Anyone who has spent more than 5 seconds with me and Scott knows that we call each other "babylerve". We've been calling each other Babylerve for years, and we are known also by our call names: I am "Babylerve One" and he is "Babylerve Too". But the question has been raised recently, Where did Babylerve come from?
Elizabeth, my roomie, first asked me this question a few weeks ago. Apparently, she told me, Paris Hilton has a monkey called Babylerve. Perhaps we came up with our names because of Paris Hilton's monkey? The short answer is: no. Paris Hilton does get big points for owning a monkey (anyone who has spent more than 5 seconds with ME knows how much I love monkeys). But I would not copy anything from Paris Hilton, including her new single. In fact, I'm thinking about filing a copyright infringement lawsuit against her for using Babylerve.
So back to our orignial question. We can start by breaking "Babylerve" into it's two parts: baby and lerve. The "baby" part is easy. Many people call their significant other "baby". The "lerve" is a little more colorful. Back in college, Scott and I would tell each other that we loved each other. "I love you." Then we began to put a little southern twang to it, partly because Scott is southern and we went to school in the south and we like to make fun of southern accents. We did it mainly in a mocking way. So "I love you" became "I luuuv you." This became more and more manipulated until it became, simply, "I lerve you." In fact, we have even made a definition for "lerve", legitamizing this new word. "Lerve" is more than love. It is a higher form of love. Only those that achieve it can truly understand the meaning of lerve.
And the "erve" has made its way into our common venacular. "Starving" is "sterving". "Jogging" is "jergging". "Monkey" is "mernkey". The list goes on. Really, it has become our very own language.
So that, my friends, is the official origin of love. And lerve. And Babylerve. And everything in between.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Everybody in Connecticut talks to themselves
A strange phenomenon has hit the state of Connectict. I'll be driving down the road and to my left is a man talking to himself, gesturing wildly with his hands. In the grocery store a woman will be squeezing peaches, finding the perfectly ripe ones and placing them in her plastic bag, all the while talking to herself about last night's party. While I'm trying to act nonchalant, as if it's completely normal to talk to oneself, I catch myself giving sideways glances to these people, but trying not too, like passing by a bad car wreck. Has the entire state of Connecticut gone mad?
Sadly, no. The good state of Connecticut has enacted a law making it illegal to operate a car while talking on a cell phone. So these people are not talking to themselves; alas, they are talking to someone else on the other line, their bluetooth technology sleekly worn on their ear. Apparently, this law has infiltrated the culture of Connecticut as well (interesting how a law can completely change the culture of a city or a country) and Connecticutians wear there hands-free everywhere - even in the grocery store.
Although I don't have bluetooth (hint, hint Scott), I have grown to love my hands-free. I must confess, however, that there have been times when I have converted to my old North Carolina habits and talked on the phone *gasp* using my hands. I cannot count the number of dirty looks I've gotten from fellow drivers. I even had one guy yell "Get off the f** phone!". Of course, I was making a wrong turn, as well, so maybe the expletive was deserved.
So I am now officially hands-free. And now when I elicit strange stares from out-of-towners, I'll know it's just because they don't notice my cell phone earpiece in. Or it may just be that I really am talking to myself. That happens, too.
Sadly, no. The good state of Connecticut has enacted a law making it illegal to operate a car while talking on a cell phone. So these people are not talking to themselves; alas, they are talking to someone else on the other line, their bluetooth technology sleekly worn on their ear. Apparently, this law has infiltrated the culture of Connecticut as well (interesting how a law can completely change the culture of a city or a country) and Connecticutians wear there hands-free everywhere - even in the grocery store.
Although I don't have bluetooth (hint, hint Scott), I have grown to love my hands-free. I must confess, however, that there have been times when I have converted to my old North Carolina habits and talked on the phone *gasp* using my hands. I cannot count the number of dirty looks I've gotten from fellow drivers. I even had one guy yell "Get off the f** phone!". Of course, I was making a wrong turn, as well, so maybe the expletive was deserved.
