Beginners.
Today, Foxy had an appointment with the vet for vaccinations and a general check-up. She is about eight months old, so she needed her second set of vaccinations. The vet also needed to see if her growth was normal and healthy. I put her in her cage, in the back of the car, and drove about ten minutes to the Animal Hospital of Wenatchee. It is a lovely building, brand new infact, that is right in the center of town. The owner had had a pet shop which sold many different kinds of pets, and their supplies. The owner's husband is a vet. Now, they have changed their business, and they deal with the medical needs of animals. When you walk in the building you see that it is all about animals, and very tastefully arranged. Their is a fish tank, huge books all about animals, a statue of St. Francis of Asisi, and accessories all around that have images of dogs. There is even a special greeter. A little, fluffy dog that belongs to the owners spends its days in the animal hospital. Every time someone new walks in, it comes up to you, has a look and a sniff, checks out your pet, and then goes back behind the secretary's desk. It can't quite say,"Can I take your coat, sir? Please make yourself comfortable. The vet will see you shortly." But, it would be very fitting if it did. Anyway, we arrived on time and waited in the waiting area. Foxy was nervous, I think. She sniffed, and sniffed. And her tail wasn't wagging at all. We comforted her and cuddled her, but still, she was not too happy about being there.
Grammar notes.
The preterite: sniff/ sniffed, to need/ needed, to be/ was/ were.
Exs:
The movie was very sad. The audience sniffed through most of it.
I needed to tell the truth. I also needed to know if it was safe to do so.
I was waiting at the bus stop for half an hour. Where were all the buses? Were they on strike?
Advanced.
Poor Foxy had an ordeal today. It wasn't anything serious, but she thought it was. Talk about a nervous female! She whined all the way to the veterinary clinic. When she was inside the building, her tail was down and between her legs, a sure sign of being unhappy or scared. I had to keep a tight hold on her leash because she was a little out of control, pulling and wanting to get out. Eventually, the vet was ready to see her. She put her up on a table and examined her bones, and checked her heart, ears, and teeth. She gave Foxy the thumbs up for good health. And then it was time for her injections. I was so surprised that Foxy whined and made a lot of fuss. My other dog barely whined at all when she had her shots. But, Foxy is obviously much more sensitive. " Each dog is different, just like humans," said the vet. She had difficulty examining her paws also. The dog just wouldn't let her. She has been licking her paws for a couple of days, which could be a sign of injury. However, the vet ran her fingers over the surface and in between her toes, and found nothing. Perhaps, as she has been running, she has injured herself a little. But, she is recovering. All these things needed to be checked, and I was so glad that she was given a clean bill of health. It was a relief to get her home. She is not used to being away from our other dog, Rosie. So, she was happy to be reunited. Unfortunately for me, I had to hose out her cage when we got home. Nerves had got the best of her, and I had to wash out the consequences, if you know what I mean.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: an ordeal, a leash, a paw, a clean bill of health, to hose (off).
The strike was quite an ordeal. There was a lot of tension and bad feelings.
When I took the dog for a walk, the leash got tangled around her paws.
My grandmother had been really ill, but the doctor now gives her a clean bill of health.
Roll out the hose and turn the water on please. I have to hose off my children; they are covered in mud.
Beginners.
We are continuing with our series 'The Tour of Homes', highlighting all the everyday details of life at home. You are probably thinking, "When is she going to be finished with the kitchen?" I think this is the last kitchen episode, at least for now. You also are probably thinking, "We have already heard about drawers in the kitchen." Yes, you are right. However, the phrase 'The kitchen drawer', is actually quite famous. It has become an expression in English speaking nations. The reason is this: there is usually a drawer in any kitchen where junk of all sorts is found. The drawer starts out empty, or, at least quite organized, with just a few things in it. But, as time goes on, more and more bits and pieces appear in it. It is almost a mystery how things get there. When I am busy in the kitchen, and I find things that don't belong there, I automatically put them in the kitchen drawer. Small toys that my children leave in the kitchen, receipts from work, coupons, spare keys, all these things can be found in there and more. One of the books that I have that helps people get organized, talks about the kitchen drawer. It says that every now and then, that spot of the kitchen needs to be examined and organized. Most things inside it need to be thrown away, and the things that are left should be put in groups so they are easy to find. In superstores, you can even find 'kitchen drawer organizers'. It's part of the culture now.
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: bits and pieces, all sorts of/ all kinds of, every now and then.
