"Real English 18-I made a goof"

The other day I made a goof.


In other words, I made a mistake.
If you made a mistake, generally you can use any of the following expressions.  They all basically have the same meaning.
(FYI, i hope you don't ever have to use them, but just in case!!!)


I made a goof.
I goofed.
I made a mistake.
I messed up.


Here are some more specific examples.


Situation:  Me in a rush
Glenn: I slipped up.
Friend:  I told you! Don' t rush!  You always make careless mistakes when in haste.


Situation:  An auditor audits a company


Auditor:  I noticed an error in the calculations regarding advertising.
Employee in the Accounting Section:  I understand.  It was a human error.  I apologize for the oversight.




And here are some of the same words, but being used with different meanings.


I slipped on the ice.
I usually learn by trial and error.
He is so goofy!
I like to goof around after 10pm!


And speaking of goofing around, GW vacation begins for me in a couple of hours!!

"Real English 17-have butterflies"


Spring has finally arrived and I couldn't be happier.  
When I think of spring, I think of flowers, sun, barbecues, and butterflies!


Do you understand the meaning of the below passages.


At a spelling bee competition
A)  What's wrong buddy, you look pale?
B)  I've got butterflies...Next up is me!


At a high school baseball game
"I always get butterflies before a big game, so in order to relax and try to take a deep breath and close my eyes and do image training!"


"have\get" butterflies originally comes from the expression "have butterflies in one's stomach", and basically means "nervous," "anxious," and "uneasy."


Have you had any butterflies recently?


Since we live in Japan, and most people that read this blog are Japanese, I found the below to be interesting.  Check it out.


"What's your favorite thing about Japanese people?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120403vf.html

Real English 16-A blast from the past!!

On Tuesday, I had a pleasant surprise.

In the afternoon, there was a knock at the door of the classroom.

I thought it was a salesperson, who are annoying, or someone interested in studying English, because such people sometimes drop by and inquire about the school, class, etc.

So, I opened the door. There was a nice-looking woman with a big smile standing there.

And, I thought to myself, "I know this woman's face...but from where??? I don't know..."

I couldn't put my finger on it, but after a few moments, she clued me in and solved the puzzle for me.

The following is our conversation.

Ms. K: My name is K .S. Please call me K.

Glenn: Nice to meet you. Please call me Glenn.

Ms. K: Well actually, this is not the first time we have met.

in my head I thought, "I knew it!!"

Ms. K: I am from Kitakatsuragi-gun in Nara, and you taught me English with a bunch of other women about 15 years ago in Kawai-cho. Do you remember?

and Bam Bam Bigelo!!! It came back to me like lightening!!

When I first came to Japan, I taught English as a JET in two junior high schools, Kawai Dai-ichi and Kawai Dai-ni Junior High School.

(fyi, JET stands for The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme).

In addition to that, I taught some English classes once a week to some residents of Kawai Town. And Ms.K was one of those students!!

Glenn: Oh my god, I can't believe it!! Of course I remember you, and the classes!!! You and all of the other students were great, and I could never forget you all!

Ms. K: Really?! That is very nice of you to say that. (As she was taking out many things from her bag and putting them on the table) And, do you remember this letter your wrote to me, and this American coin set you gave me. And how about this photo of the two of us?

The letter was a "Thank You and Goodbye Letter" which I gave her when I finished up as a JET. I wrote it in English and really bad Japanese and just like now, my handwriting was terrible! :) In the photo, I had a long scraggly beard, long beautiful hair, and I was much thinner.

Glenn: Wow! Unbelievable! I can't believe still have all of this stuff.

Ms. K: That time was important to me, so I have kept them over all of these years.

Glenn: I am very touched and happy to hear that. Thank you very much!!

Ms K: Anyway, are you still a vegetarian?

Glenn: No. I was a vegetarian for about 5 years, but when I was around 27 years old I stopped. Now I eat everything, and often too much of everything!!

We laughed and had a good time chatting for about a half an hour. It was really a blast from the past!!!

And, because of her, I could remember my first roots in Japan.

So, I have to say "Thank You Ms. K for coming all the way from Kawai Town to say hello and see me! You haven't changed at all and I still, and now, appreciate your kindness!"

Completely random and not related the above topic, the below is a photo of Mikans.

Did you know that I love Mikans?

