365 Days of Knowledge #26 and 27

Two weekends ago I went to visit a friend of mine who lives about an hour away from me. My friend has two little girls, a 3 year old and a 4 month old. When I arrived at my friend's home, her 3 year old daughter (let's call her Bean) was very excited to see me and kept saying my name over and over. I was already impressed at this point because I know grown adults who experience difficulty pronouncing my name correctly and I've known them for years. After about a half hour of chatting with my friend, her 4 month old began crying so I played with Bean while she tended to her wee one.

Now when it comes to playing, having fun, and toys in general, I'm pretty well versed. However, I was not familiar with the Littlest Pet Shop, which is just the toy that Bean whipped out. I soon found it needed no explanation, it's just a bunch of miniature plastic animals that are apparently very popular among wee ones. So Bean whips out this plastic tree house thing about the size of the average woman's shoe box. Inside the tree are four miniature animals, a pink poodle, a white cat, a foxy looking skunk, and a brown chimp. I immeditely said I wanted the skunk and the monkey but some how wound up with the poodle and the cat, which I wasn't too upset about because the poodle had a skateboard accessory....score!

So, here we are, playing this game, making up one outrageous plot after the next when I pick up the chimp and randomly say to Bean, "When it's time for chimps to go to bed at night they make a nest up in the trees and sleep there." Without hesitation Bean asks why. I reply (not ever having formally learned this but just assuming) "To keep away from other animals that might try to hurt or eat them when they're sleeping." Of course Bean asks what animals try to hurt and eat the chimps so I say lions, tigers, and hyenas, all the while praying that I'm not steering this young mind wrong. After I give her this (cross your fingers) hopefully accurate list of predators, she peers down at the chimp with this "look" on her face. I can translate non verbal communication well but I didn't have enough experience with 3 year olds to predict what would come next. I hypothesized that Bean would either:

a) burst into tears at the thought of her little monkey being savagely devoured
b) have no idea what I was talking about and continue where we left off in the world of the Littlest Pet Shop
or
c) privately ask her mom when I would be leaving, seeing as how I am a complete weird-o and all

Evidently, the "look" was one of contemplation because Bean then looked up at me and asked (I shit you not)....."What about the hawks?" The only response I was able to muster was a quite and amazed, "Wow....you're smart." I didn't really have an answer, I know there are hawks in Africa and I remembered reading about them capturing baby chimps but I don't know if they're a real threat to adult chimps and I wasn't about to tell that little face that hawks only eat babies. So I played it safe and said, "Yeah, they do have to be careful of the hawks but they're less of a threat." Then I fumbled over explaining what a threat was. I was blown away.

Bean isn't only smart, she's pretty creative too. My friend informed me that Bean has an imaginary friend named Gabriella who just showed up one day. I asked Bean where Gabriella was and she informed me that Gabriella wasn't with us because Gabriella was mad at Bean. I asked Bean why Gabriella was mad at her and she said, in a very confused and concerned voice, "She says I hit her, but I didn't." I laughed hysterically. I later came to find out that Gabriella lives in Chicago and is often home sick so Bean doesn't get to see her much. I wonder if this is a typical tactic children use to phase out their imaginary friends when they're no longer needed. Dr. Spock?

Anyway, back to the two things I learned. I wanted to share this story so I'll give you two chimpanzee (my favorite animal by the way) facts that I found.

1. I knew chimpanzees were extremely smart but I did not know that scientists have actually observed chimps eat feeding on medicinal plants when they're feeling ill or are injured.

I couldn't find another interesting fact about chimpanzees that I didn't know (I'm seriously not a braggart, they are my favorite animal and I honestly know a lot about them) so I'll share a fact about Jane Goodall that I just learned.

2. Jane Goodall was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

"The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves."
-Jane Goodall-

Bonus fact: When chimpanzees are happy they will make a grunting noise. When a chimpanzee "grins" and gives a toothy "smile" people often assume they are happy but in fact that is a sign that they are feeling anxiety or fear. Please remember this next time you are watching a film or television show where they use chimpanzees for entertainment purposes.

365 Days of Knowledge #19 and 20

Here in Wisconsin lawns are often decorated with fake, plastic, miniturized deer or these big, ugly colored bulbs. Personally, I want to see more plastic flamingos, especially after learning that there are more plastic flamingos in the United States than real-live, authentic ones. Who'd a thunk it?