Exs:
My handbag is full of bits and pieces. I don't know if any of these things are worth keeping.
The bakery had all sorts of miniature tarts! OR The bakery had all kinds of miniature tarts!
Every now and then my friend will come and visit, and we will talk about our college days.
Advanced.
Oh my, when I decided to write about the kitchen drawer, I cringed inside. I knew that I had to take a photo of mine, and I had the feeling that it would be bad. It was worse than I expected. The only reason I have opened it recently, is to chuck in a few more unwanted items. It has certainly been neglected. When I walk around Walmart, a large superstore that is very close to my house, I feel a little guilty when I walk past the shelf of drawer organizers. You know what they look like: rectangular wooden or plastic inserts that have different compartments for all the different sized objects. Maybe one day I will buy one. Some of the things we have in the kitchen drawer are important, or at least, useful, so they are worth keeping in there. It's just difficult to throw things away sometimes. Don't you find that when you do, a few days later, you need what you just threw away? Am I making excuses? Perhaps I could have a goal of spending five minutes a week sorting out the drawer. Let me have a quick look and see what has accumulated: pencils, tape measures, hair bands, bits of shells, a plastic Pez candy container, some screws, some keys, and a variety of coupons and books. Hmm, that's not too bad. I suppose I could put the coupons together in a zip-lock bag. I could also have the stationary and pens, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners in one area for easy access. And then the keys; throw away the ones we don't use, and hang up the important ones somewhere safe. There, that looks much better. The process wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. The kitchen drawer looks much better now. Next time I won't leave it as long.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: to cringe, to chuck/ throw, an insert, a zip-lock bag. And practice of the future tense.
Exs:
I cringe when I think of singing in front of the school.
Chuck all of the garbage away! I'm tired of seeing it.
I need to buy inserts for my shoes to make them more comfortable.
I put the kids' sandwiches in zip-lock bags to keep them fresh.
Future:
Will you be coming to dinner tonight?
He won't enjoy the ballet. It's not the sort of thing he likes.
We will order pizza tonight, but tomorrow I will make roast beef.
The furniture will arrive in three days, so I'm going to get the room ready.
We're going to buy the house and fix it up. Then we will sell it.
Isn't he going to call you?
Beginners.
Do you like to eat fruit? What are your favorite kinds? I like all kinds of fruit, local and tropical. I am fussy about one thing, though, when it comes to fruit: it has to be fresh. There is nothing worse than biting into an old apple that is soft, or an old orange that is starting to lose its flavor. Because we live close to all kinds of orchards, we have the benefit of shopping at local fruit stands. Every year there seem to be more and more of them. Just around the corner, a block away from where I live, is a fruit stand. It sells most seasonal fruits from this area: apples, cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and pears. The first fruit to be sold are the cherries. They are ready for harvest before the other fruits. Then come the apricots, followed by the peaches, nectarines, pears, and finally the apples. It's all colorful and delicious. The fruit stand, or stall as they say here, is a simple construction made out of wood, a shade, and a table. You can park your car next to it, get out, and choose from a number of different bags of different sizes. The owners also grow tomatoes, so, just like in an open market, you can choose your own. And did you know that there is a drop box for the money that you pay, in case nobody is there to serve you. Yes! The fruit is sometimes left by itself, and if you take a bag, you are expected to put the money in the box. It's a test to see if you are honest! And, you know, most people are!
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: Did you know?, there is nothing worse, a block away.
Exs:
Did you know that chocolate and coffee are actually good for you?
There is nothing worse than a badly made cup of tea.
The park is a block away from my house, and the supermarket is three blocks away.
Advanced.
The fruit stand nearby is almost a permanent mini store. It gets set up in Spring, and doesn't come down until Autumn. It's a good reminder for us locals to think about whether or not we are eating enough fruit. There has been nationwide advertising for several years now, emphasizing the need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables in order to improve health, and to prevent cancer. In the schools, the children even have a health class where they are presented with information about the goodness, or lack of goodness, in all foods. The kids are encouraged to think about their bodies, and what they need on a daily basis, and to come up with healthy alternatives to the American diet. They color in pictures, answer questions, and memorize fact. They really become quite informed. I take pride in having lots of vegetables and fruit at home. We introduced a variety of veggies to our children from a very early age. How did we do it? Well, we made it into a game. We called Brussel sprouts 'green eyeballs', and Spinach became 'rabbit food'. The kids were so amused and intrigued, that they tried everything over time, and liked it all. We haven't had to make up any games to get them to eat fruit, of course. The natural sugar content is all the attraction they need.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: to set up/ to pack up or disassemble, on a ....basis. Practice of the pluperfect.
