As I wrote before, I was looking for some interesting dramas.
I was supposed to watch every DVDs' the first disc which I was interested in, then was supposed to choice the best.
I picked up over ten drama series but I quit when I watched about the sixth.
They were so great that I couldn't choose only one!

Ally McBeal Ally is a lawyer. She started working with her ex-boyfriend by chance who married another woman already. She has behavior having daydream and too irreconcilable. But anyway, she is honest and very cute. Though the words in court are difficult, many stories are about daily topics, such as love or friend ship. And the screen image helps my understanding. Overall I'll be able to watch it in a joyful way.

Grey's Anatomy This is a story about young interns. They have to survive their first year in the hospital to be doctors. There are competing with rivals, troubles in their family, ambition and love.

The West Wing This is about people who work in "The West Wing" of the White House, they are the staff of the president of United States of America. Compared to other two dramas, it was less description about their personal life. Most of the stories are happening in the West Wing. Talking from the view of listening English, I think this is the hardest. I sometimes can't see even what's going on or what's they're talking about.

I'll watch all of them for a while, then the best, next of "Friends" will be chosen!


日本語訳はこちら
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「フレンズ」の次のドラマを探している話を前に書きました。とりあえず気になるDVDの１枚目を片っ端から見て決めようと１０作以上リストアップ。でも６枚目ぐらいで止めちゃいました。
だって面白いものが多すぎて、すでに３作も候補があるんだもん。

●Ally McBeal(アリー・マイラブ)
弁護士アリーは転職先の事務所で偶然昔の恋人に再会します。お互い想いが残っていたのに彼はすでに既婚者。

法律用語など知らない単語も多いですが、アリーの恋が中心ですし、バーやレストラン、ユニセックストイレ(！)での会話も多く比較的わかりやすかったです。
それに、とにかくアリーがかわいい！
楽しく見るならこれですね。第一候補。


●グレイズ　アナトミー
インターンたちの病院勤務初日から話が始まります。多くのインターンが医者になれず脱落すると脅され、ライバルを出し抜こうとしたり、協力しあったり、家庭の問題や恋の話もあって面白い。


●The West Wing (ザ　ホワイトハウス)

アメリカ大統領側近たちの話。
他の２作に比べると個人的な話は少なく、事件のほとんどはホワイトハウス内で起こります。
リスニング的にはこれが一番難しく感じました。



しばらく３作を平行して見ていく予定。

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I periodically go to the hospital to get my allergy medicine. Recently my skin condition was not good and the doctor recommended me a shampoo for sensitive skin.
I went to a department store to buy it.
As soon as I told the staff that I was interested in their shampoo, she let me take a seat and wanted me to fill in a form with my personal information. They also asked me about my skin condition.
Why did I have to give my personal data to buy a shampoo?
I rejected it in unpleasant tone. And I could buy the shampoo without those data.
I knew I did overreaction. But I have a inferiority feeling of my skin for years and I really didn't want to talk about that.

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Good-bye, Mr. Chips / James Hilton / 19,700words (28/3*20*132*0.8) Total 1,964,052 / ★★☆☆☆

Good-bye, Mr. Chips (2004/07/14) James Hilton 商品詳細を見る

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最近ちょっと肌の調子が悪いので、皮膚科に勧められたシャンプーを買いにデパートの化粧品売り場へ行った。
買いたいものは決まっているんだから、お金を払って早く帰りたかったのに書類を渡され、名前や住所の他に肌の状態について記入を求められた。
何でシャンプー1本買うのに名前や住所が必要なんですか、と拒否したら普通に買えたんだけど。

アレルギーで肌がきれいじゃないのはずっとコンプレックスだし、きれいに化粧をした販売員にあれこれ尋ねられたくないのよ。
買ったシャンプーがよかったとしても、もうその店には行かないだろうな。

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I got a Starbucks' drink ticket.
I can order any beverage whatever I want with the ticket.
Though there are many variety of drinks there, I usually have the cheapest one, their house coffee.
I like the coffee, but this time, I'd like to have something special, I mean, more expensive one!
I probably am penny pincher.

