Carrie

Enrich my vocabulary 6

勉強

Many a pickle makes a mickle!^^


beacon / boon / carrel / coiffure / conjure (up) / coop up / flabby 
inalienable / irksome / mire / nonsensical / plump
set on / sinewy / smart / snow-clad / stitch / sting / stout /
tingle / treasure trove / veritable / willowy / wrong side

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/26 22:59:06

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    Hope things're running as smoothly s they should.

    I'm glad you've come across an article which describes
    Asperger's syndrome.
    I hope it will give you a clue to handling your son's
    present problem, but I suggest you should consult a
    psychiatrist for the precise diagnosis and advice about
    his conditions.

    I hope there'll be a remedy to improve his present
    condition so that he can lead his life in a more
    comfortable way.
    Since I don't have a smattering knowledge of Asperger's
    syndrome, I can't give you any advice which will alleviate
    your worries about your son.
    All I can do now is pray for the betterment of the present
    condition.

    Take care and don't work too hard.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/26 11:00:36

    Hi arie!

    Thanks! I enjoy doing preparations for the spring concert.
    I've finally got the fliers, so I'll send them to the guests,
    would-be audiences whom I don't know their e-addresses.
    To my excitement, I found out my used-to-be piano teacher's
    address.
    She was my first piano teacher and I haven't seen her for
    almost 40 years.
    I searched her name on the net, and got the info in the end.
    I'll send her the flier too~
    She must be surprised to get it; she doesn't know I resumed
    playing piano again!^^

    I read a book about Asperger's and also googled about it yesterday.
    They say things slightly different, but I now think my older son
    could be the one.
    He can't seem to imagine other's feelings, and he's addicted to
    his interest too much without doing what he should do each day.
    If I think he has Asperger's , then I feel it's much easier to accept
    his attitude.
    He still doesn't talk to me, but his anger seems to be subdued, as
    I aplogized to him if I ever hurt him.

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/25 22:55:08

    Hi, Carrie!

    How's it going?
    I'm glad it didn't snow against the weather forecast.
    We don't want any more snowfalls in the Kanto area.

    Thanks a ton for sending us the notice of your spring
    concert.
    We're looking forward to your stage performance and
    the other Japanese traditional arts.
    There must be a lot of preparations you'll have to make
    before the concert, but I hope you enjoy the process
    on a daily basis.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/24 20:35:45

    [mire]

    Hope he'll get out of the mire.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/24 20:35:01

    [set on]

    I'm set on asking him the reason of his anger.

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/24 17:46:14

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing today?
    I really do hope you'll be able to handle the
    family hot potato and things will return to
    normal as soon as possible.
    I think it'd be a good idea to talk with him
    when he isn't using the smartphone if you
    ever have such an occasion.

    I wonder how he can manage to find time
    to study so that he can graduate from university.

    My dictionary gives a translation of 「触らぬ神...」:
    "Don't go asking for trouble./ Let sleeping dogs like."
    I cannot help thinking that he's got stuck in the mire
    and needs some help to get out of it.

    I hope you can get through the predicament and
    retrieve the peaceful life like before.
    Good luck.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/24 09:44:53

    [irksome]

    I hope the irksome problem will go away soon.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/24 09:30:51

    Hi arie!

    Thanks much for listening to my irksome problem.
    I've found my son only got angry at me, as I was the one
    who pointed out that he uses his smartphone too much.
    I also said to him that he didn't seem to use it for studying
    but for playing games.
    I just said what I had noticed, but he said he doesn't want to
    talk about it, and keeps on using it 24-7.

    My hubby said he doesn't know what to do and has been like
    "見て見ぬふり" and has "触らぬ神に祟りなし" attitude.
    But I'm worried about my son's dishonesty and smartphone-
    addiction!

    Sorry for whining.
    I'll ask my son why he got angry at me, and try to talk more
    about smartphone addiction and such.

    TTYL

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/23 21:35:18

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing over there today?
    Hope it won't snow a lot this time.
    The last snowfall did us a lot of harm in our
    daily life.

    Thanks much for telling me about your personal
    pain in the neck.
    I can imagine how frustrated you are in your day-
    to-day life, having such an irksome burden on your
    shoulders.
    I really do hope you can handle the problem all right
    and retain your true self so that you can enjoy your
    everyday life like before.
    To put myself in your shoes, I'd get miserably discouraged
    and lose my true self.

    I think your normal pace of life would help remove a pain
    in the neck in the end.
    Good luck and hang in there.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/23 13:03:53

    Hi arie!

    Thanks much for reading my example sentences and
    giving me lovely comments.
    I might change my idea of becoming plumpy in the
    next world, if my would-be partner prefers opposite. ^^

    Oh, you were too concentrate on what you were doing!
    The episode of forgetting your schedule made me smile.
    I always admire you for doing your best each day.

    My older son has become a real headache.
    I've found he's addicted to his smartphone; he's using it
    more than 15 hours a day, presumably for games.
    He said he didn't want to tell us what he uses it for, and
    started to ignore us!
    I was also shocked to realize that he tells lies so easily.
    A dishonest, no-greeting son is the last person I'd like to
    have. >_<
    Anyway, I know we should talk to him, but it's difficult
    at the moment.

    Hope it won't snow much tonight!

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/22 22:14:59

    Hi, Carrie!

    I'm impressed you're always set on improving
    your English.
    I've found your expression "I want to be a plump
    woman in the next world" very lovely.

    I don't think I'm a veritable English teacher, but
    just a mere English teacher.
    I just enjoy honing my English and sharing it with
    other people.
    I realize it's tough to excel in one field and become
    an expert in it, but I enjoy the process of reaching
    my goal.

    How did you enjoy your day today?
    Hope it was another peaceful and meaningful day
    today.
    Personally, I gave a Japanese class to the Filipino
    boy until 13:30 this afternoon and went to the library
    to make preparations for other classes to follow.
    I cooped myself up in the library until 18:00 and then
    I went to practice table tennis in a community center
    to find there was no club activity this evening.
    I took a note of it in my diary but it was stupid of me
    to completely forget about it.

    Have another nice and fruitful day today.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:27:32

    [veritable]

    arie is a veritable English teacher.^^

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:27:02

    [sinewy]

    I have sinewy arms.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:26:42

    [plump]

    I want to be a plump woman in the next world.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:26:15

    [stout]

    I wish I was a bit stout.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:25:50

    [flabby]

    I've never been flabby before.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:25:30

    [willowy]

    I'm willowy with long straight hair.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/22 10:25:02

    [snow-clad]

    We had a snow-clad garden last Monday.

