Sweet Stuff

Annie Lennox sings of these, which is where many a gal dream of this (thanks Neil 😜). And, thanks to these, the girls have something special that they've longed to have - which will be "appropriate" for a year, then... Well, maybe they've a younger sister. 😂

Today, sixteen years ago, a special little lady joined our family. Two days prior to today, sixteen years ago, another special lady left our family (& this Earth). It's a sad "rememory", yet it's the Circle of Life (Elton?) 😏

It's the way the circle of our family's tree was meant to become; most definitely the way it has become. And so it is.

She's got grace 😉😏😊; she's got style too. She's got a special something just all her own. Her face sparkles with her own dad's eyes (where you could cut a photo of each of them, with just their eyes straight from left to right, & looking at just their eyes, be unsure of which is which) & plenty of his "unique" personality too.

Pink's her game. And I don't intend this pink; although I truly don't know, as I don't know her tune preference. What I do know is that, back when she was just about four or so, I watched her jump up & down (her, at the time, version of how to dance), jamming out to this when her dad called it up on his laptop (wow, how times change from generation to generation 😏).

Behind the wheel she'll be, learning quickly in everything she does, & growing along the way, she is.

And we all love her so... 💓😍💗

These links are affiliate links to Amazon as well as the image link in the top left.

If you'd like to shop my general Amazon Store, click here & Thank You!

A Silent Foreign Language

The first foreign language I learned was Spanish. I learned the language for three years in high school, then tested into the review class (cause I'm that kinda student 😞) followed by Spanish I & Spanish II as a college student. These were the "Arts" classes I took to earn my affiliated requirements for my Bachelor of Arts degree. My other option was to struggle through [read: disintegrate] a few credits of various mathematics courses, & my college years seemed to be my "off" years for understanding & comprehending much of anything mathematical. Besides, if I'd have taken that route I'd have earned a B.S. degree, a.k.a. a b___s*** degree. 😂

Like eating mulch, 😂 as a kid, right behind my brother, & somewhat following suit, I signed up to learn Spanish. Our school happened to offer more than one foreign language, just not like now-a-days where kids begin learning their foreign languages long before middle/junior high school & high school. We could've also chosen to learn German; which, as kids who are part German, also made plenty of sense, especially from a genealogical perspective. At the same time Dad wasn't necessarily ready to learn alongside of us, or for being a learning board from which to bounce our newly learned skills. He'd have helped us out, he always did if asked, yet he wanted this to be our decision. And so it was. Spanish seemed to be a "general", or "cover all" foreign language to learn. And so we did. Sort of.

My brother & I never spoke in Spanish to one another. If we said anything, it was general phrases & such that Mom & Dad definitely could also follow. The most significant thing I figured out on my own was, "Mas de la leche por favor." Which I'd use during dinner occasionally. I felt so cool. I'm shaking my head & rolling my eyes with pursed lips as I type this. I was ridiculous.

Despite my having attempted to learn Spanish, or any German, I did find myself rather intrigued by another "foreign" language, especially somewhat post college. I think I'd always found it fascinating, though I'd never really taken the extra moments needed to really get into the language.

It was probably around that time, a few decades or so ago now, when I did learn how to sign the alphabet. The problem was, like any kid would learn their ABCs & only be able recite them in order, I could only sign the alphabet in order from A to Z, & I couldn't exactly read anyone signing to me (not that I actually had anyone with which to bounce my admiration for sign language either 😜).

So on grew my great interest in all things signing & sign language, though never truly dedicating the necessary time toward actually learning it (except for borrowing a number of never-cracked-the-binding books on the topic from the local library).

Fast forward about a decade. I turned into my prime for being invited to all things "baby", which meant it was "Baby Shower Time". I'd long been crocheting many a gift for most people I knew (baby-wise or otherwise 😊); sometimes this just wasn't appropriate or feasible.

And this happened right around the time that the hype in gifting all things "baby" happened to be, of all things: books. I perused Amazon & found a few books which seemed to be "just right" such as this book & this book. Ultimately, however, this is the book I've now purchased a few times (for this same gifting purpose), which I especially preferred since it's not gender-specific, & there still are plenty of parents-to-be who choose to not learn in advance whether they'll be having a boy or a girl.

