I read a topic on website about kiss. According to this topic Kiss on the Cheek means "We're friends". This reminded me of my embarrassing story.

When I was younger I went to a languages school in Australia. At the last day I said goodby to my classmates and the teacher. The teacher, a man in his 20's, asked me if I was going to give him a kiss goodby.
As same as many Japanese women, I hadn't kissed someone except my boyfriend or my husband. However, on the other hand I knew this kiss didn't have any meaning but goodby. I also thought if someone asked me to shake-hands goodby and I refused that it would be very rude.
I hesitated and then my lips touched on his cheek.

Some years went by, I had a chance talking about culture differences and I was told that my lips shouldn't have touched on his cheek. Westerner people usually touch on the cheek each other. I was very embarrassed and thought he must have been surprised what I had done.

However, this topic didn't say "Touch your cheek on other's". I hope what I did was one of the right ways.

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Moondial / Helen Cresswell / 11,000words Total 1,354,172 / Y.L3.2 / ★★★★☆

Moondial (Oxford Bookworms Library) (2000/07/06) Helen Cresswell 商品詳細を見る

CORRECTED
Several years ago, when the Japanese economy was very bad the company, my husband works for, laid off many regular employees and employed temporary staff to cut down on costs. A lot of the temporary staff can't work as well as the experienced workers and regular employees' amount of work increased excessively.
As a result some employees suffered from mental sickness. The company gives them a long break or changes their position, but they've never tried what is necessary to change the situation.

My husband manages some working groups at work and each group has a leader. He asked one of his junior workers about changing position to be a leader. But he refused and also took a few days unscheduled holidays.
My husband was worried if his offer made the junior worker feel pressured.
Companys have a right to change their employees' positions but my husband can't get this junior worker to be a leader.
My husband said if he can refuse his position like the junior worker he will do it. And so will I.

×staffs → staff (グループ毎にひとつとして数える)

×each groups → each group

○give up = 何か（物や事そのもの）をあきらめる。
○give up on = 〜は不可能だと思って見切りをつける

＜low possibilities＞ If I played tennis, I would be stronge.
＜high possibilities＞ If I play tennis, I will be stronge.
＜impossible＞ If I were a woman, I would have 3 kids.


ORIGINAL
Several years ago, when Japanese economy was very bad the company, my husband works for, lay off many regular employees and employed temporary staffs to cut down on costs. Many temporary staffs can't work as good as the experienced workers and regular employees' amount of work excessively increased.
Since then some employees suffered from mental sickness. The company gives them long rest or changes the position, but they've never tried what is necessary to change the situation.

My husband manages some working groups at work and each groups has a leader. He asked one of his junior workers about changing position to be a leader. But he refused it and took a few days unscheduled holidays.
My husband was worried if this offering made the junior worker a great pressur.
Companys have a right to order their employees about their positions but my husband has to give up the junior worker to be a leader.
My husband said if he can refuse his position like the junior worker he hopes so. And so am I.

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Skipping Christmas / John Grisham / 46,000words Total 1,343,172 / Y.L8.2 / ★★★★☆

Skipping Christmas (Dell) (2004/10/12) John Grisham 商品詳細を見る

People say that washed mushrooms lose the flavor so we shouldn't wash them.
I'd known that but never tried because that sounds dirty.
By the way, I had another surprise.
One of my colleagues doesn't wash onions. She peels only the brown skin and cooks them. I asked her if that wasn't dirty.
Then she asked back, there are many white skins under the brown skins, how many skins I peel and wash?
I want to know the majority way, you wash vegetables?

CORRECTED
I had been able to watch NHK BS Channels One and Two since I moved into this apartment. I have been paying the viewing fees but I one day suddenly couldn't get any pictures on either Channel.
At the same time I received a note to say that somebody was coming to set up the TV.
I had thought that the TV had a problem and they were going to fix it.
However, they came from a cable TV company to set up the cable TV for digital broadcasting. They gave me many complex explanations that I could hardly understand.
Anyway, the fees are paid by the apartment's owner and I don't need to buy a new TV for the digital broadcasting.
I was given a present that I didn't expect.


○set up = preparing to do something.　（食洗機を買ってきて使えるようにホースをつなぐ）
○set = 配置する　（食洗機の中にお皿をセットする）



ORIGINAL
I had been able to watch NHK BS one and two since I moved in this apartment house. I have been paying the viewing fees but I suddenly couldn't get the pictures on both BS one and two.
At the same time I received a note that staffs were going to come and set up the TV.
I had thought that the TV had a trouble and they were going to fix the TV.
However, they came from a cable TV company and set cable TV for the digital broadcasting. They gave me many complex explain that I hardly understand.
Anyway, the fees are paid by the apartment's owner and I don't need to buy new TV for the new broadcasting.
I was given a present that wasn't expected.

We can't see the other side of the moon. So the moon is mysterious and we sometimes hear stories such as a secret colony and the Aliens.
When I heard "The man in the moon" first, I thought that was one of those stories.
By the way, there are many craters called Sea on the surface on the moon. The shadows appear a picture, "The rabbit in the Moon". We heard some songs and stories based on the picture and I thought that people see the same picture from all over the world.
But the pictures are not the same. That was not only the rabbit and the man but also frog, crab and lion.
That's interesting.

Here are the some pictures.

I had decided to write about my new year resolutions for my second diary in 2008.
One of my resolutions was writing this diary at least once every week, but it has be already broken.
My laziness is hopeless. XD
Any way, I have already started what I had wanted to do or my responsible task, such as English and ballet lessons, and working for my family.
This year's resolution is "I'll keep to do and improve them ".

A happy new year!
I enjoyed a new-year party at my parents' home. I have four siblings and the only one who lives with my parents is my younger brother. So the new-year party was one of the few opportunity for all of my family to meet with.
We ate a lot of great meal, such as Osechi, Sukiyaki, Sushi, and drank a lot.
We gave our nephews some money for Otoshidama. We played cards and watched TV programs until midnight.
I love my family. I hope we'll be fine and meet together at the next year's party too.