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I learned those words;

Matrix grid　碁盤の目

prospectus　願書

desertification (ﾃﾞｨｻﾞｸﾌｨﾁｨｹｲｼｮﾝ）砂漠化

to pocket something　/ to embezzle　着服する

to sell something on the black market / misappropriate 横流し

appropriate ふさわしい

inappropriate　適切でない

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Kira-Kira / Cynthia Kadohata / YL5.7 / 44,202words TOTAL 1,944,352 / ★★★★★

Kira-kira (2006/12/26) Cynthia Kadohata 商品詳細を見る

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スターバックスの飲み物なら何にでも引き換えられるチケットをもらった。
普段は一番安いホットかアイスしか頼まないから、そのチケットが宝物みたいに見えるよ（笑
何を飲もうかな〜　フラペチーノ？ チャイティラテ？
もちろん一番大きいサイズでね^^




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I saw my TOEIC score on its web site today.
It was 695(Listening 405 / Reading 290) points and the one I took last year was 635(Listening 365 / Reading 270). I should be humble but the score disappointed me.
I studied for the test for three month. And most of the time I spent for the R-section since my previous reading score was worse.
In this test, I could understand in long articles section more than before so I expected better points in the reading section. But in R-section, I only got 20 points higher than last year? sigh..

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先月受けたTOEICの結果がわかりました。
去年　L365　R270　Total 635
今年　L405　R290　Total 695

受験前に目標にしてた700点にはたりかったものの、順調といえるのかなぁ。。
でも実は、結構がっかりしてます
TOEIC対策本まで使って3ヶ月頑張ったわりに、リーディングはたった20点upなんですよね。
結構手応えあったんだけどな。

しかも。700点に微妙に足りないところがまた気に入らないよね（笑


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Have you come up with the answer to my question?
What we talked about in the lesson was gossip.

Here is my opinion about Mona's affair.

Mona lost her job opportunity because of her affair. Personally, I think that's harsh punishment.
She has done the same trouble a few years ago. Since then she performed as a scandalous woman.
Even after she was offered a news show again, nobody expected she to be a fine woman, didn't you?
And compared to her great punishment, Nioka was suspended only for a few games.
I don't say what they did was good. However, the problem should be solved in their family.

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前回の記事の答え、レッスントピックは「ゴシップ」でした。分かりました？

一般の考えとは違うと思いつつ、ﾓﾅの事件について一言。

彼女が結婚している男性と関係したのは初めてじゃないですよね。
前回の騒動のときも大きな仕事を失って、その後は恋多き女、魔性の女としてテレビ界は面白おかしく彼女を扱ってきました。
またキャスターとして採用されても、誰も貞淑なモラルのあるキャラクターを彼女に求めていたわけじゃないでしょう？
しかも、彼女の失ったチャンスに比べれば相手の野球選手はたった数回の出場停止。ちょっと不公平じゃないですか？
もちろん、彼らのしたことを正当化するつもりは無いです。でも仕事を失うほど社会で糾弾することじゃない気もします。
奥さんに謝る以外の謝罪ってないと思うんですが。

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I hardly look over on my lesson note, but I read this blog constantly.
Here is some expressions from today's lesson just for my review.
Guess what we were talking about.


whisk = 泡立てる　泡だて器

alight = 下車する(formal)

Are you speaking from experience?

I found something in common with them.

They had fun watching her talk about her affairs.
They have fan.
It was fun.

The general public likes to pick on someone.
pick on = いじめる

5 o'clock shadow = 無精ひげ

She hooked up with someone. 関わり合いになる（付き合う）


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Crime and punishment / Nancy TaylorF.M. Dostoevsky / YL6.5 / 32,748words TOTAL 1,900,150 / ★★★★☆

"Crime and Punishment" (Penguin Longman Penguin Readers) (2006/03/23) Nancy TaylorF.M. Dostoevsky 商品詳細を見る

Can you believe our company didn't allow us to use an air conditioner until this Monday?
The main switch is controlled by the main office and they forced us to stand the humidity.
There are about ten workers in our office and each worker keeps turning on their PC all day long. We have only one window but the air from the window was blocked by the walls and partitions, so we hardly expect the air cool the room.
How could we accept the situation?
One day, one of us brought an electric fan personally. Since then, the number of fan is increasing year by year.
Now six fans were working in our room instead of one air conditioner.
How stupid we were!

