28 July 2008

What kind of badge does it earn?

I took canoeing during my one summer camp experience, at Camp Tallchief. I'm just not remembering it as being nearly so much fun! I wonder if the Girl Scouts will have to revamp their canoeing badge in light of this development?

If I knew how to knit...

If I knew how to knit, I'd make this.

22 July 2008

We're in for some fun!

I've just started editing a new alien abduction-themed fantasy novel. I can tell we're in for some fun...

He grabbed a glass and plate from the cupboard. He poured the grape soda into the glass, and inhaled a deep breath of air, allowing its purple effervescence to caress his nose and lungs like the touch of soft velvet.

I think I am in danger of shooting that same grape soda out my nose if it carries on too much more like this!

21 July 2008

No digo el español

I don't speak Spanish. Beyond "Buenos dias, Senor Cleaver, donde est Wallace y Theodore?" (thank you Harry Burns), I'm strictly a French/Russian/reading medieval Welsh kinda girl.

This afternoon, I was out running some errands and stopped to use the restroom. There was a woman already waiting, so I quietly stepped in behind her, forming a 2-person line. No big deal, right? Suddenly, the woman turned around and began this long, drawn out explanation of why she was waiting there ("It's a one-=person restroom, I can hear someone in there running water, but they haven't come out yet...") I saw no reason to question her motives, since this is how normal people everywhere handle this sort of situation, so I just smiled and nodded at her. I thought all was going as these things typically do.

We heard a paper towel dispenser doing its thing, and the woman who'd been in the room exited. The woman who'd been blathering on at me (in fluent English, with an American accent, I should add), stepped forward to enter the room. I stayed where I was, making no moves to muscle her into letting me go first or anything like that. The woman stepped through the door, looked around inside, and then turned around to me. In a VERY loud voice, and speakign VERY slowly, called out, "There is only room for one person in here. Uno persons!" and then held up one finger, to help make her point. Then again, in case I'd not understood I guess, "Just UNO persons - UNO!" and went inside.

I was, to say the least, not really sure what the deal was. When she came out, she then made a big production of holding the door for me and saying (again, in that loud talking to someone who does not speak English voice),"It's OK to go in now! You can go now! It's OK!!!" and then gestured for me to enter. At that point, it dawned on me, she doesn't think I speak English!

I'm not sure what made her assume I don't speak English. I'd not said anything to her, just smiled and nodded once, but does that mean a person can't understand what's being said? And seriously, if I was someone who didn't speak English, why assume I speak Spanish. If only I'd had the presence of mind, I'd have thanked her, in Russian, of course.

10 July 2008

Best. Sign. Ever.



All credit goes to GIllian for pointing me to this.

07 July 2008

First grade friends (or not)


While doing some work cleaning out the garage this weekend, I came across a box of old pictures, mostly things just tossed in at random over the years. I found several good ones from high school and college, and so I spent some time scanning them and uploading a few to Facebook. Ethan loved seeing old pics of me and Mitch, friends of ours from school, etc. He even mistook a few old pics of Mitch (during his pre-school years) as pics of himself wearing outfits he does not remember.

I was talking to my mom about all of this at lunch today, saying something to the effect of "it's interesting to see where the people I knew in first grade (or thereabouts) have ended up." I mean, who can really tell, at age 6 or 7, what anyone will become as an adult? Ethan was listening to all of this, and started asking me to tell him about some people. I obliged, telling him Chris is now a doctor, Shannon is now an accountant, and so on. He was quiet for a while and then asked, "What about Dick Cheney?" I said "What about Dick Cheney?" thinking perhaps he'd moved on to another topic, to which he replied, "Didn't you go to first grade with Dick Cheney?" I'm not sure how old he thinks I am, or how old he things Dick is, but I assured him, I did NOT go to first grade with DC. I know all grown-ups look old to kids, so I am not even thinking about the 40 yr age gap in play here.

And if I had gone to school with the Evil One, do you think I'd admit it? I'm sure Mrs Elrod wouldn't admit she'd taught him.

04 July 2008

I need this!


I need this poster. If you agree, you can buy it for me:-)