summer brain

 

 probably one of my favorite photos of ian as a child.

Feeling as if I should update in some way or another.  Well honestly, it's probably because I should be finishing off some lengthy reports for work.  I'll get to them I promise.  After I do all those other things I've been meaning to do first in order to feel like I'm not just blatantly ignoring them.

Okay fine.  I'll finish them after I blog.  sheesh.

You wanna know what's great though?  Life.

I feel sincerely content and happy right now.  What a rockin' awesome feeling it is.  That isn't to say that things have not been difficult.  My circumstances are much the same as they ever were.  But somehow I feel simply at peace with myself and my place.

Speaking of my place.  It's now officially been over a year since moving to Kentucky. Wanna know some of the things I've learned?

 There are many variations of accents here.  I did not know this until coming because Ian does not have a classic Kentucky accent.  But if you call me/speak to me right when I get off work you might be surprised to hear some of my vowels slipping.  I hear it all day and it rubs off, I tell you.  Ian laughs at me.  I'm more Kentuckian than he is apparently.  I suppose it's the mom that bestows the accent.  Ian's dad certainly has an accent.  I've been dubbed "Sasher" by him.  It use to be a mistake.  Now it's just a hilarious nickname.   

There are phrases I was not familiar with before coming here.  Such as:
--"Put it up."  in place of "Put it away."  They do not 'put things away,' or 'put that where it goes.'  They 'put it up.'  I find myself saying this frequently.  Especially to my students.

These are more 'out in the counties,' as they say, phrases... but I have actually heard these ones:

--"We didn't touch none of yer all's stuff."

--"He's gonna be laid up for a while."

--"Was you stubborn?"

--"My batteries have went dead."

And then there's:

--"I'd like to have died!"  -- I like this one.  Most often heard by my boss.  She says this when she's extremely shocked or embarrassed about something.

--My boss also says: "They are wild enough to shoot at."  I'm fond of this one too.

--"He just looked at me."  I hear this a lot.  Maybe this isn't just Kentucky?  But I hear it when someone is explaining that in response to their long explanation, or discipline or something-- that that person just looked at them with no reaction, remorse or anything.  Has anyone heard that somewhere else?  Maybe I'm weird.

--When a baby (typically a girl) is darling, a lot of people use the phrase "Oh she's just a doll-baby!"

--And a few times I've heard "flustrated" instead of "frustrated"


Biscuits and gravy for breakfast.  Oh my heavens.  Get it at Mickey D's, Dairy Queen, Burger King etc.  You would think that biscuits and gravy was gold with the reactions I regularly see to this breakfast meal.  Even Ian freaks out about biscuits and gravy for breakfast.  This one I have not adopted.  It sounds and looks gross to me.  Especially for breakfast.  Have not partaken as of yet.

Kentucky, at least the area I'm in, seems pretty family oriented.  I see a lot of pregnant women, kids and families out and about together.  It is not at all strange to have a few kids which I know is not the case in a lot of places now.  Sadly.

Christmas is a huge deal.  I remember on Halloween, I was trying to pick up some last second food item or something, and they were already putting their Christmas stuff up for sale.  On Halloween.  Love it.  It's nice being in a big Christian community.

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I've grown comfortable with this place.  I've grown accustomed to the haven of trees. I love that Spring starts in March and doesn't transition into Summer until the end of May.  I love that there are flowers that don't come into bloom until June.  And then again in July.  I love the fireflies.  I love how friendly everyone is.  I love the wildlife.  We have groundhogs living on the grounds of this apartment and I'm usually lucky enough to see them when I pass by.  We see bunnies all the time.  We watched a raccoon lounge on the tree outside our window last night.  And I couldn't tell you how many chance encounters I've had with deer.  It's like magic every time.  I stop in my tracks whenever I come across them and they always do the same.  We stop and have a timeless moment of taking each other in-- until they move on.  I don't know what it is, but it's awesome.  I love the lakes and caves that we can explore and swim in for hours.  I'm fond of our quiet and quaint apartment.

enough.  I know.

Thanks for letting me splurt out my feelings for Kentucky.  It's become a new home which is always a surprising process for me.  Causes me to wonder-- how many new homes will I come to know?  It's amazing the capacity of the human heart.  Thank heavens for it. 

Like I said.  Life is great.

And now on to the subject of my procrastination.