疲れちゃった

Yesterday I went to see my doctor, who is I can't help thinking such a waste of space that I don't want to call him doctor.
As I kind of expected, he botched up again and made me feel exhausted.
I'm still too tired and sleepy to write this diary, so I think it'll be so short and simple.

As I wrote, I was so tired that I couldn't read even only one page of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban".
I've finished reading "A Peanuts Book featuring SNOOPY" and from the first to the third page of the Mainichi Weekly, though. (^^)v
Yes.  Next week's issue had already arrived when I got home.
It's the earliest delivery I've ever received!
Although I usually read some articles aloud listening to audio data on "Mainichi Shinbun Podcast", I haven't finished it yet.
It's doubtful whether I can read what to read today.  orz

ホントに疲れてます。  o( _ _ )o～†
昨日は病院の待ち時間にSNOOPYを読み終えて、最速記録で届いた毎日ウィークリーの１面から３面まで読んだだけ・・・。
今日は一通り読み終えた先週号（今週号？）の毎日ウィークリーの音読をするべきか、昨日届いた今週号（来週号？）を読み進めるべきか、続きが気になるハリーポッターに邁進するべきか、それとも毎度毎度の7.3度の微熱に負けて寝ちゃおうかな。~(=^‥^A

ちなみに新聞の１面は "the front page"。
じゃあ、新聞の１面から３面ってどう書けばいい？  ?(^ｰ^; )"~

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I love SNOOPY♪

Today is a little cooler, isn't it?
I heard the cooler weather is likely to continue until Friday.
It's pretty good because I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow, it, however, will be hard for me to go if it rains.
Anyway, I have no choice but to go, because if not, I'll definitely run out of my medicines.
I'm going to enjoy reading "A Peanuts Book featuring SNOOPY" while waiting for my turn at the hospital. (^^)

This book became one of my best recommendations for beginners of English, especially, who love SNOOPY.
Every time I read it, it makes me laugh and smile, and cheers me up.
Besides, I can also learn sort of English conversation enjoying stories of lovable characters of SNOOPY.
For example, one story of Linus and Charlie Brown, who was orderd to go to the eye doctor by his teacher who had watched him winking at the little red haired girl he likes....

Linus : Did you go to the eye doctor yesterday, Charlie Brown?
Charlie : Yes.  He said there's nothing wrong with my eyes...  They're fine.
Linus : Did he tell you to stop winking at girls?
Charlie : He said that's the first thing they teach you in medical school.

I didn't know so many men have been sent to hospitals because of having winked at girls that students are told not to do it in medical school.  (^m^*)

ただ今、猛烈な雨に見舞われております。
涼しくなるのは嬉しいけど、ちょっと怖いくらい・・・
明日は病院に行かなきゃいけないのに、大丈夫かしら？　(ﾉ_-;)

スヌーピーの本は心理学っぽい本から普通の４コマ漫画まで、いろんな種類の本を持っていたので（一部はインコに囓られ、ゴミと化したため、廃棄処分となりました）、１／３程は既に読んだ事のある話ですが、英語で読み直してみると新たな発見がいっぱいです♪
会話文なので、たま～にどう訳せばいいのかわからない所もありますが、日本語訳もついているので問題なし☆
ハリーポッターを読んでいても思うけど、会話文が一番難しいわ。（私にとって・・・ね）~(=^‥^A

あ、ちなみにハリーポッターvol.3の進捗状況は、もう少しで10章を読み終えるところです。
さすがに病院の待合室で本２冊 （ハリーポッターvol.3 ＆ それを読むための本） を広げる勇気はないので、明日はSNOOPYを持っていって読むつもりです。 =＾-＾=

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読書日記・・・？

Today is also hot enough to get me down!
Every weather caster said showers were expected in most places and it would become a little cooler.
I hope so...

Er..., I'm now reading the beginning of the chapter nine of "Harry Potter and the prisoner of azkaban".
Although I know there are lots of words with similar meanings in English because I've already read books which mention it such as "Ei-bunpou wo Kowasu" and "Big Fat Cat VS. Mr. Jones", reading it makes me realize it again.
For instance, "look", "see", "watch", "gaze", "stare", "glance", "glimpse", "peep", "peer", "eye", "spot", "glare" etc..., all of these words have a meaning of "Miru" in Japanese.
And, "laugh", "smile", "sneer", "smirk", "giggle", "chuckle", "crack up", "ridicule", "jeer" and "mock", all of them also have a meaning of "Warau" in Japanese.
It's interesting to read being conscious of these kinds of words not used in the Mainichi Weekly so often.
I have a feeling that I can increase my vocabulary.  (^^)

Oh, I came across a funny phrase on a certain site.
Can you understand the meaning of "that's sound great"?
Though I know the meaning of "that sounds great", I can't understand that of it.
In this case, can I use a phrase used in "Harry Potter and the prisoner of azkaban", like "When I read his comment, I couldn't help thinking he is too thick to string two words together"?

