Hi David and everyone

It was another busy day today, so I am a bit tired.
I do not think of anything right now, and I am so sleepy, so I should go to sleep.
I will write my memories of 2009 later

Bye for now,

•  amo
• 2009年12月28日 23:44

Hi David and everyone,

Sorry, I don't have time to write about the topic today. I'll do my review of 2009 later.

See you soon,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2009年12月29日 00:16

Hi David and everyone,
I totally agree with you, David. Do you know one of the ideas concerning with "明けまして（おめでとう）"?
Actually ”あけまして” means exactly what you said;" take stock of the twelve months gone by"
I want to write more, but I'm sleepy so I'll do my review of 2009 later.

PS. I'm wondering if you noticed the new members named blue who I pasted his/her comment on the last entry. He/She left the comment concerning with your new business idea. If not, please have a look at my posting on Dec 25th(last entry).

Good night,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2009年12月29日 01:01

Hi David and everyone

Oops, it's too late to say Merry Christmas.
I have finished writing 年賀状 at last.

David, you achieved great goals. Congratulations!
I look back on 2009.
This month, I screwed up at my work that I had been part of for a year. It was very disappointing :-(
I must and want to succeed in next year.

One of a good thing of this year is that I found this blog and met everyone in here.
I hope I will be here next year, improve my English skill and make good relationship with you all.

If I remember another memory of 2009, I will post a comment. It's time to go to sleep.

Hi blue
Nice to meet you!

Good night.

•  trmr
• 2009年12月29日 01:13

Hi Blue. Nice to have you with us.

•  David
• 2009年12月29日 08:58

Hi David and everyone
I'm going to write about my memories of this year.
My best memory is that my daughter got into the high school.
I'm very glad that she enjoys her school life and she chose science,mathmatics and physics couse.

Next one is I took part in this blog.
This blog members give me a lot of motivation to study English and everyone is very kind and warm!
Thank you very much!!!

For next year I' m going to study harder than this year!
If I have a chance I would like to try TOEIC or Eiken.

Green

•  Green
• 2009年12月29日 12:57

Hi Nao
Please tell me how to get to ドーム前　from 大阪上本町.
大阪難波で、阪神なんば線に乗り換えるのでしょうか？
それとも、近鉄難波線が、阪神なんば線に乗り入れていて、ドーム前までそのまま行かれるのでしょうか？
（Yahooの路線を検索すると、直通で行かれるようなのですが・・・）
阪神なんば線　is a new line,isn't it?
Because of I have no acquaintance who knows Osaka well・・・
My daughter and I are going to leave to Osaka the day after tomorrow!

Green

•  Ｇｒｅｅｎ
• 2009年12月29日 16:36

Hi David and everyone,

Sorry I couldn't write about the topic yesterday, but my husband's father got into hospital because of bowel obstruction(chouheisoku) yesterday. He needs to stay in hospital for a while and might have to have an operation next year, but it's not going to be serious, so I'm relieved about that.

Well, another year is coming to a close. I can't believe that it's that time of year again. Where does the time go?

My memories of 2009...
2009 was a busy but interesting year for me. I've been quite busy with my children's kindergarten, elementary and junior high school events, but I have done some things I had never tried before. First, I organized a dinner party for this blog in March, and it was really nice to meet some of the blog members at last. Second, around the same time as the blog event, David gave me a writing task, and I wrote something as a job for the first time. It was really tough, but a great experience for me. In October, I was interviewed by English Journal on the phone, and the interview is in the January issue of the magazine. I was really surprised to hear the idea first, but it was also a great experience and a wonderful Christmas present for me. None of these things would have happened without this blog, so I'm very grateful to David and you all. Thank you!!:)

Hi trmr and Green,
I'm also glad you found this blog and have been joining us. Look forward to talking with you guys next year too!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and all the best for 2010.

Tomo

PS Green, have a great time at the concert!

•  Tomo
• 2009年12月29日 18:28

I just got into a very complicated mathematical problem with some eggs. I bought six eggs today, and I had one with fried rice for dinner. That leaves five, right? Just now, I decided to fry another one to have tomorrow, but when I took out the pack, there were only four! I hunted around the kitchen, but I couldn't find the other one. Eventually, I remembered that I had already decided to fry another one five minutes before, and that one was still in the frying pan! Honestly, sometimes I worry about myself...

