worth every penny

A lot of people ask me why I got a degree in French since I don't want to be a French teacher or a translator. What they don't understand is that French comes in very handy in everyday situations- like filling out crossword puzzles. They like to throw in clues every now and then like "Summer in Paris" which, of course, is "ete." Plus you will find in literature that authors will include little phrases in French without giving you the translations for them. Had I not spent all those years studying French I would miss out on all those subtle nuances. 

Yesterday I had a moment that made all the money I spent learning French seem worth it. I went to the Pirate exhibit at the Field Museum and then was walking along the lake front and ended up next to the Buckingham Fountain. 

A frazzled looking man walked towards me and said, "Parlez-vous francais?" The relief on his face was evident when I told him that I did in fact speak a little French. 

So I'm not going to say that this was the smoothest conversation I have ever had. It did involve a lot of gestures and pointing. It also involved me saying, "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you are asking. I just don't know that word." He finally was able to convey that he was asking me where the Spire is. Rather than being disappointed when I told him that it didn't exist yet, it was still being built, he seemed almost happy. Like, "Aha! That explains why I can't find it!"

I helped him out with a few other things. He told me that he speaks very little English and was having a very hard time finding anyone who speaks French. He was so happy to have found me. It made me so happy to be able to help the poor guy. And that my friends, is why I was a French major. 

girl power

I work at an all women spa. Which is awesome. Not only am I surrounded by a group of women, but they are a group of massage therapists who are very nurturing and like to make other people feel better. My coworkers who include the front desk staff, other therapists and my two bosses are sweet, funny women who like to bring in lots of baked goods for us to share. They are one of the big reasons why I love this job so much. 

The downside to being surrounded by a group of women is that women are crazy. Yeah, I said it. We are crazy. And when we start PMSing at the same time? Run for cover! 

Our spa is not a fancy spa. But we work hard to maintain a calming and relaxing environment. There are certain things we can't control like the squeekiness of the floor or the sirens going by outside. In the upstairs we have three massage rooms, a restroom, the kitchen/break room and the bosses' office. Everything is very close together and noise travels like nobody's business. In fact, we are only supposed to whisper in the break room because otherwise it can disrupt the massages that are going on. 

Yesterday I was between massages, but one of my coworkers was in the middle of giving a massage. I walked past the office and saw that the door was open and my boss was hammering some cord to the wall. Hammering? Really? Cuz that's not loud or obnoxious at all. We aren't allowed to even talk at normal voices, yet you think hammering is okay?

So I sort of stopped, mainly because I would be PISSED if she were doing this during one of my massages, and I said, "Isn't there a massage going on?" because I figured that she must not know that, otherwise she would not be hammering. And she goes, "Yeah." At which point I am stymied because it means that my boss is just an f'ing idiot. But she looks like she was ready to continue hammering so I say, "Well, don't you think it would be a good idea to not be hammering during a massage?" I didn't think that was something that needed to be said but apparently it was. She didn't take too kindly to that. She responded very snottily saying, "Funny, I thought I could do what I wanted seeing as how I own the place." 

Really?!?

But she stopped hammering. 

funny

So there were three things that I found amusing this week:

1) I was in the kids' section at Borders and they had these chapter books for young readers and they had Star Wars themed books. That's pretty awesome, right? So the main character in one of the books was Yoda. Who is totally rad. So I picked it up and started reading and just had to laugh, because in the book the character talks just like Yoda always talks. Is that really what you want to be teaching to young readers!?! Think so, I do not. 

2) I get a "word of the day" email every day to try and improve my vocabulary. I always feel very special when I get a word that I already know. Today's word was "avoirdupois." I had never heard it before. 

avoirdupois \av-uhr-duh-POIZ; AV-uhr-duh-poiz\, noun:

1. Avoirdupois weight, a system of weights based on a pound containing 16 ounces or 7,000 grains (453.59 grams).
2. Weight; heaviness; as, a person of much avoirdupois.

I should have been able to figure that out because they are the French words "avoir du pois" all smooshed together which literally translates to "have some weight."

So I was watching the National Spelling Bee on tv tonight because, well, because I'm a nerd. It was the finals and one of the kids got "avoirdupois" as their word! I was so excited and totally impressed my sister with my knowledge of the word! 

3) I went to the tennis club and hit some balls in the practice lane this afternoon. All around the tennis club are these big posters from different tennis tournaments. Normal ones like Roland Garros (sp?) and also very random ones that I've never heard of. The one that was directly across from my practice lane was from Pau, France where I did my study abroad my freshman year. The picture on the poster was of the big castle in the town. I was so excited when I saw it that I had to tell the boy at the front desk (who just happened to be a cutie) that I had passed out in that castle! The only time I ever remember fainting in my life was in the middle of a huge French castle! And there it was, just staring at me at the tennis club. 

why oh why am I so shy?

