LOL #12

George Washington Gale Ferris lived and worked for a time period in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, only about two hours away from the PA location of this week's LOL photo.

This "observation wheel" that we now call the Ferris wheel, named for its inventor, began as an idea on a scrap of paper in an effort to create a marvel so magnificent for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair that spectators would forget about the architectural beauty of the previous World's Fair in Paris - the Eiffel Tower.  The original Ferris wheel was 264 feet high, held 36 cars that carried 40-60 people each, and cost around $400,000 to construct.  It also had bragging rights to a 46 1/2 ton axle which at that time was the largest piece of steel ever forged.  The Ferris wheel was an instant success and at 50 cents a ride made a profit of over $750,000 for the exhibition.

To this day, the Ferris wheel is one of the first rides that can be seen from a distance when driving toward almost any fair ground.  I'm sure these overgrown bicycle wheels have changed some mechanically since 1893 but really, their looks don't seem to change.  I think it's the nostalgia that surrounds them that makes me smile when I see one.  A ride that has connected generations.  And regardless of the atmosphere while standing on the ground, once atop the very tippy top of the Ferris wheel, all seems the same - small and insignificant.  

This week, I got to ride a Ferris wheel - the one in the LOL shot above.  The most fun is riding it with a little one that has never before had the experience of stopping on top, swaying side to side, peering out over the car with a bird's eye view...

Makes me smile now just reflecting.



web.mit.edu/invent/iow/ferris.html

Terms of Endearment

Even though I'm not from Texas, I have owned several pairs of cowboys boots in my time.  My very first pair were the little red boots in the photo above.  I'm thankful that my mother has that sentimental gene (which she passed along to me) and kept them all this time.  Recently, my wonderful hubster purchased my newest pair of cowboy boots and with them came his newest nickname for me - Boots.  

In our house, nicknames are in abundance!  Doodlebug, Crazy J, Nutter Butter, Jacko, Jac-a-lac, Budrow, Booberry, G Doggie, Boo Boo... are just some of the variety that can be heard being called down the hallways of our home.  I've often wondered why after spending so much time coming up with just the perfect names for our children, we end up calling them something else.  Even every dog we've owned has had nicknames.  I've also wondered if this phenomenon is peculiar to our little clan? 

After some quick research, I am inclined to say that nicknames and their use are more widely used than not.  The term "nickname" originates from the 14th - 15th century middle English word "ekename."  "Eke" meant "also or added; additional."  So, in simple terms, an additional name.  Now, while that does explain what nickname means it doesn't explain why we use them.   

The use of nicknames can be traced all the way back to the Greeks.  (Maybe that dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding was on to something after all!)  Hypocorism comes from the Greek "hypokorizesthai," to use child talk.  A hyporcorism is a lesser form of a given name used in more intimate situations, as a term of endearment, a pet name. 

When I think about that definition, it makes perfect sense.  I don't think I've ever given a nickname to someone that isn't close to my heart.  It's the intimacy that brings out the nickname, the ekename, the hypocorism - the terms of endearment.

LOL #11

Okay, so go ahead and nominate me now for the worst mother of year award; however, I could not pass up the opportunity to share this week's LOL photos.  I couldn't even stop at one or two photos this week but am bringing an entire series of shots to the blog post just so you can either share in my laughter or simply sympathize with my poor son.

My youngest 1-of-3 and I planted a garden this year which includes jalapenos for the salsa my kiddos like me to make.  Since the day she and I put the first pepper plant in the ground, my son has been anxiously awaiting the ripening of our first spicy vegetable.  I believe his words were, "I just can't wait to eat a jalapeno straight off the plant.  Will you please let me try it?"  How could I say no...

This week was the week.  Our plants are heavy with ripe peppers and middle 1-of-3 came running into the kitchen.  "I think they're ready!  Can I eat one now?" were his words.  I do think there are most definitely appropriate occasions for children to learn from their experiences.  So, I did what any doting mother would do, handed him the kitchen shears and grabbed my DSLR!

Let me just give this warning now, if you are already cringing - don't look any further! 

As he nervously began, I was clicking away.  First, hesitation...second, small bite off the very tip...third, not so bad he thinks...fourth, bigger bite - seeds and all...

Well, as Paul Harvey would say, you know the rest of the story!  And quite frankly, the photos do a much better job at giving you the rest of story than I ever could.

Oh how I love this boy, and the good laugh he gave me this week!

Dislaimer - no young boys were seriously harmed in the making of this blog post :-) 



juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uhn

Feel free to call me a word junkie if you like, but this is one of those words that I think is just cool all the way around.  Not only do I like the meaning of the word but I just like how this word looks!  After all, it's not everyday that I get to use words that include the letter "x."

Juxtaposition - (noun) an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.  "Juxta" comes from Latin; meaning closely connected.  I find that definition and its origin fascinating.  If juxta means closely connected then why are items of contrast paired together to create juxtaposition?