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/20 23:22:06

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're things over there?
    Hope all the chaos related to the heavy snowfall
    is settled now.

    Fortunately enough, i've fully recovered from what
    seemed to be a cold today and I was able to enjoy
    giving a voluntary Japanese class in the library.
    Yes, health is more important than anything else.
    I wholeheartedly hope you'll be able to recover from
    the trouble with your shoulder so that you can lead
    your daily life in a comfortable manner like before.

    Today, in my Japanese class, I dealt with some phrases
    such as 「~もさることながら」、「~のことだから」、
    「~せざるを得ない」、「~につれて」、「~ずくめ」, etc.
    It's easy for Japanese people to understand what each
    phrase means, but when it comes to explaining the meaning
    and usage of them, it's quite another.
    It's another difficult story to come up with appropriate example
    sentences including the expression which my students can use
    in their everyday life.
    Japanese is utterly a foreign language when we are obliged to
    teach it to people from overseas.

    See you later.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/19 09:25:22

    [sting]

    The smoke stings my eyes.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/19 09:24:48

    [smart]

    The smoke made my eyes smart.

    My eyes smarted with the smoke.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/19 09:23:53

    [coiffure]

    I don't really like this coiffure, so I'll change it to the previous ones.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/19 09:10:55

    Hi arie!

    You are really full of beans and a hardworking guy.^^
    Hope you didn't get any muscle pain due to plowing the snow.

    Like your area, we had snow piled up everywhere yesterday,
    and all the family members returned home from the station,
    as the trains stopped moving.

    I was shocked to realize that my elder son is really addicted to
    his smartphone.
    He's always using it while he's up.
    The final exam is coming, but he was playing it all day!
    I got so frustrated. >_<

    I'll be here at around 15:30 to see whether you return home or not.
    I'll be available at night too, so don't rush!
    Have a safe taxi transfer~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/18 22:16:05

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    Hope you're getting better after your good sleep.

    I guess you must be amazed to see a lot of snow
    around your residence this morning.
    To be honest with you, I didn't notice the snowfall
    until I sat in the living room after I got up this
    morning.
    I happened to give a glance at the garden to find
    all the plants and potted flowers clad in a blanket
    of snow.

    Thanks to the snow, the table tennis session and
    the English class were cancelled for the sake of safety.
    Even tomorrow morning's table tennis activity was
    cancelled because of skiddy roads.

    It's a pity I'll have to go to the place where I give an
    English class on Saturdays to print fliers to recruit new
    members for the new academic year.
    I hope the roads to the place won't be skiddy tomorrow
    morning so that I can get to the venue safe and sound.

    I think I'll be able to come back home around 15:00 if
    things go as smoothly as they should.
    I'll try to log in at around 15:30 tomorrow afternoon.

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/17 21:18:51

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    Are you all right now?
    I hope you've had enough rest and regained
    your strength to lead your daily life like before.
    You must have overstrained yourself by going
    out all day long.
    A good night's rest is the best medicine for curing
    your fatigue.

    Personally, I have no idea why I've been so busy
    since welcoming the new year.
    I know it is nice to always have something to do,
    but being too busy is what I'd like to avoid in my
    everyday life.
    I hope I can lead a slower pace of life as I get used
    to the present rhythm of life.

    Hope you'll wake up feeling rejuvenated tomorrow
    morning.
    Take good care of yourself and don't work too hard.

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/16 00:29:10

    Hi, Carrie!

    Thanks a million for your heartfelt message.
    I'm glad to hear you've had a pleasant time
    having lunch with jkurukuru.
    I hope she'll be able to find a nice and good
    voluntary job as soon as possible.

    To be honest, I've been pressed for time for
    the last couple of days.
    I've been preparing teaching materials for my
    English and Japanese classes and a correspondence
    course.
    In addition, I was in charge of preparing the minutes
    of the teaching staff meeting of the Wednesday
    Japanese class.

    Besides, I went to practice table tennis in Hanno City
    this evening, which made me all the busier.
    I enjoyed playing table tennis very much though,
    probably because I wanted to give vent to my pent-
    up frustration.

    Have a nice day.
    I'd like to enjoy the Saturday English class with my
    students today.

    See you later.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/15 18:29:17

    Hi arie!

    You seem to be very busy last night, as you visited me
    this morning!

    Oh, I got this coiffure (thx^^) at the latest event.
    I didn't like it at first, as it's black and looks so heavy.
    But when it swings, I like it better~

    I went out to do yoga this morning, then I happened to
    see Jkurukuru. So we had lunch together.
    She left her job as she turned 65, and is now looking for
    some voluntary work.
    After returning home, I got lots of stuff by coop and
    was busy taking care of them, especially veggies, cutting,
    boiling, salting.....no time for playing piano today!

    How was your day today?
    Hope you enjoyed the day as you always do~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/13 23:55:03

    Hi, Carrie!

    I hope you can alleviate your pain in the shoulder
    by giving a lot of energy to the affected part.

    This evening I just came home from Tokyo Bunka
    Kaikan in which Tokyo Shitunai Kangen Gakudan
    played beautiful pieces of chamber music.
    One of my Monday English Class's member told me
    that her son was going to play the contrabass in the
    chamber orchestra, so I went to the concert hall with
    my wife and daughter to enjoy his performance.
    His name is Takasugi Kento and he really did a great
    job on the stage.
    I was for the first time to listen to the solo performance
    of contrabass with the accompaniment of other stringed
    instruments.

    Tomorrow morning I'm going to have the first Japanese
    class for the Filipino boy at his junior high school.

    Have another nice day.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/13 10:59:56

    [tingle]

    My skin tingles after having sunburn.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/13 10:57:21

    [stitch]

    I often get a stitch after running a long distance.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/13 10:40:39

    Hi arie!

    You seem to enjoy playing table tennis so much.^^
    I did yoga for the second time this year yesterday.

    You are really happy and lucky to have those enthusiastic adult students.
    Likewise, they are so lucky to have a fantabulous teacher like you!
    I'm sure your class will last another 27 years; until you leave this world~!

    Thanks to your warmhearted consideration, my shoulder has become
    less painful.
    I happened to read a book by 矢作直樹, who is a doctor.
    He said his "goju-kata" got better within a week by uncanny spiritual energy.
    I was so encouraged by this message!
    I'll try and heal my shoulder by sending lots of energy too~

    Many thanks for another parody of song.
    I hope I don't need to use those words for my shoulder anymore!

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/12 22:35:52

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    I had a little hangover this morning, but it was gone
    while playing table tennis, to my relief.

    I appreciate having been given an opportunity to
    share my knowledge of English with the adult students
    for such a long time of 27 years.
    I cannot help being grateful to their diligence to continue
    studying without quitting halfway.
    The class means a great deal to me in that it makes me
    feel I can be of some help to them.