毎日ウィークリーはニュースだけじゃなくて連載小説も載っているし、コラムやエッセイなどもたくさん掲載してるので、いろんなタイプの英文に触れられるけど、ハリーポッターシリーズは、当たり前かもしれませんが、小説を読むのに役立つ単語がいっぱい。
・・・、いっぱいすぎて、メゲちゃいそうなぐらい。~(=^‥^A
ただ『歩く』だけじゃなくて、『大股で歩く』『コソコソと歩く』etc...、日本語だったら『修飾語＋歩く』ですましちゃいそうな表現ごとに単語があるんだから、感心するやら呆れるやら。
（それに加えて、『修飾語＋基本動詞』の表現もたくさんあります。念のため）
（あ、それと、日本語だってこういう類の言葉は豊富にありますよね。念のため）
『Big Fat Cat』シリーズを読んでたから、こういう単語のうち基本的な単語は大体わかるけど、とてもそれじゃ追いつかない。
３巻を１／３ほど読み終えた時点で、↑で挙げた単語の99％(100％？）には既にお目にかかりましたよ。

さぁ、１巻から５巻まで読んで（どれも１回ずつしか読んでないけど。しかも日本語版）一番面白かった第３巻♪
忘れていたシーンも結構あって、思ってたよりワクワクしながらエッチラオッチラ読み進めております。 =＾-＾=
先は長いけどね～・・・。

何か最近、読書日記と化してる気がする・・・。

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まだまだ先は長い

I'm happy to have interesting English books and newspaper to read.
I'm really happy to be able to read and enjoy them whenever I want to.
How come, however, I've finished reading only not more than one quarter of "Harry Potter and the prisoner of azkaban" though it's been already three days since I got it?
If it were written in Japanese, I could finish it in one day.
And, when I read English books, I can't help thinking it was so effective and optimum way that teachers made us read textbooks aloud in Japanese classes.
Although I used to think at that time it was stupid and that just what we should do that absurd thing for, my teachers, you were right!
So, I try to read English books aloud as much as possible.
Now, there is one problem.
As I wrote yesterday, I'm using the book which helps to make it easier to read "Harry Potter and the prisoner of azkaban".
The book is not only useful in reading it but filled with interesting articles, so I think it's worth buying
However, pronunciation symbols are not on it.
Therefore, if I want to read aloud any words I didn't know, I must check the words' pronunciation symbols with a dictionary or on the Net.
What on earth did I buy the book for?  (--;

Anyway, I'm going to read it placing top priority on just enjoying it. (^^)

『ハリーポッターvol.3が英語で読める本』 は、思ってたよりいい本だとは思う。
思うけど、発音記号が一切載っていないのってどうなのかしらと思わずにいられない。orz
ただ今、やっと初めての占い学と変身学を終えたハリー達が、昼食を食べ終えたところ。
平行して毎日ウィークリーやスヌーピーも読んでいるからとはいえ、読み始めてから３日たつのに～。~(=^‥^A
今のところ、それなりに夢中になって読んでますが、先は長いぞ・・・。
ちゃんと最後まで読めるかしら？ ~(=^‥^A~(=^‥^A

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今更 ハリポッターvol.３

I read most of the articles in this week's issue of the Mainichi Weekly yesterday morning.
Today, I will finish reading it, and read the book I bought the other day.
To be precise, I will read a book I can read easily by using another book I bought the other day.
Can you understand what I want to say?
I mean, I'm now reading "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ", I bought years ago at the foreign books sale at a department store.

I couldn't read it at that time because there were too many words I didn't know, and I had left it unread until recently.
Don't you think it's a waste of money if I don't read it in spite of being learning English?
I also want to read the sixth and seventh of the Harry Potter series, both of which I haven't read yet in Japanese too.
So, I decided to buy a book which helps beginners to read the Harry Potter series in English .

Though I've just started reading, I feel like I became able to read it much easier than when I tried to years ago.
Of course, it may be just my imagination. (^^;

本を読む時間がなくなるので、日記も短く・・・。
こういう、ある特定の本を読むためだけの本ってどうだろう？ と思ってましたが、名前の由来やイギリスの習慣なども詳しく書かれていて、思ったよりいいかも・・・です。
ただ、意味のわかる単語は載っているのに、わからない単語が載っていないという、このもどかしさ。 ~(=^‥^A
まぁ、それもまた英語で本を読むいい練習になるわ。（そうか？）

ハリーポッターシリーズは、５巻までは日本語版で読んだ・・・はず。
『はず』 というのは、どれも一度読んだだけで甥っ子に貸し与え、甥っ子がまた友達に貸し与え、友達がまたその友達に貸し与え・・・・
結局、すべて今はどこにあるのかわからないから。
貸しただけで、あげるつもりじゃなかったのに、『くれたもんやと思ってたわ』 という姉の一言に、心の中でそっと涙を流したものです。
なので、久しぶりに読んだ第３巻が面白い♪
粗筋はわかってるから、当時は特に気にせず読み飛ばしていた一言の意味に 「そうだったのか～、そうよね～』 と改めて納得したり、日本語より英語の方がダーズリー一家の酷さが際だってるわ～、なんて妙に感心してしまったり。 (^m^*)

ちなみにラスト２巻は、日本語でもまだ読んでません。
この頃には甥っ子も既にもうファンタジーには興味のない年になり、私も段々重くなっていくストーリーに多少ウンザリし始めたのが理由。
でも、英語でなら読んでみようかな～・・・。
まぁ、３巻を無事に読み終える事ができたら・・・ね。~(=^‥^A

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突然の喪失感？

It was raining heavily for the first time in a long while (as far as I know) from early this morning to about 8 am.
Besides, the thunder was also rumbling.
Although I hoped this rain could make our town like a frying pan on flames cool down as much as possible, the sun is already shining so strongly that I think it's impossible. (--;

Yesterday I got the Keisuke Kuwata's new single. (^^)
And, I tried to import it to my PC, but I couldn't...
My Windows Media Player became unable to recognize the CD-R/RW disc drive!
I thought it must be because some kind of trouble related to its driver has come up, and it seems to be right.
So, I tried to reinstall it after deleting the driver.
As I had a bad feeling when I checked the status of it, I couldn't reinstall it properly because the driver itself has broken down.
Then, I tried to download it from SOTEC HP, which offers some drivers which is used in their PCs, but there was nothing I needed.  orz
Hmm..., I wonder if it means I have to buy a new disc drive...
If so, how much does it cost?
Although I'm good at adding more memory or something, I'm reluctant to replace it because my fingers and wrists hurt.
Maybe I should buy a external disc drive.
What do you think?

