So last night Michael and I were relaxing before bed, doing some reading and just unwinding, when we saw a humongous spider.
It was really, really big.
Michael has recently embraced some non-violent beliefs since his world religions class which I normally approve of, and agree with. But I have a exception clause: spiders.
It may be related to the fact that I saw Arachnophobia when I was 10, or just because I'm easily freaked out by just about anything. :) But I do not like spiders.
So it falls upon my husband to do away with them.
I always tell him (and it is true) that if he wants to capture it and release it outside, I will feel just as secure. He does not have to kill it. However, last night he didn't sense the urgency of the project and the spider escaped into the heater.xzz
After that, we both were pretty distracted from our reading and kept looking over to the corner where we last saw it. I noticed our fixation, and offered: what should we name her?
?????ZZ?
Michael: Madame Huge!
Me: How about just Madame.
No, it needs more syllables.
Ah! Mademoiselle. Perfect.
Michael: Who is Madame Wazelle?
And the name stuck.
Epilogue: Later Michael did kill her, but I found another one on the ceiling today. It escaped my assassination attempt and I was so spooked by the whole thing, I jumped a foot when I stepped on a twist tie Nathanael left on the floor. I was gasping for breath as if something actually scary had happened!
A-Roo
So tonight when I told Michael I had an idea for my next blog post, he guessed, "A Roo?"
So even though that wasn't it, I guess I get to share the story: As some of you may know, I have a chronic nickname habit. It started when Nathanael was born and I went through the high-pitched-voice phase of early motherhood. (To those of you who endured my video-posts when Nathanael was tiny, I offer my deepest regrets. I had no idea what I was subjecting you to!)
So, as I discussed in an earlier post, I came up with a lot of nonsense names. This has now expanded to all words. I especially like to make up songs and new lyrics to old tunes. Frequently, I attempt to rhyme.
However, I am usually quite tired when these songs are created and it usually ends up that in order to rhyme I either use the same word again, or I use a nonsense syllable.
An excerpt from a song to Nathanael:
I love you, my sweet Baboo
I love you, a roo
(And because I sing the word 'you' quite often, the nonsense syllables usually end in 'oo'. Also, I usually need some filler, because my line lengths tend to be off. That's where the 'a' comes in. Thus: a roo.)
These syllables (a roo currently being the most prominent) are becoming quite a fluent part of our idiolects*. So much so that when Michael is trying to emphasize something, or agree emphatically, he will say, "a roo!" I've even caught myself just in time before punctuating an adult conversation with this sort of creative tidbit.
Well, I really can't say anything else after that kind of a confession. So I'll post pictures instead.
*idiolect: a variety of a language unique to an individual. It is manifested by patterns of word selection, vocabulary and word lexicon, grammar, or words, phrases, idioms, or pronunciations that are unique to that individual. Every individual has an idiolect; the grouping of words and phrases is unique, rather than an individual using specific words that nobody else uses. An idiolect can easily evolve into an ecolect—a dialect variant specific to a household. (from Wikipedia)
So even though that wasn't it, I guess I get to share the story: As some of you may know, I have a chronic nickname habit. It started when Nathanael was born and I went through the high-pitched-voice phase of early motherhood. (To those of you who endured my video-posts when Nathanael was tiny, I offer my deepest regrets. I had no idea what I was subjecting you to!)
So, as I discussed in an earlier post, I came up with a lot of nonsense names. This has now expanded to all words. I especially like to make up songs and new lyrics to old tunes. Frequently, I attempt to rhyme.
However, I am usually quite tired when these songs are created and it usually ends up that in order to rhyme I either use the same word again, or I use a nonsense syllable.
An excerpt from a song to Nathanael:
I love you, my sweet Baboo
I love you, a roo
(And because I sing the word 'you' quite often, the nonsense syllables usually end in 'oo'. Also, I usually need some filler, because my line lengths tend to be off. That's where the 'a' comes in. Thus: a roo.)