    Let me give you a group of similar words of "pain", though
    I may have told you about them once before:

    acute/ poignant/ severe/ sharp/ piercing/
    蝶蝶 蝶蝶   名の葉に  とまれ
    prickling/ prickly/ a prickle/ a stitch/ a stab/
    名の  葉に  飽いたら 桜に  とまれ 
    burning/ griping/ smarting/ stabbing/
    桜の  花の  花から 花へ
    stinging/  tingling/ throbbing/ dull/ chronic/  intolerable
    とまれよ あそべ あそ   べ あそべよ とまれ

    I've found it easy to memorize a chunk of synonyms with
    the tune of "Cho-cho."

    Don't work too hard and take good care of yourself.

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/11 23:44:25

    Hi, Carrie!

    How's the world treating you?
    Hope you feel comfortable in the way you lead
    your everyday life with your shoulders having
    no problems any more.

    Thanks a million for telling me about your new year's
    resolutions.
    I'm sure your resolutions will be materialized for sure,
    considering your firm determination.

    This evening I shared happy moments with my Monday
    English class members with whom I've been learning
    English for more than 27 years.
    I admit I've been blessed with a precious opportunity
    to enjoy mingling with old familiar people for such a
    long time.
    Hopefully we can keep in touch with the coterie as long
    as possible.

    I hope tomorrow will be as peaceful a day as you've
    ever had.
    See you later.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/11 10:39:29

    [beacon]

    We need a beacon which tells us which way we should go.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/11 10:37:25

    [carrel]

    He always sits at a carrel in the library.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/11 10:36:11

    [treasure trove]

    arie is a treasure trove of English vocabulary.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/11 10:34:41

    Hi arie!

    Thanks much for your lovely message as always.^^

    I've decided my resolutions for this year~
    ① I'll eliminate my egos one by one.
    ② I'll take the golden mean.

    Hope our resolutions will be realized in the year of Monkey!^^

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/09 19:51:19

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    Hope you're surviving all right.

    I'm glad to hear you're getting used to the problem
    of your shoulders and you feel less and less pain in them.
    I believe you're always resilient both spiritually and
    physically, so you'll be able to regain your normal pace of
    life soon.

    Maybe a long and comfortable soak in a hinoki bath will
    work on your physical problems in a favorable way.
    Did I ever tell you that my wife has bought two of them
    for our son and daughter because she was very much
    impressed by the efficaciousness of the hinoki liquid and
    decided to share the pleasure with them.

    This morning in my English class I asked my adult students
    to tell us about their new year's resolutions in English.
    It must have been a tough job for them but, to my relief,
    they did a great job telling us about their resolutions for
    this year.
    Incidentally, I told them that (1) I'd like to take more moderate
    exercise, (2)improve my teaching skills of Japanese.

    TTYL.


  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/09 18:41:21

    Hi arie!

    Many thanks for your warm, considerate message.
    After reading it, I felt much better!^^

    Actually, my shoulder has become less painful.
    I guess it doesn't have serious problems like dislocation,
    plus I might get used to the pain.
    I feel as if I had sanju-kata both of my shoulders now.
    According to the net info, I have nothing to do for
    sanju-kata.
    So I'll take good care of my shoulders without going see
    a doctor for a while, and see what will happen.

    You must have enjoyed the first class for this year today!
    I envy your students~ <3

    See you soon.^^

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/08 23:06:38

    Hi, Carrie!

    I'm very much worried about your shoulders.
    I guess you should go to a clinic and have your case
    of the shoulders diagnosed as soon as possible.
    I've heard alternative medicine like acupuncture or some
    other way will do you mnore good than you expect.
    I'm sure it's worth consulting a doctor so that you can
    alleviate the pain in the shoulders.

    I'm afraid you might have overstrained yourself by playing
    different roles in your everyday life.
    You should lead a more leisurely pace of life so that your
    physical conditions feel comfortable.
    Anyway I hope your shouolders will get well and you can
    conduct a normal pace of life like before as soon as you can.

    Take it easy and take good care of yourself.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/08 17:00:56

    [inalienable (right)]

    The citizen who is 18 years old and older has an
    inalienable right to vote in elections.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/08 16:59:31

    [coop up]

    My cats don't like being cooped up in the house.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/08 16:58:54

    [coop up]

    I spent all day cooped up in the living room yesterday.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/08 16:58:09

    Hi arie!

    You seem to work full time yesterday being cooped up
    in the library!
    You really like learning something and can't just sit back
    and relax. ^^
    Your attitude always encourages me to move on further
    as well~.

    I hurt both of my shoulders; one is "sanju-kata" as you know,
    and the other got hurt as my cat slept on it over night.
    Actually, this one is worse than sanju-kata and might have
    been a bit dislocated.
    It's painful whatever I do. >_<
    I was really discouraged by the pain and didn't feel like doing
    anything, but now I'm encouraged by reading your message.
    I will do whatever I can do little by little.

    Thanks for the new words too!
    I'm encouraged to learn more English as well.^^

    ...I couldn't find "zip by" in my dictionary~

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/07 23:36:08

    Hi, Carrie!

    What's new!
    How did you enjoy the seventh day of the new year?
    It's amazing seven days have already zipped by.
    I haven't noticed them passing by though.

    Today I cooped myself up in the library from 9:30
    through 19:00 to make a summary of the usage of
    "cause/ effect" expressions in Japanese: から、ので、
    ために、て、しなくて、おかげで、から、からには、
    せいで、によって、あまり、あまりの...に、以上は、
    上は、...が...だけに、からこそ、ことだし、
    だけに、ところをみると、につき、のことだから、
    ばかりに、もの、ものだから、てまえ、とあって、
    ばこそ、ゆえに、こととて、ではあるまいし...

    Don't you think it's incredible that we have good command
    of them hands down?
    I felt as if I were learning another foreign language while
    making an analysis of the usage of my own mother tongue
    which has been an inalienable part of me since I acquired it.

    Have fun making preparations for your upcoming spring
    concert.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/07 11:38:33

    Hi arie!

    I was kind of surprised to hear you watched the latest
    Hollywood movie "Star Wars" with the state-of-the-art
    technology.
    Was it your idea to go see it at the first place?
    Anyway, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the 4DX version.
    I guess it's a kind of cross between a film and an
    attraction in an amusement park.
    I heard "Star Wars" is a series, this time is the seventh
    or something, so you have difficulty getting the story
    if you don't watch the former ones!