So I am now officially hands-free. And now when I elicit strange stares from out-of-towners, I'll know it's just because they don't notice my cell phone earpiece in. Or it may just be that I really am talking to myself. That happens, too.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Bill Gates vs. Britney Spears
I'm currently reading "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman, which is about globalization in the past 15 years or so. It's extremely interesting, and it's been fun to see some connections between what's going on in China and my recent trip there. But reading it has made me a little frightened lately. In talking about the intellectual talent in India and China, Friedman recounts one of Bill Gates' recent trips to China. People were standing on the sides of the street, waiting for him to pass and hoping to catch of glimpse of this great man. Tickets to hear Gates' speech were being scalped - everyone wanted to hear and see Bill Gates. Friedman's response:
"In China today, Bill Gates is Britney Spears. In America today, Britney Spears is Britney Spears - and that is our problem."
Has America - have us Americans - grown complacent? Granted, we have been a very powerful country (and, arguably, continue to be) over the last 200 years, but other countries are catching up at noticeable speeds. The frightening part is that America is not moving forward. We are stagnant, especially in science, math and technology. According to Friedman, budgest for the National Science Foundation, the National Institute for Science and Technology, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the Department of Defense have all had their budgets cut significantly. On top of that, less and less American students are going into the sciences and engineering, opting instead to go into medicine and law, because that's where the money is made. By contrast, students in India, China, and other Asian countries are filling that void and are outpacing us.
In a nutshell, America is aging out of it's intellectual resources in the sciences. There is no call for students to be inspired - no race to the moon as JFK called for, sparking a renewed interest in science and technology and leaping America forward. America is lacking ambition, education and desire. We are undergoing a quiet epidemic.
I realize there are a lot of epidemics going on right now in our country that need our attention - obesity, the environment, medical care, and now this. But I think all of these epidemics can be cured with one thing - education. America is not investing in education, and we need to do something today in order for effects to be felt years from now. It's scary to think what could happen to this country (a slow and steady decline?) if our politicians and our government doesn't start to invest in education, in science and technology, in amibition. It won't be long before other countries, like India and China, begin to overtake us as a superpower. In fact, it may have already begun.
"In China today, Bill Gates is Britney Spears. In America today, Britney Spears is Britney Spears - and that is our problem."
Has America - have us Americans - grown complacent? Granted, we have been a very powerful country (and, arguably, continue to be) over the last 200 years, but other countries are catching up at noticeable speeds. The frightening part is that America is not moving forward. We are stagnant, especially in science, math and technology. According to Friedman, budgest for the National Science Foundation, the National Institute for Science and Technology, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the Department of Defense have all had their budgets cut significantly. On top of that, less and less American students are going into the sciences and engineering, opting instead to go into medicine and law, because that's where the money is made. By contrast, students in India, China, and other Asian countries are filling that void and are outpacing us.
In a nutshell, America is aging out of it's intellectual resources in the sciences. There is no call for students to be inspired - no race to the moon as JFK called for, sparking a renewed interest in science and technology and leaping America forward. America is lacking ambition, education and desire. We are undergoing a quiet epidemic.
I realize there are a lot of epidemics going on right now in our country that need our attention - obesity, the environment, medical care, and now this. But I think all of these epidemics can be cured with one thing - education. America is not investing in education, and we need to do something today in order for effects to be felt years from now. It's scary to think what could happen to this country (a slow and steady decline?) if our politicians and our government doesn't start to invest in education, in science and technology, in amibition. It won't be long before other countries, like India and China, begin to overtake us as a superpower. In fact, it may have already begun.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
If you only had 5 words
This week the Webby awards took place. These awards honor websites that are creative and effective in communicating. In keeping with the spirit of the award, the winner's acceptance speech can only be 5 words long. Anyone who violates this rule (uses 6 words, for instance) gets booed, as happened with one of this year's recipients.
All of this got me thinking. What 5 words would I use if I were accepting an award?It must be meaningful and portray not only who I am, but also what's truly important to me. In looking at some of the speeches from this year (see below), it's amazing what 5 words can convey, and how much meaning can be in them. And how much more powerful they are compared to a 2 minute Academy speech thanking everyone and their hairstylist.