Did you know that I eat fruit for dessert after dinner almost every night?

Well, you probably don't need to know such things!

But just in case you really wanted to know, now you do! :)

"Real English 15-Look on the bright side"

Even when times are tough, it is very important to be positive. I can't stand pessimistic people!

Speaking of pessimistic people, Mr. F is the King of Pessimism.

When I go out for drinks with Mr. F, here is our usual conversation right off the bat:

Glenn: How are you doing Mr. F?

Mr. F: Terrible...I've heard a lot of gloomy news about the economy recently...

Glenn: Don't worry!! Be more optimistic! You gotta look on the bright side!!

When I am down, I always try to look on the bright side.

But I guess being too optimistic, "unrealistic," and always seeing things through rose-colored glasses isn't good either!

Listening to upbeat music also helps me change my mood. What do you do when you are in the dumps?

The lady who took the photos below, went to see some beautiful cherry blossoms to "get some good energy." And, thankfully, it worked!!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Cherry Blossom Picnic in Shukugawa

Perfect!!!

The blossoms were in full bloom!

The weather was gorgeous!

The temperature was warm!

The good was good!

It wasn't too crowded!

There was live orchestra music and the "music" of the river!

It doesn't get much better than that!!

Anyway, take a look for yourself!

"Real English 14- Same Here"

"Same here" means "Me too" or "Likewise."

Look at some of the below sample examples for your reference:

1. Situation is in a restaurant

Waitress: What can I get for you?

Glenn: I am gonna gave a Caesar salad to start off, and the surf and turf for my entree. How about you Kyoko?

Kyoko: Same here.

Glenn: Really? You are a copycat...That's not fun at all...I wanted you to order something else, so we could have some variety!! Excuse me Miss, can I change my order?

Waitress: Sure, no problem.

2. Situation is at work

Tom: I don't think I am going to be able to make the deadline tomorrow if I don't do overtime tonight...It's a shame cause I really wanted to get outta here early and watch the first episode of the new TV series. But, there's nothing I can do about it. Work before play! Ah...Anyway, how about you?

Steve (Tom's co-worker): Same here. I can't leave early tonight either. Maybe I will leave the office around 9ish.

Below is my favorite new beer!

If you like beer, and see it in the stores, you should get yourself a six-pack.

Full

That sure was a full-blown storm yesterday!

And the streets are full of just-graduated-from-university kids, who are wet behind the ears, and just entered a company and begin living in the real world.

And, before we know it, with the help of a little sun, the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom.

(Just like the flashy cherry-blossom print shirt I am wearing below... You like it?)

Then, Osaka will be full of pink!

And the parks will be full of people having "cherry blossom viewing" parties!

Speaking of "full," I was really full after I ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp last Saturday night.

(If you have never heard of it, google "Bubba Gump Shrimp Osaka.")

The restaurant is based on the movie "Forrest Gump," with Tom Hanks.

It is located near USJ.

The atmosphere is great! Really lively and fun with cool music!

The service was top-notch! Really can't get any better than that!

The food was Good! As usual, we ate a lot! I especially recommend the shrimp cooked in beer!

And I even ate dessert-some chocolate cookie something. It was really good!

And the portions were large!! But no need to fear! If you don't finish all of the food, you can take home a doggy bag!

Below is a photo of the manager Shinichi and I. Thanks Shinichi!

And, I almost forgot. I saw Hanshin Tigers baseball player at the restaurant. His name is Mr. Messenger. He was supposed to start last night in the game versus the Yakult Swallows, but the game was postponed because of the storm. He was very cordial and kindly obliged to the requests of many guests to take a photo with him.

"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

"Real English 8-It's a wash"

I know that you think you know the meaning of "wash", like when used like this:

1. It was a gorgeous day, so I washed my car last weekend.

2. I am going to wash up before dinner.

3. Would you like a cut only, or also a wash?

But do you understand this one!?

4. It's a wash!

Read the below dialogue and maybe you can infer the meaning.

If not, look it up in the dictionary or ask me!

Glenn) Thanks for lending me 2000yen the other night at Karaoke.

Friend) Don't worry about it. I know you would do the same thing for me.

Glenn) I was really embarrassed that I ran out of money. I lost track of how much money I had, and you know, times are tough, and I am on a tight budget recently... Anyway, I want to pay you back now, so here you go (handing over two 1000yen bills.)

