"Real English 24-par for the course"

A friend of mine, who lives in the countryside in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, called me the other day.  Here's the dialogue:

Friend:  Hey man, what's happening?

Glenn:  Not much, everything is status quo.  How about you, what's up?

Friend:  Actually, I wanted to invite you to my house next weekend.

Glenn:  Sounds good. What's the occasion?

Friend:  I am gonna have a "Firefly Party!"  Recently, there are fireflies everywhere at night!  It is really a spectacular phenomenon.  

Glenn:  Are you serious?   There aren't any lightening bugs where I live.

Friend: That's cause you live in the suburbs. As you know, I live in the deep country!  It is par for the course for here.

Glenn:  Gotcha. Then see you next weekend. Looking forward to it!

"Par for the course" means "a regular occurrence" or "something that happens often."

The above expression has nothing to do with golf!!

But since I mentioned golf, I thought I should say "Congrats!" to Mr. F because he hit a hole in one the other day.  What are the chances of that?  I don't know the actual statistics, but I do know that doesn't happen every day... (=pure luck!!)

Have you ever hit a hole in one?

"Real English 23-on the fence"

As you know, I usually don't like to talk about politics.  However, since this week's Real English is related to a politician, I will make an exception.


Tokyo Governor Ishihara always has an opinion on something.  He never sits on the fence on an issue.


"What do you think of Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's plan to buy the disputed Senkaku Islands?"
from The Japan Times Online
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120424vf.html

Here are some other more casual examples of how to use "on the fence":


1-At a restaurant:
"I can't decide what to order as my entree. I am on the fence...the steak or the fish?  Can you help me out?  Which do you recommend?"


2-At a voting booth
"I am sitting on the fence on who to vote for in the next election, Mr. X or Ms. Y.  They both have pros and cons..."


And the expression  "opposite sides of the fence" means "to have opposite opinions."


3-Current political news in Japan:
"Prime Minister Noda and Ichiro Ozawa, who leads the DPJ's largest faction with 120 members, are on opposite sides of the fence concerning the consumption tax hike. "

June 

I can't believe it is already June. Almost half of the year is already over...

As the proverb goes, "Time flies."  

And, did you know that there are two versions to this expression? 

One is, "Time flies when you are having fun."  

The other is, "Time flies when you are busy."  

Which one applies to you?  The first one? The second one? Both? Neither?

In June, the rainy season will begin.  And after that, the dreaded humidity will arrive...

Let's enjoy the last dry days before that humidity comes!!!

(Below are some photos from Ms. e's trip to Nagano Prefecture. Thank you!)

"Real English 22-have no qualms"

Situation is a conversation between two public officials(PO1 and PO2)in Fukuoka during a smoking break


PO1: I can't believe the Sky Tree had a glitch on the first day.  Unbelievable! Can you imagine being stuck on the top with the elevators out of service...What a scary experience...
PO2: That must have been a miserable experience.   I saw it on the news last week. Actually, I have been watching a lot of news and crappy TV for the past week since the Mayor ordered all of us to go dry for a month if we go out.  For one month!!! That's too much, too strict!  I didn't do anything wrong! So why can't I got out for a few beers with my friends after work like I always do?!
PO1:  Yeah, I know what you mean.  It sucks,  but I have no qualms about it.  I support the Mayor on this on.  We all should take responsibility for the misconduct of our fellow workers.  After all, our salaries come from tax money...    
PO2: Whatever...And how about that flamboyant Mayor up in Osaka dropping the hammer on public officers with tattoos?!  Give me your two cents on that one!
PO1:  You got me...Anyway, 10 minutes is up.  We should get back to work.

"Real English 21-tag along"

"tag along" means "go together or "go with."

Refer to the below dialogues:

Ms. T:  I am going to Okinawa over summer vacation with my friends.  

How about you, Glenn?  Do you have any plans?

Glenn:  Actually, I am a little embarrassed, but no I don't.

Do you mind if I tag along?

Ms. T:  Absolutely not!  The more the merrier!

Glenn: Thanks a lot! I really appreciate it!

