Little Appetite, Japanese Plum(Ume)

Wednesday, February twenty eighth, two thousand and seven

After I had the flu last week, I have had little appetite and haven't wanted to drink alcohol so much. Usually I have some beer and Japanese sake after work, but have only small ones these days. I might need to take a checkup. Anyway, this busy season is expected to end within a month, let me take it after that.
Today I saw Japanese plum blossoms in my garden. That means spring as good as has come. This winter is relatively warm, but I'm really looking forward to spring coming.



as good as: ～も同然

Politicians are good at wasting money

Tuesday, February twenty seventh, two thousand and seven

Whenever I read a newspaper, I can't help but think nobody are better at wasting money than politicians and government official. They are very good at wasting not only money but also time, I think. Any news related to political problems drive me furious and make me feel losing the motivation for hard working. I'd really like them to spend our tax effectively from my heart. Apparently, they don't know the proverb, "Time is money.", because they aren't aware of the difficulty we make money.
Speaking of politicians, the mayor of my city always have on a wig, according to one of my cousins who used to work for the city hall. No wonder his hair style is always perfectly the same. :) Actually, the mayor often appears on local TV programs. Whenever he is taken his pictures, he allegedly indicates the photographers the angle of pictures, left diagonal 45 degree. What a funny mayor. :) But his political ability is much more excellent than that of the previous mayor, I bet. In fact, he often says, "All the city hall staff must offer good services for this city's residents. We belong to a service industry, so it's important for us to be service-minded staff!" He tend to have a big mouth in front of people, though...


furious[adjective]: 激怒した、憤慨した
be aware of = know(?)
allegedly[adverb]: 伝えられるところによると
diagonal[adjective]: 斜めの

Distraction

Monday, February twenty sixth, two thousand and seven

Let me post an uninteresting picture for a change.
Just because ... I have no idea to write my diary today. :)


This picture was taken by a woman in a coffee shop close to the computer system company I used to work for. That's secret who took the picture, of course. :p
I had a very short hair at that time, about 10 years ago. This picture reminds me of some good memories...


distraction: 気晴らし

Fear of the Dark

Sunday, February twenty fifth, two thousand and seven

I suppose those who often read my blog know I'm crazy about IRON MAIDEN, one of the greatest British heavy metal bands. Actually, I can't catch most words in their songs, because the lyrics tend to be difficult and have lots of messages and information. Since I'm not a native English speaker and not good at listening lessons, it's too hard for me to catch the meanings. But only one song I can catch clearly. The song's title is "Fear of the dark", the title track of IRON MAIDEN's ninth studio album. The lyrics sound similar to a lesson that I've taken before at my English school and they are relatively easy for one of the band's songs. That's why I can catch them clearly, I guess. Let me quote a part of them;

"Fear of the dark... Fear of the dark... I have a phobia that someone's always near."

Those who study at the same English school as mine probably know the lesson that sounds similar to the part. It's "ZONE-E03". Since I haven't finished reviewing all ZONE-E lessons yet, this IRON MAIDEN's lyrics helped me review "ZONE-E03" lesson the other day. I'd appreciate it, MAIDEN! :)
Now... I've just finished reviewing "ZONE-E26" lesson, actually. Twenty four ZONE-E lessons still remain, I have to review... And, all ZONE-F lessons from scratch as well. How lazy I am! I should've reviewed them as soon as I took the lessons, even though I often tell off my children saying "Don't procrastinate!" X(


from scratch: 最初から、ゼロから
tell off: ～に小言を言う、～をしかる
procrastinate: 引き延ばす、ぐずぐずする、遅らせる

Might As Well Work?

