Taken With My New Canon Power Shot S5IS! Thanks Mom, Tim And Christine!

Can you spot the tiger?

This is truly over the top.

Does Anybody Else Have A Problem With This?!?

An entire network just for infants! It's all about training 'em up early, I guess. Ugh! There are so many things that are wrong with this that I don't hardly know where to start.

Just a few thoughts then:
--If you want to BE a parent and yet don't really want TO parent, well, this is something that probably should be examined PRIOR to birth. A child is not an accessory, if parents don't take the lead in bringing up their offspring, believe me something else will move in to fill the void. Do you really want it to be the television?

--There is worthy TV. And most certainly, we all share the need to "turn off" sometimes, allowing ourselves to be distracted for a little while. But too much TV is BAD for kids. This is not only due to the fact that there is so much horrific CRAP in the offing, or to the unrelenting commercialism which teaches them how to look, what they should feel, want and/or need (to buy). But it is mainly due to the simple fact that there are 100,000,000,000 other fantastic, enriching, healthy and creative ways in which to while away their youths.

--Perhaps more than anything else, childhood is about DISCOVERY. I am not saying that television has zero redeeming qualities--but it just isn't a viable substitute for LIFE, exposure, and experience. We owe them so much more than that. Corralling children--the earlier the better--into couch pose is a terribly sorry state of affairs. And it's not even natural! I can remember last summer watching some Disney flick with my nieces, and for much of the movie, they were up on their feet. Laughing, clapping, jumping up and down...

Anyway, TV for babies. Bad idea, I think.

It Must Be Christmas Time

I've almost got the gift portion of Christmas squared away. Just a few more things to purchase as well as finishing touches on a few homemade gifts. I am broke this year and so have been plumbing my creative depths. I'm attempting to be economical and still give things that my loved ones might actually want and/or be able to use. I will tell you all about my various projects AFTER Christmas as several of said loved ones do make an appearance here at A Common Language every now and again.

We had ten inches of snow the other day and it is beautiful! This is a view of my porch.

I love the way that snow makes everything feel so close and hushed. I (almost) didn't mind it this morning when I fell square on my ass while taking the Woob for our AM jaunt. It would have been better if, just as it happened, there hadn't ambled three guys in suits from the coffee shop we were passing. There I was, all splayed out in a snow heap. They were quite kind and concerned. I was only a little bit mortified. Anyway, no broken bones or even scrapes. I went home and consoled my self with hot chocolate and the always engaging Diane Rehm.

My Aim Is True

In my last post I put up two photos of cameras I'm hoping (in vain, I think. Sigh.) to find under the tree next week. However, today when I logged in, POOF! Mysteriously, the photos had gone the way of parachute pants after 1985, or CIA Interrogation Records lately, making a swift exit.

I know, I know one is SUPPOSED to link anything and everything--any property intellectual or otherwise--so as not to infringe, etc. But I was feeling kind of lazy that day and thought, just that once, I wouldn't bother. I mean it's not as if I was marketing stolen property, or defaming the products, even. In fact, I was touting their virtues, promising them quiche and cinnamon rolls if they'd only be mine. (And, dear reader, please don't believe for a second that I'd take such a promise lightly.)

So my question is: how'd they find it so freakin' fast? It is truly astounding. Are there internet cops, or in this case Canon cops, (oops, forgot to link "Canon") whose job it is to troll around finding this kind of thing and subsequently have it removed?

Ah, well, you'll be glad to know that my love is in no way diminished by this ordeal. (That Nikon crush was nothing more than a passing fancy. I know this now.)
I still do see myself settling down with one or both Canons. One of these days.

A girl's gotta dream...

ani difranco 32 flavors

This is one of my all-time favorites.

Man, Do I Want This

For what it is, this is just a fantastic camera. I covet it. I will make breakfast in bed for it at least once a week, and never, EVER ask it to rub my back. I swear.
Isn't she a beauty?

I played with this Rebel XTi last night at the camera store, and started feeling the same girlish stirrings of true love I felt many moons ago in the presence of my first ever boyfriend. I could hardly look it in the lens!
The only problem is that it costs more than double what they're asking for the above SR. These cameras just keep getting better, and also going down in price. So I'm thinking that if I go ahead and get the SR now, and then simply wait a year or two, the dream camera will most likely be significantly cheaper. What girl doesn't secretly love a Rebel?

Anyway, I'm trying to be realistic. For a change.

P.S. Santa, a new job is still at the top of my list.

