WHY BRITISH PEOPLE??? 

(sorry Atusgiri  Jason)

Today's phrase: Six of one, half a dozen of the other. is used to say both options are about the same, so it really makes no difference which you choose. Do you think I should take Hirokoji or Chuodo?  At this time of the day, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. Do you think the new Governor of Tokyo will be better than Gov. Masuzoe?  With politics these days, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. WITH DONALD TRUMP AND HILLARY CLINTON IT IS NOT SIX OF ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER! 

Finally!  My lawn has been so thirsty.  Maybe I can relax for awhile and quit watering it myself.  This may be the first year when I'm looking forward to the rainy season. Today we'll look at some common phrases about rain. It's raining cats and dogs. (どしゃ降り） It looks like rain.（雨が降りそう） It's just a drizzle.（ただの小雨だ。） I got caught in a downpour.（どしゃ降りにあたった） The sun is trying to come out.（お日様が出てきそう） And finally, one poem I won't use this year, it's similar to てるてるぼうず： Rain rain go away, come again another day Little Johnny wants to play, rain rain go away. Don't let the rain get you down.  Call out your inner child. Singin' in the rain. (click for Gene Kelly youtube video)      

One of my childhod heroes,  Muhammad Ali, passed away this weekend, following a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.   He had so many great phrases, today I will focus on "like a . . . ". Float like a butterfly sting like a bee.   We use "like a" comparisons with many animals and insects.  I will give a few here.  Are they similar in Japanese? Eat like a horse. Work like a dog. Roar like a lion. Sweat like a pig. Like a bull in a china shop. Swim like a fish. There are many other comparisons, maybe you can come up with some original ones of your own.  Please tell me. Unfortunately, there is one thing that we will never see again: A fighter who boxes like Muhammad Ali.  Rest in Peace champ.

The Jury is still out, is a common phrase often used in news headlines and conversation.  It means it is still undecided. Here are some recent headlines: (you can click to see the original article). Jury is still out on the effectiveness of electronic monitoring system. Jury still out on impact of whole grains. Jury is still out on benefits of statins for healthy senior patients. My new grass has been attacked by weeds.  Especially puzzle grass (スギナ）.  I'm out everyday fighting it. The jury is still out on who will win the war.  Wish me luck.

As soon as I finished planting my yard, the hot weather started!  A new lawn needs a lot of water, and I was praying for rain everyday.  In the meantime, twice every day, I was out manually sprinkling my grass.  The first time should be early in the morning, so I was waking up at 5:00 a.m. everyday.  I am so sleepy this week!   It has been around 27 or 28 degrees everyday this week.  It's unseasonably warm for Akita.  Tomorrow will be 27 again, after that it looks like it will go back to normal May weather. MORE RAIN PLEASE!

I spent the weekend on my knees, finishing my yard.  Today my whole body aches, especially my back. Putting in a yard is back breaking work, I hope I never have to do it again.   I'm finished!!  I hope my grass becomes greener on my side of the fence!  Please come see it sometime.