Of course, what you say may depend on what you're winning. That granted, what would be your 5 word acceptance speech? I'm curious to hear your submissions!
Some of my favorites from this year's ceremony to get the juices flowing:
The Book of Cool: Even monkeys fall from trees
NPR Music: Listen...inspire...inspire to listen
Washington Post: We're deeper than Deep Throat
AccuRadio: Assuming hyphenateds are allowed...Woo-hoo!
Monster.com: Note to self: update resume
Expedia.com: Thank you, enjoy your trip
The Huffington Post: Darlings, make blogs not war
BIg Time Restaurant Group: Thank you...honored...special...speechless!
Remember Segregation: Two crackers fighting racism, yo!
National Geographic.com Genographic Project: More than just bare breasts
All of this got me thinking. What 5 words would I use if I were accepting an award?It must be meaningful and portray not only who I am, but also what's truly important to me. In looking at some of the speeches from this year (see below), it's amazing what 5 words can convey, and how much meaning can be in them. And how much more powerful they are compared to a 2 minute Academy speech thanking everyone and their hairstylist.
Of course, what you say may depend on what you're winning. That granted, what would be your 5 word acceptance speech? I'm curious to hear your submissions!
Some of my favorites from this year's ceremony to get the juices flowing:
The Book of Cool: Even monkeys fall from trees
NPR Music: Listen...inspire...inspire to listen
Washington Post: We're deeper than Deep Throat
AccuRadio: Assuming hyphenateds are allowed...Woo-hoo!
Monster.com: Note to self: update resume
Expedia.com: Thank you, enjoy your trip
The Huffington Post: Darlings, make blogs not war
BIg Time Restaurant Group: Thank you...honored...special...speechless!
Remember Segregation: Two crackers fighting racism, yo!
National Geographic.com Genographic Project: More than just bare breasts
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
I take it back
...it's not Carolina players that are the pansies. Or even, I hate to admit it, the French ones. No, the pansy award has to go to the Duke players this time. In particular, J. J. Redick. Making it par for the course this year for Duke, Mr. Redick was arrested after he tried to avoid a checkpoint and failed a sobriety test.
What gives people (any people) the right to act like complete wads when they get a little bit of fame and power? I realize that people drink and drive all the time, unfortunately, but when you have so much riding on your career and your life, why don't these people stop and THINK. Hopefully, that's the end of J.J's first round draft pick. If anything, I hope it shows people who have had a little dose of fame that they need to THINK before they do something dumb.
Do you think, when J.J. got arrested, he cried like a baby, just like he did when his team lost in the NCAA? I bet he did.
What gives people (any people) the right to act like complete wads when they get a little bit of fame and power? I realize that people drink and drive all the time, unfortunately, but when you have so much riding on your career and your life, why don't these people stop and THINK. Hopefully, that's the end of J.J's first round draft pick. If anything, I hope it shows people who have had a little dose of fame that they need to THINK before they do something dumb.
Do you think, when J.J. got arrested, he cried like a baby, just like he did when his team lost in the NCAA? I bet he did.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
You say Football, I say Soccer
I don't know if it's the larger population of international people up here, or the fact that football (that's soccer, for you Americans) is becoming more and more mainstream in America, but everyone is watching, and interested in, the World Cup. True blue Americans are discussing the teams and using words like "hand ball" and "yellow card". I don't know what these words mean, but, I have to admit, it's a fun game to watch.
Plus, it's nice to know that Americans are embracing the international world through this sport, and embracing a little nationalism, as well. Now, when we watch a player fall to the ground, feigning injury, instead of shouting "Look at that Carolina player. He's such a pansy", we can shout "Look at that French player. He's such a pansy." I don't mean to upset the French people reading this blog (which I'm sure they do, by the millions). I love the French. I really do. It's just that they're so much more fun to make fun of than Carolina players. And it's all in the name of nationalism and internationalism. It's all in the name of football.