I've grown to appreciate plenty of languages, & I'm excited that learning any language is something we're free to do (as long as we put in the right amount of effort) at any age. The set of German cassettes (this is the Amazon link to the more modern set of CDs of the same set of cassettes) I picked up along the way to study continue to collect dust awaiting insertion in a boom box I've kept around for just this purpose, & those Spanish classes from "back then" are the history that they are for me; it's awesome to me that sign language exists. I truly see it as a foreign language.

I appreciate that it's available to be learned & easily can be. One never knows when they might meet someone who's deaf or hard of hearing & in need - or, that they just want to assist. As a cashier, for instance, knowing sign language can really boost a relationship with these types of customers; it could help make a sale. Or, maybe a friend or family member might bring someone with them to a gathering who's of this profile. Maybe someone will {gasp} join your family who's of this profile.  And, as I remember from a particular book in this series, even adolescent's familiar with the language can help someone out in desperate need of all places: the public restroom; which, I believe, along with other related sign language hurdles, is a storyline mentioned in this book.



These links are affiliate links to Amazon as well as the image link in the top left.

If you'd like to shop my general Amazon Store, click here & Thank You!

Maps, Addresses, Genealogy, & History

In my quest to obtain books for Dad, I managed to find two other books which I think might be just right for the both of us to thoroughly enjoy "together". This book, because it's discussion is about a time the nation went through a vast change; &, after reading the synopsis on Amazon's page, I initially thought that  there seems to be an entire high school history class' year's worth of lesson plans encompassed within the pages of this book.

This book also, because I'm personally enamored by all things location, maps, zip codes, & geography in general. Each of my professional positions have, happenchance, dealt with addresses, more specifically & more frequently, maps. I've typically either utilized a map, or numerous maps together to respond & provide feedback & assistance to a co-worker, customer, client, what have you, or created one (from a program) in order to enhance the product of what my employer was expected to include when submitting an assignment. To this end, I've also found that any position, any career for that matter, where I'd be working to a great degree with maps & addresses, would be one where I'd be "right at home" as well as successful & worthy talent; a great attribute to that company.

I've also found it fascinating how zip codes were established around a city, in that the towns, as they "pull away" from the city, in an alphabetical fashion, the last digits of their zip codes were applied in order. Many towns are merged, or identified by other names, & therefore this "labeling" fashion can easily go unnoticed...unless someone's intrigued & considers it. 😊 There's an amount of information here on this too. By the by, I've no idea if this book touches on any of this, though I've great anticipation for its possibility.

Dad & I had discussed the television show, How the States Got Their Shapes. He'd said that it was frustrating to him because there'd been so much jumping around. I pointed out that it was T.V. & that's something they've got to include in order to wrap the production around commercials & other, like requirements. He responded, "Ah hmmm..." In a, "Yes, you have a point, & I agree with you, yet it's still an eye-rolling misfortune that it's set up as it is." He may have even rolled his eyes as he responded. He does that often, eye-rolling, that is.

*****

I'd also managed to find in my book stash a number of other books which kind of fit that same profile. Historical, as well as somewhat genealogical, & then there's social history, which taps into my college major: sociology, which is likely why I'd purchased the book in the first place.😊 This is a link to the series, though the one I obtained is Volume II: 1865-Present Fourth Edition.

The two "historical" books might be considered more on the political spectrum. In any case, I picked them up years ago, & when recently sifting through a large load of books in order to best organize them, I came across this book & this book.

The genealogical book, is this book, which is really a book on German village life, (actually that's the subtitle: German Village Life 😊), & as Dad is 100% German, & I've inherited his, rather-obvious-upon-first-glance German cheek bones, I've taken to all-things-German, German culture, German background & history of Germany within that of what would be my family, what would've affected my ancestors "in the old country" & what would've been those things impacting my ancestors into becoming who they were, making the decisions they've made, & thus bringing my ancestors to be who they were by the time the generations got around to making me. All of this similar to Dad's zeal for general genealogical research. Which is probably why he credits to me the greatest likelihood of following in his "family tree" footsteps. 😊

Now, all I've to do is get around to actually reading each of these novelties & then I'll be ready to gift them to Dad. 📚😂



These links are affiliate links to Amazon as well as the image link in the top left.

If you'd like to shop my general Amazon Store, click here & Thank You!