    We seemed to log in at once again last night.
    You must have written your messege while I was writing
    my blog!
    I logged out right after posting it, so I couldn't notice
    your visit. >_<

    Yup! I was pleased to hear Frost had passed the entrance
    exam of the university of her choice~^^

    Enjoy the beautiful day!

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/06 23:03:39

    Hi, Carrie!

    What's up?
    Hope you've enjoyed making preparations for the
    spring concert and walking in a leisurely way.

    I made some paperwork for my English classes at
    the library in the morning and went to see the film
    "Star Wars" in the 4DX version for the first time.
    To be honest, I couldn't follow the story of the movie
    very well but I enjoyed my firsthand experience of
    the 4DX version.
    The seat swings, vibrates and sometimes gives me a
    massage on the back while giving me a gentle splash
    of water and breeze in the face.

    I think it's worth giving it a try once for the fun of it
    if you haven't experienced the 4DX yet.

    Glad to find you in the article of Frost this evening.
    Have a nice evening.
    They produce a mist of spray to enhance the effect of
    the scene from time to time.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/06 10:35:53

    [right side / wrong side]

    The right side of the flier is in color,
    but the wrong side is black-and-white.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/06 10:34:15

    Hi arie!

    As I'd imagined, you played table tennis yesterday~!
    You're an active guy and are always doing something.
    You can't just sit still bored!
    I think it's a good idea to do more exercise as long as
    you feel so.
    I guess I also need more exercise, as I lead a sedentary
    lifestyle.
    I'll walk a lot on a daily basis!^^

    My younger son returned home late at night from Chiba
    after finishing all his work for the day.
    It's a pity we couldn't have dinner together, but he
    enjoyed sukiyaki and looooooong bath-time.^^

    I might log in this afternoon again.
    Enjoy the slow pace of life this week~!

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/05 15:14:38

    Hi, Carrie!

    Seems like you've started your regular pace of life
    all right.
    I've practiced table tennis for the second time in
    the morning.
    I never fail to feel refreshed whenever I play table
    teinnis.
    It's a pity I've been playing table tennis only two days
    a week for nearly one year.
    I'm thinking of taking a little more exercise to maintain
    my good health because I've been prone to lead a
    sedentary lifestyle since I decreased the number of days
    for my exercise.

    I'm glad you've decided on the first flier.
    My first impression of them was that both were beautifully
    designed and it was difficult for me to tell which was better
    and which was worse.
    Besides, the performance of my printer might not be good
    enough to show the real shade of color of each flier.
    Anyway all the performers in it come out as beautiful and
    professional as they are.

    It's a pity that we missed each other yesterday.
    I've been having a leisurely pace of life in the afternoon
    before my classes start on Jan. 9th.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/05 09:06:37

    Hi arie!

    I appreciate your having a look at the fliers and giving me
    your preference with convincing explanation.^^
    I was so excited about which one you would choose.
    To tell the truth, I prefer the other one.
    I don't really mind which one would be chosen, though.
    The web designer also said that he liked the first one better.
    So we might decide on the first one...
    Yep! That's surprising!
    The title "Wa-yo-bu-on" just sprang to mind.
    I've never imagined the part of it is your son's name!@@

    I played piano for the first time this year yesterday.
    I became really hot during the practice, so I logged in
    at around 15:30 to cool me down a bit.
    Then I found your footstep which showed you'd just
    visited me!
    Pity I couldn't find you, but we logged in at the same time.
    You must have been busy writing your message on this page
    while I was looking for you. ^^

    Are you playing table tennis today too?
    My younger son will be returning home tonight after 10 days
    absence, so we'll be having sukiyaki~!^^

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/04 15:59:44

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing today?
    Hope things're going all right as they should be.

    Thanks for the beautiful backdrop scenes.
    I like them very much, particularly the one with
    plum blossoms in it.

    I've enjoyed making a comparison between the two
    fliers both of which are exquisitely designed.
    It's difficult to make a distinction between them,
    but I dare say I'd prefer the second one, because
    it has subdued spring-like flamboyance, leaving a
    more blank space, which helps to make cherry petals
    more conspicuous than the first one.
    I like its faint blurry background like a watercolor
    painting which gives faint warmth to the entire flier
    and the three performers seem to be integral to the
    total design.

    Incidentally, the first two characters constitute my son's
    name, but in a different way of reading.
    It's another coincidence, to my surprise.

    Have a nice day.

  • ject

    ject

    2016/01/03 05:03:32

    nah seems to be mechanical talking go insta and have chatt say f word or slung am i spelling foreigner ok?? lol whatever be openminded like degawa san

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/02 20:22:59

    Hi, Carrie!

    I've just come home from my partner's parents' house.
    We enjoyed having a delicious drink at a tavern on the
    way back home.
    We wanted to ride a bus home from the nearest station
    but thanks to the special bus schedule we were obliged
    to wait for 30 minutes for the next bus to come, so we
    decided to walk home which takes about 35 minutes,
    thinking it'd be beneficial to our good health.
    It's amazing we walked nearly 17,000 steps today.
    Since we were blessed with warm and peaceful weather
    today, I felt the long-distance walk very enjoyable.

    I'm glad you enjoyed a long-distance walk and relished
    having fresh-baked bread to your heart's content.
    It's really nice to share happy and delicious moments
    with our partners when we have plenty of relaxing time.

    Tomorrow I'm going to visit my hometown and coming
    home probably after 21:00.
    I'll try to log in to the site as soon as I am back, maybe
    around 22:00.
    I hope it won't be too late, though.
    See you soon.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2016/01/02 16:57:17

    Hi arie!

    Happy New Year!
    I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the family get-together
    on the New Year.^^
    You must have been really busy until Nao-chan had
    a nap in the afternoon~
    Oh, I'm really impressed by your description of Nao-chan.
    You told me what she's like so well!
    You're always logical and adpt at expressing things
    in proper words. Amazing!!!@@

    We had a serene New Year at home without our
    younger son.
    He'll work as an intern until Jan. 5th.
    Today, we were supposed to see my brother and
    my sister, but it was postponed to a later day.
    So we visited a nearby shrine, then walked to
    Mizonokuchi to have a late lunch at an eatery
    which serves all-you-can-eat bread right from
    the oven.
    We ate a lot and walked a lot today!^^

    You must have walked a lot too, to Masa's parents'.
    Enjoy the beautiful new year's days~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2016/01/02 00:08:17

    Hi, Carrie!

    I wish you a happy new year!
    I hope you had a great time on the first day
    of the new year.
    We really enjoyed having our granddaughter
    and her parents and our daughter's couple
    coning over to our place to celebrate the arrival
    of the new year of 2016.

