Barbara: Hi Liz, sorry to bother you. I know you're busy studying, I just wanted to double-check(1) the time that we're going to the basketball game.
Liz: Uh, let's leave at about six thirty. It starts at seven thirty, but it'll be packed, so we'll need time to park and find seats.
Barbara: Ok. Oh, I love what you've done(2) with the Christmas cards!
Liz: Thanks. I like to arrange them on the wall and save them for at least a month. Look, I got several from my friends in York. This one is made from photos. See how snowy it is? And those are my three friends: Suzy, Jeff, and Peter. They took a selfie next to the(3) statue of Emperor Constantine. They look so goofy!
Barbara: Oh that's great! That is definitely worth keeping!
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I hear almost every day about useful apps. I have many already on my iPhone that make my life easier and more productive. One of the most practical that I have found is Google Maps. It has saved me so much time and frustration. It is essentially a map with a voice that guides you, step by step, to your destination. Hurray for that! For those of us who love languages, there are hundreds of language learning apps. A friend of mine from Iran recently told me about an extremely popular app that can be used for anything from teaching languages, business communication, sharing of files, or simply messaging and friendly chats. It's called Telegram. I have read quite a lot about it, and will continue to do so because it sounds very useful indeed. It was developed by the Durov brothers from Russia, but has its head quarters in Berlin. And the founders have covered all the costs(1), so it is free, and there is no advertising at all. Hamed, my friend from Iran, is an experienced English teacher who is quite the perfectionist(2) when it comes to learning English. In fact, he used to Skype with me in order to perfect his accent. Telegram is an easy platform for him to share videos, grammar notes, or even to have general discussions. It sounds like something that I can use! It is also dedicated to its users' privacy. In this competitive world of social media, it will be interesting to see if Telegram outdoes Facebook and Twitter by offering better service and more privacy. Hamed certainly gives it the thumbs up(3), and invites anyone who wants to learn English to try his free group:
1. 'To cover the cost' means to pay for everything. This phrase it usually used in the context of business or insurance.
a. The company covered the cost of the business dinner.
b. Thankfully, my insurance company covered the cost of getting a new engine for my car.
2. 'To be quite the (perfectionist) etc'. This phrase is emphatic, and similar to saying, "He is such a perfectionist."
a. I was surprised. My shy brother was quite the entertainer at the party last night.
b. She is quite the activist. She never misses an opportunity to speak for those who need help.
3. 'To give someone/something thumbs up/down'. This phrase describes giving approval or disapproval. It is related to the Roman Caesars' thumbs up or down given at the end of gladiator games.
a. We got the thumbs up from the principal to hold a health assembly in the High School.
b. I give Google Maps an enthusiastic thumbs up.
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Ellensburg is the home of Central Washington University. I have been lucky enough to be a student there twice. The building was constructed in the late 1800's, and makes a lovely center piece for the town. The town is quite small really; there are only about 18,000 residents. It is odd, actually, to think of such a large university being in a small town. This happened because, in the 19th century, Ellensburg made a bid(1) to be the political capital of the state, but lost. As a consolation(2), the university was built. The rest of the town is agricultural and fairly modern, with a few historical buildings here and there. I have a soft spot(3) for both the town and the university because of my good memories of being a student. Now I have another reason for visiting the town. Two of my children play AAU basketball, which is a non-school league. Last weekend their teams played in the university gym, so we spent the whole weekend there. Just outside of the gymnasium is a very large statue of a wildcat which is the mascot of the university. It was covered with a thin sheet of frost, and looked very intimidating. There were people everywhere, mainly students, of course. Above the gymnasiums is a jogging track, and next door is a huge weight room, and a climbing wall. It is a wonderful and useful modern addition to this historic place. The weekend came and went quickly, with lots of wins and losses, and before long, we had driven over the mountain pass and were back at home in Wenatchee.
1. 'To make a bid' is to ask to win/receive a contract. We also 'ask' for bids from companies to see which one can give us the best service.
a. Many countries made their bids to host the next Olympics.
b. We asked for bids from several builders, to see which one could build our garage for the most reasonable price.
c. At the auction, the highest bid for the antique chair was $1000.
2. 'Consolation' is a gift of some kind to compensate for a loss. The verb 'to console' is to offer kind words to someone when they have lost something.
a. The loser of the competition received a consolation prize of a laptop.
b. I consoled her after her pet died.
c. The policeman gave the child a teddy bear, as a consolation, until they could find her parents.
3. 'To have a soft spot for something/someone' is to have positive/ tender feelings sometimes related to memories.
a. I have a soft spot for the college because I have good memories of being a student.
b. I have a soft spot for cats; we always had cats when I was a child.
c. They have a soft spot for Madrid; they first met and later got married there.
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Thanksgiving was on 26th of November. It is always on the fourth Thursday of that month. It is a day that everyone looks forward to. It is a welcomed break for school children and anyone who works. And, of course, there is a big meal to share with family, friends, or both if you are lucky. This year, I decided to try something different. Each Thanksgiving morning here in Wenatchee, there is The Turkey Run. It is a 5km run or walk that is organized to raise money for charity. Participants(1)need to pay a certain amount to receive an official number in the race. Then, all you need is a good pair of running shoes, and some warm clothes. I had got(2) up early that morning to go to the supermarket. It was freezing cold. "Uh!" I thought to myself, "The race will be miserable if it stays this cold." Thankfully, by the time my daughter and I were ready, the sun had come out, and it was a few degrees warmer. At the starting line, there were hundreds of people of all ages, all dressed in winter clothes, some wearing funny hats, and even a couple of ballet Tutus. There were lots of smiles and laughter, and a few serious runners who disappeared along the road and up the hill as fast as lightening. My daughter wanted to run ahead to find one of her friends, so I jogged behind her. I kept my eyes on her bright pink sweater, as it darted through the crowd. During the run, I saw people I know, and was able to walk and talk with a few. I also was able to admire those in wheelchairs who were making a wonderful effort for charity. There were people with turkey hats on, others dressed in the Seattle Seahawks colors, and even babies bundled up like Eskimos being carried by their parents. I can only imagine that with such a good turnout(3), a lot of money was raised for charity. I will definitely take part in the race next year; I'm tempted to buy a silly turkey hat just for that occasion.
1. 'Participants' is the noun, from the verb 'to participate' meaning to take part in something.
a. We were participants in the race, but not serious runners.
b. Now it is time for the participants to be judged.
2. 'Got' is used in British English as the past participle, instead of 'gotten' which is used in the U.S.
a. We had got tired of the cold, so we went back to the house.
b. They missed the bus because they hadn't got up until really late.
3. 'Turnout' is a number of people coming to an event.
a. I'm so pleased at the turnout of this political rally.
b. The turnout for the new video game was a record breaker.
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