CDを取り込もうとしたら、『CDを取り込むにはCDドライブが必要です』って、あなた・・・。
持ってるってば！ この間まで普通に取り込んでたやん！！ (/_<。)ﾋﾞｪｪﾝ
デバイスマネージャーで、CDドライブ用のドライバに 『！』 マークがついてるのを見た時から嫌な予感はしてたけど、何回再インストールしても 『！』 マークが消える事もなければ、Media Player がドライブを認識する事もなく、どうやらドライバ自体がおかしくなっちゃったようです・・・。
サービスの悪い事で有名なSOTECのHPからドライバのダウンロードを試みるも、ディスクドライブ用のドライバは提供してないしー！
『ドライバはリカバリCDの＊＊＊に入っているので、それを指定して再インストールしてください』 と書かれても、そもそもCDドライブ自体を認識できないのに、どうしてリカバリCDのフォルダを指定する事ができるというの。
保証期間も過ぎてるし、これは新しいドライブを買い直せってことかしら？ orz
まぁ今時、DVDディスクドライブだって安い物なら8000円程度で買えるような気もするけど、何か悔しい。
（8000円あれば何日生きられる事か・・・）
とはいえ、CDをPCに取り込んでおけば何かと便利だし・・・。
こんなふうに、それまであって当たり前だと思っていた物が突然なくなったりすると・・・、
くすん・・・、悲しいぜ。 (/_<。)　（大袈裟な・・・）

とりあえず、久しぶりにCDプレイヤーで聴いた桑田さんの新曲、イマイチかな～という私の予想とは裏腹にとっても良かったです。
こういうアコースティックなギターの音って好きです。
でも一番気に入ったのは２曲目かな～♪　=＾-＾=

あ、それと、しばらく読書最優先生活に突入いたします。
日記は・・・・、まぁいままで通りマイペースで無理せず書くつもりです。
・・・書けるかな？ ~(=^‥^A

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買いまくり

I went shopping yesterday, which was an extremely hot and humid day.
It completely wore me out, and I'm still recovering from it.
Today, however, I'm supposed to receive two parcels from Amazon and an other internet store.
Yes! Today is the release date of Keisuke Kuwata's new single: "Kaze no Uta wo Kikasete"!!

To be honest, I'm not interested in this single so much because it sounds to me a little ordinary for his song (I think his singles tend to be a little catchy and innocuous, though), but it's been already a part of my job to buy his CDs. (^m^*)
And, I bought two books besides it to avoid the payment of postage.
One of them is "A Peanuts book featuring Snoopy（1） ".
The reasons why I bought this book are that it's written in both Japanese and English and that I love Snoopy so much that I thought I wanted to subscribe the Asahi Weekly, not the Mainichi Weekly.
I can't wait for the arrival of it.  (^^)
The other book I bought is a secret for now.
Let's just say that it's a book about reading books in English. (^m^*)

Oh, one more thing.
I bought an interesting and a little strange hair care item yesterday.
It's a hair shampoo brush .

Do you know that?
It's useful to ladies who have long nails and want to wash their hair without getting the nails and the scalps damaged.
I tried using it; I want to write my impression of having used it some other day.

本日到着予定の小包のうち、シャンプーとリンスはもう届いたのに、Amazon からの商品がまだ届かないー！
早く聴きたい＆読みた～い♪
あ、シャンプーブラシ、使っている時の気持ちよさ（マッサージ効果）は思ったより少なかったんですが、確かにいつも以上に髪がサラサラしてますよ。
私はルベルの石鹸系シャンプー＆コンディショナー を使用しているので、髪も頭皮も美容室で褒められるぐらいなんですが、さらにサラサラ♪

私は手や指に痛みがあり、ひどい時は髪を洗うのが苦痛になるほどなので買ってみました。
まだ１回しか使ってないので、何とも言えませんが、思ったよりいいかも・・・です♪
それでも美容師さんにシャンプーして貰う方がウン倍も気持ちいいけどね。

なんだか他にもいろんな物買っちゃったな～。 orz

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Last Samurai ＆ etc

The Japan Meteorological Agency said last Friday it would become a little cooler from that day.
In Osaka, however, the intolerable heat has lasted as before.
Although on summer days we Japanese often use phrases like "shinisou": this heat is killing me, we can't use them as some kind of metaphor or joke on these scorching summer days because many people have died of heat stroke.
Are you all right?
Please take care of yourself not to get heat stroke.

I watched "Last Samurai" recorded on Friday yesterday.
This movie has some points about which I can't help feeling something strange as Japanese.
I guess, however, this fact doesn't affect its high reputation.
And, I felt Samurai was depicted as a symbol of Japanese good old days and one of the coolest ways to live to which men are attracted.
Although I'm not into bang 'em up films, as one of Japanese, I like it.  (^m^*)
Also, Ken Watanabe is a really great actor, isn't he?
He who acted in "Last Samurai" didn't seem to be the same person in "Ashita no Kioku".
And, I'm sure all the other actors (including an actress Koyuki) also deserve praise.