So, play ball! Over the past week, I've learned that we, as a planet, can come together and embrace each other through this one sport. And that, no matter which country they're representing, football players are hot.
Plus, it's nice to know that Americans are embracing the international world through this sport, and embracing a little nationalism, as well. Now, when we watch a player fall to the ground, feigning injury, instead of shouting "Look at that Carolina player. He's such a pansy", we can shout "Look at that French player. He's such a pansy." I don't mean to upset the French people reading this blog (which I'm sure they do, by the millions). I love the French. I really do. It's just that they're so much more fun to make fun of than Carolina players. And it's all in the name of nationalism and internationalism. It's all in the name of football.
So, play ball! Over the past week, I've learned that we, as a planet, can come together and embrace each other through this one sport. And that, no matter which country they're representing, football players are hot.
Monday, June 12, 2006
He said She said; She said She didn't say...
Not that I'm really following the Duke Lacrosse story much (see my previous posts), but when the story makes CNN news on a regular basis, it's hard not to notice what's going on. Not only is this one of the most bungled legal operations I've ever heard of, aside from the OJ Simpson trial, but it's not doing much for the North's stereotypical assessments of the South. Since the college kids are all north of the Mason-Dixon line, you can bet that northerns are watching this story and making their own interpretations. And you can bet they're not good.
No DNA. No witnesses. Alibis and passed lie detector tests for the charged. And now, this. But I guess this trial did do one thing right - it got the DA re-elected. Oh, and it made Duke a household name. I wonder if this will increase admission applications...
No DNA. No witnesses. Alibis and passed lie detector tests for the charged. And now, this. But I guess this trial did do one thing right - it got the DA re-elected. Oh, and it made Duke a household name. I wonder if this will increase admission applications...
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Start Spreading the News...
This weekend, I spent the first of what I hope to be many weekends in NYC. My goal this summer is to get to know Manhattan well. For example, when people talk about midtown, or the upper west side, or the village, I want to be able to envision what exactly they're talking about. After just a few hours in the city, I think I have a better idea of midtown.
Yesterday, I explored the MoMA and was surprised to find lots of famous works...Starry Night, Picasso's Girl Looking in a Mirror, and lots of others. I'd love to spend more time in the MoMA, just walking around and enjoying the art on random days, if it weren't for the $12 admission each time. I guess that's NYC.
Scott's coming next weekend, so I'm sure there will be a bit more exploring soon.
Yesterday, I explored the MoMA and was surprised to find lots of famous works...Starry Night, Picasso's Girl Looking in a Mirror, and lots of others. I'd love to spend more time in the MoMA, just walking around and enjoying the art on random days, if it weren't for the $12 admission each time. I guess that's NYC.
Scott's coming next weekend, so I'm sure there will be a bit more exploring soon.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Thank You For Smoking
If you haven't seen "Thank You for Smoking," you must go out and see it. Now. Go on. I'll wait for you to come back and add your commentary.
No matter what side of the tobacco issue you're on, the movie is hilarious, and makes fun of both sides...leaving you to draw your own conclusions. Which is the whole point of the movie, really. To think for yourself and not let others make decisions for you.
The cast is fabulous. As is the soundtrack. Believe the reviews and see this movie. And then have a long drag off of a cigarette. You'll be happy you did.
P.S: while the references to Winston-Salem are somewhat correct (after all, it is the birthplace of RJ Reynolds and Camels), there is, in fact, no Winston-Salem General Hospital. And no crazy men-only smoking lounge. And I don't think that any scenes were actually filmed there. But other than that, all references are valid. Carry on.
No matter what side of the tobacco issue you're on, the movie is hilarious, and makes fun of both sides...leaving you to draw your own conclusions. Which is the whole point of the movie, really. To think for yourself and not let others make decisions for you.
The cast is fabulous. As is the soundtrack. Believe the reviews and see this movie. And then have a long drag off of a cigarette. You'll be happy you did.