Exs:
We set up the tent yesterday, but we had to take it down immediately because there was a big hole in it.
The machine was disassembled so the mechanics could find where the problem was.
I eat vegetables on a daily basis, and I have a check up with the doctor on a yearly basis.
Pluperfect.
We hadn't even driven a mile, when we had to turn around because we had forgotten our passports.
We hadn't seen our friends for months, when suddenly, they dropped by to see us.
Hadn't he read the instructions? OR Had he not read the instructions?
Beginners.
If you drive around this town, you will see lots of new buildings, and some that are almost finished. The town is growing. There is heavy machinery of all kinds in many places: cranes, backhoes, dump trucks, and bulldozers. As you walk or drive past these busy places, you can hear all the noises of the machines, the workmen, and the automatic tools. It is interesting to see how quickly a neighborhood can be changed by a building. Now, also, there is a rule in Wenatchee that when a building is built there must be landscaping around it. That means that the owners must plant trees, grass, and bushes. It all beautifies the area and makes the new buildings look even better. It helps to sell the new buildings, and it attracts people to new stores. When attractive landscaping is put in, the whole area benefits. Did you know that trees and other greenery reduce crime? The beautiful, natural surroundings help us calm down and forget our problems. A tree here, some flowers there, a group of bushes, all add quality to our lives. That is why it is great to see Wenatchee getting more landscaping. Just a few streets away from where I live, there is a new spot of landscaping that catches everybody's attention. It is a beautiful advertisement for a new development.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: heavy machinery, crane, greenery, to beautify.
My son loves heavy machinery. He watches the backhoe dig and dig.
Gosh, I didn't know that cranes could be so tall.
This garden looks like a desert. It needs more greenery.
The new fountain really beautifies the center of town.
Advanced.
Boulder Falls is the name of a new waterfall on the corner of a street where new houses are being built. It is quite an eye catcher. There was nothing there a month ago, apart from some weeds and dry ground. Now, with the help of buiders, landscapers, and heavy machinery, the patch of land has become transformed. First the ground was prepared, weeded, smoothed, and pipes were laid. Then plastic was put on top. A natural looking wall of boulders was put in, piece by piece, with a stair step arrangement in the middle. Next, rich topsoil was spread all around the rocks, and the landscapers planted many trees and bushes. Finally, the water was turned on. Everyone who drives past that corner must have been wondering when it would be finished. And now, with the Autumn colors just around the corner, we will be able to enjoy the waterfall until the snow comes. "It's smart," said my husband, as we drove past one day. "It'll help to sell the new houses." I hadn't thought about that until he mentioned it. It's true. What a clever way to advertise new homes: put in a beautiful piece of landscaping that is right next to them. With the credit crisis still looming large in the area, new homes need all the help they can get. The landscaping company also has its name on a sign right next to the waterfall. So it is double advertising.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: an eye catcher, to weed, to landscape/ landscapers, just around the corner, to loom large. Present/ past continous of verb 'to be' + adjectives.
The new bill board in town is an eye catcher. It is huge and brightly colored.
The garden had been ignored for months. We had to weed for hours.
The landscapers are quite talented. They landscape most of the businesses in town.
The medical exam was looming large in her mind. It was all she thought about.
Her birthday is just around the corner. She will celebrate it in three days.
Practice of present/ past continous of verb 'to be' + adjectives.
A new statue was being erected in town, so we went to see it.
The village is being bombed, so the people have to escape now!
Three thousand hamburgers are being fried today for the great giveaway.
Beginners.
Baseball season has started. 'Fall Ball' is the title of the season's activities, and the town is busy and buzzing with the sport. Usually, when a child is signed up for baseball, he will have two practices per week, and then two games at the weekend. It is a big commitment because the games last for two hours each. Preparation has to be made: the rest of the family comes along to the game bringing chairs, hats, blankets in case it is cold, cold drink in case it is hot. The weather is changeable, so you never know what you will get. Even with a very consistent climate as we have here, September can bring surprises. The boys involved in baseball have to arrive at the baseball park about an hour early, in order to practice. They generally carry a bag, inside which you will find: a baseball glove (or mitt), a ball, a bat, a hat, and drinks. They stretch, run up and down the field, practice throwing and catching, and then listen to instructions from the coach. As the boys get older, they become more knowledgeable about the game, faster, and stronger. The games become more interesting and competitive. All goes well unless the weather does something unusual. Coming from a rainy country, the kids are used to playing in the rain; it's really no big deal. If you come from a very dry area, like Wenatchee, rain can seem quite intimidating.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: intimidating, commitment, consistent.
