Home, Sweet Home

Considering the fact that so many holiday songs are centered around the theme of "home for Christmas" or "home for the holidays", along with the fact that my family is currently in the process of buying a vacation house upstate (pictured above), I've been thinking a lot about what exactly constitutes a home. The Longman Dictionary defines home as "the house, apartment, or place where you live." Indeed, if you ask most people to describe their homes, you'll probably get information about a physical place. However, other definitions of home are a bit more broad and abstract.

In his song "You're My Home", Billy Joel says:

Home can be the Pennsylvania Turnpike 
Indiana's early morning dew 
High up in the hills of California 
Home is just another word for you 

If I traveled all my life 
And I never get to stop and settle down 
Long as I have you by my side 
There's a roof above and good walls all around 
You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome 
I need you in my house 'cause you're my home 

For the narrator of this song, home is not necessarily a specific location. Rather, it is any place or situation in which he finds a sense of comfort and belonging. On a similar note (pun intended), Marc Cohn's song "Already Home" describes how the narrator searched for a home only to find that he was already there:

Why'd it have to take me so long
Just to find a place that really feels
This must be where I belong
Thinking about it, all I had to do was click my heels

This is where I lay my hat
This is where they know my name
This is where they show me that
A man's not so alone, no
Maybe I'm already home

Again, the lyrics give the impression that home is not a physical place as much as it is a feeling of acceptance and belonging.

Here's hoping we all find our homes, wherever or whatever they may be.

Vocabulary

To be centered around (phrasal verb) - to be interested in or based on

Constitute (verb) - to be the parts that form something

Abstract (adjective) - existing only as an idea rather than something real that can be seen or touched

Turnpike (noun) - a large road, highway

Dew (noun) - the small drops of water that form on outdoor surfaces during the night

Lay my hat (noun) - the place where you "lay your hat" or "hang your hat" usually refers to the place in which you live

Impression (noun) - the opinion or feeling you have about someone or something based on the way it seems

Acceptance (noun) - in this case, acceptance refers to the process of allowing someone to become part of a group or society

Vocabulary Practice

1. After many years in the United States, I finally felt that I had gained _________ into American society.

2. In order to drive on certain _________, we must pay a toll.

3. A mother, a father, and children _________ a family.

4. When I left my house this morning, there was _________ on my car. It had formed during the night.

5. This book is ___________ the war in Iraq.

6. My house is the place where I _________.

7. His unfriendly facial expression gave us the _________ that he was not a nice person.

8. Love is an __________ idea. It is not something we can actually see or touch.

Grammar Point

 In the vocabulary section, you learned the word abstract. There are some nouns that we classify as abstract nouns because they refer to things or ideas that we cannot see or touch. Some examples are love and happiness.

Grammar Practice

Think of five abstract nouns and write a sentence containing each one. If you cannot think of five abstract nouns on your own, choose some from the list at http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules/Abstract-Nouns.html.

Not So Silent Night

The stores are packed, holiday decorations abound, and there's a cheery spirit in the air. Another holiday season is in full swing!

One sure sign of the upcoming holidays is the fact that holiday music is blaring over the airwaves. In fact, some radio stations are even playing it exclusively. These radio offerings consist in large part of classic recordings by singers such as Bing Crosby, but several contemporary musical artists are also helping us get into the holiday spirit this year with new holiday-themed recordings. These artists range from relative newcomers like David Archuleta to well-established acts such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, and one of my favorite bands, REO Speedwagon.

When I heard that REO Speedwagon was making a holiday album, I had some trepidations. Although I very much like the band, I was not sure if their sound would work well with holiday songs. I am happy to report that my doubts were unfounded. The album, which is called Not So Silent Night, features fresh, upbeat versions of several classic Christmas songs. These new arrangements, along with REO Speedwagon's excellent musicianship, make for a fine album.

The album begins with a relatively simple arrangement of "The First Noel", which features lead vocalist Kevin Cronin in great form. The second song is a blues-influenced version of "Winter Wonderland", complete with a fine guitar solo by Dave Amato. Mr. Amato also provides a soaring guitar melody on next song, "Silent Night". In addition, this song features strong background vocals which complement Mr. Cronin's lead singing.

