Notes
ravenous がつがつ食う;
bunch (花・かぎなどの)束;
spinachホウレンソウ;
aisle 側廊、通路;

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Research conducted at Cornell University in New York showed that people who had not eaten before going shopping bought more food than those who were not hungry. Food you buy when you are ravenous will usually be high in calories, unhealthy, and expensive—you are more likely to buy a bag of cookies than a bunch of spinach, for example. So, do yourself a favor and have a snack before you hit the supermarket aisles. (by Tania Pattison)
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Notes
shrine 神社;
New Year’s money お年玉;
rice-cake making event 餅つき大会

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Happy New Year! I hope everyone was able to get some rest and recharge their batteries Was this New Year the same as usual? Some things were the same for me: I went to see the first sunrise and visited a shrine with my family. We had traditional New Year’s food. I sent about 20 New Year’s cards and got back almost the same number. I gave my granddaughter New Year’s money when she visited us on New Year’s Day. But there were no rice-cake making events or countdown parties. We stayed at home alone almost every day. I’m hoping for a better 2021 and an end to the pandemic. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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