By the way, as there is "Bushi-dou" in Samurai, I think there is "Sumo-dou" in "Sumo".
I wonder whether a Yokozuna without enough awareness as a professional sumo wrestler deserves to remain a sumo wrestler. (--;

日本語と英語が混在している映画って、見てると時々混乱しちゃいます。
トム・クルーズが渡辺健に 『誰に狙われているんだ？』 というようなことを言うシーン。
"so more?" って言ってるのかと思ったら、『大村？』 って言ってたんですね。
最初、意味がわからなくて、慌てて音声を切り替えて確認してしまいました。
まぁ、そんな間違いするのは私くらいなものでしょうが・・・。~(=^‥^A
『（あなたは）考えすぎです』 というセリフが英語では "Too many mind." となっていて、思わず納得。
日本的な言い回しがどんな風に英訳されるのかって、英語Onlyの外国映画だとあまり意識しないので、そういう意味でも面白かったです。
『結びの句が決まらない』 とかね。
それに、こうして英語と日本語を同時に意識しながら映画を見ていると、改めて日本語の美しさに感動☆ =＾-＾=
古事記とか風姿花伝、枕草子、俳句、etc...　古文大好き人間なんです。σ(^_^；
　　注 ： 『古文が好き＝古文ができる』は成り立ちません。
　　そは 『英語が好き＝英語ができる』 が成り立たぬが如し。 (^m^*)
『武士道とは死ぬこととみつけたり』 ( "How I die" ? ) な日本に対して、やっぱりアメリカは 『生き抜いてこそ』 ( or, "How I live" ? ) なのかなと思ってしまうラストではありました。
（ちなみに私も 『死に様』 より 『生き様』派。 というより、そもそもドンパチ反対派）

それと、話は変わりますが、某横綱！
例えば、スランプ中の力士や選手を批判することは個人的に好きではないのですが、巡業 （であってる？） って仕事の一環でしょ？
サラリーマンが大事な仕事をさぼってサッカーしてたら、批判されて当然でしょ？
故国を大切に思う気持ちと、力士として恥ずかしくない行動を心掛ける事は決して矛盾しないと思うんだけど・・・。
おまけに厳しい練習にも耐えて、心身共に鍛えられてきたはずの力士が、怒られて深刻な急性ストレス障害？
『情けないな～』と思ってしまう私が心の狭い人間なのかしらん。

あ。もう一つ。
某・元有名サッカー選手が、『彼が俺とサッカーをした事で責められているのが残念』 というようなことを言ったか書いたかしたって本当ですか？
だとしての話ですが・・・・、今回、彼が責められているのは、巡業を怪我を理由に休んでいながら、走り回ってサッカーをしていたからであって、そのメンバーに誰が入っていようと、それは問題ではありませんよ～。
あしからず☆ m(__)m

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*** Hula Girl ***

Yesterday I was suffering from headaches all day long.
Is it because of this heat?
Or, one of the side-effects of medicines?
Maybe, it's because I'd got carried away during the Bon holidays.
So, I coudn't do anything yesterday, but I watched "Hula Girl" on DVD the day before yesterday.
Though I knew it's won various awards including best picture and best supporting actress of the Japan Academy Award, it was funnier and more touching than I'd expected.
I was actually in tears not less than two times watching it.  (^^;
Their Hula Dance was, needless to say, great.
The most impressive things to me, however, are girls' determination and efforts for changing themselves, and the process of adults accepting the changes as real.
I think I can say the girls saved their town that was on the point of drowning and disappearing in the waves of the time.

And, I have one more thing to write.
This DVD has English subtitles!
DVDs with English subtitles are getting more and more common nowadays.
I think it's really great if foreigners can get more opportunities to watch Japanese films.  (^^)

『フラガール』はいいよ～♪ と、聞いてはいましたが、予想以上。
まさか泣くとは思っていませんでした。 （しかも２回も！）
それまで当たり前だと思っていたものが、時代の流れとともに消え去ろうとしている時に直面した人達の足掻きや決意と努力。
変化を受け入れきれない大人達の足掻きがすごくリアルで、少女達のまず自分たちから変わらなければという決意に相反する幾つかのシーンがムカつくほど印象的。 (^m^*)
たぶん、そういう足掻きや時代に取り残される悲哀、それを受け入れるまでの過程が、この映画をより感動的にしてるんだろうな～・・・なんて思うわけです。
しずちゃん、下品なイメージのない松雪泰子さん、富司純子さん、etc... ＆ ジェイク・シマブクロさんの音楽も含め、みんないい感じでした♪　=＾-＾=

英語の字幕もなかなかおもしろいです。
岸部一徳さんが松雪泰子に向かって訛りでマシンガン・トークをぶっ放すシーンとか。 (^m^*)

それにしても、『ウォーターボーイズ』 、 『スウィングガールズ』 といい、日本人は一つの事に直向きに努力する映画が好きね。 =＾-＾=
一緒に見た 『ハッピーフィート』 が全くの期待はずれだったんで  ~(=^‥^A 、私の中の 『フラガール』 の得点は、今、やたらと高いです。

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+- sky blue + blue sky -+

I gazed upon the sky through a cafe's window after a long time yesterday.
Needless to say, it was a beautiful sunny day with strong summer sunshine and few clouds.
And, the sky was blue!
The sky was very real sky blue, so a stupid question came into my mind.
Why is the sky blue?
Of course, I know the answer, and you can see it on the Net.

http://zatudann.paslog.jp/article/7128.html
http://www.uraken.net/weather/w02.html
http://www.e-tenki.net/labo/answer.asp?quesid=030729-003
http://kids.gakken.co.jp/110ban/text/pict/1340.html  etc...

