The Challenge, Random Musings and Say What?

The Challenge

Ever since I posted the challenge to find new and interesting blogs, I've been searching for new blogs to read. Whenever I have a few extra minutes I've searched using Google Blog search. I've found some good ones, several of which I shared with you a few days ago.

When I used the other, simpler method of searching blogs (clicking Next Blog at the top of this page), I was amazed at how many blogs there are in other languages. I'm beginning to think that you are required to have a blog if you are a citizen of some countries. I'd tell you which countries those are, but since I can't read anything but English, I'm not really sure.

I took French for three years in high school. I didn't keep up with it after that, so I don't remember much of it anymore. I understand more than I speak, though, so I thought I would test myself and try to to translate a French blog yesterday. I got "Hello and welcome to my blog" but I was lost after that.

Once, when I was still in high school, I tried to speak to a French woman who knew very little English. She was my grandma's roommate in a nursing home. I felt bad for this woman because she had no one to talk to. I even asked my French teacher for a few French magazines to take to her so she would have something to read.

I went to the nursing home with my parents a few days later, armed with my magazines and what I thought was a fairly good grasp on the French language. I was so excited! I handed this woman the magazines and she said "Je ne comprends pas (I don't understand)". In my limited French, I tried to tell her that the magazines were for her to read. I also said "Je parle Francais, un peu (I speak a little French)." She got very excited and started speaking French a mile a minute. I was translating in my head as best I could, but I just couldn't keep up. I kept babbling "Je ne sais pas (I don't know)." It was embarrassing. I still think she appreciated my effort, but I was disappointed that I couldn't have a decent conversation with her. I also found out later that the magazine print was too small for her to read. Even so, I'm still glad I tried. It brightened her day for a few minutes, at least.

Sorry, I got off topic there for a minute. Back to the challenge, it still stands! If you find a great blog please share it with the rest of us. Don't forget that you must follow the blog or at least comment on it.


Random Musings

I admit, I love older television shows. I have a soft spot for those I watched as a kid, especially. Right now, the television in my kitchen is on the Hallmark channel because I like to catch bits and pieces of "Little House On The Prairie". I don't sit down and watch an entire episode very often, but I follow along while I'm doing other things. Yep, I'm a geek!

Today, though, I happened to catch the opening sequence and I wondered about something. Charles and Caroline are pulling up in the wagon and the girls are running down the hill to meet them. Where were Charles and Caroline coming from and why weren't the girls with them? I don't recall said hill being on the Ingalls property, so did they just drop the girls on some random hill and go for a drive? I can't believe this show has been around since 1974 and I've never noticed that before. If you haven't seen it in a while, you can watch it here.

Also, why did the Ingalls family have the worst house in Walnut Grove? I know Charles was a farmer who had more than his share of bad luck with failed crops, but come on! What happened to the money he made working at the mill? The Garvey's were farmers and their house had upholstered furniture and plastered walls. And, come to think of it, Mr. Edwards had more furniture in his house (though I'm not sure if that was before or after he married Grace). Charles did add the kitchen on to the back of the house for Caroline, so I have to give him that.

Moving on to "I Love Lucy". If Ricky was such a hot commodity, why did they live in that tiny apartment? What was the rent on that place? And why was he always mad when Lucy spent any money? Didn't he make big bucks singing at the club? Did he own the club? I was never sure about that. I don't watch it very often, but when I do, these questions plague me!



Say What?

If you read my post yesterday, you know that I have limited hearing in my right ear. From time to time I get a sort of cold that settles in my ear and I can't hear out of it at all. That's how it is today. I have only my left ear until it goes away.

This morning my daughter and I were talking about the muffins we made yesterday (chocolate chip muffins, thank you Donna of My Tasty Treasures!). She said "I like helping you cook." She was on my right side, so I didn't exactly hear what she said. To me it sounded like "I like warm pee and coke". I did a triple take on that! When I told her what I thought she said, she laughed hysterically. I just had to share!