Notes of the Day

I had a digital perm last weekend.
The process is different to a normal perm. The digital perm uses hot rod, so it's also called hot perm.
Since Ebi-chan, a famous model, got the perm, it became popular among girls.
A hair designer offered me the perm. The cost was higher than the normal one, but the wave'll keep about six months. That'll be nice.

The wave was looser and more natural than the one I had last time.
I liked it, but I found the wave was getting disappear in only a few days.
I have been going to the hair salon for years, and I didn't want to have any problem between him. But I have to make him to reform it.
I called him and he kindly accepted my request. I was really relieved.
Please make me Ebi-chan this time!

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I bought a 1-liter package of milk this morning.
I usually keep it in our refrigerator in office for lunch.
I had a shopping bag so I refused a plastic bag.
The checker didn't give it to me but he attached a straw on the package with tape.
That was interesting. Am I going to drink up the milk directly from the 1-liter package?
I'll do that if I could grow 5 cm taller!

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My language exchange partner (a foreigner) told me that foreigners can't say them have Japanese mind unless Japanese allow them to say so.
The idea was new to me.

What's necessary condition for Japanese mind?
Thinking about some foreign commentates in Japan, their knowledge about Japanese language and our culture is excellent. But I've not thought them as Japanese (I don't think they also want to be Japanese).
I don't think how much they love Japan is necessary either.

Then I came up with this idea;
"national origin" is where your heart is.
If you feel you can live here naturally, you'll be welcomed as Japanese.

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The Whispering Knights / Penelope Lively / YL3.8 / 16,000words Total 1,980,052 / ★★★★☆

The Whispering Knights (Oxford Bookworms Library) (2000/03/23) Penelope Lively 商品詳細を見る

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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!


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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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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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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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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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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!