It may be boring to explain it scientifically.
However, please imagine that we're protected by the layer of light, especially peaceful blue light.
Don't you think it's kind of fantastic?  (^^)
And looking up the sky, I feel as if it was impossible that the black universe spreads beyond the blue sky.
In the evening, however, we go back into the infinite universe again.
It's also romantic, isn't it?  (^^)
And, please don't forget.
Even though we can't see the stars under the sun, numerous stars definitely exist and twinkle there.
It's like the important person's affection for you.
You might get worried because sometimes you can't feel his/her love, but it also certainly exists there.
Hmm..., maybe.  (^^;

真夏の空って、文字どおり空色！
世の中に色が溢れているのは、神様が寝ている間に、イタズラ好きな３人の天使がいろんな物に色を塗って遊び始めたからだというお話を、子供の頃に読んだ事があります。
その後、天使達は色塗りに疲れてその場で眠り込んでしまい、動物たちは自分たちで好き勝手に色を塗り始め、天使達や神様が目覚めた時には世界は様々な色で溢れていた・・・という感じだったかな？
そのお話の中で空を青色に塗ったのは３人の天使達。
だから空は青色なの！　というのが私だけの見解ですが、それじゃ納得できるわけないだろという人は、↑のＨＰに行ってみてくださいね。 =＾-＾=

それにしても、真っ暗な宇宙が広がってるなんて想像できないぐらい、明るくて綺麗な青い空♪
夜の宇宙に還るような感覚も好きだけど、自分の気持ちまで舞い上がっちゃいそうな真っ青な空も好き。
外に出ると、真夏の太陽光線にあっという間にやられちゃうけどね。~(=^‥^A

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美味しいって幸せ part.2

I love eating delicious food. (^^)
Meat, fish, seafood, fresh vegitables, dairy products, I eat anything.
I'm not a picky eater.
And, I think it's natural that we gratefully eat anything we are offered without letting food go to waste.
However, some people have reasons not to be able to eat certain kinds of food.
Those are religious, allergic, health or other various reasons and depend on the person.
I also think I can understand their resons or principles.
By the way, I read an article written by Diane Kichijitsu, an British comic storyteller: Rakugo-ka, the other day.
She is a vegetarian, needless to say, she can't eat any meat, fish and seafood.
I kind of thought until reading this article that Japan is easier country for vegetarians to live in than others like America.
It's because Japan has various vegetable dishes such as ohitashi and nitsuke.
Besides, there are salada-maki and many kinds of beans dishes, too.
She says, however, "The biggest frustration for me has been trying to survive here(Japan) as a vegetarian."
Because, there are few restaurants which serve vegetarian dishes in Japan.
Oh, I see.  She's right.
And, to my surprise, she can't have katsuo dashi, too!
I come to think of it, however, there is nothing surprising because katsuo is fish.  Who doesn't know?
Hmm..., so, konbu dashi is ok, isn't it?
I heard lacto-vegetarians can eat dairy products, is it right?
Anyway, it seems so hard to be a vegetarian in Japan.
I'm lucky I can enjoy various kinds of food, even raw fish or raw meat like tan-sashi and leba-sashi.  (^^;

ダイアン吉日さんの記事に、日本のレストランで 『ベジタリアンならハムは大丈夫ですよね？』 というようなことを聞かれるので困ると書いてあるのを読んで、『恥ずかしいぞ、日本人！』 なんて思いましたが、ベジタリアンは鰹だしもダメだと知って驚いた私も同レベル・・・。 ~(=^‥^A
日本はアメリカなんかに比べると、美味しい野菜料理や豆料理が豊富でベジタリアンに優しい国だと思ってましたが、確かに、ベジタリアン用の料理やコースを用意しているお店は断然少ないですね。
ベジタリアンを正しく理解している人もずっと少ないし。 （理解してない人 → 私）
基本的に、出されたものは全て残さず綺麗に食べるのが礼儀だと言われて育った私ですが、宗教上や健康上など、いろいろな理由で食べられないなら、それは尊重すべきでしょう。
そしてその上で、いろいろな理由を持つ人も食事を楽しく美味しく楽しめるような環境作りが、日本は遅れているのかもしれませんね。
最近やっと、病気を抱える人も安心して食べられる食事を出すお店やサービスをたまに耳にする程度・・・かな？
ちなみに私は、『肉なんて食べなさそう』 と言われることもありますが、タン刺しやレバ刺し、ユッケなどの生肉も大好きな肉食獣です。 (^m^*)
だって美味しいんだもん♪

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美味しいって幸せ

Oh, I didn't write my diary again.
Do you think I've been getting a little lazy about writing my diary recently?
If so, maybe...., youi're right.  (^^;
Not that I don't want to write it.
I just can't find anything to write or didn't have enough time.
Well, everything should be done at my own pace.
Don't you think so?  (^m^*)

