Eponymous Backronym

Oh, yes.

I found this absolutely scrumptious phrase while doing some refresher research on childbirth; a jewel embedded in the article on Apgar scores on Wikipedia.  Being a linguist and a weirdo, I felt the need to investigate.  Luckily, both words were linked.

An eponymous backronym is, basically, a person's name that was made into an acronym (but it was a name first, and so it was backformed, thus, "back"ronym... how cute).  In the case of Dr. Virginia Apgar, a mnemonic device to help doctors quickly assess the health of newborn babies (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration).

I'm inspired.  If I can be remembered as an eponymous backronym, I would like it to be Hair: Hugely Awsome and Intelligent Riter.  Maybe it could even be some kind of literary honor.  I can see it now...

What would you want your backronym to stand for?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Indietutes

While slogging the internet for interesting/easy/cheap crafty things, I came across this blog.  It's ridiculously amazing.  You need a sewing machine for pretty much everything she does, but I swear this woman is a freaking genius to come up with all this on her own. 

The best part is that her materials are all things you, yes you, have lying around your house.  Mostly old clothing (a lot of what I looked at was reconstructing old adult clothing into clothing for children), but also shower curtains, cardboard boxes, etc.  She also explains sewing techniques I've never used or heard of that will make my own stuff so much cooler.

You must check out her blog, Indietutes.  I'm also posting this link permanently under the "websites we like" area of the sidebar.

Vortex of Darkness

Alright, this is not my kind of show.  I didn't mean to.  I didn't mean to get sucked in to the swirling vortex of darkness that is The Bachelor.  But it's happened, at least this week, and therefore I must blog.

I know a lot of people like this girl Alli, and so did I.  But after this week's episode I'm thinking she's just a clever manipulator.  So apparently none of them like the girl Vienna, but she and Jake have a stellar date and she comes back with a rose.  The next night on the group date, Alli suggests to the other women that they form "like, a pact" to get rid of Vienna.  And the next day when Vienna comes to all of the girls to apologize for her previous actions (which were apparently edited out), Alli refuses to let her do it.  And then, AND THEN!  She says, "Girls, let's all be honest with Vienna."  She's uniting them as a team against her main threat.  What do all of these girls think is going to happen when they do succeed in getting rid of Vienna?  Because it looks to me like Alli is just going to use her manipulative powers to pick them off one by one.  They don't like that Vienna is agressive in getting one-on-one time and not thinking of their feelings?  It's a competition ladies, she ain't there for you.

I hate girls who play games.  So thank goodness when that idiot Michelle tried to say, "O, woe is me, because I love you, but I cannot stand this, and my bags are packed again!" ( and don't forget to say "again" in a cheesy English accent), Jake was like, "Alright, peace out psycho."  I felt really bad for him on that group date, and I was happy he didn't give any of those harpies ahem... girls... a rose.

And this girl with the "don't kiss me" thing now claiming that she's not a tease?  Yeah right.  Some people may not be teases who say that, but this girl is.   If you're not going to kiss someone, don't talk about it, giggle, and undress them with your eyes at the same time.  Just don't kiss them. Loathe entirely.

If I had been the Bachelorette before I got married, this is the announcement I would have made:
"Hello, all you desperate men.  Here's the deal; you don't know me.  Let's not pretend like you're all instantly in love with me, because you're not.  In fact, some of you won't like me, and I won't like you.  So let's move forward from this point in an orderly manner.  All crazies will be going home tonight."  I feel like this small service announcement would solve the show's problems.

Genius idea!  Two bachelors at once.  Incredible!  I should be a producer.

Check out Mama Kat's take on this week's Bachelor, too.

Another Blog

Hi everyone.

I'm starting a new blog.  I'm going to keep doing this one, but I kind of want this to be for keeping in touch/friends and family kind of thing, while the other one is dedicated (for now) to being the wife of an avid gamer.  It's experimental.  We'll see how it goes.  So far I have one post.

http://gamerwife.wordpress.com/

More soon.

More Disney Movies Revisited

It's been a while since my previous post about Disney movies, and I've seen a few more since then, because Chaela received all of the following for Christmas.  It's time to go back... (swirly colors fade-out).

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

First of all, it's dwarves.  Way to be, Disney.  Sigh. 

