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Tuesday, March 29, 2005
9:43 AM

Kermis?

In preparation for our trek to Germany in May, we have been studying German. Trying to jog our memories and pry from the very far reaches of our brains all the stuff we both learned back in high school and college (at least we hope it is still rattling around in there somewhere). Naturally, being the computer addicted sorts that we are, we went out and bought one of those programs that allegedly will help you learn German. It has a whole series of exercises that you do from answering questions, learning vocab, etc. It's actually pretty good. We are both fabulously fluent now (not! or should I say Nicht!).

This past weekend Mark was using the program and was doing this exercise that is like a crossword puzzle. It gives you a series of clues in English and you are supposed to type in the German synonym for the word in the appropriate space. Pretty simple really. Or so we thought. Most of the time it gives you words you have come across earlier in the program. Piece of cake. But every now and then it comes at you way out of left field. Way way out. Like it did to Mark.

I'm doing laundry and I hear some not so happy sounds from the study. Seems that Mark was stumped on one of the clues. So he asked me jokingly: "How do you say "kermis" in German." Yes, kermis. That was the clue. In English. Actually it was:

fair; kermis (U.S.)

In other words, the word the program is looking for is the German version of a word that means "fair" or, for those of us in the U.S., "kermis". Kermis. Just keep looking at the word long enough and you'll start to laugh. Try saying it a few times just for giggles.

You know you are in trouble when you don't even know the English word.

Who in the world has ever heard of the word kermis?? (If you have, more power to you, you vocabulistic master!) So, as soon as we stopped laughing and wiped the tears from our eyes, I pulled out the handy dandy Oxford English dictionary (actually it isn't very handy as it weighs like a gazillion pounds, but this was a kermis emergency after all). But it was pretty dandy as, sure enough, "kermis" is in there. Means something like a carnival or festival. Then I ran the word on the internet. And virtually every website is in German! I'm still trying to figure out why the makers of this program thinks that "kermis" is a term specifically used in the U.S.

Does anyone care to guess what the German word for kermis is?? Come one, someone. Just shout it out. Yep, it's "kermis".

Notwithstanding the fact that I am now quite concerned about the makers of the German language program, I have to admit that neither Mark nor I will ever forget what "kermis" means so the program is a resounding success. And we intend to use the word kermis at least once a day on those unsuspecting Germans. They will rue the day they ever came up with such a silly word.

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Tuesday, March 22, 2005
2:25 PM

If the Shoe Fits

I was walking in to my office building today when I realized that my right shoe felt sort of funny. Just a little tighter than usual and just slightly different that the left one. I look down and everything looked ok at first. Then I looked closer and realized that the reason that my shoes feel different from each other is that they are in fact different from each other. Yes, I managed to wear two different shoes today. At least they both fit and are comfortable.

I guess I am lucky in some respects. I didn't manage to grab a red shoe and a blue shoe. They are both black and quite similar in style. I'm sure no one else will even notice. And even more lucky is the fact that I am not living my recurring nightmare of getting to work (or more often to court) only to realize that I am barefoot. It's a horrible dream that always stresses me out. No idea why.

Then again maybe I should be worried. Maybe I have started down the path toward altogether shoelessness. Maybe you start by mixing up your shoes and quickly progress toward forgetting them altogether. Even more worrisome is the fact that I have two pairs of shoes that only upon close inspection even look different. Am I really in that much of a shoe rut??

At a bare minimum, rest assured that tonight I will be rearranging my shoes so as to make sure that the similar pairs will not be so easily confused next time. And now I have an excellent excuse to go shoe shopping. Clearly I need to mix things up a bit.

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Friday, March 11, 2005
2:24 PM

Bye Bye Birdies

Yes, it has happened. The babies are all grown up. The first to hatch was also the first to leave (on Wednesday). The second left yesterday. I do think I saw one of them hanging around this morning in one of our trees. Sure do hope they will be ok and that Mama Bird has taught them all they need to know.

The live camera is now back to being focused on the cats (though they haven't been around much except the one scrunched down in the left couch-back cushion, who has been sleeping there all day!!). Poor kitties no doubt felt neglected so are now snubbing their chance at internet stardom. Typical.

Otherwise, not much to report. Pizza night at the Purcell's tonight. Can't wait to see the progress on their house. Then back to the woodworking projects on our house this weekend - lots more crown moldings for us to install. Anyone want to come help??

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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Monday, March 07, 2005
9:52 AM

Birdapalooza

As promised, I am posting below a whole slew of bird pictures. As of today, the babies are still there, but they are now sitting on the edge of the nest learning to use their wings (you can see them on the live webcam at times). We expect them to be gone any day.

Saturday 2/26 (Still sooo tiny):

Wednesday 3/2 (Eyes Open!):

Thursday 3/3 (Getting bigger):

Sunday 3/6:

Family Pics:

And just so our regular animals don't feel left out:

(That's Little Boy keeping me company while I uploaded the bird pictures.)

Have a great one!

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Sunday, March 06, 2005
6:12 PM

Better Late . . .

Even though it's after 6:00 p.m. here and I should have posted this sooner, I just wanted to wish Auntie Lo a very Happy Birthday!!

Everyone else please send a birthday wish Lois' way!!

P.S. Lots of baby bird pictures coming soon. Really.

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