the Celtics are damn good. They bought it and part of the game is paying for your victories... they were supposed to win. But next year, now that you know that patience is a virtue and discipline and teamwork are pinnacle to victory, you should get another chance to win it! [What if the Boston Garden "fixed" the rims for your too... those shots actually came out of the basket a couple if times... i saw it. I wouldn't put it past the city of Boston to do that... I mean, their beloved Patriots cheated, so why shouldn't their esteemed Celtics.] I was inspired by the tough work in game 5 too... it got me excited for a strong week of work. but, let's come to terms with game 4... you can't be giving away games like that. Like I already wrote, next year boys! Have a good summer and I will still be rooting for you all next year from Japan!
....

I didn't mean to attempt suicide in public, but it was caught on tape. Funny thing is that the near killing of myself was an accident. I was riding my bike, fast. It's fun. The weather is sauna-esque and I prefer the heat to the cold, so i celebrate the daylight and temperature by zooming around town. That, and I felt like I was late for a date at the travel agent's office, so I made even faster time. I can't even blame my slip on the ground, per se because it wasn't wet at that time. I was just going too fast for my cruiser/road bike. I do not have a speed racing bike even though I ride it like one. I went around the corner and hit the most jacked up part of the street near the station... I was so focused on everything around me that I didn't look down in front of me!

I should not have swerved past the old couple, I should have not run the yellow, I should not have been going so fast in a packed area. I should have patiently waited for the next light cycle to allow me to cross... because it would have only been 24 seconds! Anyhow, I nearly got tossed off of my bike and my legs flew to the sides as I balanced out... and scared the hell out of myself. "びっくりした！--bikkuri shita--" were the words out of two Japanese girls who watched the whole thing and I turned around to see where I nearly ended my life and (in correct Japanese form) nervously laughed off a scary-as-hell/ awkward/ uncomfortable moment.

Caught on tape? Not so much, but more than just those two girls saw it happen! I was going to write about this a couple of days ago, but I figured it was just another one of those laughable/ slow down moments. But I stopped by my other junior high today for some extra work and as I was leaving a teacher said, "be careful on the bicycle..." I, of course, tuned out like usual (because I have a hard time focusing) assuming that he was going to mention the slippery roads and the rain. When I heard the sentence end, "... when turning corners around 西鉄久留米　-- Nishitetsu Kurume -- station." I just froze.

I started to laugh with true enjoyment.
"先生, 見ましたか？"
"Yes, I did. You nearly fell off your bike."
"そうです、ね！面白い！ I can't believe you saw me."
"Yes, be careful."
"I will! Thanks!"

Too funny to pass up. In a small mundane life of an assistant language teacher in Kurume, Japan this was a weekly highlight. And, boy did it make me laugh!

Jake, congrats on graduating from Uni. Welcome to the madness- let's celebrate in August, eh?! Athena, congrats on graduating from Rutgers and as valedictorian no less! Drew, with new your placement and responsibility, がんばって　ください！

In six weeks I will be on my way back to California. And in eight weeks and two days, I will be sitting on this comfortable pleather vibrating chair once more!