•  David
• 2009年12月29日 20:09

Hi David and everyone,
My reflections 2009
There was a big change in my family this year. My husband retired this March and started working again in different working conditions.
I traveled　to Alaska with my husband this February. Luckily I saw “Northern Lights” and had a chance to hold a lever of aircraft when I did a two hour flying Mt. McKinley tour.
I've also been doing ‘ Ohenro’ tour at the moment from March and we are going to Kouyasan next February to thank for the safe Ohenro tour.
Both of them were really memorable ones for me.
Bad thing was that I hurt my arch of the left foot this March and saw three doctors because they couldn't find the reason . It took me six months to recover; I saw the doctor about twice a week these months. I’m happy it doesn't hurt anymore now.
As for English, first I’m glad I was able to keep posting comments on this blog.
I really appreciate you, David and you all, motivating me to write comments. I've learned a lot from you.
Second, we had the event this March. Thanks again, Tomo! It was really nice to meet some of the blog members.
Third, I started my blog this April and have written about seventy entry journals.
Actually one of the new year’s resolution 2009 was “ read as many books in English as possible.” I didn't have any idea about starting my blog, but after returning from the event, I decided to start. Having read books "Outliers" and " How to Win Friend and Influence People" was really challenging but I was happy to read through them and to write about them on my blog.
Anyway, compared with last year, I spared much more time concerning English study or something this year, and it was good for me.

>Green,
Have a great time at Osaka Dome. すごい盛り上がるでしょうね＾＾）
>trmr,
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
>Tomo,
I’m sorry to hear about your father in law. I hope his operation will be a success and he’ll recover soon.
Hi David,
Well well well…. Don’t worry. You’ll be accustomed to that situation soon.(Just kidding!)
By the way, are you a good cook?

Wishing all of your happiness throughout the New Year,2010!

Anne

•  Anne
• 2009年12月29日 21:23

Hi Anne,

No, I am a terrible cook. By the way, do you know the expression "a senior moment"? It is a nice way of saying that you forget things because you are getting old. I think I had a bit of a senior moment tonight in the kitchen!

•  David
• 2009年12月29日 22:17

Hi David,
Yes, I know that expression" a senior moment."
If you would see conversation between my husband and me, you would know what the senior moment is like,haha....

Anne

•  Anne
• 2009年12月29日 22:23

It's me again,
David, I wrote about slightly related to senior moment in my blog on Nov.14th. When you have time, and if you are interested in it, please have a look at it.

Anne

•  Anne
• 2009年12月29日 22:31

Hi David,
Your egg story made me laugh. I'm glad you have solved that very complicated mathematical problem.（笑） Don't worry, the same kind of thing happens to me too!

Hi Anne,
Thank you for your message. I hope so, too!

David and Anne, I didn't know the expression "a senior moment".　今後のために覚えておきます（笑）

Good night,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2009年12月30日 00:07

Hi David,
You usually do this in a mountain?! It sounds as though you are a 仙人(せんにん) or山伏(やまぶし) or 修行僧(しゅぎょうそう). I do in a café or any place I can sit with a pen and some paper. I already finished it last week. Every New Year’s Eve when we were growing up, my father would ask our reflection on the past year and new goals for the coming year. By that moment, we used to list up and prepare to make an announcement to my family. Soon after this ceremony, my mother would take out packets of money gift or お年玉 and hand them to him. We’d get restless inside but sit quietly until receiving it with some comments from him. Funnily enough, I still keep this custom myself.