While we're on the subject of the lack of "real" animals, try this on for size.

The United Nations has declared 2009 the "Year of the Gorilla". Greatly due to loss of habitat caused by deforestation and bush meat hunting, the gorilla is just a few years from becoming extinct if conditions don't change. Help by others of the devastating situation of these magnificent and important primates.

Please go to the International Gorilla Conservation Program for more information.

365 Days of Knowledge #15, 16 and 17

Everyone is familiar with The Little Mermaid. I myself love the movie, when I was little I wanted to be Ariel. Anytime I was swimming I re-enacted the scene where Ariel is singing "Part of your World" and launches herself up on a rock. Anyway, I learned that in the original, Hans Christian Anderson tale, Ariel wanted to be human for two reasons. The first being, like in the movie, to marry and love prince (who doesn't want that?). In the original however, Ariel also wants an eternal soul. Apparently merfolk don't have souls, when they die they turn into sea foam.

Last night I went to this Rocky Horror Picture Show party/movie showing/play. Now, I have NEVER seen this film. I have heard about it and get the cult classic-ness about it but am unfamiliar with the movie in general. My friend called and asked if I wanted to go. I said sure and she said, "People dress up." Hhhhmmm I thought, what do people dress up as? So, what did I do? I googled "Rock Horror Picture Show costumes". What came up is a whole lot of transvestites in lingerie and corsets. Now, we're experiences below zero temperatures here in Wisconsin and the last thing I'm going to be donning is nylons and booty shorts. Tossing that idea I continued to surf the internets until I came across this character.

His name is Riff Raff. What drew me to this character was not his striking good looks or his winning smile, it was his clothes, he was actually wearing some. I threw on some black pants, white shirt, and suit coat, slicked back my greasy hair, darkened my eyebrows and threw on some dark lipstick. I didn't have to paint my face white because it's the middle of winter and I already look like a ghost.

So I get to the theater and it takes half a second to realize that I made a mistake. Instead of dressing up as characters, people just dressed up. The sluttier the better. I ordered a beer and sat by the bar listening to some shitty new age music and waiting for my friend who showed up a half hour late. I think people thought I was a dominatrix.

My friend finally showed up and we ended up having a really really good time. I still don't know what the movie is about. So, what did a learn? I learned how to dance the Time Warp.

Finally, today I learned that the word "toast," when people are cheersing <----made up word , means a wish of good health. This tradition originated in Rome, where a piece of toasted bread was dropped into wine.

365 Days of Knowledge #9

Today I learned that radio city music hall cost eight million dollars to build $$$$$$$$$$$ and that was in the 30's, you can imagine what the cost would be now.

More important than the home base of the Rockettes, I learned that I'm a pretty damn good poet/rapper. Check out the "rappet" I wrote for my friend at From the Desk of Miss Lippy, she won my cool contest and I rewarded her with the following:

*names have been changed to protect identities

No Title

Her hair is long, soft, and fly
Her favorite dessert is pecan pie.

There's nothing this lady can't preserve in a jar
She used to drive a pretty, pink, stripper car.

I'll tell you what, and it's for sho'
Give her a gun and she'll shoot you a doe.

She loves the environment and BLEEP too,
Her baptismal name happens to be CENSORED Sue.

CENSORED'S my friend, it ain't no lie,
Now get in the kitchen bitch and make me some pie.

My English major boyfriend later corrected me (throat clearing), I realize now that sho' does not rhyme with doe. Thanks again Richie....

Snickity Snackity

I just remembered this funny story. I wasn't even involved in this hilarious exchange but I was told it and I have the right to retell it because it involves two of my closest friends.

During college two of my roommates, Choppa and Miss Lippy, had a class together, as we often did. This class (I believe history but am probably wrong) was in a very large lecture hall and came at the end of a very long day for Choppa. Choppa, was always really hungry by this time and would routinely get a bag of Cheez-It's from the vending machine to munch during her final class. Choppa (Cheez-It's in hand) and Miss Lippy would meet before class, sit together and commence learning. One day, Choppa was extra hungry and decided to get two bags of Cheez-It's. Other than this anomaly, events transpired per usual.