The fourth song is a rocking version of "Deck the Halls", which showcases the powerful guitar sound that REO Speedwagon is so famous for. Next comes "The Little Drummer Boy". The entire band shines on this song with powerful vocals, excellent guitar work, and great drumming. Other highlights include rocking arrangements of "Children Go Where I Send Thee", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "Joy To The World". There is also a beautiful version of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (Was is Over)" which I think would make Mr. Lennon proud.

Anyone who is a fan of REO Speedwagon or who enjoys contemporary holiday music will surely find something to enjoy on this album. Check it out, and enjoy your holidays!

Vocabulary

Abound (verb) - to exist in very large numbers

Blare (verb) - to make a loud noise

Exclusively (adverb) - only

In large part (idiom) - very much, mostly

Contemporary (adjective) - belonging to the present time, modern, new

Newcomer (noun) - someone who has recently arrived somewhere or who has recently started doing something

Trepidation (noun) - a feeling of doubt, fear

Unfounded (adjective) - wrong, not based on facts

Vocalist (noun) - singer

Highlight (noun, can also be a verb) - an interesting or enjoyable part of something

Vocabulary Practice

1. Lions, tigers, and bears _________ in the forest.

2. Steve Perry is a great singer. He is one of my favorite __________.

3. Car horns __________ on the busy highway.

4. Bob is a _________ to our school. He just arrived here yesterday.

5. Seeing the Grand Canyon was the _________ of our trip.

6. This product is available _________ in this store. It cannot be found anywhere else.

7. This war was due _________ to the president's actions.

8. The police investigated the rumors and discovered that they were _________.

9. I didn't know who was knocking on the door, but I opened it with some ___________.

10. I enjoy the _________ art that has been produced in the past few years.

Grammar Point

Discourse markers are words and phrases that are used to transition from one thing to another. They often clarify the relationship between things, and they can be used to show order and sequencing. In this blog entry, I used discourse markers like first, second, third, and next to help you understand the sequence of songs on the album.

Grammar Practice

a. Write a paragraph explaining what you did yesterday. Use at least five discourse markers to demonstrate the sequence of events.

b. Imagine your paragraph without these discourse markers. What would change?

A Hanukkah Tradition

As of last night, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is now upon us. Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays because my extended family celebrates it each year with a big party! This party is probably my family's longest-running holiday tradition, and I look forward to it every year.

Our Hanukkah party tradition started back in 1955 when some members of my family decided to celebrate the holiday together. That first Hanukkah party had just six attendees: my grandparents, my father (who was an infant at the time), my great aunt and uncle, and their three-year-old son. They continued to celebrate Hanukkah together every year thereafter, and the number of attendees grew considerably over time. Dozens of family members now attend the party each year, and many of them travel long distances just to come to this great celebration.

As you would probably expect with any holiday party, our Hanukkah celebration includes lots of food and gift-giving. We also conduct an informal ceremony in which we light the menorah, recite the prayers, and talk about the meaning of the holiday. Some other aspects of the party are more unique, such as our annual children's talent show and the improvisational skit that my great aunt directs. The skit is typically based on a well-known children's story, and this year's skit will be a reenactment of Peter Pan. Because the skit is improvisational, it is always very entertaining and incredibly funny!

Here's hoping the Hanukkah lights burn brightly for many years to come!

Vocabulary

Extended family (noun) - a family group that consists not only of parents and children but also of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

Attendee (noun) - someone who is at an event such as a meeting, party, or concert

Thereafter (adverb) - after a particular event or time, afterwards

Considerably (adverb) - a lot, much

Informal (adjective) - relaxed and friendly without being restricted by rules of correct behavior

Menorah (noun) - a candle holder used during the holiday of Hanukkah

Recite (verb) - to repeat the words of something such as a song, poem, or prayer

Improvisational (adjective) - done or performed without preparation

Skit (noun) - a short humorous performance

Reenactment (noun) - a performance of an existing story or past event

 Vocabulary Practice

1. We light the _________ during the eight nights of Hanukkah.

2. The musicians didn't have time to practice, but their _________ performance was very good.

3. Next week, some local historians will perform a __________ of a Civil War battle.

4. In some cultures, it is common for _________ to live together.

5. Our parties are usually relaxed and _________.

6. The two brothers had a big fight and did not speak to each other for years __________.

7. Last year, our class wrote and performed a funny _________.

8. I am going to _________ a poem by Taylor Mali.

9. The president was an _________ at the meeting.

10. My new house is _________ larger than my old one.

Grammar Point

The -ee suffix is often added to verbs to indicate who is the object of the verb (receiver of the action), or the subject of the verb (doer of the action). The resulting words are nouns, such as attendee (note its use in this blog entry) and addressee.