A Genealogy Tree

Dad's been fascinated by our family history & studying our family's genealogy, well, forever. At least for my forever. As my adolescent years grew on & we'd be discussing as a family much of anything in this category, he'd also mention lightly, or at least nod my way, that he saw me as the kid who'd follow in his footsteps, perhaps picking up where he's left off on tracking & trailing all those along our family's path of "relativity". Perhaps he's right. 😀 One thing I know for certain is that my style would be a whole lot different. And there are plenty of times when I'm quite certain I'll never work on any of these things, that is, in the spectrum that is genealogy.

Regardless, one of the many times I sat crocheting, I flipped through my Amazon Prime movie watching options & came upon this movie (which is the Amazon Prime link). This link is to the DVD, which I've since chosen to own. I do reach for my technology, I really do; though I'm still far back enough in the generational line-up to appreciate having all things [read: as many things as possible] advantageous to me from a quick & simple reach. Case in point: Spending time outdoors, not utilizing any technology (like running, walking, hiking, canoeing, etc. without even a Walkman available). Taking up a craft (crocheting, most likely for me). Reading a book (the kind that requires the reader to hold bound paper).

So even though I'm still utilizing technology by owning & playing a DVD, I'm not utilizing the internet, & therefore I'm not concerning myself with having it available to me or working from it. It's more peaceful & much less stressful for me; I like that.

Another plug for DVDs, especially this DVD, is that DVDs, unlike movie theater movies, & well, Amazon Prime, & like internet viewing options, contain commentaries (& deleted scenes, gag reels, etc.). I really enjoy watching & listening to movie commentaries. And this movie's DVD does contain an enjoyable commentary.

I came to select this movie because it has the words "Family Tree" right in its title. Family history & genealogy are all wrapped up in us learning about our own family trees. I further found myself watching & re-watching it because of its eloquence, overall message, purity in complexity, & general "softness".

As I type these words I'm dying inside to share many "spoilers" 😜. Especially many from the commentary. The main character's genuine & placid nature also seems to walk the viewer into each scene which makes for a well paced movie as well as a gratifying viewing experience.

One thing I will include, as, since this month's begun, I've re-watched the DVD yet again, is that there's a character who goes by "Leenie", which, as she explains, is a nickname; her full name is "Eileen". The main character tells her, while they're sitting on a bench, not facing one another, outside a building, that her name is "pretty", that both "Leenie" & "Eileen" are "pretty". She thanks him, though she also "nails" the ideal facial expression for "okay?" (read "okay" drawn out, like: okkkaaaayyy] as it's obvious (as anyone knows), that she's not picked these names for herself, & they are, to her, exactly what they are: her names. This moment of the scene makes me giggle. Incidentally, that scene also closes on her saying, "okay" & making that facial expression.

*****

Dad's visited numerous churches, county courthouses, various historical archives, history museums, really wherever he learns that genealogical information is to be had which might add to, or enhance his research, possibly...potentially adding another name stretched out somewhere on the family tree which makes up our relatives. Dad, not a "writer", hand-writer, or otherwise, even writes notes to certain locations when necessary to see what they've to offer, or what insight they can provide along his journey. Many have opened doors & tossed out the red carpet. And yes, a few have practically slammed the door instead.

He found a newspaper article about our great-great grandfather (okay, maybe it was our great-grandfather), who, in the article, was six & had happened to find himself in an accident, a "child's play" accident, which required the removal of one of his legs. This meant that this (however many "greats") grandfather always had a peg leg, as no one was ever aware of a "one-legged" family member.

*****

The movie isn't about genealogy or a family's family tree in the sense that one might think to consider, though I've come to notice the movie's double meaning. The movie includes nothing about any family tree - nothing "branch" related, & there's hardly any "research" mentioned either; yet there's a true beauty, love, & pure sense of family - true family; they definitely wrote "a love of family", & also somewhat, a "loss of oneself", into the plot. Well, I suppose, this actually is the plot 💓😍💗.

After watching the movie, reconsider the image from the main part of the DVDs cover; the portion between the movie title & the actor's images. This gives a good clue & simultaneously provides an "ah-ha" as to the multiple meanings behind this movie. A recreated purposeful tree for any family (of children) "endorsed" by a family tree.

I'm glad I did purchase this movie, because I know I'll definitely be watching it, as well as its commentary, countless more times.



These links are affiliate links to Amazon as well as the image link in the top left.

If you'd like to shop my general Amazon Store, click here & Thank You!