Dreams--future tense

What do you dream about? How will your life change in the next 5 or 10 years? What would you do if you could do anything you want? Where in the world would you live? 

Maybe some day I'll stop writing computer code and become a counselor. I'd rather help people who hurt than sit at my desk with a computer. It seems like a dream to me now. Maybe it will happen. What will I need to do to make my dream come true? I must get a license. That will take time. I will have to find an internship somewhere with someone to supervise me. I will have to accept criticism and suggestions to improve my skills. Even though I have a Master's degree, I may need to study some more. It will be worth it. 

That's only part of my dream. I'd also like to visit Poland more often. I think I could do that as a counselor. I'd have a much more flexible schedule. If I save my money, maybe I could spend a whole month in Poland. That would be cool! 

I hope you have a plan to reach your dreams. If not, when will you start?

Past tense

I just returned from Poland--my 10th visit to my favorite place. Two weeks ago today, I began the adventure. I stopped first in Poznań and chatted with some old friends. I also met a new friend who was very helpful to me. My new cell phone didn't work, so another friend gave me his extra phone. I was really thankful to get it! 

I left Poznań on Monday by train. I met (for the first time) a friend in Warszawa. We spent a wonderful 4 hours talking in a beautiful park on a perfect day. I hated to leave. 

I arrived in Kętrzyn about 8:00pm after 6 hours on a bus. I met Michał at the station. Within 3 days, we became good friends. We worked together well preparing lessons. For 10 days I enjoyed the energy and enthusiasm of 70 English students, ages 9 and 10, in the private school run by Michał and his wife, Ania. 

I also took a short trip to Suwałki to meet another internet friend. I had a great time on this trip. 

The biggest problem was that I couldn't fully enjoy the usual generous Polish hospitality because I could never eat as much as my host or hostess offered! However, I assure you that I savored every bite.

More prepositions: in/on/at

I'm going to Poland in June. I'm leaving on Thursday next week. 

I'll be in Poland for 2 weeks. 

I was in Poland in March last year. 

This will be my first visit in summer (well, almost summer). 

Sometimes it's hard to stay awake at my desk in the afternoon. 

My eyes get so tired from working on the computer all day. 

I worked at home on Friday last week. 

I was hard at work early in the morning--at 6:00 a.m. 

I'm going to visit my brother, Bill, at his apartment on Sunday. 

I'm going to my brother Bill's apartment on Sunday. 

My birthday is in August. My birthday is on August 2. 

Well, I'm going (no "to" here) home to bed.

for/to

Back to those pesky prepositions, let's look at some examples with 'for' and 'to'. 

Thank you for the email you sent to me yesterday. 

I'm thankful for your friendship. 

Thanks to you, I know what a real friend is. 

Say "Hello" to your wife for me. 

It's a privilege for me to talk to you. 

I'm glad you want to improve your English. 

Would you introduce me to your friend? 

I'm going to his flat for dinner. 

Do you have time for me now? 

That's all for now. It's time to go.

Having found my glasses . . .

Having found my glasses, I began to read the morning paper. 

Looking up at the clock, I noticed I was late. 

Grabbing my coat, I ran out the door. 

Waiting for the bus, I saw a man wearing a long coat and a hat. 

Running from the bus stop, breathing heavily, I entered the office. 

Hoping my boss wouldn't be upset with me for being late, I sat down at my desk. 

Starting to work, I felt more comfortable. 

While translating the latest piece of text from Russian into English, I found 2 new English words.

After working for 2 hours, I took a break and drank a cup of coffee. 

Returning to my task, I was relieved to discover that I knew all the words I needed for the translation. After reviewing my work for errors, I showed it to my boss. 

Smiling happily, he told me I'd done a great job. 

Seeing my uneasy expression, he told me not to worry about being late. 

Feeling encouraged by my success, I went home that night and relaxed.

Up

There is a two-letter word that may have more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP." 

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky, but . . . In the morning, why do we wake UP? 

When my son says "What's UP?" it's not really a question. He's just saying "Hi."

When you're talking to a friend, why does a topic come UP? 

Why do we speak UP and why are the candidates UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? 

We call UP our friends to see what they're UP to. 

We brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. 

We lock UP the house and some guy fixes UP my car. 

People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. 

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. 

And this UP is confusing: 

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. 

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. 

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! 

To find the more uses of UP, look UP the word ‘UP’ in the dictionary. 

In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. 

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. 

It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. 

When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. 

When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP. 

I could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP.

Keep

Keep is a neat little word. Generally it means to hold onto something, to save it instead of giving it away. For example:

I think I'll keep this book. It's one of my favorites. 

But we also use it in many idioms and phrasal verbs: 

You can keep quiet if you don't want to speak. 

You can keep a tradition. 

You can keep a secret--if you don't tell! 

You can keep a promise (or keep your word) if you do what you said you'd do. 

Someone may tell you to "Keep a lid on it" because they don't want you to tell anyone about it. 

Some people try to keep up with the Joneses--to have everything someone else has--especially expensive things, like a car, house, etc. 

In a race, you try to keep up with the fastest runner (or the fastest driver in a car race), or to keep up with the best students in class. 

If you are lonely you may ask a friend to keep you company (spend time with you). 

If you are impatient, someone may tell you to "Keep your shirt on, I'll be there in a minute." 

My English teacher used to say "Keep your wits about you" when she wanted us to think clearly during an exam. 

I keep on trying to learn Polish. I won't give up. If you want to encourage someone not to give up, you might say "Keep on keepin' on!" 

It's hard to keep track of all my friends on Skype! Keep in mind (remember) I have a lot of them! 

He was being serious, but his expression was so funny, I could hardly keep a straight face (I almost laughed). 

Would you keep an eye on my house while I'm on vacation? 

Please keep in touch. Write again when you have time. 

It's hard to keep my cool when I'm angry. 

My neighbors are very loud sometimes. The noise can keep me up late at night. I can't sleep. 

If it was hard for you to keep up with all these examples, that's OK. Keep trying!