Grammar Point

Write three sentences containing nouns with the -ee suffix. For each one, also indicate the original verb from which the noun is derived. If you need help finding words with this suffix, use http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/ee.htm to help you get started.

Concerts

In one of his entries, Josh commented that perhaps he should change the title of his blog to A Blog About Snowboarding. Well, perhaps I should change mine to A Blog About Music. Music seems to permeate almost every aspect of my life, so I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that I've devoted so many blog entries to it.

One of my favorite music-related pastimes is attending concerts. A great thing about living on Long Island is that so many concert venues are in close proximity. We have large venues like Nassau Coliseum and Jones Beach Theater, as well as smaller places like The Theatre at Westbury and The Boulton Center. New York City is also home to a number of venues, including the world-famous Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall. I've been lucky enough to attend several events at these places, and they are always a lot of fun.

The only downside of going to concerts at the above mentioned venues is that tickets tend to be relatively expensive, sometimes even costing over $100 each. However, there are alternatives that are far less costly. Many local governments, including Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead, the Town of Oyster Bay, and the Town of Babylon, sponsor dozens of free concerts each year. These concerts often feature cover bands, which are bands that play music that has been made famous by other artists. Some people think of cover bands as being second-rate, but the reality is that many cover bands are well-respected for their outstanding musicianship. Even if cover bands don't suit your tastes, several of these free concerts feature famous artists. Within the past few years, I have attended free concerts by Lee Greenwood, Dave Mason, Dennis DeYoung (the former lead singer of Styx), and many others.

Enjoy the show!

Vocabulary

Permeate (verb) - to be present in every part of something

Aspect (noun) - one part of something that has many parts

Venue (noun) - a place where a meeting, concert, or event occurs

Proximity (noun) - nearness, closeness

Downside (noun) - a negative part or disadvantage of something

Second-rate (adjective) - inferior, not of the best quality

Musicianship (noun) - skill in playing music

Vocabulary Practice

1. An auditorium is a typical _________ for a theatrical performance.

2. Because I live in the suburbs, there are many other houses in close _________ to mine.

3. Eric Clapton is an excellent guitar player. He is known for his __________.

4. Verb conjugation is one _________ of grammar.

5. John is usually a great singer, but his performance last night was _________.

6. When the sun rises, the bright sunshine will __________ this room.

7. This book tells an interesting story. However, the __________ is that it is written in a boring style.

Grammar Point

Uncountable nouns are things that cannot be separated or divided, or counted. An example is water. We can count cups of water, ounces of water, or bottles of water, but we cannot count water itself. I used several uncountable nouns in this blog entry, including proximity and musicianship.

Grammar Practice

Write five sentences containing uncountable nouns.

Sevilla, La Maravilla

One of my favorite travel destinations is the beautiful city of Seville. Seville is located in southern Spain, and it is choc-full of significant cultural and historic landmarks. Come along with me as I take you on a virtual blog tour of this great city!

You'll most likely arrive in Seville by airplane, in which case you can take a taxi to your hotel or hostel. If your hotel or hostel happens to be in one of the older sections of the city, you'll likely be amazed at how easily the driver navigates the narrow, winding roads. Since Spain is seven hours ahead of the United States, you'll probably be jet lagged, and you will want to go to sleep as soon as you arrive. However, you should resist this urge. Instead, pick up a map of the city and start exploring!

One of the first places you should visit is the Guadalquivir River. You can take a stroll along the bank of the river and enjoy the scenery, or you can find a spot to sit and relax. You can also take a guided boat tour of the river, during which you will enjoy great views of several of Seville's landmarks. One such landmark is the Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold), named for its brilliant golden color. The tower, which was built in the 13th century as a military watchtower, is now a naval museum in which visitors can learn about the importance of the Guadalquivir.

