"Real English13-15 minutes of fame"

Recently, because of twitter and facebook, many more people are getting their 15 minutes of fame.

"15 minutes of fame" means that "everyone will become world-wide famous for at least 15 minutes some time during their life."

The below photos, taken by Mr.M, really inspire me. Breathtaking views!! Thanks!

"be sure to"

Yesterday, Ms. M sent me an email, and in the end of the email she said, "I will be sure to check the blog before the next class."

I was happy.

The blog is a good way to study and improve your English, and more people should check the blog more often I think...

Anyway, let's get to it. I want to explain the meaning of "be sure to" and some other expressions which have a similar meaning.

1. Be sure to call me when you arrive. (Whenever I visit my parents in America, my mother says this to me every time without fail.)

2. Be sure to take your umbrella with you today, the forecast is for rain!!

And some other expressions which have the same or similar meanings to "be sure to":

"Remember to"

1. "I will be remember to check the blog before the next class."

2. Did you remember to take out the trash this morning? (My father always said this to me when I was a child.)

"not forget to"

1. Don't forget to call me when you arrive.

2. Don't forget to take your umbrella with you today, the forecast is for rain!!

"make sure to"

1. Make sure to call me when you arrive.

2. Make sure to take your umbrella with you today, the forecast is for rain!!

As you can see, the above expressions all have basically the same meaning.

One more expression, which also means like "remember," but is used in a different way than they above expressions is:

"bear in mind that"

1. You should bear in mind that he is just a child.

2. Bear in mind that he just began working here, and still doesn't know the ropes.

On to a completely different topic, did you know that I LOVE pizza and HATE olives!

How about you?

Is there any food which you hate? How about love?

Cherry Blossom Forecast

I went to the park yesterday, but to my surprise the cherry blossoms had not bloomed yet...I thought "Why? This year the cherry blossoms are late..."

So, then I came back to the classroom and I googled "cherry blossom report Osaka 2012."

And, this is what I got: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

According to the above site, the cherry blossoms will bloom on April 2nd, and the best viewing time is from April 9th to the 17th.

Wow!!! That is really late...But I am excited to do my two or three annual cherry blossom picnics with my wife this year. Weather permitting, that is...

To change the subject, "What's your favorite Korean import?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111108vf.html

My answer: Girl's generation!! Just joking!!

My wife's answer: Korean seaweed.

What's your answer?

"Real English 12-on a roll"

"Roll" has many meanings.

For example:

a bread roll:

Can I get another bread roll please?

Roll down the window (of a car)

Please roll down the window, I want to get some fresh air.

Roll around on the floor (in pain)

After the player sprained his ankle, he was rolling around on the ground.

Roll up one's sleeves

I rolled up my sleeves and got a lot accomplished yesterday at work.

Roll the dice

You have to roll the dice sometimes...

And my favorite, "on a roll"

Recently, I am on a roll!!!

Do you get all of the above?

I have hay fever.

I can't believe it....

I just realized it yesterday while I was walking with my wife.

Here is our dialogue:

Glenn: A few weeks ago, my nose, the inside of my nose, hurt. I didn't know what was wrong...and after about a week, it got better. But then again, this morning, it hurt...What do you think it is?

Wife: Oh! Welcome to the club! You have hay fever.

Glenn: No way. My nose is not itchy, and my eyes are not itchy. Just my nose hurts. That can't be hay fever...

Wife: As usual, you are wrong my darling. There are many types of hay fever. You have to study more.

So, I googled "hay fever" this morning. And, she was right. I never used to pay attention to the "pollen count reports" on the tv news because I thought it had nothing to do with me. But from now I have to keep my eye on those reports.

Do you know of any good ways to protect myself from the terrible pollen flying around everywhere? If yes, please give me some advice!!

"Real English 11-Linsanity"

Have you ever heard of "Linsanity"? It will probably be one of the top 10 new words of 2012, so you should pay attention.

Linsanity refers to the craze over a man named Jeremy Lin.

For your reference:

insane=crazy

He is insane=crazy.