Friend) What about the interest?

Glenn) The interest?! What are you kidding me?! Are you a bank, or loan shark, or somethine.

Friend) I am just pulling your chain!! Now we are even. It's a wash.

Glenn) Cool. I appreciate it.

To change the subject, on Wednesday night, the Japan Under 23 (or 21, I forget) Olympic Soccer team advanced to the next round in the upcoming summer London Olympics with a 4-0 win over Malaysia. So, while on the Olympic topic, how about this:

"Tokyo: Do you think Tokyo should bid for the 2020 Olympics?"

from the Japan Times Online

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110705vf.html

Tomatoes

I heard that the supermarkets are out of tomatoes, tomato juice, and other tomato-related products recently.

Do you know why?

The reason is that the results of a recent study on the relationship of tomatoes and the metabolic system were released. The study found that tomatoes can boost the metabolic system which can lead to weight loss.

Basically the headlines in Japan are like "If you eat tomatoes, you can lose weight!"

Just eat tomatoes, and you can lose weight.

That is ridiculous and the craziest thing I have ever heard.

Well, not actually the craziest...

This is a repeat.

A few years ago, the "Natto (fermented soy beans) Diet" and the "Banana Diet" were big hits in Japan, and there weren't any natto or bananas on the shelves then either.

Are people really that gullible?

No sweat, no tears, no pain, NO GAIN!

There aren't any shortcuts people!!

"Real English 7- Whatever"

Situation 1:

Friend) What do you want to do tonight?

Glenn with a smile) Whatever.

Situation 2:

Friend) What do you want to do tonight?

Glenn with a straight face or frown) Whatever.

Do you understand the difference of the meaning of "whatever" in situation 1 and situation 2?

If not, I'll explain it in class, just remind me!!

To change the subject,

"What website could you not live without?" from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120117vf.html

My answer: I couldn't live without the site for "JLTP Kanji Project" because I use it every day to study Japanese.

Top 3 Favorite Things

It has been a grey and dreary couple of days, with a lot of cold rain.

But, I don't want to sulk about it. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow..."

Besides, it is Valentine's Day!

As many of you know, Valentine's Day in America and in Japan are VERY different.

If you don't know how different, then just ask me and I will explain.

(Or if you search in the archives from February of past years on this blog, you can find the answer for yourself.)

This article and question from The Japan Times Online is interesting:

"What are your three favorite things about Japan?"

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120207vf.html

My answer is easy! My three favorite things in Japan are:

Go-han (white rice), Shochu (no translation), and Kyoko (my wife)!!

But not necessarily in that order!!!

How about you?

"Real English 6-Call the shots"

1. "Let me clue you in. He may not be the boss, but he is the one who call the shots."

2.

Friend:Who calls the shots in your house?"

Glenn: That's easy...my wife.

To change the subject, I am an avid bicycle rider, so I am interested in the following article.

"What do you think of the recent police crackdown on bicyclists who break the rules?"

From the Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120124vf.html

Crunch

That's the sound my glasses made when I stepped on them this morning...Needless to say, they broke.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......................................................

Great start to the day...

I think I need to get away for the weekend and go skiing or something....

Wing Bowl

Have you ever heard of the Wing Bowl!? If not, you are missing out!

From Wikipedia:

"Wing Bowl is an annual eating contest founded in 1993 by Philadelphia talk-radio hosts Angelo Cataldi and Al Morganti as a celebration of gluttony. The contest was first broadcast on WIP (AM). About 10 people attended Wing Bowl I (held in a hotel) in 1993 to see a competition between two contestants. The event pits competitive eaters in a chicken wing eating contest. The Wing Bowl is traditionally held on the Friday preceding the Super Bowl. The event, which began as a radio promotion, has grown to encompass television, the Internet, and a contest for women who are termed "the Wingettes."

It is currently held at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, where it is still broadcast live on 94-WIP-FM. There are currently no television deals to broadcast the event live; however, a replay is usually shown on WPSG, Comcast SportsNet, or one of the other local stations within the following week. The Wing Bowl now draws crowds of 20,000 or more."

This year, the famous Japanese eater Kobayashi was crowned the Champ!

