Happy Year of the Wild Boar! Oops, sorry wrong picture! I had a great new years, did you? I hope 2019 is not a boring year for you! Don't be a bore this year! Let English bore its way into your head this year!          

I spent the last week baking cookies and preparing for my "post" Christmas parties.  I'm finally all finished, and enjoying the end of the year here at home with my family. Thank you all for making this a wonderful year.  I hope 2019 is a great year for all of us. My final movie of the year, and maybe of this whole series is:  It's A Wonderful Life.  This is the third time to use this movie.  I guess you can see how much I like it.  Anyway, a new scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNQ76UyurLA GEORGE Look, who are you? CLARENCE I told you, George. I'm your guardian angel. GEORGE Yeah, yeah, I know. You told me that. What else are you?  What . . . are you a hypnotist? CLARENCE No, of course not. GEORGE Well then, why am I seeing all these strange things? CLARENCE Don't you understand, George? It's because you were not born. GEORGE Then if I wasn't born, who am I? CLARENCE You're nobody. You have no identity. GEORGE What do you mean, no identity? My name's George Bailey. CLARENCE There is no George Bailey. You have no papers, no cards, no driver's license, no 4-F card, no insurance policy . . . CLARENCE They're not there, either. GEORGE What? CLARENCE Zuzu's petals. CLARENCE You've been given a great gift, George. A chance to see what the world would be like without you. GEORGE Now wait a minute, here. Wait a minute here. This is some sort of a funny dream I'm having here. So long, mister, I'm going home. CLARENCE Home? What home? GEORGE Now shut up! Cut it out! You're . . . you're . . . you're crazy! That's what I think . . . you're screwy, and you're driving me crazy, too! I'm seeing things. I'm going home and see my wife and family. Do you understand that? And I'm going home alone! Key Phrase: You've been given a great gift, George. A chance to see what the world would be like without you. Sometimes it's hard to see or imagine the far-reaching effects each of us has on the world.  This movie brings out that point. I want a chance to see what America would be like without President Trump.  Maybe this year, my wish will come true? See you all next year!                                                                                                

There is a new movie out this year, "The Grinch" This is a remake of a 2000 movie starring Jim Carrey, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Which is a remake of  the original 1966 short animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This comes from the 1957 book by Dr. Seuss: One of my favorite books as a child.  I read it to one of my children's classes yesterday, and even though it was all in difficult English, the students listened intently to the whole book. So, for my third Christmas movie, I'm going to post the entire 26 minute movie.  There is great music and beautiful old-style animation.  I won't post any English, so good luck.  This is the best of any of the Grinch movies.  Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aJcmOm9J1U&list=PLs1t7WTiJNH-QNDX9sBcXLPNd8jwoAnkg I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Here are some pictures of my Christmas illumination this year.  

Our second movie in this series is "The Polar Express".   This movie came out in 2004, and stars Tom Hanks in six different roles. This movie is a little strange.  Some people didn't like it at first, but it has slowly become a Christmas classic.  I use it in my children's Christmas parties.  Here are three final scenes.  They are a little long, but I hope you take the time to watch them all. Doubter. Doubter. Okay. Okay. I believe. I believe. What was that you said? I... I believe. I believe. I... I believe that this is yours. Well... Thank you. - Me, me. Pick me, Santa. - What are you doing? Stop it. - Pick me, pick me. I want the first gift. - Hush. Young man... ...patience. And a smidgen of humility might also serve you well. Yes, sir. And you, young lady... A lady of decision. Full of confidence and spirit. Christmas spirit. Keep up the good work. Thank you. And Billy. It is Billy? I see you've made some new friends. Yes, sir. I sure have. That's a lucky lad. There's no greater gift than friendship. And speaking of gifts... ...let's have this young fellow right here. Now... ...what would you like for Christmas? Me? You. Yes. Indeed. Yes, indeed. The first gift of Christmas! This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas... ...as am I. Just remember... ...the true spirit of Christmas... ...lies in your heart. Merry Christmas. Better keep that in a safe place. Hey, hey. Man alive, are you lucky. Pull, Comet. Pull, boy! Prancer, that's a girl. Good boy, Donder. Now, Dasher. Now, Prancer and Vixen. It's everything I dreamed it would be. Could all...? Could all this be nothing but a dream? No. To the top of the roof To the top of the wall Now, dash away, dash away Dash away all.   What? Merry Christmas! Wake up. (妹）Wake up. Santa's been here. Santa's been here. Hurry up. Hurry up! Mom, Dad, wake up. Wake up! Santa's been here! Santa's been here! Mom, Dad, look! He brought us all kinds of stuff! Look, a train! This is the beautiful-est, most wonderful-est Christmas ever. Wait. Look. Here's one more. Has your name on it. Found this on the seat of my sleigh. Better fix that hole in your pocket. Mr. C. Oh, what a beautiful bell. Who's it from? - Santa. - Santa? Really? - Oh, that's too bad. - What's this? Broken. Sorry about that, sport. Come on, kids. We don't wanna be late. At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell. But as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found, one Christmas, that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old... ...the bell still rings for me. As it does for all who truly believe. So, two simple phrases from these long scenes. I believe that this is yours.  (これはきっとあなたの物に違いない） I believe you've forgotten my name. I believe Trump will be the end on America. I believe this will be the best Christmas ever! There's no greater gift than friendship. （友情より素晴らしい贈り物はありません） There is no greater nabe than kiritanpo nabe! There is no greater treasure than knowledge. There is no worse president than Trump! There are no better friends than all of you!

