children freedom at home
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Describing People
| tall, tallish, short, shortish, medium height | frail, stocky, slim, thin, plump, fat, skinny, well-built | young, elderly, middle-aged, teenager, in 20s, 30s, 40s |
| Face | Eyes | Hair | Clothes |
|---|---|---|---|
| round, oval, square, with scares, wrinkles, freckles, sun-tanned, pale | big round blue eyes, large, small, bright, narrow | bald, straight, curly, spiky, wavy | casual, scruffy, shabby, smart, tidy, messy |
Describing Character
| careful, hard-working, worried, cheerful, broadminded, active, curious, secretive | aggressive, tough, careless, practical, sensible, independent, strong-minded, stupid | dull, boring, imaginative, ambitious, crafty, sensitive, gentle, naive | generous, loyal, self-controlled, moody, trusting, modest, tolerant, friendly | energetic, confident, selfish, shy, stubborn, reliable, clumsy, intelligent |
History of IranEmpires of Persia (Iran)
Proto-Elamite Civilization (3200–2700 BC)
Jiroft Kingdom (3000–5th c. BC)
Elamite Kingdom (2700–539 BC)
Mannaean Kingdom (10th–7th c. BC)
Median Empire (728–550 BC)
Achaemenid Empire (648–330 BC)
Seleucid Empire (330–150 BC)
Parthian Empire (250 BC–226 AD)
Sassanid Empire (226–650)
Islamic conquest (637–651)
Tahirid dynasty (821–873)
Saffarid dynasty (861–1003)
Samanid dynasty (875–999)
Ziyarid dynasty (928–1043)
Buwayhid dynasty (934–1055)
Ghaznavid Empire (963–1187)
Seljukid empire (1037–1187)
Khwarezmid Empire (1077–1231)
Ilkhanate (1256–1353)
Muzaffarid dynasty (1314–1393)
Timurid Empire (1370–1506)
"Aq Qoyunlu" Turcomans (1378–1508)
Safavid dynasty (1501–1722/1736)
Pashtun Hotaki dynasty (1722–1736)
Afsharid dynasty (1736–1802)
Zand dynasty (1750–1794)
Qajar dynasty (1781–1925)
Pahlavi dynasty (1925–1979)
Iranian Revolution (1979)
Provisional Government (1979–1980)
Islamic Republic of Iran (1980– )
Cross My Heart
by Julia Loomans
When I was little, my mom and I used to have a lot of fun turning old ideas around and changing the meaning into something we enjoyed more. This was our way of turning old realities upside down.
When we heard someone say, "I'm going to kill two birds with one stone," we changed it to "I'm going to feed two birds with one seed!"
"What's the matter -- cat got your tongue?" was transformed into "Are you dwelling deep in the silence?" That one always made us laugh!
"Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today" turned into "Celebrate tomorrow what you will choose to do today!"
"Be careful" became "Be full of care," and "Never give up!' was changed to "Ever look up"
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" became "A laugh a day brings health my way." I guess we decided that laughter was even more important than eating the apple.
"Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!' was changed to "Good night, sleep tight, a big hug and a kiss good night." I liked the thought of hugs a whole lot better than the thought of gruesome bugs under the bed!
"Good God, it's morning" became "Good morning, God," which was easier to wake up to than a groan. We started calling "sunrise and sunset" "the morning tilt and the evening tilt" since it reminded us that we were the ones moving around the sun and not the reverse.
One night, when I was about eight years old, I wanted to tell my mom a secret wish of mine, but I wanted her to promise not to tell a soul. "Promise?" I asked her a couple of times. "Promise," she said, with her hand over her heart. "Cross your heart and hope to die?" I pleaded. "No," she said with a grin. "How about: Cross my heart and hope to..." Before she could finish, I blurted out the final word: "Fly! Cross my heart and hope to fly -- yes! That's it" I told her. "That's my secret wish -- to fly!"
My mom was surprised and said that it was "like finding two diamonds in the haystack." Not only did she guess my wish, but we changed an old phrase, too.
Then she asked me to make her a promise. "Promise to follow your dreams" she said. "Promise?" she asked. "Cross my heart and hope to fly!" I replied.
Housing: Can I open the window and get some ventilation?
John and Martha share an office. Martha likes to keep all of the windows close because she is afraid of cold, but John can't stand that.....
John: It's like an oven in here! You must be roasting!
Martha: Actually, I'm just comfortable.
John: You've got to be kidding me. It has to be over 95 degrees in here!
Martha: What can I say? I'm a cold-blooded person. The warmer, the better, as far as I'm concerned.
John: Well, can we at least open a window and get some ventilation in here?
Martha: Knock yourself out.
John: Thanks, I will.
Housing:Even goose bumps have goose bumps.
When Liz comes into Ted's office, she feels cold, because Ted has set the thermostat at 65 degrees....
Liz: Geez! Your room is like an ice-box!
Terri: No, it's not! It's just comfortable.
Liz: Yeah, if you're a penguin. Just look at me! Even my goose bumps have goose bumps!
Terri: Get outta here! I think you're exaggerating!
Liz: No, I'm not? Where's the thermostat?
Terri: By the door, on the wall.
Liz: No wonder I'm cold! This thing is set at 65?!
Terri: Like I said -- perfect!
Liz: If you live in Alaska. By the way, where's the shovel?
Terri: Why do you need a shovel?
Liz: So I can dig us out when it starts snowing in here.
Housing: Do you have an apartment available?
Blanca makes a phone call to an apartment complex inquiring about the rent....