These syllables (a roo currently being the most prominent) are becoming quite a fluent part of our idiolects*. So much so that when Michael is trying to emphasize something, or agree emphatically, he will say, "a roo!" I've even caught myself just in time before punctuating an adult conversation with this sort of creative tidbit.
Well, I really can't say anything else after that kind of a confession. So I'll post pictures instead.
*idiolect: a variety of a language unique to an individual. It is manifested by patterns of word selection, vocabulary and word lexicon, grammar, or words, phrases, idioms, or pronunciations that are unique to that individual. Every individual has an idiolect; the grouping of words and phrases is unique, rather than an individual using specific words that nobody else uses. An idiolect can easily evolve into an ecolect—a dialect variant specific to a household. (from Wikipedia)
Getting Settled
Here's the run-down on our lives, list-style. :)
Our apartment is perfect (for us), and we love our ward. The neighborhood is so safe and cozy--we don't feel that we're in the city at all. (Very different from last summer--we had a very urban place.)
Also, Michael is loving his job, which is the key element.
We've dived (doven?) right in at church too. I've already sub-ed in the Primary, we're doing a ward temple trip tomorrow, I've been to one enrichment with another one on Saturday, and the Bishopric is stopping by tonight to visit us. Also, we're having the missionaries over to teach us a discussion on Saturday.
Wow. No wonder I'm tired. When I put into words, I'm doing a lot.
As for the home front, I'm grinding wheat and baking bread Little Red Hen style. I've been "grocery store shopping" the past few weeks. That is to say, I'm shopping for a grocery store. I've found a few good ones, but now it's time to price compare! :)
Otherwise, I've been working on getting up earlier so I can have some time to myself before Nathanael's up, as well as reading the Book of Mormon in that time. It's an uphill battle, but I'm still climbing! :)
It is amazing how not-new I feel. It seems like I remember so many people from last summer! That part is very good news! :) Well, I guess I get to go back to making our clean-out-the-produce-drawer-before-it-goes-bad dinner.
This moment has been duly noted, and will be deducted on your timecard, "That is all." (Michael, do you ever read this--'cause you're the only one laughing. Well, maybe I'll send a link to Peter too.)
And, my photos for the day.
Our apartment is perfect (for us), and we love our ward. The neighborhood is so safe and cozy--we don't feel that we're in the city at all. (Very different from last summer--we had a very urban place.)
Also, Michael is loving his job, which is the key element.
We've dived (doven?) right in at church too. I've already sub-ed in the Primary, we're doing a ward temple trip tomorrow, I've been to one enrichment with another one on Saturday, and the Bishopric is stopping by tonight to visit us. Also, we're having the missionaries over to teach us a discussion on Saturday.
Wow. No wonder I'm tired. When I put into words, I'm doing a lot.
As for the home front, I'm grinding wheat and baking bread Little Red Hen style. I've been "grocery store shopping" the past few weeks. That is to say, I'm shopping for a grocery store. I've found a few good ones, but now it's time to price compare! :)
Otherwise, I've been working on getting up earlier so I can have some time to myself before Nathanael's up, as well as reading the Book of Mormon in that time. It's an uphill battle, but I'm still climbing! :)
It is amazing how not-new I feel. It seems like I remember so many people from last summer! That part is very good news! :) Well, I guess I get to go back to making our clean-out-the-produce-drawer-before-it-goes-bad dinner.
This moment has been duly noted, and will be deducted on your timecard, "That is all." (Michael, do you ever read this--'cause you're the only one laughing. Well, maybe I'll send a link to Peter too.)
And, my photos for the day.
Memory Lane
Here is a fun little game I found on Melissa'a blog (thanks!)
If you're reading this, please leave a comment on this post of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.
I'm excited to drum up some comments as I've been absent for awhile in both reading and writing blog posts.
...but I came back! (Michael, are you reading this?)
Anyway, have fun with this. I'm looking forward to hearing the goofy things you all remember about me!
Also, if you leave a memory about me, I'll go to your blog and leave one about you.
On your mark... get set... comment!
If you're reading this, please leave a comment on this post of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.
I'm excited to drum up some comments as I've been absent for awhile in both reading and writing blog posts.