Exs:
The boxer looked intimidating. He was very muscular and hairy.
She took her commitment to her family seriously: she took care of her grandmother for three years.
The sauce is not consistent. Some of it is smooth, and some of it is lumpy.
Advanced.
There was a downpour the other day during a weekend baseball game. I loved it, but, I think, most people found it irritating. The coaches kept on calling a time-out, which is when the game stops for a while. The players would run into the dug-out (their shelter), and get dry and rest. It is difficult to play baseball in the rain because you play on hard soil, and what happens to that when it rains? Mud, mud, and more mud. So, even though this English girl was secretly loving the rain and feeling very at home in it, the players, coaches, and referees were frustrated and impatient. The sight of an umbrella is quite rare in this town, and their random colors cheered the look of the baseball park. Well, our team eventually won the game, and everyone went home to get warm and dry. People talked about how awful the weather was, but I think that it made the day more interesting. A friend of mine during the Summer was going to take her daughter to a swimming lesson, "It might be cancelled because of the rain," she said to me. I looked in the sky and barely saw a drop of water anywhere. Gosh, what different ideas people have about the weather. I suppose it is all to do with your childhood and expectations. "You people are soft," I once said to my father-in-law, "a bit of water in the sky, and you have to run home and cancel everything!" If we cancelled for rain in England, we would never do anything!
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: awful, to cancel, impatient, and the subjunctive.
Exs:
The play was awful. It was poorly written and the actors were amateurs!
I had to cancel my appointment with the dentist in order to go to the doctor.
The train was late for the third time this week. Everyone on the platform was very impatient.
Subjunctive.
If the train had been on time, noone would have been grumpy.
If I were you, I wouldn't talk like that to the principal.
When the town grows more, the counsel might build a theatre.
Beginners.
This year I have some free time. My youngest child goes to preschool four mornings a week, so during that time, I can do many things. I decided recently to put my application in for being a substitute teacher. That is a teacher who takes the place of a regular, full-time teacher who is ill, or who cannot make it to school for some other reason. Sometimes a teacher has a training day to attend, so someone else needs to take his class. Often, especially around flu season, a teacher might wake up ill, or have an ill child to take care of; that's when I step in. I have been a substitute teacher before. It is a good way to experience many different schools in a short period of time. Generally, a substitute teacher, or 'sub', as they are called, will work in a different school each day. Before I went to university to get my teaching degree, I subbed for a year in our town. It showed me that High School is my preferred place of teaching. I enjoy the company of the older students, even though the teenagers can be quite a challenge at times. As I plan to eventually go back to teaching full-time, subbing is a good way to introduce myself to the school district and all it's staff. Let's hope that they like me!
Grammar notes.
Useful expressions: full-time, part-time, to step in.
She has just got a full-time job and is thrilled. A fourty hour week will really help to pay the bills.
I'm hoping to job share. A part-time position would be convenient for me at this stage in my life.
The house was devastated by the storm. Thankfully, the neighbors all stepped in to help clean up the next day.
Advanced.
I'm really excited about getting back into the school system. It has been a few years since I last subbed, about nine actually. I suppose I'm a little nervous as well. Things have changed in nine years. Now there is an on-line application to fill in. We never had that before. It's not a problem, of course; it's just an extra step involving technology. Also, now I can look for jobs in advance on the internet. There is a specific site for subbing jobs which I can log on to and search. That way I can plan ahead and have a job or two lined up for me, instead of being called at five thirty in the morning to see if I am available. That is a definite improvement! There is certainly more paperwork involved, though. More forms, more information, more warnings even. There is a misconduct form which is new. It is required by state law from everyone who works in the schools. It also is a good idea. It basically protects the students from anyone who acts or has acted inappropriately towards youngsters. I'm glad that these regulations exist. They keep my children and all the students safe. Another thing that has to be done before subbing is fingerprinting. I went down to the school district office to have my fingerprints done. It is a simple procedure, but I ran into a problem. Some of my fingers didn't have prints! How did that happen? The lady told me that gardening without gloves on will do that. The prints will actually get worn down! Well, I learned something new that day. But it all turned out okay in the end. I had enough prints for the police to check out my record. It turns out that I'm not a criminal.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary and verb practice: inappropriate, on-line, website, 'to require'.