As you move toward the center of the city, check out the Plaza de España (Plaza of Spain). The Plaza was built in 1929 for the Spanish-American Exhibition, and its majestic appearance is quite a sight to see. Look closely and you'll notice that the Plaza has several colorfully decorated alcoves, each of which represents one of Spain's provinces. The Plaza de España may also look familiar to Star Wars fans, as some parts of Episode II were filmed there.

The next destination you should visit is the Alcázar. Originally a fort, the Alcázar was converted to a royal palace several centuries ago. In fact, some parts of the Alcázar are still used by the royal family. However, many parts are now open to the public, and visitors can spend hours admiring the picturesque gardens and masterful architecture.

Not far from the Alcázar is Seville's famous cathedral, which is the third largest church in the world. The cathedral was built in the 15th and 16th centuries, and it has 80 lavishly decorated chapels. It also has a huge bell tower known as La Giralda, which is probably the city's most famous landmark. You can climb the ramps to the top of the Giralda and enjoy spectacular views of the entire city. Another important feature of the cathedral is the tomb of a certain man known to the Spaniards as Cristóbal Colón. Do you recognize the name? If not, perhaps you know him better as Christopher Columbus.

If you are lucky enough to have some time remaining after visiting these places, there is plenty more to see and do. Sports fans can check out Seville's two professional soccer teams, Real Betis and Sevilla Fútbol Club. Fans of both teams are extremely passionate, so attending a soccer game in Seville is a very interesting experience! If you like history and/or architecture, there are numerous museums and historic buildings that you can visit. Those who like to shop might want to visit the modern Nervión section of the city, which is home to the El Corte Inglés department store, the Plaza Nervión mall, and many smaller specialty stores. If you're interested in authentic Spanish cuisine, you should also check out some of Seville's many tapas bars. Each one is unique in terms of atmosphere as well as food offerings.

No matter how long you stay in Seville, I can almost guarantee that you won't want to leave. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. As you depart, I leave you with Seville's official motto: "no me ha dejado" ("it [Seville] has not left me"). Indeed, your memories of this fantastic city will last a lifetime. Come back soon!

For more information on Seville, see http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville

Grammar Point

In English, there are four types of sentences.

Simple sentences include one subject and one predicate. An example from this blog entry is "One of my favorite travel destinations is the beautiful city of Seville."

Compound sentences are made up of at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. An example from this blog entry is "Seville is located in southern Spain, and it is choc-full of significant cultural and historic landmarks."

Complex sentences contain a simple sentence and one or more dependent clauses. An example from this blog entry is "As you move toward the center of the city, check out the Plaza de España (Plaza of Spain)."

Compound-complex sentences have two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. An example from this blog entry is "Since Spain is seven hours ahead of the United States, you'll probably be jet lagged, and you will want to go to sleep as soon as you arrive."

Grammar Practice

Look through your own writing and find one sentence of each type. Label the subjects and predicates of each sentence. 

Hibachi

This past weekend, I went to a hibachi restaurant with some friends and family. As I sat there eating the delectable food, I realized that I actually knew very little about the history and the origin of hibachi. I decided to do some internet research, and I learned some very interesting things.

One of the first things I learned is that the word hibachi is actually a misnomer. In the English language, hibachi refers to a type of Japanese restaurant where grills are integrated into tables. Customers typically sit at these tables and watch as a chef prepares their food, which may consist of beef, chicken, shrimp, scallops, rice, and vegetables. Chefs usually do the cooking in a theatrical way, often lighting things on fire and juggling cooking utensils. However, in the Japanese language, a hibachi is a special bowl used for heating homes as well as public places. It is not usually used for cooking. The correct name for hibachi-style cooking is teppanyaki, and the grill used for this type of cooking is called a teppan.