2009 was a big year for me, too. That’s English, I gave it my heart. I’m not joking. I never dislike it, however I’d never fallen for it before. I usually speak English as less as I can in class. I didn’t need to use English in my daily life even during the period of living in Singapore. There were always lots of people who were good at communicating in Japanese. I’m afraid I couldn’t feel at ease when I spoke English but both Malay and Chinese, even I talked at the level of a baby, made me feel relaxed. Looking back how I started with them, the difference between English and Malay/Chinese is that I started the latter orally. Particularly, when I learned Malay from a Malay lady, I carefully listened to her speaking and just repeated or imitated exactly what she said, also wrote down the words in Katakana to remember. She didn’t speak English or Japanese. I was able to soak in a Malay environment. I never forget the sounds. Later on, I checked the spelling myself and learned grammar a bit at a class. English never made me relaxed because I was afraid of making mistakes. Around this time last year I met one of my younger cousins who was studying in Vancouver and came back to Tokyo for holidays. I heard lots of her study experience and got interested in one of courses; 2-hour pronunciation course on weekdays. “Come on and join this!” she said. ”Why not?” I replied. I was joking at first, but at end of February this year, I was in Vancouver already. Things like this happened once in a while. Surprisingly, I soon got used to making mistakes and also got used to being given tons of corrections by the teacher among six of young classmates. If I hadn’t made mistakes, he couldn’t have found or pointed out my weaknesses; that means I’d have waste my precious time and money. I’m not a native speaker, so it’s impossible to use English without mistakes. During this challenge, I realized I should speak and write a lot fearlessly, and read and listen as often as possible. I can see my goal, but after coming back home, it was difficult to get an opportunity to speak in English every day, so I dropped by the biggest book store in Kobe in April. I got a surprise that there were too many materials to choose. On the second day, I encountered two books. One was a book for Japanese English teacher on the method of teaching English in English to Japanese kids by Matsuka Phonics Institute (mpi) and the other one was an outstanding red book on English grammar written in Japanese by a native English teacher. I didn’t notice the author was David until I read the profile at home. Anyway, both the books have opened a door for me to a new world. I have a dream for the near future. I want to make my work place to be like a square for both foreigners and Japanese kids or seniors, where they could interact with each other. I wish I could afford to employ a native good teacher but it’s unable at the moment. I decided to learn it myself under mpi and I’ve been struggling with it since June this year but it was also a lot of fun. Lastly, I really want to say, “Thank you very much!!” to David and everyone who wrote comments on this blog even once that gave me lots of opportunities to think of things in English. Throwing away unnecessary things is going to be main goal of mine for 2010. 本当にありがとうございました。2010年も参加させてください。デビッドさん、皆さん、よろしくお願いいたします。

tsuneko

•  tsuneko
• 2009年12月30日 00:37

Hi, David and everyone

Hello again! It's blue.
My 2009 was very peaceful one. My family are all healthy, and nothing bad have happened.
As I read David's entry, I remember I had forgotten to set the goals of the year for ages. I think setting them is very important for human beings, including me, because it gives us the motivation to make our lives better. Thank you, David, for letting me remember about it.
So here are some of my goals of the coming year.
1. Keep coming to this blog and do my best to comment as much as possible.
2. Give birth to my baby
I'm expecting a baby (not the first one, so I don't have any fear). So I'd like to keep myself healthy and full of energy until the time of delivery.

Hi, Anne!
Thank you for letting David know there was my comment. It was very kind of you!

•  blue
• 2009年12月30日 00:38

Hi David and everyone

When I look back of 2009, I think my memories will be work, work, and work!!! Because I could not take a long vacation in this year at all. I did not even go back to Okinawa, so I am hoping that I could take a long vacation next year, and visit my sister in USA. Of course, I had some good memories. First of all, I attended this blog event in March, and met David and some of the members. It was a wonderful time, so I really looking forward to the seminar that David will be planning in next year. Second of all, I finally visited the Philippines in October. As my job is related to the Philippines, I was always thinking that I should visit there at least once. So I am glad that I was able to visit there. It is not good memory but I started to go to the gym since July for keeping in good shape. For this month, I could not go to the gym even once (poor me). I bet you know the reason “yes” I was too busy at work to go there. For next year, I am hoping to go there once or twice in a week.

Take care

•  amo
• 2009年12月30日 01:04

Hi David and everyone,

My memories of 2009

First of all, I took part in this blog in January.
I will have been taking part in this blog an year in few days.
It's times fly like an arrow.
Also I took part in this blog's party.
It was excited me.
Let me say this again, Thank you for everything Tomo.
I was able to have fun with everyone.

Second was, I went to Guam.
This was first trip to over sea.
It was very excited me.
This was my biggest experience.
I hope I visit there again.

これからも、このブログに参加して行きますのでみなさんよろしくお願いします。

Kazu

•  Kazu
• 2009年12月30日 05:13

Hi David and everyone,

My memories of 2009

First of all, I took part in this blog in January.
I will have been taking part in this blog an year in few days.
It's times fly like an arrow.
Also I took part in this blog's party.
It was excited me.
Let me say this again, Thank you for everything Tomo.
I was able to have fun with everyone.