Exs:
The man acted so inappropriately at the wedding; he was very drunk and rude!
Checkout the new on-line store. It sells shoes really cheaply.
I will have a new website soon that I think you will find very interesting.
Three years of study are required to get that qualification.
All living things require food.
The law requires traffic to move slowly near schools.
Beginners.
Well, it looks like we're back in the kitchen. I told you, didn't I, that the kitchen is an important place, and that is why we need to spend more time using the every day kitchen vocabulary. The main idea of today's podcast is the pantry. It is an odd word, really. It means the storage area for all of the food. Pantries vary quite a lot. In our kitchen, we have three different areas for food items: one for cereals, one for baking items and canned goods, and another for pastas and rice. The system works for us. I want an easy reach place for the children, so they can get their cereals in the morning without any trouble. The pastas, rice,and spices, which I use a lot, are up in a cupboard where little fingers cannot reach them. Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out the best places to put things. It is a science. I think you need to live in your kitchen for a while, meaning, spend lots of time in your kitchen, before you know where you need to put things. We all hate looking for items when they have been put in the wrong place, so a pantry system saves time for a lot of people. I think I will gut a large cupboard, rearrange the shelves, and make it into one large pantry. It will make my life much easier.
Grammar notes.
Useful expressions: to figure out, to spend time, to gut.
The children were give five minutes to figure out the math problem.
We should spend more time with our neighbor; she is such fun, and she lives alone.
We gutted the house; we took out all of the inside: carpets, cabinets, and appliances.
Advanced.
I have a wonderful book that I bought from a home improvement store a few years ago. It is called 'Creative ideas for organizing your home.' It is a guide to making your home efficient and clutter-free. Oh, that is a dream of mine. The book makes it all look so easy, though, a little bit like a Disney movie. I'm not too bad at being organized, but, then again, I'm not a natural accountant. I have friends who are, and they have everything in its rightful place. That is something that I admire. After all, it's more pleasant to live in a tidy, organized home, than to see 'stuff' everywhere you look. Don't get me wrong; I have improved over the years. I rearrange the cereal boxes in the pantry. I throw out the empty ones and put the ones that still have cereal in them in a straight line. I attack the kitchen draw every now and then, and throw out the unnecessaries. And when my children's bedrooms become despicable, I charge around picking things up, throwing things away, and putting things where they should be. Gosh, it takes a lot of time. As my children get older, they take on more responsibility which certainly helps me. They can make their beds, organize their cubbies where they keep their shoes and hang up their coats and backpacks. They can even vacuum quite well. The little ones are really not 'into it'. An answer I get often when I ask Domini or Robert to put their shoes away is, "Mum, my legs are tired," to which I respond, "Well, my everything is tired, but I still put my shoes away." My last resort to get them to help is bribery; it always works.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: clutter, a rightful place, cubby, to resort to.
There was so much clutter in his bedroom that I couldn't even walk in.
The diamond was returned to the museum and put in its rightful place.
I have just built some cubbies for the kids; they can hang coats, hats, backpacks there, and put their shoes in their own special place.
The criminal wouldn't talk, so the police resorted to rough interrogation.
Beginners.
On our recent trip to the zoo and aquarium at Defiance Point, my family and I saw a special show of wild animals. We sat in a packed open-air theater at about three in the afternoon and waited for the show to begin. Music played. It was the theme from Mission Impossible. I thought, "Why are they playing that music? What has it got to do with an animal show?" Well, it was a good idea for the show. The two female presenters found a box with a large red button on it. They pushed it, and a recorded voice gave them a mission, "To find the best way to enjoy the outdoors". Through the show they acted as if they were camping, hiking, and repelling, and they talked about other out-door activities. With each activity, they came upon different animals, and showed them to us. One was an Aardvark. It walked on to the stage and suprised all of us. They are actually quite big. Its back was extremely round, and with its snout it busily searched for food under rocks. It looked cute and cuddly. Everybody in the crowd said, "Ahhh," when it first appeared. When it had finished eating some food that had been deliberately placed for it, one of the ladies snapped her fingers, and it obediently left. Other animals came on to the stage. They were also trained. Wait until you hear about a few of them.