Another surprising thing I learned is that teppanyaki cooking is a relatively new invention. It was first introduced in Japan in 1945 by a restaurant called Misono. Because teppanyaki cooking was entertaining to watch and included many ingredients that were familiar to Americans and Europeans, it soon became popular with foreigners. In 1964, a man named Hiroaki Aoki brought teppanyaki to the United States when he opened a restaurant called Benihana in New York City. A few years later, he opened a similar restaurant in Chicago. Today, Benihana is a large company with restaurants all over the world.

Vocabulary

Delectable (adjective) - delicious, tasty

Origin (noun) - the place or situation where something begins to exist

Misnomer (noun) - a wrong or unsuitable name; an error in naming something

Integrated (adjective) - combining different parts in a way that works well

Theatrical (adjective) - relating to performing

Utensils (noun) - things such as a knife, fork, or spoon that are used for cooking or eating

Invention (noun) - a new thing that someone has made or designed

Ingredient (noun) - in cooking, one of the foods that is used to make a certain dish

Foreigner (noun) - someone from a different country

Vocabulary Practice

1. Pizza is a popular food of Italian _________.

2. Sometimes, a _________ may have trouble learning the language of his or her new country.

3. He read the letter in a ________ way, as if he was putting on a show for us.

4. At the restaurant, I had to ask for new _________ because I dropped my fork and spoon on the floor.

5. Professor Nenchin's pie was __________; we all enjoyed eating it.

6. Cheese is an important _________ of pizza.

7. The word parkway is a _________ because we do not park on parkways.

8. The printing press was an important _________ because it helped to make books more widely available.

9. Our city's _________ transportation system includes buses and trains. Together, they help millions of people get to where they need to go.

Grammar Point

 Oftentimes, words from one language are adopted into another language. Since the English language has been influenced by many different cultures, many foreign words have been adopted into English. Hibachi is one example of this. Other examples include pizza, café, and rodeo.

Grammar Practice

Find three English words that have been adopted from other languages. Write a sentence containing each one. If you are not sure about the origin of a word, look it up on http://dictionary.reference.com/

Pandora Internet Radio

If you've read my previous entry, I suppose you may be wondering how you can go about finding new music that suits your tastes. If so, I have some great news for you: thanks to the internet, an entire world of music is literally at your fingertips!

Pandora Internet Radio is an excellent resource for finding music. When you go to the Pandora website, you will first be asked to type the name of a musical artist or a song that you like. Next, Pandora will use a special system to analyze certain characteristics the song or artist that you've chosen, and it will create a personalized radio station for you. Your radio station will play songs by the artist you chose, but the best part is that it will also play songs by other artists that are similar in style. Because of this, Pandora is a great way to use your favorite music as a springboard for discovering new artists, songs, and genres.

So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring! Follow your ears! You just might be in for some pleasant surprises.

Happy listening!

Vocabulary

Go about (verbal idiom) -  start to do something

Suits your tastes (verbal idiom) - is acceptable to you

At your fingertips (adjectival idiom) - easily available

Resource (noun) - something useful

Analyze (verb) -to look at something carefully

Personalized (adjective) - designed in a way that is useful for a specific person

Style (noun) - a way of doing something

Springboard (noun) - something that helps you start to do something

Genre (noun) - a certain type or category of art, writing, music, etc.

Be in for (verbal idiom) - guaranteed to get or have

Vocabulary Practice

1. You can use your native language as a __________ for learning English.

2. He asked the librarian how he might __________ finding information on Halloween.

3. Fiction is a __________ of writing.

4. The internet is an excellent __________ for information on many topics.

5. If you go to a haunted house, you might __________ some surprises.

6. Pandora can help you find music that __________.

7.  She has read many Gary Paulsen books because she likes his __________ of writing.

8. The doctor will __________ his blood to find out why he is sick.

9. At the library, many different types of books are __________.

10.  All of this restaurant's foods can be __________ for each customer.

Grammar Point

 Exclamation points (!) are used at the end of a sentence to show extreme pain, fear, anger, or excitement. In this blog entry, I used several exclamation points to indicate excitement: "Start exploring! Follow your ears!...Happy listening!"

Grammar Practice

a. Write five sentences with exclamation points. 

b. For each sentence, write a brief explanation of why you used an exclamation point.

c. Imagine your sentences without exclamation points. How does the meaning of the sentences change?