Blanca: Hello. I'm calling about the apartment you advertised.
Manager: Yes. What kind of apartment are you interested in?
Blanca: I'm interested in a one-bedroom. Do you have any available?
Manager: Yes. I have one. When do you need it?
Blanca: Sometime around next week. What can you tell me about this apartment?
Manager: Well, it's a one-bedroom apartment. The monthly rent is $650, with a $300 security deposit. You pay electricity only. Gas and water is included. Both the heat and stove are gas. You'll be assigned a sheltered parking space at no extra charge. And...that's probably it.
Blanca: Sounds good. May I come over tomorrow to take a look?
Manager: Sure. What time would you like to come?
Blanca: How about 10 AM?
Manager: Good. May I have your name, please?
Blanca: My name is Blanca.
Manager: Blanca. I'll see you tomorrow.
Housing:He moved out last weekend.
Because the apartment where he lived was noisy, Patrick decided to move out....
Marci: Has Patrick moved out yet?
Karen: Yes. He moved out last weekend. He's now living in a very nice quiet neighborhood.
Marci: I wonder if he's paying more for rent now.
Karen: I don't have the faintest idea. Even so, it's still worth it, isn't it?
Marci: You're right! I think he's probably very glad to leave that noisy apartment.
Karen: Yes, he is. I know that for sure.
Housing: I wonder why there is no one on top of this.
Storyline: Last time, the water faucet in Henry's apartment was dripping badly. This time the water faucet stops dripping. Thing are just getting even worse this time.
Grace: Why is there no water coming out when you turn on the faucet?
Henry: Not even a single drop?
Grace: Well, it's just drip, drip, drip. But that's still not water.
Henry: I don't know. Since last night water pressure has dropped to little more than a drip.
Grace: Did you call the apartment manager yet?
Henry: Yeah. I called her this morning and she said she'd send someone over.
Grace: But how long ago was it?
Henry: That was three hours ago!!!
Grace: That's outrageous! I just don't understand why they're not on top of this!
Housing:My water faucet is dripping badly.
Heather's apartment must be very old. Soon after she moves in, she finds that the water faucet is dripping badly all the time.
Heather: Gosh! The water faucet is dripping badly again!
Darlean: You're going to have a humongous bill!
Heather: I know. I've got to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Darlean: Don't you want to get it fixed now?
Heather: I wish I could, but I've got to go now. I have an appointment in twenty minutes.
Darlean: Well, if you need anything, just let me know.
Heather: Oh, by the way, can you give me a ride? My car is still in the shop.
Darlean: You sure are having bad luck these days.
Housing:What's wrong with the drain?
Storyline: Soon after Marie moves into a new apartment, she finds out that the drain is clogged. Her friend Curtis is trying to figure out what has gone wrong.
Curtis: So, what's wrong with the drain?
Marie: It's clogged and the water won't go down.
Curtis: Let me take a look. You know why? It's clogged with hair. No wonder the water won't go down.
Marie: Well, I guess the people who lived here before didn't clean the bathtub.
Curtis: You're darn right!
Marie: But what should I do now?
Curtis: Don't worry. I've got some acid here. It'll help dissolve the hair down there.
Marie: Erh! It stinks! Peehew!
Curtis: Now you know you'll have to clean your bathtub every time after you use it.
Housing:My kitchen sink is clogged up again.
The kitchen sink and the bathtub in Victoria's apartment are clogged. She calls Margaret, the apartment manager for help, but Margaret doesn't seem to care....
Victoria: Hello, is Margaret there?
Margaret: This is she.
Victoria: Hello, Margaret, this is the tenant of Apartment 10. I guess my kitchen sink is clogged up again, and so is the bathtub.
Margaret: Alright, I'll send someone over tomorrow.
Victoria: Uhm, I'd really appreciate it if you would send someone to fix it today. It's really a bother! I can't cook, or take a shower.
Margaret: Fine, I'll be up in a few minutes.
Victoria: Thanks. I appreciate it.
housing:Don't you have air-conditioning in your apartment?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alice's apartment is very hot in summer because her apartment does not have air-conditioning. Do you know how she deals with the heat?
Tracey: Don't you have air-conditioning in your apartment? It's sweltering here!
Alice: Well, there's air-conditioning. Did you see that window air-conditioner there? The problem is that the window unit is not powerful enough.
Tracey: I guess not, huh.
Alice: Well, I'm going to move out anyway. The new apartment has central air-conditioning.
Tracey: You should've moved out long, long ago.
Alice: Well, I had to wait until the lease expired. So....
Tracey: So how can you stand the heat?
Alice: Well, I open the windows and...and I've got an electric fan here. It helps a little.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
idioms:
Things are beginning to cost more and more . It looks like we'll all have to tighten our belts .
I've heard that you and jenny are going to tie knot !
Over the years , we went through thick and thin and enjoyed every minute of it .
Although Bob and Billy are twins , I can tell which is which .
Well, speak of the devil ! Hello , tom . We were just talking about you .
Sally said that Bob couldn't be trusted because he was a snake - in - the -grass .
I was surprised when he popped the question .
I was so angry . All I could do was stand there and grit my teeth .
Mare didn't want to go under the knife, but the doctor insisted .
Quit goofing off and go to work .
I'm sorry . I was wrong; I want to make up with you .
Did you see her leave? She left like a bat out of the hell.
I learned my business from the bottom up.
All the children ran away and left Billy high and dry to take the blame for the broken window.
It's hard to kick a habit , but it can be done . I stopped biting my nails.
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