Manner an Manners

Tuesday, June fifth, two thousand and seven

I hadn't known the difference between "manner" and "manners" until I read this week's newspaper issued for English study. I'm so ashamed of my lack of knowledge. When the word is used as a singular, it means similar to "way". But on the other hand, when it's used as a plural, it means similar to "behavior" as far as I've understood.

I've actually subscribed to a newspaper published by The Japan Times, Ltd. since this week. The paper teaches me a lot of new knowledge, therefore I would be able to learn much more from now on. But most of the contents seem to be more than I can handle. haha. Since I can bring it everywhere easily, I expect that I can kill time with it anyway and ask my teachers about the articles from now as well. Let me give them the third degree! (^^;


"quotes from LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English"
give somebody the third degree:(informal) to ask someone a lot of questions in order to get information from them

Kill Two Birds With One Stone

Monday, June fourth, two thousand and seven

Finding interesting English proverbs is really interesting to me actually. I can learn not only English but also effective life styles through it. As everyone knows, there's a famous common saying, "kill two birds with one stone", in English. I had thought it derives from the Japanese one, 一石二鳥(isseki nicyou), for ages, so I asked an English teacher the other day if it derives from the Japanese proverb or not. He replied to me that he wasn't so sure because there are tons of common sayings among many languages.
After that, I tried to figure out the exact origin on the Internet. Against my guess, I realized in the end that the English one is probably original and it was translated into the Japanese one in Edo era or Meiji era. Besides the Japanese one was started using commonly in the country in after World War 2! Amazing! I guessed the English proverb derived from Chinese or Japanese language because of the ring.

By the way, the recent busy job is really killing me. I'm so tired I could sleep for a month...zzz

New Nail Coming Up

Sunday, June third, two thousand and seven

As I posted an article that mentioned my left little finger injured, the finger has been having some small problems for almost two months. It has bled internally and swelled up since I jammed it into the door of the oil hydraulic pressing machine in my factory.
It's getting over day by day, in fact, I can see a new nail under the old shaky one as the following picture.



I suppose the old one will come off anytime soon. Frankly speaking, I'm kind of terrified of having an acute pain at that time, however, I rest assured that I'll get a virgin nail. Actually, the old nail was pierced by the doctor who tried to take out the internal blood under the one. That's why I call the new nail "a virgin nail", which haven't been pierced before. Sorry to describe it inappropriately. (^^; Ah.... I must be letch as you probably think. To be honest, I was too ashamed to type this story in Japanese. :p


"quotes from LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English"
swell [intransitive] (also: swell up): to become larger and rounder than normal - used especially about parts of the body: (ex.) Her ankle was already starting to swell.
hydraulic [adjective, usually before noun]: moved or operated by the pressure of water or other liquid: (ex.) a hydraulic pump, hydraulic brakes
shaky [adjective]: weak and unsteady because of old age, illness, or shock
rest assured that: used to tell someone not to worry, because what you say about a situation is true: (ex.) You may rest assured that it will be ready on time.

Exercise (Sit-Ups)

Saturday, June second, two thousand and seven

Since two sons of mine are sort of fat now, my wife has just imposed doing sit-ups every day on them, actually. Although I've gained my weight recently, but I'm still the slimmest man in my family. That's why she doesn't give me anything to do. Even if she ordered me to do things like that, I would never obey anything she want me to do though. Because I'm the breadwinner in my family, I have nothing ordered by her. :p
Let me upload a video of my eldest son's doing sit-ups below. (^^;

What? Fat?

Friday, June first, two thousand and seven

When I met some ex-coworkers at BAR60 tonight after a long time, a couple of them told me that I looked like fatter than I was. SHOOOOOCK! Let me cut down on alcohol and go on a diet! I'm so depressed that I could sleep for a month. I can't write English sentences anymore... Let me hit the sack...

