Like many of you, I make New Year’s resolutions.
I take them very, very seriously. I try to hit the goals I set for myself.
One of my goals this year is to give up all processed sugar. For a year.
There’s only one problem. I really like sugar. Especially in the form of chocolate. Though I was born in England, raised in Europe, and now live in America, when it comes to chocolate, I identify as Belgian. My pronouns are More/Please.
So, yeah. Giving up sugar (especially sugary chocolate) is going to be tough. I know. I have tried this before. And, failed.
There is a tip coming.
Horses. Hold them.
Okay, here it is.
When you crave what you are trying to give up (sugar for me), chew gum.
I find that chewing gum generally satisfies when I really want to snack.
You can use this in all kinds of situations.
Tend to overindulge at parties? Carry some gum. When you are tempted to eat more, chew a piece of gum instead.
Tend to crave snacks in the afternoon? Chew some gum instead.
Tend to rob banks? Chew some gum instead.
Here’s my favorite gum: https://amzn.to/3q2qP9Y
At .05 cents a piece, this is a pretty cheap way to break the sugar habit.
Besides breaking the sugar habit (and, the bank robbing habit) here are a few more benefits….
You get to go through the day with fresh breath.
You may make more friends. Gum is easily shareable. When people see you chewing gum, they want to become your friend… because they want a piece of gum. Offer them a piece and strike up a conversation.
For an example of this, see the fuzzy video below.
One last thing. A public service announcement really. Guys, chew quietly and… with your mouth closed.
A new class (but, don’t get excited).
I am adding a new “secret” class. I am finally be returning to my first language love. German. But, don’t get excited.
For several months I was in an intensive French class. The teacher, located in France, taught at noon. Her time. For me, it was five in the morning.
I got used to getting up that early. In fact, I grew to like it. I’d get things done after class before the rest of my classes began.
So, I am offering German. At five in the morning. (Central Time Zone).
Relax. You don’t have to come to class. All will be recorded, as usual. I would be going through Margarita Madrigal’s Magic Key to German.
Don’t buy the book, by the way. It’s out of print. There is one available right now for over $200! Yikes! Simply go here for a free digital copy: https://dwanethomas.com/german-resources/
We will star this Monday. In case I did not make this clear… you do not have to come to the live class.
To join the live class (if you want to get up that early), go here and scroll down until you find the German connection: https://dwanethomas.com/live-classes/
The classes:
Here is what we are up to. Since I record everything I teach, you are welcome to jump into classes any time.
German: Monday-Saturday 5:00 – 5:25 am Central Time Zone (CTZ).
I know it’s early. Relax. Once again, you don’t have to come to class. All classes will be recorded, as usual. Subscribers have access to all the classes I teach 24/7.
I used to live in Germany, and speak German fairly well. As always my classes are public learning exercises. Or, in this case, public improvement exercises. I am inviting you to learn/improve with me.
Spanish: Monday-Friday 7:00 – 7:25 am Central Time Zone (CTZ).
In Spanish, we are in chapter 24 of the book All Spanish Method by Guillermo Aviles. If you are starting out this year, and you want to tag along, the previous chapters are all up on my site. Subscribers have access to them 24/7.
Keep in mind I am still learning Spanish. So, I am “teaching” this class. The truth is… I am simply learning Spanish publicly. You are welcome to join me.
French: Monday-Friday 7:30 – 7:55 am CTZ.
We are in chapter 10 of Le Francais par la Methode Nature. Last year, I took students through the first 20 chapters, or so. This time, we will try to make it to the end. There are 50 chapters. It will take a few years. I do not intend to start over next summer.
Keep in mind I am still learning French. So, I am “teaching” this class. The truth is… I am simply learning French publicly. You are welcome to join me.
Latin 2: Monday-Friday 8:00-8:25 am CTZ. We continue to work our way through Exercitia Latina. We are in chapter 25. This class is really for those who want to go even deeper into Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg. If you were in Latin 3 (Third Year Latin by Robert Henle), you would benefit from this class.
Latin 1: Monday-Friday 8:30-8:55 am CTZ. This year, we started Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg over again. We are starting Chapter 8 next week, probably Tuesday.
Though I can’t believe it, every year some people come to every class I teach. I guess they just like my voice.
So, if you decide to come to them all, here are the same classes from above in chronological order:
5:00 – 5:30 am – German: The Magic Key to German
7:00 – 7:25 am – Spanish 2: All Spanish Method by Guillermo Aviles
7:30 – 7:55 am – French 1: Le Francais par la Methode Nature
8:00 – 8:25 am – Latin 2: Exercitia Latina by Hans Ørberg
8:30 – 8:55 am – Latin 1: Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg
And now… the same thing I say every week.
Subscribers sometimes use my weekly emails as reminders to unsubscribe from my site.
Just keep in mind… I offer something no one else in academia (as far as I know) offers. Stick with me for 3 uninterrupted years and you will have a lifetime subscription.
I now know this is a dumb business decision on my part, but I have heard from many of you that it is a huge help, so the offer stands.
Of course, if you are just starting out in Latin, you may be happier with Visual Latin.
Visual Latin is a full-blown Latin course. It is rigorous, just not as rigorous as the classes on my site. The classes on my site are more “next level” classes, really.
By the way, if you are into etymology (the history of words), and if you would like to see me make a fool of myself, you might enjoy Word Up.
Five years ago, or so, we launched this series just to see if it would work. It did.
And, after years of listening to many of you beg for more, I finally gave in and agreed to make a fool of myself once again.
Volumes 2 and 3 of Word Up are available.
And… if you aren’t a member of my site and would like to join, click here: https://dwanethomas.com/join/.
I hope you are having a happy Saturday!
Dwane
P.S.
If someone forwarded you this email and you would like to hear from me every week, just go to this page: https://dwanethomas.com/
Scroll down a bit until you see my book, Via. Enter your name and email and you will hear from me weekly. You will also get a free copy of my book, Via.