And, I watched a recorded "Music Station", on which Avril Lavigne and Cocco had performed last Friday.
As I had expected, Avril sang "When You're Gone"; I'm happy.  (^^)
Cocco's song was also great, but she's lost so much weight that I was terribly surprised.
Is she ok?
She looks so sensitive and mentally fragile that I'm worried she might be suffering from anorexia or something.
I think it's just my imagination, though.
Also, I may not be qualified to say such a thing, because I'm also told very often I'm too thin.
I want to say, however, I just keep my figure!  (^^;
Besides, I have a good appetite.
I ate lots of pizza and salad and drank a jug of beer with my bf yesterday.
On a hot summer day, beer sure hits the spot!  (^m^*)

少し前までの冷夏はどこへやら・・・。
夏の日差しで凶器のように熱を帯びたアスファルトの上に浮かぶのは陽炎？ 蜃気楼？
溶ける前に意識もろとも蒸発してしまいそう・・・。
そんな日はビールが格別☆
ここ数年、飲むことは滅多にありませんが、休み＋夏＋ピザ、とくればビールしかないでしょ。
あぁ♪　美味しいって幸せ♪
夏バテって何？ 　(^m^*)
Coccoもしっかり食べてるのかしら？
実際はどうかは知りませんが、何せ脆そう・・というか危うい感じがする人なので（そこが魅力でもあるんだけどね）、あんなに痩せてる姿を見ると心配しちゃう。

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焦っちゃダメ

These days I air out my futon every day.
The sun shines so strongly and the temperature is incredibly so high day after day.
Hot summer days make me feel like doing nothing, but those are good opportunities to air out futons.
So, I did today too.  (^^;

And, I have too many things I have to do and I want to.
I need a lot more time!
My condition is getting better day by day, but I can't help thinking of the time it may get worse again.
Therefore, I want to do anything I can while I can!
My doctor, however, told me not to push myself too hard.
It makes me more confused about which thing I should do first because I feel like I have little time.
I know well from my experience I'll regret if I don't do what I want to when I want to and when I can.
And, whenever I think such a thing, the Mainichi Weekly is delivered earlier than usual.
Why?
Well, it's useless to get so worked up.
Today I'm going to enjoy reading some articles such as "London Calling", "Idiomania", "The Cornish Mystery" by Agatha Christie, and so on.
And of course, the article about George Clooney in front page!
The front page article of the last week's issue was about Matt Damon.
Both of them star in "Ocean's 13", which is the third installment of the hip thief series.
Is this a kind of promotion of the movie?  (^^;
Needless to say, I also love that kind of film starring many cool guys. (^m^*)

今日できる事が明日もできるとは限らない。
肉体的にも、時間的にも。 そしてそれは私だけじゃなく誰にとっても・・・、ね。
そして 『あの時もっとこうしていれば良かった』 と後悔するハメになってしまう。
そういう事は嫌というほどわかっているつもりだから、今のうちにできる事をしなきゃと気ばかり焦り、何もかもが中途半端になりそうな気がしてさらに焦ってしまう・・・。
悪循環だわ。 ~(=^‥^A
こういう時は、いっそのこと好きな事だけして過ごすのも一つの手。（そうか？）
毎日ウィークリーが毎回届くのが早くなるのも、私の好きな記事を早めに読んで貰おうという優しさなのよ、たぶん。
決して私を焦らそうとしているわけじゃないのよ。 たぶん。
おまけに今日は、Mステに Avril が出るはず♪
焦っても仕方ないからね～☆　d(^-^)

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元を取る☆

I'm now still reading aloud "American Spice - TOEIC TEST Vocabulary" to the voice of CD at least once a day.
This book's title includs the words "TOEIC TEST", but I think all words covered in it are essential for every English learner whether s/he takes the TOEIC test or not.
Though I haven't memorized all words yet, I can more enjoy reading the Mainichi Weekly and watching news programs aired in English too than before.
It makes me feel so great!!  (^m^*)
I want to improve my vocabulary a lot more so that I can get more pleasure from English materials: books, TV programs, DVDs, CDs and so on.

By the way, I've watched a bilingual news program: "Evening News" broadcast on TBS network from 5:50 pm on weekdays, since April 2007.
I thought it's the only news program aired in English too, but I found NHK also broadcasts at least two bilingual ones.
Trying watching it aired from 9:00 pm., I felt it's kind of dismal compared to the "Evening News".
However, I'm going to watch it when I can.
And I also enjoy NHK's English TV programs such as "Eigo de Shaberanaito", "TV de Ryuugaku" and "Eitango Network".
I very often forget to record them, though,  (^^;
I think I get my viewing fees' worth from NHK.

ボキャブラリーが豊富なだけじゃ、ちゃんとした意味を理解できないし、文法がわかるだけじゃ全然使えないし、ましてや話そうと思ったら・・・・。 orz
最低限の文法、最低限の語彙力を身につけるぞ、と思っても、一体どこまでが最低限なんだかわかんないわ。
今の自分の状態じゃ全然足りてないのはわかるんだけどね。
うーーん、とりあえず『テレビで留学』 と 『英単語ネットワーク』 はお勧めです♪。
『英単語ネットワーク』 の方は、たぶんあと２カ月ぐらいで放送終了になると思うけど、ベタなギャグに不覚にも毎回笑ってしまいます。 (^m^*)
せっかく受信料を払ってるんだから、元は取らないとね。（セコイ！）