    It's amazing that Nao-chan has started uttering
    her wishes in what seems to be a sentence even
    though each word is not articulately pronounced
    though.
    It won't be long before she can express herself in
    a natural manner.
    I can't help being impressed with the speed with
    which a little child learns to speak his or her mother
    tongue.
    Little children have an ingenious brain with which
    they can make a grammatical and linguistic analysis
    of what they hear and can convey their messages
    by uttering proper sounds.
    They are a genius for acquiring a language.

    I hope the new year of 2016 will bring you a lot of
    happiness.

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/30 22:22:24

    Hi, Carrie!

    Seems like you've had a great time collaborating with
    a web designer.
    I'm sure you'll be able to design an equisite flier for
    your spring concert which envisions the superbness
    of your performance.
    I feel I can envisage an elaborated flier before I take
    an actual look at your masterpiece.

    Today I worked really hard discarding a lot of books
    on the bookshelves downstairs which I don't think I
    need any more.
    It was not until 16:30 that I finished eliminating
    unnecessary books from the bookshelves and after
    that I took some of the merchandisable ones to Bookoff,
    say, 100 of them.
    They accepted only 40 of them and rejected the rest
    saying they have some stains, and the color of pages has
    faded even though I have selected the best quality of them
    for their appraisal.

    I still have a couple of bookshelves downstairs and upstairs
    where a large collection of unnecessary books lie for a long
    time, but I hope they can wait for me to remove them until
    some other time.


  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/30 19:50:47

    [unpreposessing]

    Chieko was unpreposessing when I frist met her,
    but once she danced, she was really something else.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/30 19:49:46

    [ambrosia]

    The chocolate roll cake was ambrosia!

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/30 19:49:04

    [cerulean]

    We had beautiful cerulean sky yesterday.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/30 19:48:32

    [nonsensical]

    I've got the reason why Tom was so nonsensical the other day.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/30 19:46:21

    Hi arie!

    I'm astonished to know that you did so much cleaning
    in a day.@@
    You're really energetic and have great concentration.
    I wish I had a hardworking hubby like you!

    One of the " U.K." members, the new one actually,
    is a web designer and he did a great job designing
    an awesome flier using pictures for the spring concert.
    He'll add the finishing touches to it at home, and send
    me the original soon.
    I'll send it to you then, as I'd like to show you what
    it's like!

    Nao-chan will be staying with you tomorrow.
    It'll be nice to have a key stimulus on the very end of
    the passing year, and the beginning of the new year!
    Enjoy the time~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/29 22:51:46

    Hi, Carrie!

    How's it going today?
    Hope things're running as smoothly as they should.
    Today I cleaned up the toilets, the bathroom, three
    bedrooms upstairs, and repaper shoji sliding screens
    in our study downstairs.
    It took me a long time to finish cleaning them and
    it was already 16:00 o'clock when I finished the cleaning
    and I didn't have time to dispose of my unnecessary
    books today.
    I'm going to discard them firrst thing tomorrow morning.

    I'm not planning to do any cleaning on the last day of
    the passing year because our granddaughter Nao-chan
    is coming to stay overnight with us.
    I have no idea what they are coming to visit us, though.
    Anyway I don't like to work hard until the very end before
    we have the new year.

    I hope you enjoy making your original and ingenious flier
    with your friend tomorrow.

    Have a great time during the two remaining days of 2015.
    See you later.

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/29 00:00:20

    Hi, Carrie!

    You really had a kick out of bathing in a comfortable bath
    at Hakone, your favorite place.
    You deserve to something nice after having worked really
    hard throughout the passing year.
    According to my dictionary, "yuatari-suru" is "to be affected
    by taking too long a hot bath."
    You must have soaked yourself in a comfortably hot bath
    for such a long time as most of your energy got drained
    out of your body.
    I'm glad to hear you came home safe and sound from Hakone.
    I guess you were fully refreshed having slept all the way from
    Hakone to your residence.

    All my social functions were over today and I'll have to clean
    up my house from tomorrow on so that I can welcome the new
    year afresh at heart.
    At the same time, I must dispose of a lot of books in the bookshelves
    because I don't have any more space to put newly-bought ones.

    Don't work too hard.
    See you later.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/28 18:48:12

    Hi arie!

    You must have enjoyed the last table tennis session
    for this year!
    You'll also have the last English lesson this evening.
    You really work hard till very end of this year.

    As for me, I went to Hakone to bath a hot spring again
    today.
    My hubby will drink out, and my younger son won't be
    at home tonight, so I thought It'd be a good chance to
    relax at my favorite place.
    Somehow, I can't relax at home having two cats meowing
    so often and I always need to do something.
    I had a great time bathing the Hinoki bath outside
    overlooking a waterfall and greenery.
    I didn't have to think about anything at all there~!^^
    However, after bathing, I felt so tired and sleepy.
    Maybe I got "yuatari".
    I slept on the trains all the way back home!

    We have only three days to go.
    Let's enjoy the rest of 2015!^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/27 22:43:23

    Hi, Carrie!

    Your lovely cat must have felt happy that she (or he)
    monopolized your comfortable laps to sleep on last
    night.
    You must be happy and relaxed dozing together with
    your cat.

    I finished writing all the new year's greeting cards all
    right yeserday and I posted them this morning, a couple
    of days earlier than ordinary years, thanks to your
    encouragement.
    The only social function left for me to do is attend the
    table tennis session tomorrow morning, which will conclude
    all my social activities for this year.

    I think I've fully enjoyed doing what I should do this year.
    I hope the new year will let me have as enjoyable a year as
    I did this year as well.
    I never thank you enough for your friendship to make my
    daily life enjoyable and worth living.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/27 11:34:20

    [seep]

    Water seeps through the tap.
    Water seeps into the sink.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/27 11:33:29

    [put my back out]

    Thank God I haven't put my back out for more than a year.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/27 11:31:52

    [boon companion]

    I have a boon companion who always supports me.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/27 11:30:56

    [boon]

    Hinoki has been a boon for my life.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/27 11:29:44

    Hi arie!

    I'm very sorry I couldn't join SESS last night.
    I was dozzing off with my cat till after 22:00.>_<
    Then I took a bath and was realized that you might have
    changed the time of the session. But it was too late!

    My younger son is now working as an intern, and will
    stay away from home until Jan. 5th.
    He's the one who eats like a horse and changes clothes
    all the time.
    So I feel I'm kind of having holidays now; I don't need to
    serve foods as well as do the laundry so much.

    You must have finished writing all the new year cards
    by now.
    Let's enjoy cleaning the house!^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/25 22:09:33

    Hi, Carrie!

