Bugs!

Compared to Fujinomiya, there aren't many bugs in Orange County, California. I think it's because it's so dry there, and there are too many houses. I know there are cicadas, centipedes, and many other small critters in the US - but I've never seen them near my house.

There are some dangerous spiders, though. One of them is called the Black Widow. Here's a picture:



These are very dangerous - don't touch them! We also have something called a Velvet Ant:



Be careful around these things, if you see them!

Listening

I recommended to many of you to try CDs and DVDs to improve your listening ability. Children's books on CD are very helpful, especially for learning some common vocabulary and idioms that you probably didn't learn in high school. We have some here that you can borrow, or you can order some over the Internet.

As for DVDs, TV shows such as dramas or sitcoms are good for learning common social vocabulary. I don't recommend action shows or shows for teenagers because the vocabulary is too specialized.

Good luck!

I've Been Working!

You use "I've been ..." to talk about things you started before, and have continued until now. It's a good piece of grammar to use when I ask you, "Anything new?" or "How have you been?"

Lately, I've been using the electric fan a lot. I was surprised to hear that people say you shouldn't use a fan at night. I wonder why? I've been using the fan every night, and I'm fine. What have you been doing to cool down this summer?