"Kobayashi wins chicken wing crown"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120205a3.html

And this is my father's take on this year's event and Kobayashi's triumph:

"won 20K.......downed over 300 in 30 minutes

(2nd Place got a car & nicest "Wingette" got a Harley)

two 14 minute halfs....

with a bonus round for another 2 minutes.....

shattered previous record....

he was only 90 behind the record at the end of the first half.

and has a woman translator with him who talks on the radio. "

"Real English 5-Heads up!"

Before I get to Real English 5, let me touch on a few subjects.

First, it is really cold recently!! If you are a skier, then this is the perfect weather for you. But if you hate the cold like I do, then this season is tough. I saw on the news that many people have been going to their chiropractor or massage therapist to get treatment for bad backs, stiff shoulders, and various other tight muscles. According to my massage therapist, the cold is not good for such ailments!

Yesterday, I saw snow for the first time this winter. There was just a flurry, and only for a few minutes. Even though I despise the cold, I have to admit that this scene was beautiful.

But, snow makes the roads treacherous, and driving is dangerous on the icy roads, especially if you don't have special tires, or chains on your tires. Also, did you see the news about the avalanche the other day...very sad news.

On to a more light topic, the spring season of the Japanese Baseball League began this week. Most, if not all, of the teams conduct spring training in Okinawa where the weather is warmer, which makes it easier to for the players to stay healthy. Cold weather can cause muscles to tighten, thus making it easier for the players to get injured. Similarly, many teams in the Major League do spring training in sunny Florida and Arizona, where the weather is ideal to get ready for the long season ahead.

Now, on to "Real English 5-Heads Up!"

Do you understand the meaning of the below two examples?

1. Heads up!

2. I just want to give you a heads up. The boss ain't in a good mood today!

And before I take a break, some more fodder for the blog.

Osaka: What do you think of the new mayor, Toru Hashimoto, and his plan to merge the Osaka city and prefectural governments?

From The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120131vf.html

"Real English 4-Occupy"

Actually, "occupy" was selected as the "Number 1 word of 2011" by the "Global Language Monitor." Every year the GLM makes a "Top 10 Words" list after analyzing the use of language(words) in social media, the Internet, blogs, and both print and electronic media all over the world.

"1. Occupy — The preferred verb of protesters occupies the top spot this year. Not only has "occupy" risen to fame because of the Occupy Movement (Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oakland, etc.), it is also used in the context of the occupation of Iraq and the so-called "Occupied Territories." "

In addition to the above meaning, "occupy" also has some other meanings.

For example;

1. The gym I go to, Konami Sports Shinsaibashi branch, occupies the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th floor of the XXX Building.

2. "Excuse me, is this seat occupied?"

3. "We are very sorry Mr. Gross, but there are no vacancies. All of the rooms are occupied tonight."

And, this is a little extra tidbit. I was surprised to see that this word?,, or maybe I should say term, was Number 8 on the Top 10 list:

" 8. 3Q — This texting shorthand for "thank you" may have arisen as a combination of the Mandarin and Japanese word for the number three, which is "san," and Q; put together, they sound like "thank you." The slang has been banned from official Chinese dictionaries, but is commonly found elsewhere."

"Only in Japan"

After I got back from my trip, this is the first conversation my wife and I had.

Me: I'm home!

Wife: Welcome back! I missed you so much!!! How was the flight back?

Me: Fine, a smooth flight with no turbulence. I watch a movie, and slept the rest of the flight.

Wife: That's good. Anyway, you won't believe it, but I lost my train pass on Friday! And, I just bought it...so it is about 30,000yen. I was really shocked and miserable.

Me: Really?! Didn't you say the other day "I have never lost anything-my wallet, cell phone, train pass..." the other day?! You should have knocked on wood!! Did you also lose your Subway card?! (FYI, recently my wife and I are hooked on Subway-a franchise sandwich shop-sandwiches. And I knew that she credited 20,000yen to that card just before the New Year.)

Wife: No!! I just lost the train pass!! It must have fallen out of my pocket or something.

Me: Ahhhhhh...That's a shame....... :(

Wife: But!!! I was lucky!! Cause on Sunday, a train officer called me and said "Are you Mrs. Gross? YES. Is your address XXX? YES. Are you XXX years old? YES...Well, I have some good news for you. Someone picked up your train pass and we have it now at that station. Please come by the office at the station at your earliest convenience and pick it up."

