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So many folks have contributed such insightful comments to my last post 'English' that I had to tell this story...

Back in high school, I was an exchange student in Germany. Naturally, since I'm American and English is the supposed language here, they placed me in the most advanced English class. I sort of took this in stride and focused on my other subjects. Needless to say my first exam came as a huge surprise to me as it was all British Slang. Now, some of it was okay because while I am from Kentucky, I don't live under a rock, erm usually. And being a huge Beatles fan didn't hurt either (along with Monty Python, Faulty Towers, etc.) However, the end result was not the grade I had anticipated for English *blush*

Strangely enough, I never expected this 'education' to be the huge benefit later in life as I obsess over LOTR slash and actually know what things like trainers and jumpers, etc. are... It kind of reflects my lifelong philosophy that knowledge never hurts.

Current Mood: contemplative

I read a lot of stories from folks that aren't native english speakers, and I'm always impressed by their fluency. Someone sent this to me and I had to share:

This little treatise on the lovely language we share is only for the brave. It was passed on by a linguist, original author unknown. Peruse at your leisure, English lovers.

Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work
slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends
but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teacherstaught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an
asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm
goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"

Current Mood: amused

This is kinda weird because I never thought I would use my new LJ to vent, but this week has been hell. After last week's e-bay fiasco where my buyer backed out after two weeks, I didn't think things could get worse.. huh, never say never right... So anyway, my buyer backs out and I get another buyer. Well, the new buyer seems nice. We've spoken a couple of times and he is coming to get the car this coming Saturday. He was supposed to send a deposit last Saturday (and even called to tell me he sent it). I really needed the deposit to pay off a medical expense from my surgery back in June before they turn me over to collections. Well, it's Thursday and still no payment. Then tonight I get an invoice from e-bay for over $80 for the sale when I thought it was only going to be $40 (sometimes I'm dense but now I just feel stupid). Since my bank account is now negative thanks to the surgery place taking their money, and now it costs double, and I still don't have any money... well it's a bit stressful. (have I mentioned lately how much I hate noodles)

So, I attempt to go through e-bay and get a refund. The process is sketchy at best and who knows how or when this will work out. I left the original buyer a negative feedback and he did the same to me (which looks really bad since this is my Only transaction and is negative).

Then to top it all off, one of my neighbors hooked their garden hose up to my water tap (without asking) and left the water running all day until I got home and found it. My roommate says 'I thought I heard water running this morning, but I didn't think anything about it...'. The neighbor is nowhere to be found so I took the hose in, took the handle off the tap and went inside. Suddenly, after above mentioned 'sold' car has sat in my driveway for a year, I get a tag on the car from the city that unless it's moved (urm blown engine...) by Monday, they will impound it.

Strangely, I don't foresee sleep in my future... am off to read lovely fics and lose myself in slashland.

(again sorry for the rant, am normally nice happy person)

Current Mood: distressed

I just checked all my accounts and I am WAY behind on reading. So many great stories so little time...

Meanwhile, I am so addicted to this game Zuma. It's really stupid, match the colored balls, but yet, I keep playing. I've beaten it over and over until now I'm thinking I may actually pay for the thing just to have more levels. I so need to get out more *sigh*

Current Mood: bored

I just found the most adorable Dalmatian pics over at www.jollie.com . Come to find out the web address's a mistake on the photo, but they have some really cute stuff.

Current Mood: tired

My day started out awesome - I finally got a printer and only had to pay $20. A guy that I work with is now working from home and the office bought him one of those all-in-one things, so he had no need for his and sold it to me. I was so happy. But then I got home and find out that the guy I sold my old car to on e-bay is backing out and not going to pay. To make matters worse, it costs $40 to offer it to the runner-up. I was counting on the funds and now I'm completely lost...

Current Mood: anxious

So my LJ has been going for a couple of days now. So far I've learned to enter stuff, friend people, and make the simplest of icons (okay - need lots of help here). This is just so great I'm completely overwhelmed but happy.

I'm a total reader - and now I've got all these awesome fics coming right to me. I mean I'm already in the Yahoogroup world, but there are just some stories that I'm a complete sucker for and can't wait to read more. And I get to read about the writer's life too, this is just awesome!

Am off to watch 'Dead Like Me' now...

Current Mood: giddy

So I've been home sick for days now. I've felt better today and am trying to get caught up on some housework (okay, doing laundry while surfing net for new Beatles pics....) errrmmmm, anyway. So, after listening to my drunk roommates heckle 'Apocalypse Now' for hours, I've just witnessed a flood in the kitchen caused by a ruined mac and cheese event. (Did I mention drinking?) So after cleaning said mess and sending everyone off to sleep (when did I become such an old 'den mother'?), I'm now realizing the money opportunity in a patent on a 'drunk-proof method for cooking'. This will follow my ever popular 'drunk-proof phone' designed to keep roommates from dialing wrong numbers at 3 am and running up long distance.

Okay, done venting already. *hugs passed out roomies, grabs kitties, and goes off to sleep in nice clean bed*

Current Mood: sleepy

Well, I've managed to get a few things to work here on my LJ, but I can tell I still have a long way to go. Thanks a bunch to everyone -especially Lilagrubb - for all the support and help. Now onward to playing with icons...

Current Mood: awake

I'm new to this whole LJ thing. I've been reading other folk's LJs for a bit, but never thought I'd try this for myself. I hope I won't disappoint.

Current Mood: sick

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