The first photo below is of Zamami Island, which is a short-ferry ride from the main island of Okinawa.  The second photo is of some hand-made "Shisa."  I have a pair in the entrance-way of my house, and also of the classroom.  For your reference, here is the official definition of Shisa on Wikipedia:

"Shisa (シーサー) (Okinawan: siisaa) (shishi or shisaa) is a traditional Ryukyuan decoration, often in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. People place pairs of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils. When in pairs, the left shisa traditionally has a closed mouth, the right one an open mouth.[1] The open mouth wards off evil spirits, and the closed mouth keeps good spirits in.

In mainland Japan, similar pairs now known as "guardian dogs" were once called "shisa and guardian dogs": the right with its mouth opened is the guardian, the left with its mouth closed is the shisa. From the Edo period they started to be called "guardian dogs" in general in mainland Japan.[2] Gender is variously assigned to the shisa. Some Okinawans believe the male has his mouth closed to keep bad out of the home, while the female has her mouth open to share goodness.[3] Others believe the female has her mouth closed to "keep in the good", while the male has his mouth open to "scare away the bad".[4] (Compare this to the distinction between male and female guardian lions in Chinese culture.)

The shisa, like the komainu (lion dogs), are a variation of the guardian lions ("fu dogs") from China.[5] The shisaa, or lion dog, is an Okinawan cultural artifact. In magic typology, they might be also be classified as gargoyle beasts. They are traditionally used to ward off evil spirits."

Annular Eclipse

Did you see it?  Unfortunately, I didn't.  Around 7:15am on Monday, it suddenly got really dark outside, like a thunderstorm or something.  Then Mr. M and I took a break from class and tried to see it from the window of the classroom, but the school building across the street blocked our view.   It was a shame, but the radio announcer we were listening to said "Ah!!  It just came out from the clouds! We can see it!! Unbelievable!!"  


For more on this story, read this:  
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120522a1.html
"Rare eclipse delivers spectacle despite cloudy weather"
From The Japan Times Online


And then yesterday, the Sky Tree finally opened.


So far, this week has been pretty interesting, don't you think?

"Real English 20-wreak havoc"

Last week a tornado wreaked havoc in Ibaraki, Tochigi Prefecture.
Yes, you heard me right. Don't doubt your ears!  A tornado in Japan!!  Tornadoes are extremely rare in Japan, but recently Mother Nature is strange...


Last month, I had a skin problem on my foot, so I went to the drug store and got some "special cream."  I heard that this "special cream" would cure my ailment.  But, to my surprise, the "special cream" wreaked havoc on my foot, and made the problem even worse.


In the NBA, my team the Philadelphia 76ers is in the playoffs now.  I hope they wreak havoc on the court.


Here are some other ways we use this expression:
Big trucks with all the pollution they create really wreak havoc on the environment.
The new virus wreaked havoc on computer networks all over the world.


From the context of the sentences above, can you understand the meaning of "wreak havoc"?
Basically, "wreak havoc" means to "damage," "hurt," "cause serious damage/pain."

The best...

I often read "Views from the Street" from the Japan Times Online.  I find it interesting, and can read the opinions of both foreigners and Japanese living in Japan.  I can learn what people think about various topics and issues.  So, I like it.

And, the other day, I saw "The Best of Views from the Street."  There are many interesting and random questions, so if you read it, I am sure you can learn something too.

"The best of Views from the Street"

And, last Saturday I watched "American Idol."  It is a TV show on FOX every Saturday and Sunday night.  It is very entertaining...the basic theme of the show is this-it is a competition for America to choose the best new idol=singer.  This show is not only entertaining, but also very educational for studying English.

I picked up the expression "over the top" from the show.

Can you understand? :"That performance was over-the-top man!"

"Real English 19-Sky..."

On May 22, the Sky Tree will open in Tokyo.


I haven't been to Tokyo in a while, but now I have a good excuse to venture up north.


And while on the topic of "sky," can you understand the meaning of the sentences below.  All of them use the word "sky" in one form or another.




1) Last year, a famous stock analyst predicted that the stock market would sky rocket.
But his forecast was a pie in the sky.


2) Good things don't just drop out of the sky and land in your lap.  You have go get it yourself.  With hard work and determination, the sky is the limit!!  Reach for the sky!


3) Mr. M popped the question to his girlfriend out of the blue (=out of a clear blue sky.) over GW vacation.


4) It's not like the sky is falling.  Relax!

"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