Feeling Better Now

Last night I had my first good night's sleep in several days. I have been dealing with a violent cold/flu combination--fever, stuffy head and sore throat, too. I also had the opportunity to work both yesterday and today, and couldn't, despite my shriveled head and incessant coughing, say no. Ah, money, a necessary evil. Anyway, I'm certain that the decision to get out of my pyjamas didn't help speed up my recuperation any, but at least now I am definitely on the upswing. It has been forever since I've been so thoroughly knocked down by an illness. Tomorrow, I'm planning on doing nothing! It'll just be me and a book and multiple cups of hot tea. Oh, and sleep.

To top it all off, there was an ice storm here at the beginning of the week.
When I arrived home on Monday evening, (house-sitting again) the power was out. Damn. It was an inky black darkness and the house was already starting to cool down. Not knowing just how long it would take for the problem to be fixed, I went ahead and built a fire, which is something I hardly ever do. Anyway, fire. SO lovely. The hiss and crackle and smell of it. The heat. And, yes, even the work it takes to keep it burning. And firelight--the constant motion of shadow and light--negative and positive spaces all moving in sync. That Frost poem kept looping through my head: "...From what I've tasted of desire/ I hold with those who favor fire..." Me, too, Robert.

Word Of The Day: Shibboleth

I ran across this word earlier and I just loved how it looked and sounded. I had never seen or heard it used before. It can be disconcerting when this happens, like when you hear a song that everyone else seems to know, and yet, oddly, you have no memory of it. Whatever, there are lots and lots of words in the English language. It is not as if "shibboleth" is terribly common, at least not in my circles.

Shibboleth is any language usage indicative of one's social or regional origin, or more broadly, any practice that identifies members of a group.

One of these days I am going to sit down and make a list of my favorite words here. I have many as language is one of my favorite toys.

Just To Clarify...

There are lots of GOOD things about X-mas/the holidays, too. In fact, I am planning to set up my little tree right after I'm done here. I did not mean to suggest--in any way shape or form--that I am a holiday-hater. ;) It would just be NICE if it were a bit more friendly, and a bit less commercial, ya know?

Pet Peeves: Or Things That I Shouldn't Let Annoy Me, But Nonetheless, Do

Number 1. Holiday Shopping.
I just got back from a trip to a local superstore, where the yearly lack of "holiday spirit" has commenced. It seems that one can't go anywhere even vaguely retail related during the holiday season, and expect others to behave with any modicum of the season's purported "goodwill".

The place was chock-full of rude, unapologetic folks, clearly suffering with issues narcissistic in nature. (Such as when a lady decided to navigate around my cart, despite the fact the I, ME, my physical person, was somewhat in the way. I kid you not, she made eye contact with me as she pushed her cart over my foot. There was NO APOLOGY, no EXCUSE ME, even with my subsequent yelp of pain. Apparently, she couldn't be bothered to wait the additional one.five seconds it would have taken for me to scoot off to the side.) I am not a violent person, but I literally wanted to stomp on her foot.

As much as I can, I try to stand outside of it all. Naturally I enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, who doesn't? It's fun to consider what a loved one may want or need, or even better, finding them the thing that they would never purchase for themselves--something truly special--that they cherish a secret longing for...
But more and more, I have to say, I just kind of dislike Christmas/Hanukkah time. I don't even know what it's about any more, except for long lines, spending more than one's got on things that one doesn't even need, and the awful lack of holiday spirit--set to a soundtrack of canned Christmas carols. Every. Where. You. Go.

Number 2. Nu-cu-ler
He went to Yale, right? RIGHT? Sigh, Uh, Mr.President, it is, in fact, pronounced Nuke-lee-er.

Number 3. Turn signal, shpurn pigmal!
They come standard in motor-vehicles for a reason. Well, for a couple of reasons, really. As none of us own the roads, and as, quite often, we are not out and about on said roads alone, it is about more than just paying lip-service to a thing called CONSIDERATION, it is a matter of safety. Use them. There's good Karma in it.

Number 4. Forwarded emails
A couple of things to consider in regard to the sending of cutesy or political or religious chain-mail type forwards to a person: Has your intended recipient ever--even once--reciprocated? Is it your intension to convert said recipient to a point of view that vastly differs from that which you know to be theirs? If so, don't you think that there might be a better, more effective medium for such things? Or is it simply about reminding them of YOUR views? If you are uncertain of any of the above, and if you really feel you MUST continue, please limit yourself to no more than one or two of these irritating, inbox cloggers per week. Thank you.

My friend Lesa made this for me! I never knew Wooby could dance like that! I never knew I could dance like that! Anyway, she's the cute brunette, and the other guy is my brother, Tim.

All I want For Christmas Is A Job

I was trolling the University employment website just now, and I found a listing that I am pretty excited about! I'm not going give specifics, but I think it has the potential to be a really good fit. Anyway, I immediately tailored my resume and cover letter and have sent them off. Please, please please! Send me as much hope-Laura-lands-the-job energy as you can to spare!