ESL Podcast 369 – Going to Happy Hour Gary: Hey, over here. I’m glad you could make it. This place has a great happy hour. Let me get the waitress, Brenda, so we can order our drinks.
Shanise: Hi, Gary. You sound like a regular. Do you come here a lot?
Gary: Yeah, I like stopping by on my way home now and then to wind down.
Shanise: Is there another barstool?
Gary: Oh, sorry. Let me get another one for you. Have a seat. What will you have?
Shanise: I’ll have a scotch, straight up. I usually don’t drink very much. Alcohol sometimes doesn’t agree with me. I’ve had a tough day, though, and I need to loosen up.
Gary: Okay, one scotch coming up. Here comes the waitress. Okay, that’s one scotch for Shanise and a draft beer for me. On second thought, bring a pitcher of the draft beer, would you? Thanks, Brenda.
Shanise: I’m starving. The sign outside says that they have all-you-can-eat appetizers during happy hour. Is that right?
Gary: Right you are, and they have specials on everything on their menu.
Shanise: I don’t usually go to happy hours, but I like this place. I’m glad you invited me to come.
Gary: Would I steer you wrong? Now let’s get some grub.
ESL Podcast 368 – A Corporate Takeover Lee: Hello, Lee Williams.
Bruce: Hi, Lee. This is Bruce Eng. The reason I’m calling is to find out if there is any news about your company’s takeover bid for Shamrock Corp. It’s been a week and I was wondering what’s happening.
Lee: Hi, Bruce. I’m glad you called. I was just about to call you with an update. Here’s where we are. The offer we made to Shamrock was rejected by the board on Tuesday. Our company’s board of directors has been meeting all week to decide the next course of action.
Bruce: Is there any chance that this could turn into a hostile takeover?
Lee: There is a distinct possibility. Our company is hoping to avoid that since we had hoped to do extensive due diligence, but a hostile takeover may be the only option right now if we decide to move ahead with this.
Bruce: Would the banks go for little or no due diligence? I thought that their support of the takeover bid was contingent on getting more information about the state of Shamrock’s finances.
Lee: You’re right and that may be the stumbling block.
Bruce: Okay, well, call me if you get more information.
Lee: I will. You can count on it.
ESL Podcast 367 – Going into the Military Chantelle: Attention! Aren’t you supposed to salute?
Robert: You’re not my superior officer. Stop goofing around. I’m busy.
Chantelle: You’re packing already? You don’t need to report to duty for two days. Are you afraid they’ll think you went AWOL?
Robert: I just want to be prepared. Now, leave me alone so I can finish packing.
Chantelle: Am I dismissed? Maybe I want to enlist, too? I think I would look good in camouflage makeup and fatigues.
Robert: Being in the military is no laughing matter. Do you really think that the most desperate recruiter would want you?
Chantelle: That’s not very nice. I have as much discipline as you do...about some things. You may find yourself in a foxhole with me someday.
Robert: Whatever deployment you’d get, I’d make sure I’m on the other side of the world!
ESL Podcast 366 – Talking About Prices Rosalba: Can you believe these prices? I know we’re in a recession, but the cost of everyday necessities shouldn’t skyrocket overnight.
William: I think it has something to do with the shortage of produce. I don’t know why I’m surprised that stores like this one try to gouge customers at the drop of a hat. I guess it’s par for the course – anything to make a little extra money.
Rosalba: You said it! Even when there’s a good supply, the prices are never dirt cheap. Any savings the stores get are never passed on to the customers.
William: I have a mind to stop buying fruits and vegetables until the prices go down.
Rosalba: You mean a boycott?
William: Yeah, I won’t eat any fruits and vegetables until these high prices come down.
Rosalba: How long do you think you can keep that up?
William: I don’t know, but let’s find out!
ESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bed Andrea: It’s your turn to put the kids to bed.
Marlon: No, I put them to bed last night, didn’t I?
Andrea: Nope, I did that. Don’t forget their bedtime story.
Marlon: The kids won’t let me forget it. Okay, time for bed! Go brush your teeth and put on your pajamas. It’s lights out in 15 minutes.
Andrea: What are you doing?
Marlon: I’m finishing my newspaper.
Andrea: Aren’t you going to watch over them to make sure they’re getting ready for bed?
Marlon: Nope. You have your methods and I have mine.
Andrea: Okay, this I’ve got to see.
Marlon: I don’t hear anyone brushing their teeth. If everyone isn’t in bed in five minutes, they’re going to get a cuddle from Norman.
Andrea: Who’s Norman?
Marlon: Norman is just a little scary monster I told them about. Norman eats little children who aren’t in bed when they’re supposed to be. It’s my way of making sure they stay in bed through the night.
Andrea: That’s terrible! That’ll give them nightmares.
Marlon: Nonsense. It won’t do them any harm. As my father told me, Norman only eats bad children.
ESL Podcast 364 – Filing Taxes Ricky: Aren’t you done with your taxes yet?