Anyway, I'd say that this movie holds up about as well as any movie of its time, meaning made in 1937.  I'll be honest; I'm just not an old movie lover.  I think the acting is bad and the stories are atrocious (for the most part).  The thing that I like about it is that Snow White is not as helpless a heroine as she's stereotyped; the girl goes out and makes things happen.  So she's lost in the woods and her stepmother wants her dead?  Ok, she finds a place to sleep and does her best to make sure the occupants of that house have a reason to let her stay (she cleans it up, in case it's been 73 years since you've seen the movie).  Some of the stuff annoys me/cracks me up, like the ultra-helpful woodland creatures (annoy) and the fact that the dwarves are mining already-cut gemstones (crack up).  Seriously, it's not my favorite mostly because of SW's super-sugary-sweet perkiness, which she maintains at an extremely high level throughout the movie.  You all know how I can't stand perkiness.

Forgotten gem in this movie: "One Song," sung by Prince Charming.

Hercules

"So, did they give you a name along with all those rippling pectorals?"

Ha ha!  I still love a lot of stuff about this movie.  It's got good music and some awesome one-liners, thanks to the Muses and the female main character, Meg.  I'd say they're the highlights, though I also like James Woods' take on Hades.  It has alright comedy for younger kids, but ultimately needs an older audience, say ten and up, to appreciate it.  Overall, it's ok.  Not an all-time favorite, but pretty good.  That's just my opinion, of course.  I think it's a favorite of Will's.

Lilo and Stitch

I have to say, I think this is one of the most underappreciated Disney movies of recent years.  I love it, because with it's young main character, rounded shapes, and bright Hawaiian-inspired colors, it's perfect for Chaela.  She loves it.  I also think that the comedy, being a bit more physical than some other Disney movies, is easier for her to get, hence funnier.  This is quite possibly the best full-length Disney movie ever for small children.

But aside from the fun stuff, it's also got a great message: what it means to be part of a family and love them, no matter what that family looks like.  I admit, moments that didn't really get to me when I was younger do now that I'm a mother, most notably the scene where Nani and Lilo are in the hammock and Nani sings to Lilo, whom she thinks is about to be taken away from her.

While I didn't think it was amazing before I had children, I do now.  This movie has jumped right up to my top 10 list.

Beauty and the Beast

This.  Movie.  Is.  Brilliant.  There is a reason it won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and was nominated for the same category in the Academy Awards.  It is by far the most beautiful movie they've ever made.  The best look, the best music, all of it.

Of course you all know that I'm going to approve highly of Belle, because she's a strong woman who faces down fears (not that she doesn't have them, but she does what's right anyway), loves learning, and can see past the surface enough to 1) not fall for a handsome idiot/jerk/chauvinist and 2) come to love the Beast despite his appearance.  Personally, I give her more credit for number one.

Besides, it's a good love story, and how long has it been since they did one of those?  Ok, ok, all of the movies they were making in the early 90's were love stories, but that's when Disney was its most successful.  I haven't seen the Princess and the Frog yet, but I have high hopes.

Beauty and the Beast is, in my humble opinion (ha), the absolute best Disney movie of all time.

So what do you guys think of these movies?  Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know!

Just for fun.

I was going to blog, but it got late.  Here's something fun instead.

Chuck Norris Facts

Also, if you haven't seen this: go to Google.com and enter "find Chuck Norris" (don't click on it when it comes up on the list underneath, just type in the whole thing).  Click on "I'm feeling lucky."

A List of Crazies

Chaela has been awake for less than two hours. Here are some of the things she has accomplished already today:

1. Woke up singing a crazy song. It's not a real song, but it has a repetetive tune and lyrics that go something like, "Oh! Byah byah! Mommy, daddy, byah byah byah!" Sometimes other words are exchanged for mommy and daddy, like "up-a-daez" (upstairs) and "pay-ya-geem" (play a game, as in a video game). She also went to bed last night singing the same song. Its ultimate meaning remains mysterious to me.

2. Ran around in circles for about 5 minutes straight yelling, "Hey, BUDDY! Hey, BUDDY! Hey, BUDDY, hey!"

3. Got caught spitting milk from her real sippy cup into her pretend tea cup and sugar bow, then drinking it out of the pretend stuff. I assume she was only spitting it because sippy cups don't pour, but who knows.