Go To Bar60

Thursday, May thirty first, two thousand and seven

A secret girlfriend sent me an email today to hit BAR60, where I sometimes go get a drink, together tomorrow night. Actually she lives in an apartment close to the bar and have alcohol with me once in a while in the bar. Let me have a good time with her! hehe...

Just kidding, of course. (^^; She's not my girlfriend, but an ex-coworker of mine who is an excellent computer system engineer as well as I used to be. :p Besides, she's getting married this autumn. The purpose she wants to get together is that she has me write down a message for an old man, who is my ex-boss when I was a computer system engineer. Apparently, he's now her boss and retiring very soon. Because I had a lot of works with him, not only she but also he want me to leave a message on a card which is going to be written down words by his current subordinates and ex-subordinates. Even though six years has already passed since I quit the job, both of them still remember me. I'm so happy and glad that I can't help but hit the bar tomorrow night with her! (^^;

Best Way To Study English

Wednesday, May thirtieth, two thousand and seven

I don't mean to brag, but I can speak English a little bit actually. Therefore some of my acquaintances sometimes ask me what the best way to learn English is.

I personally think the method would depend on the person because everyone has different circumstances, such as school days and occupations. Since there are tons of private schools, books or something like those related to English study in Japan, it's quite difficult to choose the best one for everyone. To be honest, there's no way I can select it for those who want to improve their English skills. I mean, they have to find out the best way by themselves. In my case, I sometimes make English conversations in my mind when I don't have things to do, such as on a train and a bus. To tell the truth, I was practicing my English in my mind on a train the other day when I made a sound loudly and got attention from other passengers. Of course I didn't mean to do that, needless to say, I was extremely embarrassed then. X(

Try To Cut Down

Tuesday, May twenty ninth, two thousand and seven

Since I'm kind of tied up with my work nowadays, I can't help but drink a little more alcohol than usual every night. Sort of alcoholic, I guess. I've realized that's a bad idea for having a good sleep and relaxing. As a matter of fact, I'm not able to sleep tight these days. I guess it's caused by too much alcohol. In fact, I tend to be fine on the next day when I don't get much beer. Let me try to decrease the amount I have beer on weekdays from now on. Besides, I'll be able to reduce time for dinner and do something else instead, for instance, listening to Heavy Metal , playing cards with my kids, and studying English... I'm not convinced of doing the last thing though. :p
Anyway, it's now or never to cut down on the amount of drinking! To be honest, I suppose it's really difficult for me to do that... almost impossible though.... X(
Just give it a try... maybe... hehe.


it's now or never: やるなら今だ。

Pick Up The Bill

Monday, May twenty eighth, two thousand and seven

As I wrote a journal here the day before yesterday, my friends and I had a birthday party for an American guy. The other American guy told me that he didn't have enough money to pay his share when it was time to pay the bill. Since I sometime see him at another bar, I replied to him, "Let me pay your damage, but you have to pick up the check next time I have alcohol with you at the bar we sometimes get together. Let's shake hands on it." As a matter of fact, he seemed to get a little drunk in the night, but we had a good time thanks to his funny talks at the party. I hope he remembers the promise. :)


Let's shake hands on it. : それで手を打とう。

Fishing

Sunday, May twenty seventh, two thousand and seven

Since my third son asked me to go fishing together the other day, I took him, my daughter and my wife to the sea today. But we got only one fish in spite of his expectation, so he was disappointed so much. I guess we couldn't get many fish because of today's bad tide. In my opinion, it's more important for children to have a lot of experience and knowledge than having good results. Talking of "tide", I've heard an English proverb before, "Time and tide wait for no man." Ah! I have to review all of the English lesson I have taken before!

Anyway, it's a good season to have outdoor leisure now, therefore I can't help but go out somewhere every Sunday. It would be much better for me to travel with her if I had a secret girlfriend, though. :p

Let me post some pictures I took during the fishing below. Ah, All of them are out of focus! Apparently, I took them with the close range mode. (ToT)

Time and tide wait for no man. 歳月人を待たず(光陰矢の如し?)