That is insane.=That is crazy(ridiculous, unbelievable!)

insanity=craziness

Lin + insanity=Linsanity

The following excerpt is from Wikipedia:

"Jeremy Shu-How Lin[1] (born August 23, 1988) is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After receiving no athletic scholarship offers out of high school and being undrafted out of college, the 2010 Harvard University graduate reached a partially guaranteed contract deal later that year with his hometown Golden State Warriors.

Lin seldom played in his rookie season and was assigned to the NBA Development League (D-League) three times. He was waived by Golden State and the Houston Rockets the following preseason before joining the Knicks early in the 2011–12 season. He was again assigned to the D-League and continued to play sparingly. In February 2012, he unexpectedly led a winning streak by New York while being promoted to the starting lineup, which generated a global following known as Linsanity. Lin is one of the few Asian Americans in NBA history, and the first American player in the league to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent.[2]"

I love basketball, but I was never very good at it. Last year I actually bought a basketball and shot some hoops at a park near my house. It was fun and one day I played a pick-up game against a high school kid. We played to 11. After about 10 minutes, I was winded. Then, after he beat me 11-9, I was huffing and puffing and completely out of breath. That's why now I prefer to only watch.

"Real English 10-A moment of Silence"

This Sunday at 2:46pm will mark one year since the earthquake hit...triggering the tsunami and the catastrophe that followed...

So, I would like to take a moment of silence now for all of the victims of this tragedy.

On Sunday, the Nagoya's Women's Marathon will be held. Mr. T told me in class yesterday that the time limit to finish this marathon is 7 hours and 1 minute. He said that usually the time limit is on the dot, for example 7 hours. But he said that at 2:46pm all of the runners and the supporters will stop and take a moment of silence for the victims of Great East Japan Earthquake.

I think it is a good idea and I will do the same on Sunday too.

Speaking of that marathon, Ms. T and her sister and friend will run in it.

Good luck and be safe girls!!

"Real English 9- Bread and Butter"

I went to a Le Comptoir de Benoit, a french restaurant in Nishi Umeda, last Saturday night with my wife. I wined and dined her.

(FYI, this restaurant got ONE STAR from Michelin Restaurant Guide.)

Whether you want to hear it or not, here is my restaurant review.

The pros:

The good is very good. I especially recommend caviar to start off, sauteed pork for the entree, and the chocolate whiskey something for dessert.

The atmosphere is very nice.

If you sit at a regular table, the view of the city is breathtaking!

If you sit at the bar, which is in front of the "open" kitchen, like we did, you can watch the chefs do their thing. That is always fun. Plus, drinks are 20% at the bar!

There is a large selection of wine, ranging from around 3000yen to VERY EXPENSIVE.

The service was good.

The cons:

The last order is at 9:30pm. This is because the restaurant is in the building "Breeze-Breeze" which closes at 11pm. 9:30pm is not too early for last order for food, but if you want to relax and drink slowly, it is a little too early I think.

It is a little expensive.

The portions are a little small (for a big American guy with a big appetite like me).

It is French (enough said).

All in all, if your budget is around 15,000yen for two people, I recommend it for a special night out.

And now let's get to Real English, Bread and butter.

Can you understand all of the below?

1. The bread and butter was delicious. Can I get some more please?

(I always order extra bread and butter in a restaurant. In America, it is NORMAL!!! Many not-so-intelligent Americans like moi get full on bread and butter(which are of course free) even before the appetizers come! But Japanese never do such a stupid thing. Plus, in Japan, there is usually an additional cost for bread and butter.)

2. Although Mr. X appears on TV sometimes as a "television personality," his bread and butter is writing.

3. Darvish's fastball is his bread and butter.

March 1st

Today is the first day of March.

I like March because it means:

no more cold weather so I can put away my kairo hot pads until next winter

warmer temperatures and more sun so I can get a suntan and wear shorts

the beginning of spring so I can see and smell the flowers

and cherry blossoms so I can have a "cherry blossom viewing party"

and much more!!

How about you?

Do you like March?

What do you think of when you think of March?

And, one more question:

What animal do you think of when you think of Japan?

from The Japan Times Online

Read the below for various answers.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120221vf.html