4. Discoursed on the deliciousness of "hot cocoa chokit" for another five minutes or so without taking a breath. Mostly her speech consisted of, "Hot cocoa CHOKIT! Mmm... SO GOOD!" over and over again.

All on top of her normal shenanigans, which include hiding the pantry, bringing us random food items (like a box of jello), getting out all of the toys in the toy cabinet, getting in trouble and having to go to time out twice, going through all of the drawers in grandpa's desk in his office, etc. In the space of about two hours.

Oh, my friends who will have toddlers soon, you have so, so much to look forward to!

*

And here's a conversation I had with my mom this morning while I was trying to explain why Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is such a good book, and why I appreciated it more now than I could have as a teenager.

Caitlyn: "Because I read it and, yeah, all of the stuff he invented was cool, which I would have liked as a teenager, too, but now I realize it's also really bittersweet.  Like it's not just a happy ending.  So after I read it I felt conflicted, but satisfied."

Mom: (nods understandingly) "That's how I feel after eating a good piece of chocolate cake."

Being Normal

I was having some thoughts today. Try not to be afraid.

I was thinking about being normal. If you think about it, 99% of people out there must be. I mean, that's what the definition of normal is, right? That most people conform to whatever standard it is, therefore, that standard is "normal."

But what about when we don't? What about that one thing (or several things) that put us in a minority. I'm not talking about quirks or social ability here, but something about you or some group you belong to that makes you understand what it feels like to disagree with most of the rest of the world at one time or another.

For example, I'm Mormon. This puts me at odds with a lot of people because of the way my religion is perceived, and they're not always wrong. My church stands squarely on the unpopular side of several intensely controversial issues, and I agree with that stance. Not because I'm uneducated or because I blindly follow what I'm told to do (as seems to be the popular opinion in more "liberated," "educated," and "less judgmental" circles), but because I, personally, have spent many hours pondering, and in some cases, agonizing, over what is right and have come to my own conclusions.

I'll stop this line of thought before I start ranting about double standards when it comes to judging and how all deeply religious people are not uneducated zealots. I'll save that for its own post.

The point is, this is what makes me different. I'll never belong all the way to mainstream American culture, and I like it that way. The other part of my point is that I believe everyone has something (or a few things) like this that set them apart. Ultimately, if it's important enough, it plays a huge part in defining you. It brings you close to some people and makes your drift from others you could have been close to. Be it something you choose, like religion, or something you did not, we've all got something.

But aside from that, I'm normal. I enjoy popular movies and books, I love The Office, refuse to audition for American Idol, and get on Facebook way more than is healthy. Sometimes (prepare yourself) I am exceptionally shallow, just like everybody else that I get irritated with for being exceptionally shallow at some point or another. I am a part of that mainstream culture.

So I am normal, and happy to be. Except for when I'm not normal. But I'm happy about that, too.

Thank You

Hi readers!

I've gotten a lot of support for my writing lately, and I just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone.  You all give me hope that maybe I can do this kind of thing for real, which means a lot to me right now.

Much love.

No mom, I won't try out for American Idol

It must be January.  The cold, the snow, the resolutions, and my mom saying, "I don't know why you won't try out for American Idol," at least once every other day.  It's that time of year again.

I'm sure everyone's moms have things they (strongly) encourage them to do.  This is my mom's thing.  Random.

Mom has been telling me that I should audition for American Idol for as long as that show has been around.  She thinks I'm very gifted.  Of course, she's my mom, so believe it or not, she may be slightly biased.  I know she doesn't think so.

Without fail, when January rolls around and we start seeing those previews, she brings it up again.  Now those who know me also know that I do enjoy singing.  However, I have a very good reason for not trying out: I fear being the next William Hung. 

She bangs, she bangs...

There are other reasons, too.  It's not how I'd want to be remembered, first of all.  I'd never make it through casting, because my story isn't sad enough (no one I'm close to has died in the past month).  I might be ok to perform in church from time to time, but I really don't think my voice and especially not my personality is about to pack any staduims.  Too bad, we could really use the money.

My mom likes my singing, though, and that makes me happy.  Thanks for the support mom!  I may never try out for American Idol, but I'll sing for you and dad any time.