Shawn: No, not yet.
Ricky: Can I help?
Shawn: That would be great. I think I’m almost done, but it’d be great if you could look it over. This is the first year I haven’t been exempt or filed an EZ tax return.
Ricky: No problem. What are brothers for? Okay, you’ve entered your earnings, including your salary and dividends. You have no dependents...
Shawn: I just hope I picked the right number of withholdings. I’d like to get a tax refund, rather than have to pay.
Ricky: Well, you can take the standard deduction here, but I suggest itemizing your medical expenses and your charitable contributions. It may make a big difference in the calculations.
Shawn: Thanks. I’ll crunch the numbers to find out. So what do I owe you for all of this help?
Ricky: That depends on the size of your refund check!
ESL Podcast 363 – Using the Telephone Charles: I don’t know how long this power outage is going to last. Do you think we should call Elizabeth to tell her we’ll be late for dinner?
Jane: That’s a good idea. Do you know her phone number offhand?
Charles: No, I don’t, and I can’t look it up in my address book or in the phone book without any lights. Oh, wait. I have it programmed into my cell phone. I should be able to use speed dial to call her. Oh, no.
Jane: What’s the matter?
Charles: My cell phone battery is dead.
Jane: Maybe we can use the landline to call directory assistance. The operator should be able to give us her number.
Charles: I doubt it. There must be more than one Elizabeth Bennett in our area code.
Jane: You’re probably right, but I’ll try anyway. Where’s the phone? Oh, here it is. Why aren’t I getting a dial tone?
Charles: Try listening through the earpiece instead of the mouthpiece.
Jane: Oh, right. How do I dial 411 if I can’t see the keypad?
Charles: Hey, the power is back on!
Jane: Not a moment too soon!
ESL Podcast 362 – Getting In-Flight Service I pushed the call button to get the attention of the flight attendant.
Flight attendant: Yes? What can I do for you?
Hal: It’s very cold in the cabin. Is it possible to get a blanket?
Flight attendant: We’re out of blankets, but here’s a pillow.
Hal: Okay, thanks. I was asleep during the meal service. Could I get a meal?
Flight attendant: We don’t have any more of the Baked Chicken. We only have the Bean Salad left.
Hal: Oh, okay, I’ll take that. Could I also get a drink?
Flight attendant: What would you like?
Hal: What do you have?
Flight attendant: The complimentary drinks are listed in our in-flight magazine. Beer, wine, and other cocktails are $4.
Hal: I’ll have a diet soda.
Flight attendant: We’re out of diet soda.
Hal: How about just some water? What’s that?
Flight attendant: That’s turbulence. Make sure your seatbelt is fastened.
Hal: Could I get an airsickness bag, please?
Flight attendant: I’m sorry, but we’re out of those, too.
ESL Podcast 361 – Feeling Lonely Moving to a new city can be a lonely experience. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t know anyone and it was hard to strike up new friendships. I’m a pretty sociable person, but it’s still hard meeting new people and even harder to make lasting friendships.
I’ve never been a lone wolf, so being in a new city out on my own was a new experience. Sometimes I liked doing solitary things, but after awhile, I yearned to be around other people. I would go to busy places to people-watch. I would see families walking by, groups of friends hanging out together, and couples arm-in-arm, and wished I was walking along with them. When you’re feeling lonely, it sometimes feels like there’s a wall between you and everyone else, a wall that’s not easy to break down.
Slowly, I started to meet people at my new job and to see them outside of work. Having this companionship and camaraderie, especially with people I had a good rapport with, was a welcomed change. In time, I made some good friends and I no longer dreaded the weekends. But, I’ve never forgotten how hard it was in those first months to be a stranger in a new place!
ESL Podcast 360 – A Management Dispute Jeannie: Have you heard about the new management dispute?
Salih: No, what’s happening?
Jeannie: Well, the CEO is having problems with the head of one of the subsidiaries.
Salih: Which one?
Jeannie: Lance Publishing. Apparently, the head, Bill Riker, is saying that he and the CEO differ too much in their business philosophy and they can’t agree on a future direction for the company.
Salih: I really hope they can settle their dispute soon. It doesn’t do anybody any good to have so much hostility in the office.
Jeannie: I hope so, too. This company can’t afford to have another high-level departure. We’ve lost so many good people already this past year.
Salih: We’ve had a lot of bad press, that’s for sure. It doesn’t matter that our employment contracts have confidentiality agreements. When somebody is disgruntled, they talk, and they talk loudly and to whomever will listen.
Jeannie: You’ve got that right. I just hope none of us gets caught in the crossfire. I deal with people at Lance Publishing every week.
Salih: I’m with you. I’m keeping a low profile and hoping that the whole thing will blow over soon. What the CEO and the head of Lance Publishing need is a good mediator who can find some way for two incompatible personalities to meet in the middle.
Jeannie: What do you think the chances are of that happening?
Salih: Quite frankly, knowing the people involved, I think it has a snowball’s chance in hell!