    Your message has added to our list of shopping list.
    I think it's a good idea to use a chopping board made
    of Hinoki wood because food stuff prepared on it will
    have a faint aroma of hinoki which will in turn do some
    good to our physical and mental health.
    It's amazing you never stop providing us with something
    beneficial to our health.
    I'm always very grateful to you for your healthful tips
    which we can incorporate into our daily life with ease.

    I quite agree with the idea of cleaning up our house little
    by little because we don't have to make a firm decision
    to launch on a year-end cleaning-up.
    Cleaning one spot a day won't take us a lot of energy and
    determination.
    Thanks much for another practical tip to survive one of
    the busiest time of year.

    I only have less than 20 new year's cards on which I must
    finish writing some comments besides printed greetings.
    It's just a matter of t ime.
    I'm sure I can post them 2morrow.
    tomorrow after I finish giving the last

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/25 09:47:11

    [nonsensical]

    What Tom said last night was nonsensical.
    So I didn't feel like listening to him.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/25 09:45:16

    Hi arie!

    I've bought a hinoki chopping board too~!
    So the kitchen is infused with the aroma of it now.
    So refreshed!^^

    I just went to listen to crystal bowls which are played by
    a lady.
    It was held at the Okurayama Hall.
    I just wanted to feel and see the atmosphere there.
    The place is not so large and certainly a cozy one!^^

    Have you finished writing all the new year cards and
    cleaning up?
    As for me, I clean a part of the house little by little
    like Hitomi Kuroki said in the Asahi Newspaper last night.
    In this way, I can enjoy doing it very much!

    Have a happy Christmas~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/24 22:41:03

    Hi, Carrie!

    It's amazing to hear the Hinoki essence is the king
    of energy with numerous efficacies on our mind and
    body.
    i'm sure a lot of people will get immense benefits
    from this marvelous product of nature.
    After having used the miraculous gift from nature
    I've found that it helps a great deal to have a good
    and comfortable sleep.
    i'm wondering what other good this natural boon will
    do to us.

    How did you enjoy crystal bowls today?
    Did you play some piano pieces in concert with them?
    Anyway I'm glad to hear you've found some leisure time
    in the midst of your busy pace of life toward the end of
    the passing year.

    Have another nice and enjoyable day.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/24 22:30:46

    [conjure (up)]

    As I went to see the event, I was able to conjure an image of
    my concert in April.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/24 22:29:43

    [a raft of]

    He has a raft of information about what I want to know.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/24 22:29:15

    [smack of]

    He has a smack of maturity, even though he's still 18 years old.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/24 13:54:43

    Hi arie!

    I'm so pleased to hear Masa also enjoyed the hinoki bath
    so much.
    I've read a book about hado and found hinoki is the king
    of good energy.
    It's effective to almost everything; chilliness, stress,
    depression, an immune system, internal organs, etc.
    We might get other effects apart from chilliness before
    we know it!^^

    Let's enjoy bathing it each night~

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/24 00:17:52

    Hi, Carrie!

    To tell you the truth, my wife was very pleased with
    the effect of the Hisui which one of my best friend
    kindly sent me the other day.
    She enjoyed the aroma of the essence of Hinoki cypress
    and the longlasting effect of keeping her warm.
    She's very much grateful to the sender of the wonderful
    gift from nature.

    Today I stayed home all day long and tried my utmost
    to write as many comments on my new year's cards as
    I could, but I'm afraid I still need a couple of days to
    finish writing all of them.
    I'll planning to post them by 26th at the latest.

    Have a nice day.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/23 10:45:54

    Hi arie!

    I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the hinoki bath and
    it kept you warm longer after bathing it.
    Actually, I feel warm the next day too~
    It's not ruinously expensive; the price is just reasonable.
    I'd like to thank you for teaching, and supporting me
    all the time as well. ^^

    I think so too!
    I enjoyed writing some comments on each card.
    Enjoy~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/22 22:47:37

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    Hope you've been surviving the hectically busy schedule
    before the new year.

    This evening I've tried "Hisui" for the first time in my life.
    It gives off an aromatic soothing scent which makes me
    feel peaceful and relaxed.
    I've put five caps of the liquid in the bathtub and it certainly
    helps me stay warm long after I've finished taking a bath.
    I'm much obliged to you for letting us know about such an
    efficacious bath additive.

    I was surprised to see the mind-boggling price of the product
    in the invoice.
    I can't thank you enough for your TLC.

    I've started writing a couple of lines of personal comments in
    my new year's cards.
    It is no doubt a demanding job to write a large number of the
    cards but on second thought it's nice to have contact with my
    relatives, friends and acquaintances once in a year because
    I seldom see them in my daily busy life.

    Have another beautiful day.

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/19 23:04:23

    Hi, Carrie!

    I know how you feel about your former students now who
    you shared happy moments with while you were teaching
    them a couple of years ago.
    I hope you've succeeded in finding their adrresses or e-mail ones
    through which you can convey to them felicitous messages of
    the new year.
    A feeling of a close relationship with people with whom we've
    shared memorable days with is indispensable to our peaceful
    state of mind.

    Exchanging new year's cards with them once a year is meaningful
    in that we can renew our old friendship with each other even though
    it takes a huge amount of time.
    I've finished printing them and all I have to do now is write a couple
    of comments on each card, thinking about when and how we got
    to know each other.
    I think it's worth our time and effort to exchange new year's cards
    with each other once a year because it helps us to remember our
    good old days.

    I know you're getting busier and busier day by day, but don't
    overstrain yourself.
    See you soon.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/19 10:42:32

    Hi arie!

    You finished giving the lessons to the Filipino boy for this year.
    You really did a great job teaching him Japanese each week!^^
    He's sure broadening his perspective by learning the second or
    the third language and seeing the different culture.
    He's as happy as a lark to have met the great teacher like you!
    You still have four lessons to give.
    Both the teacher and the students are so diligent!

    As for me, I was busy getting contact with many people including
    my former students.
    Since I stopped teaching last April, I feel I miss those children so much!
    So I've decided to give a New Year greeting to them.^^
    I didn't keep any data of them, so I needed to ask someone who
    knows their addresses or email addresses.
    I used my computer so much that my eyes hurt~!
    They're all right now, though.

    I'll have to clean our house too!
    Let's enjoy the annual work~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/19 00:07:09

    Hi, Carrie!

    Seems like you had a lot to do yesterday.
    I'm assured you survived the huge amount of work load
    all right because you always have inexhaustible energy
    and tenacity to stick to what you're obliged to do.
    I know you're a superlady but don't overstrain yourself
    for the sake of your physical and mental health.
    "Too much is as bad is too little." or "Sugitaru wa oyobazaru
    ga gotoshi."

