Hi Everyone. I’ve been sick. In fact, I still feel sick, I can’t shake it! Dammit! But, today I’m feeling a lot better - mainly because this week the new Japanese drama season has begun! I’ve spent most of tonight watching lots of promotional stuff of Maou, Ikuta Toma and Ohno Satoshi’s new drama that aired last night.

Some people ask me the question every now and then. The answer: ‘overall, very well!’ For my birthday this past weekend, a kind soul sent me some money for my Japanese fund, so I was able to get the Remembering The Kanji book I need.

Yesterday I penned a decently-long post about being befuddled about the direction I am to take in life. I declined to publish it, because after I thought about it a little while, I realized that posting it would not do myself or anyone else any good.

There’s a funny review of the ‘Remembering The Kanji’ book that I’m using here. (via Reviewing the Kanji) Glowing Face Man gives a…well, ‘glowing’ review of the book, and speaks to some of Heisig’s detractors. I’m up to frame 110 in the sample book so far, and am really enjoying this book.

My enthusiasm for my goal of being able to speak in simple conversations and read a Japanese newspaper by the end of December was tempered a little when I read that Khatzumoto did it in 18 months. Maybe a little more time than I have between now and then (8 months) will be required, but still, I’m going to bust my a** and try my darnedest.

Things are going well. The kanji are clicking along. I’ve learned about 50 so far, which is a decent pace. I’m hoping to get some money before my birthday (May 30th) so I can go ahead and buy Remembering The Kanji. I’ve been working out of the sample for the past week.