English
日本語
한국어
简体中文
繁體中文
Italiano
español
Deutsch
Русский
Photo: Allan Gardens (in Toronto) in May
There are also a couple of things that I’ve already done so far this spring, such as upgrading my old desk to an electric sit/stand desk (so that I can spend less time sitting down) and also getting around to watching a few movies and series that were on my watchlist, such as Andor (Season 2), Alien: Earth, Zootopia 2, and Rental Family, but there are a few other things I’d like to do, too, after my upcoming jury duty is out of the way.
First, May is time for spring cleaning and planting my balcony garden. That may not sound like fun, but actually it is! Spring cleaning refreshes my mind as much as it refreshes my home, and I also enjoy filling my balcony with furniture and planters full of herbs so that I can enjoy reading or eating meals out there throughout the spring and summer.
Second, there are some places that I would like to visit this spring (before the weather gets too hot!). One of my students let me know recently that Kariya (Aichi) in Japan is the sister city of Mississauga (Ontario) in Canada. Kariya has a park called Mississauga Park, and Mississauga has a park called Kariya Park, which is one place that I’d like to visit soon! I’d also like to visit a couple of places in Toronto that I’ve never been to (even though I’ve lived here for over 15 years), such as Casa Loma, and places that I haven’t been to in ages, like the Toronto Zoo.
Finally, I’m planning a trip to Ottawa (Canada’s capital) at the end of June. Although my parents live in that area, it has been a long time since I actually visited Ottawa. It’s a 5-hour train ride from Toronto, so I decided to travel in business class (for the first time in my life) and stay at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, a famous historic hotel with a view of Parliament Hill (also for the first time in my life!). It’s a bit of a splurge, but hey, might as well enjoy it! The summer heat will be here before you know it, so it’s time to enjoy spring!
The phrasal verb get around to (doing something) means “to finally do something that you have been putting off or that has been delayed.”
The informal phrase in ages means “in a long time” and it is typically used in negative present perfect sentences to say that you “have not done something in ages.”
If you splurge(on something), you treat yourself (or someone else) by spending money on something that is unnecessary but enjoyable. This word can be used as a verb or a noun.
Comments (0)