    Today I gave the last Japanese lesson to the Filipino boy
    for this year, resuming the first class on Jan. 14 next year.
    He really did a good job tackling Japanese this year.
    I hope he'll be able to make his dream of becoming a computer
    programmer come true by accommodating himself to his new
    circumstances.
    I'm assured he can make it because he has a keen and supple
    mind.

    I hope you have plenty of leisurely and pleasant time before
    you welcome in the new year.
    Personally, I feel I have to do a lot of cleaning-up because we
    usually don't have enough time to thoroughly clean our house.

    CU.

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/18 00:35:47

    Hi, Carrie!

    It's amazing that taking a Hinoki bath and having Korai Carrot
    or "Asiatic ginsent accorting to my dictionary" have such a
    magical and ethereal power to improve your physical conditions.
    It's a boon for a lot of people that they work for kibes from which
    a large number of people are suffering in the winter time.
    Thanks for the new word "kibe," which I've never heard of before.

    I'm glad to hear the experimentation on your body has proven
    successful, but I'm afraid you'll go on gaining more and more weight
    thanks to the efficacy of the hinoki bath and the super magical carrot.
    As the proverb goes; Many a little makes mickle.

    I'm going to have the last Japanese class for the Filipino boy tomorrow.
    i've got only two English classes to give on Mondays and Saturdays which
    will last until Dec. 28.
    I'll be completely free after that until Jan. 4 or 9 next year.

    I'll have to finish writing new year's cards before it gets too late.
    Don't work too hard.
    Take it easy.
    See U.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/17 09:32:40

    Hi arie!

    Glad to hear you all seemed to enjoy the closing event
    yesterday.^^
    Oh, those familiar names!
    It's interesting to hear that the frog is called Hoppity,
    not Hopping.

    You said it!
    I'm surprised to gain a bit of my weight recently~.
    But I think it's nothing to do with having three meals
    a day; actaully, I have meals twice a day these days.
    I'm now trying a "Hinoki" bath and taking a supplement
    of "Korai Carrot".
    Their hado energy is so high, so I wanted to try them
    to see whether I would change dramatically.
    Another Jintai-jikken! Lol
    Their effects are magical.
    My body becomes so warm that I don't get numb fingers!
    It's been a big problem for a couple of years.
    And my heels became very smooth after taking a bath
    only twice.
    I don't need to worry about getting a kibe anymore!
    I think my stomach has also become strong and digest
    stuff well now.
    I couldn't gain weight for more than a year, but I've put
    on so easily!

    See you soon^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/16 22:43:14

    Hi, Carrie!

    Glad to hear you had another meaning and fruitful day today.
    It seems to be nice that you have your husband staying at home
    on a regular basis because you're obliged to prepare three
    substantial meals for him, which'll lead to gaining a little bit of
    your weight.

    All the students in our Japanese class did a great job reciting
    the story of "Tebukuro" in each of their mother tongue.
    Incidentally, "Pyonpyon Gaeru" is Hoppity Frog, "Hayaashi Usagi"
    Racing Rabbit, "Kuishinbo Nezumi" Greedy Mouse, "Osyare Gitsune"
    Fashion Fox, "Haiiro Okami" Gray Wolf, "Kibamochi Inoshishi"
    Tusked Wild Boar, "Nossori Guma" Sluggish Bear, respectively in
    English.

    It's nice to have some extracurricular activities other than regular
    Japanese classes from time to time, even though it takes plenty of
    time to make preparations for them.

    Looks like you still have a lot to do for your upcoming spring concert.
    I hope things'll go as smoothly as you expect them to.

    Have another enjoyable day.



  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/16 11:41:58

    Hi arie!

    You worked hard yesterday as always!
    It's good to know what you did.^^
    Did Michiyo-san have dinner together?

    As for me, I went grocery shopping, finished writing
    some comments on each New Year cards, contacted
    Chieko and some friends, played piano, did embroidery,
    and so forth.
    As my hubby was off, I needed to prepare three meals
    yesterday.

    It's interesting to hear your feeling and thought!
    Then it was good we just chatted a bit and enjoyed
    exploring Kamakura area individually.^^

    Oh, I love the story of Tebukuro; I have the picture
    book too~.
    It must be interesting to hear the story with different
    languages.
    Enjoy the closing event!

    I still need to talk to Chieko; we need to decide on the
    rehearsal day and book the Okurayama Hall.
    The fliers seemed not to be delivered yet.
    I heard there's "My Number" problem, so all the other
    mail has been stuck.>_<

    Later~

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/15 23:22:32

    Hi, Carrie!

    How was your day today?
    I enjoyed coaching and playing table tennis this morning.
    After having lunch at home, I made some preparatory work
    for my next Monday English class in the afternoon before
    I started preparing for dinner.
    Our daughter gives her flute lessons to her students in our
    place on Tuesdays and sometimes have dinner together with
    us after her lessons.

    To be honest, we didn't have any specific plans after the
    performance on that day.
    I just felt it would be better for us to part from you at the
    station because I just didn't want to come between you and
    your friends.
    Personally, I was very glad that I was able to exchange some
    words with your husband and your friends.
    I hope we may be able to talk to each other more some other time.

    Tomorrow we're having a closing event at the Japanese class
    in which all the students recite the picture book titled 「てぶくろ」
    in their own native language.
    After that we're planning to enjoy some games together.

    Take care.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/15 17:21:30

    Hi arie!

    I'm so glad that you seemed to enjoy the performance
    as well as strolling around the Kamakura area.^^
    You visited so many places!
    Oh, we passes by Hachiman-gu.
    I don't think the ema you saw was what I'd written
    a couple of months ago, as I've never done such a
    thing before.
    If it had been mine, it'd have been a fascinating incident!

    It was really pity that we couldn't talk very much
    after the event.
    After parting from you, we got off the train at Kamakura
    and walked down the street toward Kita-Kamakura
    appreciating the scenery.
    Along the street, we couldn't see any soba eateries
    which were still open, so we walked back to Kamakura
    again to have one as dinner.^^

    Again, I wish we could have talked more together!

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/14 23:31:57

    Hi, Carrie!

    How're you doing?
    I came home barely in time for the evening English
    class from Kamakura.

    We fully enjoyed visiting Yuigahama Beach, Hase-dera,
    Tsurugaoka-hachiman-gu, Enkakuji, and Meigetsu-in temples.
    Red, and yellow-tinged leaves of maple leaves are now
    unseasonably at their best, to my surprise.

    Did you happen to present an Ema or a votive horse tablet
    at Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu when you visited Kamakura
    last time a couple of months ago?
    I've haphazardly seen and read one of them written
    assumingly by a Japanese, on which his or her wishes are
    written in English.

