Free Shake!

The other night I went to Mosburger. I like Mosburger because of their shakes.  Ususally, everytime I go to Mosburger, I get a strawberry shake.  So anyway, I was drinking my milkshake, and suddenly I noticed there was a crack in the glass!  I thought I should take it back to get another one, but I already drank half of it!  But since drinking from a cracked glass could be dangerous, I decided to take it back. The clerk apologized and I got another milkshake free!  So from now on, anytime I go to Mosburger I check to see if my glass is cracked - after I drink half of my milkshake!

Back to School !

Trapper Keeper

September marks the end of summer, and the beginning of fall.  In the U.S.A., the school year starts in September.  When I think back to my younger days, I remember the excitement of starting a new school year.   Since public schools in the states don't make students wear uniforms, the shopping malls are crowded at this time, as everyone is out buying new clothes for school.   In addition to that, many stores are filled with students buying supplies for school.  I remember when I was in middle school, everyone had a Trapper Keeper.  A Trapper Keeper was like a super notebook; it was thick and could hold many smaller notebooks, folders, pencils, and other supplies inside. Instead of students having to carry around all their notes and homework with many folders and papers separately, one could keep them all together in a Trapper Keeper!  I think mine was just filled with drawings, doodles, and notes to my girlfriend.

I am going to start posting questions at the bottom of my blog.  If you would like to practice your English, please write your answer in the comment section below.

Today's question:  What comes to mind when you think of September?

It's Labor Day!

Today is a holiday in the United States called "Labor Day". Even though the meaning of Labor Day is to celebrate the hard work of workers and their families, I think that many don't think about it's meaning, and just see it as an opportunity to get off from work.  It is held on the first Monday in September.  Since it is on a Monday, many can enjoy a long three-day weekend. In English, the way to say "三連休” is "3 day weekend". I remember as a child, it was a time for my family and friends to gather together and have a BBQ. But I also remember it being a kind of sad holiday, because it made me realize that the summer was over, and it was time to go back to school.  It is the last holiday before school starts, and it also marks the beginning of football season.  The NFL usually holds its first game on the first Thursday after Labor Day.  When school starts, there is the excitement of football season in the air.

I'm MELTING !!! July 10, 2010

Do you know how to say 蒸し暑い in English?  Humid, muggy, terrible!

Wow, these days it is really starting to get hot! I think I'm starting to melt! But, you know what they say...it's not the heat, it's the humidty!

Many people often ask me what the weather is like in my country.  When I tell them that I am from Florida, they tend to think that it is always warm because they imagine lots of sunshine, oranges, palm trees, but that is not the case.  Florida is a very large state, and the temperature varies from the northern part of the state to the southern part of the state. Near Miami, the temperature is warm year-round, but since my hometown is in the northern part of Florida, it does get a little cold. July is the hottest month, with temperatures averaging about 33 degrees celsius, and January is the coldest month when it gets down to about 6 degrees celsius. It is also very humid, much like Japan.  However, I think Americans like to be cooler and always set their air-conditioner to a lower temperature than in Japan.  I remember whenever I would go to the movie theater in the summer, I would have to take a jacket because it was so cold!  No COOL BIZ in America! For me, I like the way the air-conditioners are set in Japan because I think it is easier for my body to get used to, and it is more comfortable. I don't like the cold. I don't like it in the winter, and I don't like it in the summer either!  So please help save the environment and don't make it so cold inside! I know it's hot, but it is supposed to be hot; it is the summer!

  Today's phrase of the day is "Crank up the AC".  It means to turn lower the temperature and increase the power from weak to strong. Crank up means to increase, or turn up.  It can also be used different ways such as "Crank up the music", or in the winter, "Crank up the heat".  There are a couple of different ways to say air-conditioner in English; usually AC, or air, but we never, ever say AIR-CONE.

  So, that's all of my blog for today.  Thanks for checking it out and let me know if there's anything you want me to talk about, or if you have any questions about English.  Be cool; catch ya later gaters!

April 19, 2010

Is it just me?  It seems like it is much colder this year than it was last year at this time.  On top of that, it seems like the rain will never end!  I don't know about you, but I have had enough of the coldness of winter, and I can't wait for the warm spring air to come!  To me, when I think about spring, I think of Easter, cleaning, and flowers.  In my country, when Spring comes, people like to open their windows and do a major cleaning in their homes.  We call it "spring cleaning".    It is a good feeling to let in the fresh, cool air and get out all the dust and dirt that has accumulated over the winter.  Many people think of doing heavy cleaning in the spring, but of course, it can be done anytime. So, whenever someone does a lot of cleaning in their home or office, even though it may be July, or December, people sometimes still say it is "Spring Cleaning".  As soon as this rain stops, and it warms up a bit, it will be time for me to do mine!