Black and white, happy and sad, love and hate, laugh and cry - most definitely words of contrast but how could they ever be "juxta" or closely connected.  Easily, I say.  We can't experience one without knowing the other.  How can I know how great happy is if I've never experienced sad?  Ever heard of a love/hate relationship?  How about, I laughed until I cried?  Juxta!

In the world of photography, juxtaposition works like a charm to create unusual interest!  The background of the photo above is filled with wispy Queen Anne's Lace.  The foreground has the spiky straw.  The little wooden bench holds a sweet little girl - wearing soccer shoes????  Soccer shoes are the least expected item in this shot, but to me, they make the photo!  Not that it wouldn't be a nice scene without them, but with them, they complete the look on my little nutter butter's face.  "You mean to tell me I had to put on a dress and sit in these weeds to have my picture taken?"  Yep, this is her personality - juxtaposition.

 

LOL #10

Visiting what I call "junk shops" is a treat for me.  Officially, the owners of these businesses like to refer to their shops as "antique stores."  You say to-may-toe; I saw to-mot-toe. 

Since I have an affinity to objects of yesteryear, I absolutely love browsing through the nooks and crannies of these shops.  Occasionally I will come home with someone else's junk, but mostly, the fun really comes from just looking at the never-ending stuff!

This week, my eldest 1-of-3 and I had some time to look through some of these shops.  Hence, this week's LOL photo.  This RCA Victor Portable made me laugh.  It looks like it is straight out of a teenage bedroom or modern kitchen of the 1950s or 60s.  What made me laugh the most was the handle on top!  I mean really, how many people do you think carried one of these around?  It's not exactly a lightweight.  And the rabbit ears sticky out the back, those were a flashback.  My kids don't even know what those are!

I walked about 20 feet around the corner and laughter struck again.  Not only had I just passed by the cool, hip version of the mobile television but I now was staring at the living room version right off the set of Happy Days.

Black Bear, Black Bear What Do You See?

As one that spends over 180 days each year in elementary libraryland, I am very aware that the classic Bill Martin, Jr./Eric Carle children's book title is Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? (A must have, by the way, for anyone with young children in the house or for just the children's book lovers out there!) As plainly obvious though, my bear isn't brown; it's a black bear.

I recently acquired this stuffed species of black bear as a memento of our trip to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area of the great state of Tennessee.  He's a cute little fellow and one that I know will quickly fit in with my other friends in my library zoo.  But only after I share his story.  Kids love a good story, but then again, don't we all!

Our Tennessee trip was with the majority of my husband's side of our family.  Twenty-one of us filled a big log cabin for a long weekend.  On the third full day of our stay there, most of us decided to make a trip to Clingman's Dome.  It is the third highest elevation east of the Mississippi River (only by four feet I might add).  We had already driven and then climbed to the peaky top and peered out at the other mountain tops below and had begun our trek back down the winding roads of the Smoky Mountains.  Upon waking from my quick nap in the car, I discovered that we had pulled into an area with a trail that would lead to waterfalls.

Some balked at the additional walking just to see some water falling over rocks, but even though I hadn't worn my hiking flip flops, I said, "Why not?  How often do you get to see a waterfall?" 

The trail was...ummm...let's just say while the scenery was gorgeous, I should have most definitely packed my hiking flip flops.  But we made it, all twelve of us.  We oohed and aahed, we photographed water running over rocks, we sat and watched others, my kiddos sufficiently soaked themselves and had managed a few new scrapes and bruises, and then we all decided the time was right to head back.  After all, we had 1.4 rocky miles to walk back - at least it was downhill.

Our little nutter butter and I were in the lead on the way back down; the other ten were close behind.  As she and I turned a corner on the trail I heard the crack of a breaking twig in the woods - deer, I thought.  I soon heard the hubster say to my nephew the hunter, "Dan, what do think's in those woods that would have made that loud crack?"  I kept walking, paying it no mind - again, deer is what I thought.

Now, I have been visiting this area of northeast Tennessee for as long as I can remember.  Upon first visiting Pigeon Forge, I vividly remember that there was absolutely nothing to do.  About the only souvenirs that could be purchased at that time were moccasins and little stuffed black bears.  These Great Smoky Mountains have long held the reputation for black bear sitings; thus, the black bear souvenirs.  Personally, though, I have never had the opportunity to meet a live black bear in the wild.

Black bear, black bear what do you see?  I see twelve tourist staring back at me!  Yes, that crack in the woods - a black bear! In our estimation, about 600 pounds worth of black bear!  All I heard and saw at first was the rest of our clan yelling bear and running around the corner that my nutter butter and I had just turned.  She picked up the pace herself and what did I do?

Well, I don't know if this classifies my as insane or as a true photographer, but I sat my camera bag down on the ground and went to unzipping as quickly as I could.  My zoom lens came out and when I saw that the hubster and his eldest brother weren't running away - I started walking toward the direction of the bear siting so I could grab a quick shot. 