TBS系列の 『イヴニング ニュース』（地方によって名前は違うと思います） は私が見始めた４月頃から二カ国語放送を開始したんでしょうか？
最初の頃は全くの無音状態が何度も続いたり、現場レポート等は聞いてるこっちが焦ってしまうぐらいぎこちなかったんですが、最近はそういうこともなくてとっても見やすいです。
NHKのニュースの二カ国語放送は、とっても落ちついた雰囲気でNHKらしいんですが、ボソボソとした陰気なしゃべり方がちょっと・・・ね。 ~(=^‥^A

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溶けそう・・・。

SOOOOOO HOT!!
This heat and humidity is intolerable!! (T_T)
Besides, even now when I'm writing this diary, my PC continues to emit heat.
After finishing my routine work, I'm going to eat an ice cream!  (^^)

I cared for my boxwood comb with engraving of wild pinks: Nadeshiko, this morning.
I use boxwood combs for my daily hair care and have two boxwood combs and one boxwood brush.
One comb is approximately 12 cm by 4 cm and, as I wrote, with engraving of wild pinks.
It's my No.1 favorite.  (^^)
And, another is approximately 11 cm by 5 cm and with cherry blossoms.
The brush is simple with no incised ornament, but I'm always using it because of its convenience.
All boxwood combs and brushes require monthly care with plant-derived oil such as camellia oil.
It may be kind of a pain.
However, if you take good care of it, it can become more beautiful year by year and you can use it for decades!
I sometimes feel caring for it as if I put the final touches on craftsmen's works.  (*^^*)

"This heat and humidity" って "This 'heat and humidity' " のつもりで、動詞も is なんですが、こういうのって OK？
"This heat and this humidity are" だとちょっと言いたいことと違う気がしたの・・・。
それにしても 暑い！！
暑さのせいで食欲がない。 これ以上痩せるわけにはいけないしな～。
・・・というわけで、アイスを食べます♪
夏バテしないことが自慢だったのに、ざる蕎麦か冷やしうどん、冷麺ぐらいしか食べる気にならない。
あ～・・、冷やしスバゲッティもいいなぁ～。
・・・結構、食欲あるやん。 ＞ 私 σ（^_^；

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手抜きですが・・・

Yesterday I rewrote sentences on profile page of mixi, so I couldn't update this blog.
I think I might as well rewrite those of this blog too because I've never done since I first wrote my profile on it.
Well, all in good time.  (^^;
Today I have lots of things to do, so I'm going to copy them onto this blog as today's diary.

Oh, and I watched Avril Lavine singing her song "When You're Gone" on Mezamashi-TV this morning!  (^o^)
That's my No.1 favorite song in her latest album!!
She's made my day!  (^^)

Hi, I'm sakuya. Nice to meet you. 
My HN was named after Konohana-sakuya-hime, who is a famous princess in "Kojiki" (古事記), and a part of whose name: "sakuya", is the origin of Japanese cherry trees' name "sakura".
I love cherry blossoms and was enrolled in mixi during cherry blossom season.
That's why my HN is "sakuya". 

I specialized in information technology at Doshisha University, then I worked as a system engineer.
I've started using the Net since 1986, but I've only just joined this Social Network Service: mixi.
So, I'm still not acquainted with the customs of mixi.
Though I might have left my footprints on your page, please never mind it because I didn't mean to make you feel bad. 

And I've learned English by myself and kept my diary in English since March 2007.
To be honest, the reason why I became a member of mixi is because I heard some mixi's communities for English learners are useful and pretty good.
As I heard, some are so great that I think they are worth taking part in.
I'd like to improve my English and become able to speak, write, read and watch in English whatever I want to.
(I wonder if it's possible for me, though. )
However, my English skill is so poor that there might be lots of mistakes in my composition.
If you find any mistakes, please give me advice anytime.

And one more thing.
I live with my sweet Ruu, a 7-year-old budgerigar (or "budgie", one kind of parakeet) born in my house.
He can speak "Ruu-chan", "kawaii" and something like Japanese.
He's so cute! I'm crazy about him. 

Please send me your message if you're interested in English or parakeets! 

今日の日記は手抜きですね。
このブログのプロフィール文も書き直したいんだけど、なかなかその気にならないわ。
（日記を書き始めた時に書いて以来、一度も書き直してないの・・・ orz）
上の文章を手直しして載せようかな。
でも絶対何ヶ所かは間違えてるわよねぇ～・・・。
あ、こんなコトしてる場合じゃない。
今朝の Avril の歌で元気貰ったし、今日もガンバロ～♪　p(^^)q

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たま～に・・・ね。

I, and maybe you too, sometimes see weird people, especially while on the Net.
A person who asked me to exchange e-mails in English with him sent me an e-mail on which he just copied the result of a free online translation service.
I declined his offer because I don't think I have enough time to e-mail him in English or to read his (or a free online translation service's) odd sentences even if he really wants to improve his English skill.
And, I think it's better for him and me to try to read as good English as possible because we beginners sometimes tend to memorize phrases without noticing mistakes.
Anyway, I can't understand why he used the notorious online translation service without trying to write by himself.

And, one who is demanding for materials for learning English despite asking others to let him know them.
He said, "I'm not interested in DVDs, because those are too unrealistic and I'm unfamiliar with foreign actors."
"It's not good for me, because it has no video image."
"I'd like to watch news with perfect Japanese subtitles."
....., Don't ask too much, or better yet, how about giving up trying to learn?