...but I came back! (Michael, are you reading this?)
Anyway, have fun with this. I'm looking forward to hearing the goofy things you all remember about me!
Also, if you leave a memory about me, I'll go to your blog and leave one about you.
On your mark... get set... comment!
Labor Day, Play Day
Today Michael got a new bike. Nathanael sucked the juice out of an orange. And I got to go to the grocery store by myself!
It may seem that I'm being sarcastic, but actually, this was a great day for me.
The grocery store did happen to be the Whole Foods Market on Denny in downtown Seattle. It is huge for either a city grocery store or a health food store, and I had a hay day. This also came after the realization (in the car on the way there) that for me food isn't just for survival or familial duty--I love it.
I love to eat it, I love to prepare it, I love to think about ways to make it fun. I especially love to serve it to others. (And I really love it when they like it!)
Realizing that food is fun for me, somehow made it even more so. It allowed me to celebrate the new basil putting down roots on my windowsill, and the freshly ground flour in my freezer. (Thanks, Michael!) And now I feel empowered to roast the eggplant and summer squash from the farmer's market, and to plant lettuce for the end-of-the-summer season. I am ready to take on the Chicken Cacciatore my husband got excited about tonight* and prepare lunches and snack foods for a new week dawning.
Plus, now I have a dishwasher, so I get to have all the fun, and let an appliance clean up!
*I just learned this tidbit from Wikipedia. "Cacciatore means "hunter" in Italian. In cuisine, "alla cacciatora" refers to a meal prepared "hunter-style" with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, herbs, often bell pepper, and sometimes wine."
Mormon Renaissance
It all started last month, when I convinced my sister to watch Nathanael so we could go to a local play my friend was involved in. Well, that friend ended up being the catalyst to a whole world of opportunity and ideas: New Play Project.
If you live in the Utah Valley area, I urge you to attend the next play. Submit a play of your own, audition, volunteer. Get involved in whatever way you choose, but get involved. This is an amazing project with talented people who care about making a difference in the world.
And they are.
So my friend pulled another surprise out for me recently. He sent me some interviews and asked me to read over them for a new magazine he's editing. So I read a bit, and made some suggestions, but I had no idea what was coming.
Wow.
Mormon Artist came out today. Ben wrote a short post about it. And there's a section at the end all about New Play Project and several of the key people.
But the title of my post comes from the essay of James Goldberg's at the beginning of the magazine. He talks about the Harlem Renaissance and how Langston Hughes started writing his ideas and they changed the world--even though he was only 18 and no one knew what would happen.
And then he makes the most amazing connection--we are in that place. "...none of this heritage is restricted to any ethnic group or country. Anyone can choose to adopt this heritage as part of their own identity. The whole world is getting less national and more global and Mormonism is one of the world’s first great post-national cultures."
And so we can choose to do what the writers of the Harlem Renaissance did--tell our stories. And as we tell them, they will be heard. And the telling and the hearing will change the world.
If you live in the Utah Valley area, I urge you to attend the next play. Submit a play of your own, audition, volunteer. Get involved in whatever way you choose, but get involved. This is an amazing project with talented people who care about making a difference in the world.
And they are.
So my friend pulled another surprise out for me recently. He sent me some interviews and asked me to read over them for a new magazine he's editing. So I read a bit, and made some suggestions, but I had no idea what was coming.
Wow.
Mormon Artist came out today. Ben wrote a short post about it. And there's a section at the end all about New Play Project and several of the key people.
But the title of my post comes from the essay of James Goldberg's at the beginning of the magazine. He talks about the Harlem Renaissance and how Langston Hughes started writing his ideas and they changed the world--even though he was only 18 and no one knew what would happen.
And then he makes the most amazing connection--we are in that place. "...none of this heritage is restricted to any ethnic group or country. Anyone can choose to adopt this heritage as part of their own identity. The whole world is getting less national and more global and Mormonism is one of the world’s first great post-national cultures."
And so we can choose to do what the writers of the Harlem Renaissance did--tell our stories. And as we tell them, they will be heard. And the telling and the hearing will change the world.
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