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Making a conch horn.タイトルをクリックしてください

As many of you know, I was born in Samoa.  Even though I don't have many memories, I feel a strong connection. I had a Samoan conch horn in my home in America.  I often blew on it.   A few months ago, I found this conch shell in a used shop in Akita, and decided to make my own horn.   After watching a few  "how to" videos on  YouTube, I started.   Cutting through the shell was much more difficult than I imagined. It took over an hour and I tried out many different kinds of saws.   Finally I was able to look inside.   Next I drilled out the core to make an opening.     Here is the final product.     [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="http://mj-eikaiwa.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/200125_1429325.mp4"][/video] So what do you think?  I'm satisfied.  I'm still practicing and getting better little by little.  I'll show you this week.    

Rats!!!タイトルをクリックしてください

As promised, Happy New Year, Part 2.  Rats.   I found many more idioms about rats than mice.  Here are a few.

  1.  Rat on someone.  Tell someone  about bad things you know.
I can't believe you ratted on me like that to mom and dad—I'm never telling you anything ever again! 2.  Rat race.  A competition for power or money. After becoming an adult today (Jan. 13th), many are stuck right in the rat race. 3.  Smell a rat.  To suspect something wrong. When the caller asked me to go to an ATM and send money, I smelled a rat. 4.  Like rats leaving a sinking ship.  To leave something that is about to collapse. Our employees have been quitting our company like rats leaving a sinking ship. 5.  Pack rat.  Someone who hoards or collects too many things. He can't throw away anything.  he's a real packrat, you can't even move in his house. 6.    Rugrat.  A baby or toddler who is still crawling. There were three rugrats crawling around my feet during New Years. 7.  Look like a drowned rat.  Someone who gets caught in the rain and is soaking wet. I forgot my umbrella yesterday, and came home looking like a drowned rat. 8.     Rathole.  An old or dirty home, or dwelling. I went to my son's apartment to help him clean.  It was beginning to look like a real rathole! 9.  Labrat.  Someone who agrees to let others test something on them. Would you mind being my labrats for this new English teaching technique? 10.  Rats!!!  An expletive used in place of a curse word. Trump is still President of the USA??  RATS!!!   Today's BGM:  Ben, Michael Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxv0ZNXvmqk

Year of the Mouse . . . or Rat?タイトルをクリックしてください

I hope you are enjoying this holiday with your family and friends.  I am. 2020 is the year of the mouse/rat.  I've noticed it's described differently in different places.  Which is correct? This is a mouse:   This is a rat:   In any case, we have many phrases about both in English.  Here are five about mice.   Next week, rats
  1. Are you a man or a mouse? 
It's time to propose!  Are you going to be a man or a mouse? Image result for a man or a mouse 2.    When the cats away the mice will play.  Hey the boss is home for the holidays!  Let's have a party!   You know what they say, "when the cats away the mice will play".   3.    As quiet as a mouse. The baby is finally sleeping, if we want to sleep, we'll have to be as quiet as a mouse.   4,   Play cat and mouse with. He has been talking to her about marriage for years.  I think he's just playing cat and mouse with her.   5.  As poor as a church mouse. All my New Year's expenses and shopping, have left me as poor as a mouse.  

I'm back at last.タイトルをクリックしてください

So sorry for the long absence, my old computer started dying in October, and was completely dead in November.  It has taken this long to buy and learn to use my new computer.  I'm beginning to look like this:   But at least I'm back.  Thanks for waiting. So, since last time, Happy Halloween: Happy Thanksgiving:   Merry Christmas: Happy Star Wars: Image result for the rise of skywalker And finally, Happy New Year!     Hope next year is wonderful for all of you, and for Japan . . . OLYMPICS!! Next year I will keep up my phrase page much better.  I promise!

Rugby: Japan VS Samoaタイトルをクリックしてください

  Congratulation to Japan on their unexpected victory over Ireland last Saturday! The next game is Japan VS Samoa.  As some of you know, I was born in Samoa . . . long ago.  Although I don't have any memories from that time.  I always have a soft spot in my heart for the land of my birth.Flag of Samoa.svg So with this in mind, I will be cheering for Samoa this Saturday.  Good luck to both teams.  May the best team win! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC8MiS-0zbY A few beautiful photos of Samoan landscape.        

  TOFA  

Back to workタイトルをクリックしてください

As promised two weeks ago, today's topic is "back to work".  Is fall a busy time for you?  It is for me!  All the schools seem to pack these four months full of classes, plus every weekend I have weddings. Here are some common phrases we use when talking about going back to work, especially after a vacation.

  1. back to the grindstone
  2. back to the salt mines
  3. back in the rat race
  4. back on the hamster wheel
  5. back in the rut
These first five are all negative phrases, let's also learn some positive ones.
  1. I'm an eager beaver
  2. I'm rarin' to go
  3. I'm champing at the bit
  4. You look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
  5. He eats, sleeps and breathes snowboarding
おまけ Today's BGM:

9 to 5  Dolly Parton

Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen Pour myself a cup of ambition Yawn and stretch and try to come to life Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin' Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin' With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin' Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin' They just use your mind and they never give you credit It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, for service and devotion You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me I swear sometimes that man is out to get me!
They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter You're just a step on the boss-man's ladder But you got dreams he'll never take away You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in An' the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way
Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin' Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin' They just use your mind and you never get the credit It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it 9 to 5, yeah they got you where they want you There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you? It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet
9 to 5, whoa what a way to make a livin' Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin' They just use your mind and they never give you credit It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, yeah they got you where they want you There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you? It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet
9 to 5, working 9 to 5

V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N.タイトルをクリックしてください

I'm back , after a month-long vacation from this site. Did you have a nice summer vacation?  It was so hot, but I enjoyed my new air conditioner.  I had a nine-day Obon vacation, but didn't really do anything special.  I went cycling many times, went to Oga a few times, but mainly just relaxed at home . . . the BEST kind of vacation. Today I want to teach you a few vacation idioms.

  1. Travel on a shoestring.  It means traveling cheap.  As a college student, I traveled to India on a shoestring.
  2. Booked solid.  Full.  I wanted to go to Aomori for Nebuta, but all the hotels were booked solid.
  3. Get away from it all.  After working so hard in July, I just wanted to get away from it all, so I climbed Mt.Taihei.
  4. B&B (Bed and Breakfast), like a 民宿.  I found a really nice B&B in Okinawa.
  5. Hit the town.  Go downtown, drinking, shopping etc.  We spent the week in Honolulu, after a great day at the beach, we were ready to hit the town.
  6. Catch some rays / Soak up some sun
  7. Thumbing it / hitchhiking
  8. Put someone up
  9. Road trip
  10. Hit the road
Good luck with the last five.  I think you can figure them out.  If not, we'll talk about it this week. Here are a few photos from my summer vacation.  Next time, "back to work". At Hanamaki Hotspring At Funoshi Waterfall Time for a barbecue! At the Taihei Mountain trailhead / Kokumin no mori. (60 km cycling) At Oga . . . so beautiful! And finally, my new toy!  I bought this new lawnmower online.  I am going to try it out for the first time today!  I am so excited.  BACK TO WORK.

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