I also have a not-so-close friend who hops from English school to kimono-wearing class, to gym and so on.
And, she always quits them quickly saying it doesn't work for her.
She seems to me as if she thought she could buy any skills and even tight body.
I think there's no one to be able to improve me but myself even though I'm sometimes given a chance for it.

Well, I might be one of them, too.  (--;

『～から～を渡り歩く（新しいものに飛びついてはすぐ辞める）』といったニュアンスを、hop from ～ to ～ で表せるのかちょっと疑問。
hop from site to site や hop from one ～ to another っていう言い方はできるみたいだけど・・・？

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いろんな意味で熱い（暑い）！

I went to the hospital to have monthly consultation and blood test yesterday.
My doctor told me the result of my blood test showed my condition seemed to be ameliorating gradually.  (^^)
However, he didn't reduce my steroid or any other dosage.
I was a little disappointed with it, but I also think it's natural because it's just a few months ago that my condition deteriorated rapidly after I had my steroid dosage reduced.
Well, I have no choice but going on the medication my doctor prescribes me.

Besides, it was a terribly windy day yesterday due to the approaching typhoon No.5.
Unfortunately, I had to go to the hospital by bicycle.
I somehow tried to talk myself into thinking it was a nice day with strong winds making me cool, but I couldn't.  (T_T)
I was really tired!!  orz
Yesterday was, however, my day.
Because, I got a English reference book as a prize of the Mainichi Weekly.  (*^^*)
I'm so lucky!  (^m^*)
I haven't read it yet, though.
What should I do today?
I can't tell which to read first because there are too many things I have to learn!
In a sence, I may be really happy now.  (^m^*)

う～ん、ステロイドを減らすのは当分無理だとして、せめてリウマトレックスぐらい週４錠から３錠にしてくれてもいいんじゃないの、と愚痴ってみる。
『左手の薬指も動かなくなりました』って報告したら、『あぁ～、ホントですね』だって。
なんか真剣に悩むのもバカらしいくらい、私の先生はお気楽な人です。
いい意味でも、悪い意味でもね。

しかし毎日ウィークリーの懸賞が当たるとは思わなかった♪
早く読みたいけど、先に読むべき本が山ほどあるし、たぶん今日中に次の毎日ウィークリーが届いちゃうわ。
この贅沢な悩みをどうしましょうか？　(^m^*)
今日も 37.3度の微熱少年ならぬ微熱ババァ。
いろんな意味で、今日も熱い（暑い）わん。

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語彙増強☆

I woke up with a slight fever yesterday.
It wasn't so bad, but I didn't feel like writing my diary anyway.
So I decided to read a English reference book or something instead.
The book I read yesterday is "American Spice - TOEIC TEST Vocabulary", which I bought more than 5 years ago when I was into English and TOEIC for the first time in my life.
I had studied so hard for about 1-2 months by using this book and some another reference books for TOEIC at that time, and I could have got a score of more than 600.
I thought my score wasn't so good, but one of my friends said to me that I could always get the knack for getting a good score too easily without learning it deeply.
It was the same as what she had said when we had gone to the same high school and when I had passed the National Examination for Administrative Scrivener in 2000 after 6 months' self-study.
Maybe, she's right, because I couldn't write anything I want to or which I'm going to.
But..., I think she's a little too honest.  (^^;

Many people say that one who has enough knowledge of English can get a high score on TOEIC, but that not everyone who can get a high score has enough knowledge.
I really think so.
I don't think what I learned at that time is a waste of time, but that it's not enough if I study only for the test.
I want to write and speak in English everything I want to, and I want to read and watch (or listen to) anything I want to.
I think it's really hard for me, but I'll try.  (^^)

何年も前に買った本をあらためて読み直すと、昔、確かに覚えたはずの単語がずら～り。
でもほぼ全てが知らない単語ばかりだった当時に比べると、半分以上は見れば思い出せるかな。
毎日ウィークリーなんかに出てた単語もたくさんある♪
この本は巷で人気の『DUO』なんかと同じく、重要単語を短い文章の中にいくつも盛り込んで、文章で単語を覚えさせる方式です。
（恐らく）『DUO 3.0』ほど文章の完成度が高くないのが残念ですが、近所の本屋さんで衝動買いした割にはなかなかいい本です♪ =＾-＾=
私の英語学習のコツは声に出して読むこと。
ＣＤやＤＶＤの音声に合わせて、外人になり切って(^m^*) 何度も何度もスムーズに言えるようになるまで連日音読。
抵抗のある人は好きな洋楽を完璧に歌えるようになるのを目指して練習してみるといいかも。
カラオケのレパートリーも増えるし、最初は何言ってるのかサッパリ聞き取れなかった歌詞がハッキリと聞き取れるようになるのは、なかなか気持ちいいものです♪
私の場合、洋楽のレパートリーが増えるにつれ、初めて聞く洋楽や映画のちょっとした会話も聞き取れるようになりましたよ。（数年かかりましたが）
やっぱり楽しみながらトコトン続けることが大事なんでしょうね。
試験対策じゃつまらないけど、語彙が致命的に足りないと、楽しく読んだり聞いたりできないし、もうちょっと語彙増強作戦がんばるぞ！
お♪ ＭＢＳの二カ国語放送で今日覚えたばかりの単語が出てきた♪
dismissal, expenditure, intravenous drip ☆  (^^)v

ココログさんがメンテ中だったのでヤットコ更新。~(=^‥^A
明日は病院だじぇ～～・・・。orz

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