Black bear, black bear what do you see?  I see a camera lens staring back at me! 

 

LOL #9

Among the monotony of life's daily tasks, it's the little unexpected surprises that break up the mundane and often put a smile on my face. 

Since school has been out for the summer, I have been driving the eldest 1 of 3 to cross country training at her soon-to-be high school.  Now, that may not seem like a big deal; however, the training starts at 8:00 AM and anyone that knows me for longer than probably a second, can tell you that I am not and will never be a morning person!  So not only are summers a treat because I get to spend them hanging out with my kiddos, they are also a welcomed opportunity for me to sleep in a bit. 

It is on this morning drive that I first saw what I thought was a beaver alongside the road to the school.  I suspected beaver because this road parallels a river.  The hubster (he doesn't like me calling him hubby in my posts - let's see if he likes hubster) has taken our daughter to training a couple of times and has seen the same "varmint" as he calls it.  He has proclaimed it to be of the groundhog variety.  Our debate has been ongoing and our sightings of this little guy have been just about a daily occurrence.  He has actually made my short drive to the school more enjoyable!  Watching to see if he's there; wondering what his attraction is to this little grassy area right by the roadside.  He's made me very curious.

Of course, I eventually had to take my DSLR to see if I could get a shot of the little guy.  This past Monday, I had the camera sitting in the console just waiting to quickly pull over to the side and grab a quick shot.  The ride over - no beaver!  The ride back home - no beaver!!  The ride back to pick her up - no beaver!!!

Coming back home with eldest 1 of 3 in the passenger side, I said, "Look there he is!"  I quickly drove past, pulled into a clearing, popped open the sunroof and began snapping!  Only, no beaver!!!! Two, yes two, groundhogs!  My trusty 55-250mm gave me a close up look at the tails.  While I was a little disappointed that I didn't win the debate with the hubster, I still had a smile on my face at these two little creatures looking back at me through my lens.  I can only imagine what they were thinking - "Hmmm... crazy lady or crazy lady?  Oh well, just smile for her."

Knee High

My husband is not a native Southerner; he is a Southerner by marriage.  Where he comes from, the farmer's say, "Knee high by the fourth of July."  And when they do, they are referring to the height of their corn.  Now, my mind has to ask, "Whose knees?"  It's clearly obvious from the shot above that the only knees even remotely close to the top of our corn are the ones belonging to my 6'4" husband!  And we even planted our corn late in the planting season.

Fourth of July - my country's birthday.  In honor of the celebration, I've provided a little trivia quiz.  (Hint: don't expect to get an "A.")

1. According to legend, which of the following women sewed together the first American flag?

 a) Dolly Madison

 b) Martha Washington

 c) Eleanor Roosevelt

 d) Betsy Ross

2. After losing New York City to the British, which river did George Washington and his men cross on Christmas Day in 1776 in a prelude to a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison?

 a) Hudson River

 b) Potomac River

 c) Connecticut River

 d) Delaware River

3. Which of the following European powers did not fight on the side of the colonists in the Revolutionary War?

 a) Spain

 b) France

 c) The Netherlands

 d) Germany

4. Which of the following did not sign the Declaration of Independence?

 a) Samuel Adams

 b) Benjamin Franklin

 c) John Hancock

 d) George Washington

5. Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

 a) Benjamin Franklin

 b) George Washington

 c) Thomas Jefferson

 d) John Adams

6. Who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner?

 a) John Philip Sousa

 b) Francis Scott Key

 c) Katharine Lee Bates

 d) Samuel Francis Smith

7. Which of the following was not one of the thirteen original colonies?

 a) Georgia

 b) Virginia

 c) Vermont

 d) Massachusetts

8. The Second Continental Congress met in which city to draft The Declaration of Independence?

 a) Boston, MA

 b) New York, NY

 c) Baltimore, MD

 d) Philadelphia, PA

9. What happened on July 4, 1776?

 a) The first battle of the Revolutionary War was fought.

 b) The Second Continental Congress declared independence from Britain.

 c) The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

 d) The Declaration of Independence was signed.

10. The "midnight ride" of which American patriot was later immortalized by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

 a) John Hancock

 b) Samuel Adams

 c) Joseph Warren

 d) Paul Revere

11.  In 1773, which of the following was thrown into Boston Harbor as a protest against taxes?

 a) Coffee

 b) Tea

 c) Tobacco

 d) Cotton

My country is 236 years old today. That's an incredibly long time for the principles of this country to still hold true.  I've been thinking back to our founding fathers and the work they did and the foundations they laid  for my life, my liberty, and my pursuit of happiness and one question keeps coming to my mind, "Do you think Thomas Jefferson's corn was knee high by the fourth of July?" 

 

Trivia Quiz courtesy About.com

Answer Key: 1)D 2)D 3)D 4)D 5)C 6)B 7)C 8)D 9)C 10)D 11)B