April 26, 2014

My turn: Ten Random Things

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Annie did one, and I thought it was a good idea. Besides, an assortment of random things... that's basically my life right now. I still haven't quite gotten over  my disappointment that I had a post all planned out for Palm Sunday, but then got sick and never wrote it. But never fear, I shall still photograph the pussywillows, just because I love them. But I digress.

So here it is, ten random facts about myself:

1. I love history, but have always been rubbish at remembering dates. The only one I know straight off is d-day, and only because it's two days after my birthday (except for the year, of course).

2. My favourite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, and although I am known for being fond of The Lord of the Rings, I have in fact read almost everything he ever wrote that was published. Someone once told me that I was very Elven, and I almost died of happiness.

3. I will eat almost any vegetable, but I can't stand cauliflower, zucchini, or squash.

4. When I was four years old I was walking with my parents to church, since we lived just down the road at the time, and fell into a storm drain. My dad looked into it after they pulled me out (I was holding onto the edge) and says it would have been about a forty foot drop to the bottom.

5. I have been fascinated by names as long as I can remember, and keep lists of my favourites sorted by gender and order of preference. Somehow I tend to be much choosier with boy names; there are only six on that list and eleven on the girl list.

6. My paternal grandfather ran away from home when he was about ten or twelve, and was a child hobo during the Great Depression. He also always claimed that he had no middle name. Well, last year my father's cousin found an old picture of him when he was in the military, and it had his full name on the back. It turns out that his middle name was Jack. Now his first name, the one that he admitted to, was Herman. I ask you, how does that make any sense?

7. I don't know why, but I can't stand people touching my hair. So far the only ones I've been alright with doing it are my mother and my aunt the hairdresser.

8. At one point I seriously considered becoming a philologist. Then I found out that it involves graduate school and whatnot, and I just don't have the patience for that. Or the funds.

9. I am double jointed in certain places. The most obvious one is my ability to bend my fingers backwards. 

10. I have always wanted red hair. I blame it on my cousin, who is a gorgeous ginger. (Once, several years ago, she dyed it brown. I nearly had a heart attack.)

...

There you have it. Also, that pelican at the top was something I photographed in January while on a little excursion with visiting relatives. He was the only bird who stayed to pose for me.

April 9, 2014

Tiny people are amusing.

We went to the Children's Museum, which it turns out is basically one large indoor fun factory. Because small Michaels may be happy anywhere so long as they have a train, but nannies get cabin fever. This was our second trip, so we were a bit smarter. It's half price after 2pm. And little miss nanny remembered to bring a drink for herself too this time. Nice move, that.



So we go in, and at first he was struck again by the muchness of it all, but next thing you know he's making stew for sailors. And frying cabbage. Yum.

We also drove a fire truck.

But my favourite moment, I think, was outside in the garden/playground:
"Wa's dis?"
"That? It's an ant."
"Ooh. Hi."
Ants are tough creatures. I think it survived being petted.

He tried to pet some pigeons later on.

I've also noticed that people tend to be befuddled whenever they hear me call him Mishka. It's a Slavic pet form of Michael, because pet forms are adorable and I don't like 'Mike'. Perhaps it's because it ends with 'a' and they might be taking it for a girl's name?

Anyway, we went for a walk afterward, and I stopped to take pictures of flowers. Of course I did.