Me: Unbelievable!! Only in Japan!! You are a luck girl!!

Wife: I know!!! Because I am married to you! :)

To change the subject, "What's your wish for the world in 2012?" (From The Japan Times Online)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120110vf.html

"Real English 3-Game"

Today's Real English is related to the word "game," which is used in many expressions.

Do you understand the meaning of the below sentences?

Either way, we will review them in class.

1. Game on!

2. She's ahead of the game.

3. I beat him at his own game.

4. You have to play the game. (You have to play his/her game.)

5. Anyone's game.

6. Don't play games with me!!

7. Two can play at that game!

Chuo Ward Facts and Ginko Tress

Today is a continuation from Wednesday.

I work in Chuo Ward, so I found these facts interesting too.

What is the population?

80,484 people

What is the average age?

42.7

How many households are there?

50,299

What is the average temperature?

17.0 (degrees Celsius)

What is the area?

8.88km2(=kilometers squared)

The Ginko Tree photo was taken by Ms. K. The yellow leaves of these trees are really beautiful. But, the when the ginko nuts fall from the trees, they really stink!! I hate it!!! Did you know that the trees that drop nuts are "female trees"? And, did you know that "male" Ginko trees don't smell!? It's true, and I heard that the Osaka Government is replanting the "female trees" with "male tress" recently in order to get rid of that horrible odor!! Thank God!!

"Real English 2-Tebow"

I love American Football. And it is the playoffs now, and there are two big games tomorrow. In one of the games, the Denver Broncos play the New Englad Patriots. The Quarterback is of the Broncos is Tebow. And, he is a big phenom in America now!! So big, that his name has become a a new word. Actually it is a verb, "to tebow." Check out the below site and definition:

http://tebowing.com/

"What is Tebowing?
(vb) to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different."

A Jack Fruit photo from Mr. T.

"Real English 1"

I decided my New Year's resolution for this year!! My resolution is to teach one "Real English" word or expression a week on the blog. (Don't fret!! I am also going to continue the "Vocabulary and Expressions Study"!) So since there are 52 weeks in a year, that means you can improve your vocabulary with 52 "Real English" words just by reading the blog! If you ask me, that is pretty good value for your dollar! Not bad, not bad at all!!

And, since it is already the second week of 2012, I will one today, and one more tomorrow.

"Real English 1"-go viral (=to become extremely popular, or "hot," on the net)

While I was in America last week, I saw this word in the paper and heard this word while speaking to a lot of people and also on tv. The below excerpt from Wikipedia explains the meaning of "viral video":

"A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email.^[1] Viral videos often contain humorous content... and include televised comedy sketches..., amateur video clips... on YouTube; and web-only productions... Some eyewitness events have also been caught on video and have "gone viral"...

With the proliferation of camera phones,^[10] many videos are being shot by amateurs on these devices. The availability of inexpensive video editing and publishing tools allows video shot on mobile phones to be edited and distributed virally, by email or website, and between phones by Bluetooth or MMS. These consumer-shot videos are typically non-commercial, intended for viewing by friends or family. A video becoming viral is often unexpected, and an accident, and therefore a video cannot be called viral purely in the creator's intention at the time of recording."

Here is a simple example of how to use "go viral":

1. Did you see those photos of the accident? They went viral and have since been published in various magazines and newspapers.

2. The GOP candidate for President decided to go viral with his message to the young folks!

3. The video appeared on You-Tube on Monday, and quickly went viral!

"What's your New Year's resolution?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120103vf.html

Osaka Facts and Cake

I found the below facts about Osaka in the "mi-ru-to magazine."

I love Osaka (even though I live in Hyogo Prefecture) so I wanted to share them with you.

What is the shipping fee of chocolate per year?

70,268,000yen *This is the highest amount in all of Japan. No. 1!!!!

How much garbage is recycled?

11.8%

What is the number of hospitals?

539

How many parks are there?

3,832

What is the average amount of money spent on education per household a month?

11,667yen

How many passengers use JR Osaka Station a day?

401,486

Below are some photos courtesy of Ms. Y.

Do you prefer cake with beer, or with tea?

I'm back!!!

I had a great trip in Philly with my parents and I will tell you all about it later since I am busy with a lot to catch up on now...

How was your vacation?

I hope it went well!!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great 2012!!!

The Year of the Dragon!!!!!