Grammar notes.
Useful phrases: to have to do (sometimes using got), to snap your fingers.
Exs:
The film doesn't have anything to do with the original book. Their themes are quite different.
I disagree with you, Sir. What you said has (got) nothing to do with my argument.
He shouldn't listen to our conversation. This (matter) has (got) nothing to do with him.
It used to be tradition to snap your fingers to call the waiter; now it is considered rude.
Advanced.
As the afternoon went on at the zoo, the show became more and more interesting. The list of different animals that made an appearance is long and quite varied. A tortoise from Madagascar was displayed. It moved slowly, of course, and looked cute and defenseless. Then came a fascinating fishcat. That's right, a fishcat, not a catfish. A fishcat is similar to a linx. It is sleek, beautiful, and quite small. But this creature actually has webbed feet! Can you believe it? A cat with webbed feet, just like a duck! Unlike most cats, it swims, and catches its food right in the water. As you can imagine, with an all fish diet, its fur is very sleek. Then came the birds. There was an ostrich, a hawk, a toucan, a barn owl, and then a bald eagle. It was impressive how the ladies had managed to train these birds. Of course they used food to make them obey, and it worked very well. The owl was white, cute, and fluffy, and its flight was completely silent. It flew over the audience and didn't make a sound. Last of all came the bald eagle. It was magestic, with a huge wing span, and an unpredictable look on its face. Iconic is the word, and a great way to end the show. It had been such an impressive show that we had forgotten how hot it was. We went off to get a drink, talking about all the animals and what we had learned. I'm so glad that I took lots of pictures.
Grammar notes.
Animal vocabulary: snout, hoof/ves, beak, webbed feet.
That woman has a nose and mouth that are just like the snout of a pig.
Banging that coconut sounds like horses hooves on a road.
Be careful when you stroke your canary. Its beak is quite sharp.
The duck's webbed feet look like they are made out of rubber.
Beginners.
During the summer, my family and I took a trip to a beautiful and fascinating place. It was a zoo and an aquarium at a place called Point Defiance, near Seattle. A friend of mine had been there, and told me that it was worth a trip. We were staying close by, on the coast, in a friend's house. It took about an hour and a half to get there by car which was fine. When we got there, it was quite a shock. The huge parking area was completely full. Infact, cars were parked on the side of the road because there were no more parking spaces available. When we got inside, I understood why it was so full. It is an incredible place. The aquarium is very large and varied. We saw penguins, seals, otters, walruses, and a huge amount of smaller sea creatures. I loved the jelly fish. They were a small, see-through species. They were in a dark tank with lights shining up. They looked like pretty little ghosts as they moved through the light. We spent a lot of time looking at the walruses. Gosh they were enormous. One swam up to the window where we were and stayed there, yawning, snorting, and looking at us. It was quite a show.
Grammar notes.
Preterite and pluperfect of : to be, to tell, to swim, to take.
Exs:
He was a very handsome man; he had been a pilot in the war.
I told you we needed new batteries. Jim had told you too.
He was tired of swimming. He had swum a mile in total, so he swam to the beach, got out, and fell asleep on the sand.
I took the car to the service station to have the oil changed. I didn't realise that you had taken it in already.
Advanced.
Point Defiance is on the coast right near the city of Tacoma. As we walked down the hill towards the entrance, we could see the sea. It was quite spectacular. The children were dying to sea the tigers, so we walked through the 'Asian Forest' area, through paths of bamboo, and into a cave-like area where we could look through glass into the large living area of the tigers. The adults were napping, laying on grass, barely moving. The babies, though, were right up close the glass, just relaxing, not seeming to take much notice of any of us. It was a thrill to see them. It was after the tigers that we went into the aquarium. There was so much to see. Again, we walked through a cave-like area that was dark, past windows of different fish, until we came to a huge aquarium. In it were sharks! I'm not sure what kind they were, but they certainly were intimidating. They circled around and came right up to the glass to check us out with their cold, black eyes. I wasn't sure who was observing who. I certainly wouldn't want to find myself swimming anywhere close to them.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: cave-like, to be dying to, barely.
I found the house cave-like; it was dark and had low ceilings.
I am dying to try that cheesecake; that bakery makes the best dairy treats.
As the child slept, he barely moved. You could just see his chest rising and falling as he breathed.