Choppa finished off her first bag of Cheez-It's and without skipping a beat, opened the second and resumed munching. Although this was not relayed to me, I'm sure Miss Lippy had some thoughts running through her head surrounding the double serving of Cheez-It's being inhaled by her dear and petite friend. Choppa did indeed finish the second bag of Cheez-It's and in my mind's version of this story, she straightens out the corners of the bag and pours the crumbs into her mouth*.

After finishing off two bags of Cheez-It's, wiping crumbs off her face, her chest and I'm sure her books, Choppa slowly leans back in her seat, throws an arm around Miss Lippy's chair, turns to her and says, "Woof, shouldn't have had that second bag of Cheez-It's".

What makes this funny is the fact that this hunger response and subsequent satiated reaction is coming from one of the cutest and tiniest people I know.

Guess what? In writing this I made up a word. The plural for Cheez-It is NOT Cheez It's like I have been using, it's Cheez-It crackers. Scrumtrulescent!


*please note this detail has not been verified

Not to be mistaken for an obituary

My friend Jennie and I have known each other since grade school. Jennie attended the parochial school in our town and I was a public school kinda gal. We were acquaintances when we were younger and became fast friends when we attended high school together. After high school we moved on and away from each other, physically and emotionally. Needless to say our friendship naturally dwindled.

Jennie and I would see each other sporadically throughout the years after high school, at weddings and such. We would chat and converse about our lives and how things have been progressing. Yet, as these polite interactions tend to go, I never felt fulfilled.

Approximately six months ago Jennie and I entered a new plane in our relationship, we became........FACEBOOK FRIENDS! Oh the horror! "Facebook friends" deserve a blog in and of itself so I'll tackle that some other time (actually, I'll probably just leave it up to someone else). Facebook allowed Jennie and I to reconnect without actually doing it, which leaves me even more unfulfilled. What facebook did help me realize was how much I really miss Jennie and our friendship.

On Sunday, the 8th of June, Jennie had a birthday. I want to wish Jennie a happy birthday by dedicating this blog entry to her.

One thing that I love is reconnecting with old friends and sharing memories that we've had. What's even better is when a friend remembers moments you may have forgotten. So Jennie, to celebrate you and our friendship, here are some things I love and remember about you. Some you may remember, others you may not.

1. We both liked the song, "I need to know" by Marc Anthony.
2. The time we were toilet papering RD's house and Mr. Stick stepped on my back (hard).
3. Tina La Wina from Pasadena
4. Talking smack about Laura when she began dating Kevin (that wasn't nice of us. Laura, I apologize).
5. Ditching out on last hour because we had study hall and no one kept tabs on us.
6. Not understanding a damn thing in Algebra II.
7. Dancing until the break of dawn at post-prom parties.
8. Our conversation about the possibility of our parents dieing. Side note: this conversation came to my mind and comforted me in some weird, twisted way when my dad died....I've always wanted to thank you for that.
9. Ringing in the new year by eating pickled herring at April's house.
10. I remember you're a lefty and your penmanship was sloppy (like mine).
11. Spanish class. Remember when we had to go in the closet and recite those paragraphs....how weird.
12. Writing our own "unique" questions for English Club.
13. Art Club......we held office! What did we do?
14. Sign Language Club......what did we do?
15. The night at my house when the party moved to Simeon's and Amanda got into a bit of trouble.
16. Hanging out at Cafe Espresso.
17. I envied your job at Fleet Farm because I worked at McDonald's.
18. I have always liked the fact that your name ends in "ie" and not "y"....you've never seemed like a Jenny to me.
19. You're "older man crush".....LK (or is it LC?)
20. Food classes with Ms. Knipp
21. You've always wanted to run your own bed and breakfast. I still want to work for you.

These are just a few of the great memories I have, but what I remember the most about you was that you valued simplicity. You enjoyed spending time with your family and friends, cooking and gardening, things that bring people closer to themselves and others. You were discouraged by complexity and aimed to keep things simple. Even in high school you and I would reminisce about the past, when things didn't seem as complicated and difficult. (I just realized I'm writing in the past tense....I hope it doesn't seem like an obituary ;)

I guess what I'm saying is that you always helped put things in perspective for me, and when I was spending time with you I felt a sense of peace.

I'm rambling.....Jennie, I hope your birthday was great and more than that I hope you're doing well. Let's get together soon, that's not a request....it's a demand.

Here are some pictures.....I couldn't help myself!

Junior Prom: "ouwza" I look pale and strained

studying in Mr Pinney's study hall; lefty action in progress