December 20, 2006
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Be like the squirrel, girl. Be like the squirrel.
Last night Shaun and I played pool with an English couple. They called the “solids” “spots.” I wondered if they also called “shirts vs. skins” “shirts vs. pants.” Of course, that would require Englishmen to go shirtless and centuries of stereotypes make me think that would never happen anyway. The English couple we hung with were nice people. They do not swear. I feel like a potty mouthed, raunchy, vile thing around them sometimes. I feel American.
In other random thoughts, my favorite word in a Scottish accent is “girl.” Say it with two syllables and flip the r: girr-el. It sort of rhymes with squirrel, but not if you say squirrel in a flat, American way. Squirrel also has two syllables in Scotland.
I do not like how the word “idea” is pronounced in a Scottish accent. Idears. Even if only one idea is being discussed, someone has “an idears.” With an r. Plural.
I like watercress as a regular sandwich topping. I like wild rocket as a side salad. I like Cadbury chocolates and cheap bags of kiwis. I like delicious prawns. I like the giant hill that we hike up on evening walks. I miss being able to drink coffee at night; diner culture is non-existent here. It’s all about the pub. A proper pint is what you get. Cafe’s close at 6.
I like lots more. I miss lots more. But it is early. And my breakfast blogging time is drawing to a close. Now its time to put on my makeup and head to work. I’m hosting a press conference today. Time to play nice!
One last thing: this book I’m reading? It blows chunks. I see this Jodi Picoult person everywhere and thought I’d give it a try. I hate it in the same way I hated the movies Love Actually, The Holiday, and What Women Want: I wonder if the raw stupidity of the fluffy story will actually kill me. I try to get through it to see what the general public is in to these days. So I can relate. And I leave understanding why my friends are few. God, I am a snob. Sorry kids. Especially if you like those movies and Ms. Picoult. I’m sure you are a very good person with exquisite taste.
Which reminds me: in high school I once sincerly loathed a girl because she thought the [brilliant, spectacular, genious] movie American Beauty was lame. What does that say about me as a person? Judegemental much? Yikes! Must get better about this kind of thing….
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What’s on your mind this morning?
Comments (8)
I tried like hell to read a Mary Higgins Clark novel once just to see why they appealed to so many and just couldn’t do it. I understand what you’re going through – put the book down – don’t waste the brain storage. I don’t necessarily consider that being a snob – you’re just a person with taste requiring quality.
Baking oodles of Christmas cookies is on my mind this morning.
Jodi Picoult lives in my neighborhood, so to speak (it’s a big, sparsely populated valley that feels like a giant neighborhood), so to say you don’t like her work in these parts is akin to saying you don’t like Springsteen in New Jersey. I’ve never read one of her books, though, so I can’t say how I feel about them.
re: shirts v. pants. I immediately envision one team wearing only pants and one team only wearing shirts. That sort of changes the dynamic of the game, I think.
Hmmm, shirts v. pants. Thinking Donald v. Mickey — why does Donald Duck only wear a shirt, and Mickey Mouse only wear pants?
Anyone who’s met you knows you’re not a snob. You’re just not a mass market. Nothing wrong with that.
Many are the times I picked up a novel from a supposed genius and it seemed like absolute drivel. There’s no accounting for taste.
Really enjoyed the accent/pronunciation knowledge. Thanks!
This morning, I was hoping the office would have a quiet day. It did. w00t!
Also, I’ve heard them described as sweaters vs. vests. A friend was visiting Florida when he heard the game called big balls vs. small balls. It’s clear which most guys would rather claim they have during the game.
I miss the UK!!!! but how do you tell your friends and fam who missed you that you want to go back already and not come home for a long time?
I remember at one point in my London stay when a telephone operator said my (Chicago) accent was so thick she couldn’t understand me. And I’m thinking “You’re the one with the damn accent.” Ah, well. The “r” at the end of words that don’t have an “r” is one of the things that drives me crazy. They leave it off when it’s there and put it in when it’s not there. Brits! And notice that they will deliberately pronounce any foreign word horrible wrong, just because…
I could go on, but too much to say.
Brad says to go back to the Brussels entry where he has lots of things to do for you. I made it to northern Sweden, but never as far as Lapland. It would have been all dark, anyway.
RYC: Thanks for your enthusiasm. the book will be on Amazon U.K., so you can save on transatlantic shipping.
Merry Christmas!
Lynn
Oh, yeah, thanks for that tip on Jodi Picoult. I had no idea who she was and didn’t know if she was good or not. Apparently not.
Lynn