So, I'm a little late starting Christmas this year.  The last two weeks were unusually busy.  Here we go! I want to focus on four Christmas movies this year.  There are so many movies that it will be hard to choose only four.  I've already written about my favorite Christmas movie here, so I'll skip that one this year. Our first movie is not really a movie, it's a "Christmas Special" from 1965.  In America, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is played on TV every year during the Christmas season.  A simple but heartwarming story.  Here are two scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DKh0bQsE60 I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel. I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards... ...and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed. Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know... ...who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPhqMJpQsYQ You've been dumb before, Charlie Brown, but this time you really did it. What a tree. I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about. Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights, please. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field... ...keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them... ...and the glory of the Lord shone round about them... ...and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: "Fear not, for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy... ...which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior... ...which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel... ...a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace, goodwill toward men." That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. If we can all try to add to "on earth, peace, goodwill toward men", (天では、栄光があるように。 地上では、平和が人々にあるように。)  we can enjoy the true spirit of Christmas.

Happy Halloween!  

Boys and girls of every age Wouldn't you like to see something strange?

Come with us and you will see This, our town of Halloween

This is Halloween, this is Halloween Pumpkins scream in the dead of night

This is Halloween, everybody make a scene Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright It's our town, everybody scream In this town of Halloween

I am the one hiding under your bed Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red

I am the one hiding under your stairs Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! In this town we call home Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

In this town, don't we love it now? Everybody's waiting for the next surprise

'Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can Something's waiting no to pounce, and how you'll

Scream! This is Halloween Red 'n' black, and slimy green

Aren't you scared?

Well, that's just fine Say it once, say it twice Take a chance and roll the dice Ride with the moon in the dead of night

Everybody scream, everybody scream

In our town of Halloween!

I am the clown with the tear-away face Here in a flash and gone without a trace

I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?" I am the wind blowing through your hair

I am the shadow on the moon at night Filling your dreams to the brim with fright

This is Halloween, this is Halloween Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!

Tender lumplings everywhere Life's no fun without a good scare

That's our job, but we're not mean In our town of Halloween

In this town

Don't we love it now?

Everybody's waiting for the next surprise Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back And scream like a banshee Make you jump out of your skin This is Halloween, everybody scream Won't ya please make way for a very special guy

Our man Jack is King of the Pumpkin patch Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King, now!

This is Halloween, this is Halloween Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!

In this town we call home Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

La la la la la la la la la la (Halloween! Halloween!) La la la la la la la la la la (Halloween! Halloween!)

Here are my Jack O' lanterns that I made yesterday:

Today I'm enjoying my long weekend, so I'm going to post a simple scene from a fun movie.  The English is not difficult, but it's a funny scene.  I hope you enjoy it.  This is one of my favorite movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8CP1tT8tdk   Alright, punk, now- Whoa, whoa, Biff, what's that? That's Calvin Klein, oh my god, he's a dream. Whoa, whoa, kid, kid, stop, stop, stop, stop. Hey. I'll get it back to you, alright? You broke it. Wow, look at him go. Let's get him. What's that thing he's on? It's a board with wheels. He's an absolute dream. Ah. Whoa. I'm gonna ram him. Shit. Thanks a lot, kid. I'm gonna get that son-of-a-bitch. Where does he come from? Yeah, where does he live? I don't know, but I'm gonna find out.   We use "I'm gonna" instead of "I'm going to . . .", or "I will . . .".  It's a very casual way of speaking, but very common in everyday conversations. I'm gonna enjoy the rest of my holiday. She's gonna be mad! Trump's gonna ruin America! Next, "It's a board with wheels."  This is when Marty turns the kids scooter into a skateboard.  So, in the future, maybe we can look forward to: It's a car with wings! It's a chocolate cake with no calories! America with no President Trump! Have  great week.  See you soon.