P.S: while the references to Winston-Salem are somewhat correct (after all, it is the birthplace of RJ Reynolds and Camels), there is, in fact, no Winston-Salem General Hospital. And no crazy men-only smoking lounge. And I don't think that any scenes were actually filmed there. But other than that, all references are valid. Carry on.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
How Appropos
So I must give an update to my adventuresome trip up to CT yesterday, given my previous posting. The trip was my first real test of the return to independence...
At the start of the trip, I had noticed that my brakes were feeling a little differently than they usually do - I had to push them in more in order to slow down. I figured this was probably due to the shoes getting worn down with age, and made a note to bring the car in the next day to a dealership in CT. Since I was on cruise control for most of the trip, I didn't need to brake much and so didn't really think much of it after that.
Until I got to the DC area and the traffic began to pick up. I started to notice that the brakes were getting more and more weird and just as I was turning off of I-95 to get onto 495 (the "mixing bowl", as DC-ites lovingly call it), I braked really hard to make the turn. At that point, I started to get nervous because I was barely slowing down...and then my brake light came on.
The Dodge has never given me problems before, and so I had no idea was the brake light meant. I pulled over to the side of 495 and did what any independent young woman would do - I called my Daddy.
A tow truck ride, $350, and 6 hours later, I was back on 495 and heading up to CT. Turns out there was a leak in my rear wheel cylinder and all my brake fluid leaked out, essentially robbing me of braking capability. I am now an expert in car brakes and will be happy to entertain any questions you may have.
The Dodge and I did make it safe and sound to CT, around midnight. Another fun and crazy adventure.
At the start of the trip, I had noticed that my brakes were feeling a little differently than they usually do - I had to push them in more in order to slow down. I figured this was probably due to the shoes getting worn down with age, and made a note to bring the car in the next day to a dealership in CT. Since I was on cruise control for most of the trip, I didn't need to brake much and so didn't really think much of it after that.
Until I got to the DC area and the traffic began to pick up. I started to notice that the brakes were getting more and more weird and just as I was turning off of I-95 to get onto 495 (the "mixing bowl", as DC-ites lovingly call it), I braked really hard to make the turn. At that point, I started to get nervous because I was barely slowing down...and then my brake light came on.
The Dodge has never given me problems before, and so I had no idea was the brake light meant. I pulled over to the side of 495 and did what any independent young woman would do - I called my Daddy.
A tow truck ride, $350, and 6 hours later, I was back on 495 and heading up to CT. Turns out there was a leak in my rear wheel cylinder and all my brake fluid leaked out, essentially robbing me of braking capability. I am now an expert in car brakes and will be happy to entertain any questions you may have.
The Dodge and I did make it safe and sound to CT, around midnight. Another fun and crazy adventure.
Friday, June 02, 2006
CT or Bust
I'm off to Connecticut this morning, to finally start my summer. I'm a little nervous about the internship, as I think anyone is with a new job, but the hardest part about this summer will be leaving Scott. When the summer seemed so far away, I was excited about moving someplace new (especially up north!) and kind of being on my own again. But once the date got closer, I realize that I'm more emotionally dependent on Scott than I thought. Does that sound 1950s?
Aren't we, as modern women, supposed to be strong on our own, without depending on a man? Aren't we supposed to push for our own careers, and not bow to the demands of our husbands'? Where's the line between inner strength and and mutual dependence? Maybe that's the key to a good marriage - to be dependent on each other, even you can be independent if you have to.
So I'm off to be independent again for awhile, but I'm still (and always will be) emotionally dependent on Scott. This summer will be lots of fun, but I'll miss being with him all the time.
So, Cheers! Here's to a fun summer in Connecticut, a successful internship, and love.
Aren't we, as modern women, supposed to be strong on our own, without depending on a man? Aren't we supposed to push for our own careers, and not bow to the demands of our husbands'? Where's the line between inner strength and and mutual dependence? Maybe that's the key to a good marriage - to be dependent on each other, even you can be independent if you have to.
So I'm off to be independent again for awhile, but I'm still (and always will be) emotionally dependent on Scott. This summer will be lots of fun, but I'll miss being with him all the time.
So, Cheers! Here's to a fun summer in Connecticut, a successful internship, and love.
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