Second was, I went to Guam.
This was first trip to over sea.
It was very excited me.
This was my biggest experience.
I hope I visit there again.

これからも、このブログに参加して行きますのでみなさんよろしくお願いします。

Kazu

•  Kazu
• 2009年12月30日 05:16

Hi David & everyone,

I'd like to look back on my 2009.
In a nutshell this year is impressive for me. Unfortunately my salary was worse than the one in the last year because of business recession. From this point of view it was a very tough for me. However, I had a few good memories in this year. First, I met some of you at the party organized by Tomo in March. We enjoyed casual conversations and food with wine. That was really fun, I suppose. Second, I visited Australia in November. We had scorching days, but had delicious food and specials wines. There are two restaurants in Australia which I’d like to go again. And I was surprised by the views of Jacarandas. I totally arranged the plan. I wrote a lot of e-mails in English and made phone calls to reserve hotels and restaurants and to ask the information centers to send me brochures. I realized that English is very convenient to get information from the countries where the people speak English. We can buy several kinds of guide books in Japan about the countries which we want to visit. But some information in the books is old. Information must be up-do date. I think if I hadn’t learned English, I wouldn’t have thought that I was going to manage everything in our stay by myself. I thought I was happy that I had studied English every day. I don’t think I can often post my comments on this blog next year, but I’d like to read all of your comments next year as I did in this year.

May your next year 2010 be happy.

See ya,

•  Gussan
• 2009年12月30日 05:33

Hi everyone

I made a lot of mistakes in my last comment.

I started to go to the gym since July for keeping in good shape.
→I started to go to a gym since July for keeping in good shape.

I am hoping to go there once or twice in a week.
→I am hoping to go there once or twice a week.

Today is the last day of work this year. I am very happy, even though, it is only four days off for the winter holidays. I do not have any plan for it, so I just want to be in laid back at home.

Hi blue

welcome to the blog. (a little belated, though)
Glad to see your comment again.

bye for now,

•  amo
• 2009年12月30日 09:22

Hi David and everyone,

My memories of 2009.
This year, I had concerts. One of them was very hard. Of course, I practiced everyday, but I was getting nervous as the concert day nears. I didn't sleep very well, and my health was not good on that day, but I could do good performance! This experience gave me confidence.
This spring, I went to Hawaii with my friend. It was the second time I went there. When I first visited there, the internet didn't spread yet in Japan, so I only relied on a guide book when I wanted to go somewhere I had never been, but this spring, I got lots of informations about Hawaii on the internet before I went there. So I could have more wonderful time in Hawaii than before.
By the way, I couldn't join the event of this blog this year because of my work, so next year, I really want to join the event David is planning. I want to see you!

There are only 2 days left this year. David and everyone (Hi blue, nice to meet you!), I want to say thanks to you. I could keep learning English again this year. I couldn't do it without you. I hope the new year will bring you lots of happiness.

See you on the new year!

Amica

•  Amica
• 2009年12月30日 22:31

Hi David and Everyone,

There is only one day left in 2009! Probably some members are busy for preparing for the New Year.
I've come to my Mom's house and will stay here until 3rd.

My reflections on 2009
In March I moved to a city where a branch office is in, because of my work. I'd lived in my home town almost all my life since I was born, so it was a quite big change for me. I took a while to get used to a new life. Before that, I attended the blog event and it was really nice to meet some of the blog members. Thank you so much again, Tomo!;-)

I traveled to Tipei in September and it was the first time for me to visit there and it's been for a while since I did Asian countries last time. It was really interesting to look around the town and I had a lot of fun.
Another big change for me is that finally I've started going to gym in November, as I wanted to do exercise regularly. I try to go twice a week and more if possible. I'm hooked on it now!
I'm glad that I was able to continue to be here with you, even though sometimes I'm lazy. David and you all motivate me to write comments. Thank you!!

Hi tsuneko,
I'm sorry my answer is delayed.
As for Skype, I have a microphone with a camera and it's like an eyeball.;-)

☆May 2010 be happy and great year for you all! ☆

Maki

•  Maki
• 2009年12月30日 23:40

P.S.
Tomo, I'm sorry to hear about your father-in-low. I hope his operation will be a success and get better soon.