Has anybody ever asked you what one thing you would change about yourself? It seems like it might be a hard question, one requiring a lot of thought. Not for me though, I know exactly what I would change... I would stop being so shy. 

I hate being shy. But I am. Painfully shy. 

Some people may not even realize how shy I am. They probably just think I'm a snotty bitch who refuses to talk to them. And once I've known someone for a while, I am no longer shy around them so it is easy for them to forget how shy I am. 

I've tried to overcome it. And I've definitely improved over the years. I force myself to leave my comfort zone and talk to people. I'm okay in one-on-one situations so I do fine at work. I am actually really good when I am around other shy people. But there are still some situations where it is hopeless. Like yesterday. I went to a party with a group of people who all know each other really, really well. But I don't know them that well. In fact, I hadn't seen most of them since high school. 

It was all I could do to not run into a corner and hide. Thankfully they had some "anti-shy juice" at the party. Otherwise known as beer. And eventually I relaxed and was talking to people more. 

I just wonder why it is that I get so shy. I think it is definitely part of how I was raised. I have shy, quiet, anti-social parents so I think that rubbed off on me some. But I just don't see myself as the typical wall flower. I don't have low self-esteem. It isn't that I don't have anything interesting to contribute. I have funny stories. But I would rather whisper my stories to my best friend and have her tell them than put myself in the spot light. I wonder if that is why most of my really good friends are such extroverts? Having them be the center of attention takes the attention away from me and that is just the way I like it! 

I get so jealous when I see people, like my friend Jake, who can just talk to anybody. I thought that my shyness was something that I would outgrow in time. And I had really been doing so much better lately.  I'm frustrated with myself. Oh well, there are worse afflictions to be had than just being shy. But sometimes I think it's a miracle that I have ever made any friends at all! :) Do you remember the first time I met you? Do you remember me being super shy? 

happy memorial day?

Do we hold nothing sacred anymore? I'm not asking that as a blast against us, just more of a question. Do we? Today is Memorial Day. A day that is supposed to be dedicated to remembering our fallen soldiers. A day of remembrance. A day of observation. A day to put flowers on graves. A day of gratitude for that which others have given up for us. A day of BBQing? 

I've got nothing against barbeques, in fact I am going to one later today. Who doesn't love a good barbeque? I think it is important to get together with friends. There is a lot to be said for that. But I also think it is a little weird to be given the day off from work for a particular reason, like that we are supposed to be remembering the dead, and instead we spend it partying. I wouldn't take Yom Kippur off from work and then go have a barbeque instead. 

There is a movement to try and get Memorial Day to go back to being celebrated on May 30th rather than the last Monday of May. People who really believe in the holiday think it would have more meaning if it were on a certain day, rather than just being an excuse for a three day weekend. 

Here is the original Memorial Day Order:

Memorial Day Order

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, Comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers sailors and Marines, who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation's gratitude—the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander in Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective.

—General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic Headquarters^[1].

I won't be going to put flowers on any graves today, but I will take a moment to think about and thank the soldiers who gave their lives so that I could live in this idyllic world where my biggest concern is what to wear to the barbeque later today. 

you're a Becker, aren't you?

Like all families, my family has many little inside jokes. One of our jokes is that I am adopted. I'm not exactly sure how this joke started, no doubt it started when we were all sitting around playing cards and ripping on each other. I probably said something like "I can't believe I am related to you." And my brother replied, "Don't worry, you're not." It probably would have just ended there but then my mom got into it and made some joke about me being adopted and so of course it has become a running gag. 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being adopted, but the reason why we find the joke so funny is that I am the spitting image of my mother. Apparently I have the exact same face that she had when she was my age. Unfortunately she was skinnier with much narrower shoulders so I can't fit into any of her awesome 60s dresses.

I also look a lot like my siblings. A LOT like my siblings. Growing up we often called my sister Chris my "thirteen year older twin." Back when I was growing up and my siblings were still in town, I would have people on the street come up to me and say, "You're a Becker, aren't you?" That's right, people I had never met or seen before would recognize me simply from my facial structure. Isn't genetics amazing?

It's been awhile since that has happened. But last night at Target I was trying to find a certain kind of pretzel when I heard a voice behind me pipe up, "Are you guys Beckers?" It was my brother's best friend from childhood. 

It just goes to show that no matter how much I think I have grown and changed, I am still a Becker through and through.

this means war

Sometimes I feel like I'm at war with my body. Over the years I have developed more and more allergies. First it was dust, then fertilizer, then grass, then pollen, then animal saliva, then bug bites. Those all sucked. But I could deal with them. My latest allergy... the sun.  WTF! What's next- oxygen??