I want to start the year optimistically.  Here are a few inspirational quotes, that are common in English.  Do you agree or disagree?  Do they help, or hurt your current condition?                         Hope you have a very inspiring and fulfilling year!  

Just a quick post today.  I wanted to share some of the pictures from my weekend.  I went camping and then climbed to Maedake the next morning.  It was exhausting, but beautiful.  Hope you are having a nice week.

Sorry, I was late! （一つ遅れました）

Happy New Year!

I’m looking forward to

taking a bite out of English with you this year!

p.s. I went to the new Star Wars movie last night, could you tell?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

1. The Christmas service filled me with a deep reverence.
2. The first Sunrise of the year filled me with awe.
3. I was awestruck when I held my grandson for the first time.
4. You children must sit reverently until the church service has ended.
5. We need a president with a greater sense of reverence for the constitution.

  Another emotion prevalent at Christmas(hopefully), is satisfaction （満足）.  After waking up on Christmas morning, seeing Santa's presents, checking our the goodies in your Xmas stocking, and finally opening the mountain of presents from friends and relatives under the tree, the child is filled with satisfaction that only comes once a year at Christmas.   So, today, how to express satisfaction in English.

1. Christmas has exceeded my expectations.
2. That was delicious.  I couldn't eat another bite.
3. I'm so full.
4. I'm as satisfied as a fox in a henhouse.
5. Some people are never satisfied, no matter how much they have.
6. Customer satisfaction is the backbone of any business.
7. I made banana bread last night, but I'm very unsatisfied with the results.
8. It seems like nothing I do will ever satisfy you.
9. I'm very unsatisfied with President Trump's job performance!
10. Finally, my Mother's favorite poem about dissatisfaction:

Man Is A Fool

Anonymous

As a rule, man is a fool, When it's hot, he wants it cool; When it's cool, he wants it hot, Always wanting what is not.

Never wanting what he's got.

As a child, the greatest part of Christmas is the surprise that comes on Christmas morning when children wake up and look at the presents from Santa.   Today, I'll give you 10 phrases to talk about surprise.

1. I'm so surprised!  I never expected this.
2. I'm nicely surprised.
3. Wow!  You knocked my socks off!
4. I can't believe my eyes!
5. OMG!  (Oh My God)
6. You could knock me over with a feather.
7. Are you serious?  You  must be joking.
8. Wow!  Words fail me.
9. I was stopped dead in my tracks.
10. I swear, my jaw dropped when Trump won the election!

December is here, the time for joy, awe, surprise and happiness.  Here are 10 phrases to talk about how happy you are.  I hope you have many, many chances to use them.  

1. I am on cloud nine since I passed the test!
2. You are grinning from ear to ear, what happened?
3. I'm on the top of the world, she said "yes"!
4. I've been walking on air, since my date.
5. I opened my present, and I'm in 7th heaven!
6. I am a happy camper, I'm home for the weekend.
7. I'm over the moon, this is my over the moon face.
8. Thanks to you this has been the best day ever.
9. You look like a dog with two tails.
10. You have made me the happiest man in the world!

Have a happy, happy week.