•  Maki
• 2009年12月30日 23:47

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°

Happy Birthday Anne!!

I wish you many happy returns!!

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°

Maki

アクセス不可で携帯からです…うまく表示されることを祈って！

•  Maki
• 2009年12月31日 00:09

*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*：・'°

Happy Birthday, Anne!!

Wishing you everything happy for your birthday.

　　　　 Tomo

*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*：・'°

Hi Maki,
Thanks for your message. He is on medication now. If the treatment works, he won't have to have an operation, so we hope it works!

Hi David and everyone,
It's the last day of this year. 良いお年を＾＾

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2009年12月31日 00:18

♪♪♪Happy Birthday Anne♪♪♪

Amica

•  Amica
• 2009年12月31日 00:29

Hi David and everyone

There is only one more day to go, and then it’s the New Year’s Day!!
I hope you all have had a wonderful year. I want to thank you all for your positive comments. It was a kind of ongoing support for me. I really appreciate it, because one of my new year’s resolutions (2009) was “keep posting the comments on this blog” and I finally did it!! Thank you all.

Good night

•  amo
• 2009年12月31日 01:05

Hi amo,

Congratulations, on your task have achieved.
Good job.

Actually my resolution was same as what you said.
But I didn't do that.
I have to revenge next year.

Let me say it again, congratulations.

•  Kazu
• 2009年12月31日 02:11

Hi Maki, Tomo, Amica, amo and Kazu,

Thank you for your warm messages!
Today is one of the busiest days , but I'm happy.

>blue,
You are welcome.
Take good care of yourself not to catch a cold.

> Kazu,
Happy one year anniversary!

>amo,
You worked hard, and kept posting comments. That's great!

>Maki,
携帯からありがとう^^)

Hi David and everyone,

良いお年を！

Anne

•  Anne
• 2009年12月31日 06:10

Hi Anne,

I didn't know it was your birthday, but I hope you are having a great day.

Happy birthday!

•  David
• 2009年12月31日 15:33

Hi Green

質問の答えが遅くなりすみません！
上本町から乗車して直通でいけるようになっていると思います。
（２００９年春に開通した線だったように記憶しています。）もし直通でいけなくても、次の難波駅で乗り換えれば大丈夫ですよ（＾－＾）
Have a good day!

Hi　David and everyone

I'm glad to meet you this year.Thanks to you I learned a lot of things.You helped me a lot.Thank you very much.
来年もどうぞよろしくお願いします。

Hi Anne

Happy birthday☆

Nao

•  匿名
• 2009年12月31日 20:10

Hi David,
Thank you for your kind words!
Yes, I did have a great day and am waiting for two sons coming back home at the moment; from Osaka and from Okazaki.
By the way, I'm wondering if you went to Sanage Yama or not because it was windy and very cold today. Anyway, if you went there, I hope you didn't come across a wild boar, to say nothing of a tiger.

Hi Nao,
Thank you for your kind words!
I hope you are having a nice Year Year's Eve.

Anne

•  Anne
• 2009年12月31日 20:50

Hi Tomo
I'm glad to hear that you said so.（「そういってもらえてうれしいです。」と言いたいです）

Hi Anne
Thank you for your comment.
And, Happy birthday! You were born in such a special day!

Hi David
I bought your book "英語と仲直りできる本" yesterday. I have just read first few sections, and I already got a lot of surprise. I believe I can 仲直り when I finish reading this book.

Here is another good memory of this year. I took a exam of 情報処理技術者. It is difficult qualification. And I failed it, but I got better result than that I thought. I think I can qualify next time.

There are two hours to next year. I spend rest of this year watching TV.
Have a good 年末年始, everyone!

See you next year.

•  匿名
• 2009年12月31日 20:51

Hi David and everyone

*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°★。.：*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°★。.：*：・'°

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2010 will be another great year for you all!

今年も１年よろしくお願いします。

*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°★。.：*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°★。.：*：・'°

amo

•  amo
• 2010年1月 1日 00:00

★゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★
　　　　Happy New Year！！
☆*:;;;;;;:*☆*:;;;;;;:*☆*:;;;;;:*☆

　　　　今年もよろしくお願いします！
　　　　素敵な1年でありますように♪

　　　　　　　　　　Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年1月 1日 00:00