"Musenmai" is one of the ways to milling rice.
You don't need to wash rice, which is milled with the way.
It is expensive than traditional one. You can avoid one step preparing for boiling rice but I used to think "Musenmai" is for lazy people (sorry).
Since our district is one of the major rice productions there are many rice milling stations here. I found a sign in front of the station. It was read "You can save your time and also can reduce both wash water and waste water".
Oh, that's true. I know waste water, after wash rice, includes a lot of phosphorus. But I couldn't come up with those merits.
I shouldn't have refused new way before I search it by myself, though it's difficult to keep up with the advances of technologies.


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Chemical Secret/ Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 / YL3.1 / 10,000 words Total 1,867,402 / ★★★★☆

Chemical Secret: Stage 3: 1,000 Headwords (Oxford Bookworms) (2000/08/03) Tim VicaryJennifer Basset 商品詳細を見る

My family wouldn't have own house at least in a few decades. Because as long as we live in a rental housing most of the rent will be covered by a company welfare. We don't want to give it up.
Even so dreaming own house is sweet.

An advertisement from a real estate company was posted the other day. A house near my apartment was for sale. Although, it was almost 20 years old it was enough big for a family of two, gets a lot of sunshine. I thought it was reasonable.
But as soon as my husband saw the flier, he told me it's not in the option.
"No way! There is only one parking space. I want a covered parking for three cars!"
Oh, my! We might afford that house one day. But both the house and three cars? I don't think we can

Anyway, for him the first priority of house is a parking space. For me, it's a light and airy living room. How about you?

It was half past 10 p.m. last night.
I got off a bus and when I was about to reach home a man on a bicycle suddenly grabbed my hip.
He pedaled away straight and I could see his back over 10 sec. At that time, I had a camera cell-phone in my hand. I couldn't decide whether to take his photo or call police. He seemed in his teens to 20s, in a navy blue T-shirt, had short hair, on a whitish bicycle, but I couldn't see his face. I thought police were not going to be able to catch him, and I didn't want to get into a trouble. So I decided not to do anything.
My husband was not at home yet. When I locked the door, suddenly I felt afraid.
He could have robbed me or stabbed me!
It was a residential area, there were many houses and it was not dark. I screamed loud so someone could have looked his face. It was possible that he was arrested.
I should have called police soon.

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Little House in the Big Woods (Little House) (1953/06) Laura Ingalls Wilder 商品詳細を見る

Little House in the Big Woods / Laura Ingalls Wilder　/YL4.4 / 32,066wards TOTAL 1,857,402 / ★★★☆☆

My father is a mechanic. He is muscle and tanned for his age, because he had been working hard outside and often carried heavy metals.
By the way, he is going to have an operation in two month. He would be fine after that, but until then he has to keep being quiet and avoid those hard work.
I went to his company to do accounting work yesterday.
And he was also at the office all day long.
Since there wasn't a lot of work to do there, he seemed uncomfortable.
He pretend as if he was doing some paper work, but I looked him to take a nap from time to time.
I didn't mind that he didn't do any thing. Besides, I hope his enough rest.
But maybe, he wanted me to think he was still a hard worker.
He was cute, wasn't he?

In any age, adults tend to reject any popular fashion among boys and girls.
When I look back in my teens, girls always dressed in all black and people called us "Karasu-zoku (Crow-people)".
Adults in those days saw us ghastly as if we were on a way to a funeral. So we should allow new fashions in gentle mind, shouldn't we?
Even if boys wear their trousers loosely and show us their under pants we have to accept it... maybe..
By the way, I recently see girls in balloon skirt and they make my feel weird. The skirt reminds me of "Kabocha Pants", babies' diaper covers.
Hey girls! Ten years later, your kids will see your photos and will ask you, "Mom, how old were you when you stopped wetting your pants?"

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Skyjack! / Tim Vickery / OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY / STAGE3 / ISDN: 0-19-423015-5/ 9300words TOTAL 1,825,336 / ★★★★★

Skyjack! (Oxford Bookworms Library) (2000/10/18) Tim Vickery 商品詳細を見る