Saturday, February twenty fourth, two thousand and seven

I slept in today for a change, to recover from the flu completely and relieve my fatigue. After I got up, I expected to relax and study English by myself. But my wife often nagged my eldest son to break his neck to take good results on his tests conducted at his junior high school next week. So I wasn't able to do anything I planned this morning. Luckily I had to go to my factory at about 11 a.m. to drive a forklift, because a truck came there to take on lots of our products. I was able to escape from the terribly noisy house, actually. I might as well work out if I can't relax at home. :)


sleep in: (意図的に)遅くまで寝ている
nag: 口うるさく小言を言う
break one's neck: 全力を尽くす
conduct (a) test(s): テストを実施する
take on: 積載する
might as well do something: ～する方がマシだ

Getting Better

Friday, February twenty third, two thousand and seven

Thank God, It's Friday! This week's work has finally ended! I had the bad flu but I'm feeling better now, thanks to some excellent medicines - such as beer and Japanese sake. :) However, I've decided to stay at home over this weekend, to be on the safe side. Actually, the musical event is being held in my daughter's kindergarten tomorrow, so I was looking forward to seeing it with my wife. But I won't be able to go see it, not to give the flu to anyone. Besides, I'm not going to take any English lessons over the weekend. Let me review some lessons I've taken before during the days.


to be on the safe side: 念のために

No Even Energy to Drink Alcohol

Thursday, February twenty second, two thousand and seven

I must have caught the flu my eldest son had. I have a lot of terrible joint pain, awful cough, and a horrible diarrhea. In fact, I've just exhausted a huge amount of liquid sh*t. X(
Tonight, I don't have even the energy to drink any kinds of alcohol. Let me take some medicine and go to sleep. Anyway, I've decided to cancel the English lessons over this weekend and to stay at home to get better much sooner.


joint pain: 関節痛

Articles, a and the

Wednesday, February twenty first, two thousand and seven

Finally, I seem to have caught a cold or the flu, I have a runny nose and a cough now. Talking of "the flu", I don't understand why people usually say "I have the flu." and "I have a cold.", the difference between "the flu" and "a cold". Let me ask my teachers the usage of articles, "a" and "the", next time.
Anyway, let me have a good sleep to get better soon with listening to IRON MAIDEN. I cannot help but listen to the excellent music before I fall asleep well these days. The music makes me feel energetic.

Money and Dishes

Tuesday, February twentieth, two thousand and seven

I've just made some bills with Microsoft Excel to send our customers. Some of them require us to send bills on the twentieth of each month, and the others require us to do that on the end of each moth. For Japanese companies, it's very common that the cutoff days of each month are either the twentieth or the end of month.
Anyway, the business result of this month is very good so far. We've just gotten such a big money that we would be able to take a trip after this busy season, like a hot spring trip or a ski trip. And my wife wouldn't complain about our household economy with this phrase for a while, "I have to cut corners this month again...."
Ah... Talking of my wife... she still has the flu. In addition, my mom and my daughter have just caught the flu! No wonder my mom told me this morning that she had a bad headache. Anyway, almost all of my family members have the flu now! Holy cow! I'd better evacuate to another house, like, my another wife's house. Of course, I absolutely don't have such a place so far. Umm???? so far??? What does it mean?
After all, I had to make dinner myself tonight, and do the dishes as well. Since I used to be a part time sushi chef and live alone when I was working as a computer programmer in Odawara City, it's a piece of cake for me to do such housework. They are so lucky to have such a nice guy!


cutoff day: 締め日、決算日
household economy: 家計
cut corners: 節約する、切り詰める
No wonder ... : 道理で～なわけだ。

Spread of Flu

Monday, February nineteenth, two thousand and seven

I had to work fourteen hours today due to some malfunctions of our machinery. I've really kept my nose to the grindstone recently, so I expect something good to happen to me. :)
As I posted an article the other day, my eldest son has the flu now. Today, not only my wife but also my third son seem to catch the flu. Since I live with my parents, almost all of the housework will be done by my mom instead of my wife for a while. It sometimes bothers me a lot to live with my parents because of the generation gap and something like that, but it's very helpful in such an emergency case. Anyway I must be careful not to catch the flu, because nobody can act for me in my factory as well as my younger brother. I can't for the life of me take any days off on weekdays now.


keep one's nose to the grindstone: コツコツ働く、身を粉にして働く
for the life of me: どうしても