    The performance was out of this world.
    I'd have never experienced such an unexpectedly unique
    performance if I had not been informed of it in advance.
    It's thrilling to envision you and the artist collaborating in
    the upcoming spring concert.

    Enjoy making preparations for it.
    Have another beautiful day.

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/12 15:30:36

    Hi arie!

    I've finished writing all the names and the addresses
    on the New Year cards!
    All I need to do now is to write some comments on
    each cards.^^

    Oh, that's what I've always done; I reply the cards
    on the New Year.
    That gained momentum to write the cards.
    Otherwise, I dilly-dallied with the matter. ^^;
    I want to write an info about my spring concert
    this time.
    That may be one of the reasons I decided to write
    them earlier than usual.

    That would be a good idea to reduce the number
    of the cards you send.
    If I remember correctly, you write 300 cards or
    something each year. Tremendous amount!
    I write 50 or less; I don't write to the friends whom
    I can see often.

    That's the ticket! You'll stay a night in Kamakura!
    You'll be able to see the beautiful colors of the leaves.
    Oh, we should loiter around the area after the
    event too.
    Hope the weather will be nice!^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/11 23:08:22

    Hi, Carrie!

    Seems like you worked really hard on designing and printing
    New Year's cards today.
    You did a good job of having finished them.
    Personally, I haven't made any preparations for them yet.
    Actually, I may be postponing it on purpose because I hate
    preparing a large number of cards every year.
    I'd like to decrease the number of the cards I'm obliged to send
    on an annyal basis.

    I think we'll be leaving our house around 10:00 o'clock because
    it seems to take us more than 2 hours and 40 minutes to get to
    the venue from our place.
    We're planning to take a stroll around Kamakura after the performance
    and stay overnight there because we seldom have an opportunity
    to visit Kamakura.

    Take a good rest after your hard work.
    Don't work too hard.
    See you soon.

  • ✞白馬の天使✞

    ✞白馬の天使✞

    2015/12/11 21:02:43

    (◎` Å), no [deg+. к о й β α й ш α. The+ deg]

    Even if I apply for admission by a mistake, I decide whether it's bad whether it's possible.
    It's overdue that a person of a dream makes a plan, too, so I'm the sucker who feels anxious for an admitted person, so it's OK.
    An item which corresponds will be also correspondence by the sense to say possession for a short while.
    But, when they're a corsage and an ordinary flower, it'll be open correspondence♪.


    ヾ(◎`・Å・)ノ【゚+。койβαйшα。+゚】

    間違いで入会申請したとしても、可か不可かは、私が決めるものです。
    ドリームの方も、企画たてるのが、延び延びなので、入会している方にとっては、気が気でないかもなので、大丈夫です。
    ただ、対応するアイテムも、若干所持と言う感覚での対応になります。
    ただし、コサージュや普通のお花ならば、オープンな対応となります♪

  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/11 19:44:55

    Hi arie!

    Oops! Many a pickle makes a mickle?! I must correct the proverb.^^;
    Oh, it's a bit old proverb from Scotland! Then maybe the American,
    particularly the younger ones don't know about the saying.

    I printed New Year cards today.
    Again, it took so much time. I didn't know how to make them
    using the apri on the net. I racked my brains and made them
    in the end.
    I don't have any energy left to write names, addresses, and
    some comments on each cards today...
    Have you written New Year cards yet?

    Sunday might be rainy.
    We'll catch a train which reaches Yuigahama at 12:39.
    Then go straight to the venue.
    Oh, I can't wait~^^

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/10 22:29:15

    Hi, Carrie!

    I'm proud of you that you've worked so hard on completing
    the ideal fliers for your spring concert.
    I guess you're satisfied with the result of your strenuous
    efforts.
    It's always necessary for us to put our utmost endeavor into
    what we're doing now without making any allowances for
    our objective exactly as you tackle your goals.

    "Every little makes a mickle" or "Many a pickle makes a
    mickle" is of Scotch origin.
    It sounds like a rather old proverb, but it is equivalent to
    「塵も積もれば山となる」in Japanese.
    My dictionary says that "mickle" is equal to "muckle", thus
    having a grammatically incorrect version of the proverb:
    Many a mickle makes a muckle."

    I assume the concept of multi-communication or multi-
    coexistence will be getting more and more prevalent in
    Japan because we're having an increasing number of people
    from overseas these days.
    We're obliged to realize and preserve our identity as a Japanese
    so that we can get along well with them.

    Have a nice day.


  • Carrie

    Carrie

    2015/12/10 17:51:15

    Hi arie!

    Thanks for your lovely message as always~^^
    Oh, it took so much time to make the fliers yesterday.
    I'd like to copy them on pink paper to feel the spring
    or the cherry blossoms, but I couldn't find the exact size
    of the paper at the shop.
    So I cut all the paper in half, and I made a reduction of
    the size of the flier to fit the paper.
    When I finished all the copy and send them to Tsubomi no ie,
    it's already 16:00 ! I felt I was doing it all day. ^^;

    I'm with you! I don't think 異文化 implies any discriminatory
    meaning.
    We are all different; so are cultures. So it's natural to use the
    word, isn't it?
    It's really important to see the difference and enjoy it!

    I've never heard of multi-cultural communication.
    You are right. Words are living creatures and always changing.
    I'd like to know the exact usage of multi-cultural communication!

    And "every little makes a mickle". Is it an American proverb?
    Or is it an English translation of "塵も積もれば山となる"?

  • arie

    arie

    2015/12/09 23:13:49

    Hi, Carrie!

    Anything new?
    I'm glad to hear you've liked the flier for your spring concert.
    I'm looking forward to taking a look at it before we go to
    Yuiga-Tsubo this weekend.
    It must be an out-of-this-world masterpiece since you've liked
    it so much.
    You really have a talent to make people attracted to you.

    In today's Japanese class for residents in our community
    I suggested to the teaching staff members about the difference
    between 異文化コミュニケーション "cross-cultural communication"
    and 多文化コミュニケーション "multi-cultural communication"
    because one of the advanced-class students told us that the phrase
    異文化 implies a tinge of discrimination.

    Personally, I think otherwise.
    I think 異文化 doesn't have any discriminatory meaning.
    We need this word particularly when we compare or communicate
    with two different cultures, not with multiple cultures.
    I'm not sure of the exact usage of 異文化 and 多文化 because
    words are living creatures and always changing.

    Have another enjoyable day.

  • ストロベリーパイ

    ストロベリーパイ

    2015/12/09 12:23:51

    "Many a little makes a mickle." Ah, I'd never heard that before! ^^