Nothing sucks like an Electrolux

So in my German class we were discussing phrases that don't travel well and false cognates (definition #2) and last night we had Ursula over for a cruse reunion (OK, so it was just Ursula, Grandma, Aunt Eileen, Mom, Dad, and me; and I didn't even go on the cruse.) and I decided to share these phrases that don't travel well and some false cognates. Chevrolet tried to market their car the Chevy Nova in Spanish speaking countries. (No va means doesn't go in Spanish.) Electrolux (a European vacuum company) marketed their vacuums in the US with the slogan "Nothing sucks like an Electrolux." Kentucky Fried Chicken tried to market their chicken globaly and their slogan "Finger lickin' good" often translated to "So good you'll eat your fingers off."

False cognates are also funny, but they are a lot funnier when you consider the confusion that might ensue when a German and an American meet. (The bolded words are in German and the italicized words are the English translations.) kahl means bald while bald means soon. schnell means fast while fast means almost. Stein means rock while Rock means skirt. Geschenk means gift while Gift means poison. Rathaus does not mean rat house, but instead means city hall. One interesting thing is that in German nouns are always capitolized.

Beam Me Up Scotty - Or Not!

Since I can't just be beamed from here to there, I've been using public transportation to get back and forth to school. I've been exploring different routes and options and have had some great times. I often will ask Mom or Dad to drop me off at one of two bus stops in the am but I get much more adventuresome in the afternoon on my return trip home. I've discovered that I can miss the bus at the transit center either by 2 mins if I take the bus to Amaya and catch the trolley one exit and get off at the transit center or I can miss it by 5 mins. by just taking the bus to the transit center. Oh well. Since I had time to kill before the next bus, I just stayed on the trolley one day and took a trip out to Santee and back.

But, now I've discovered the fastest route. Get to the transit center (by either of the above methods) and then take the bus down Main or Washington (Washington is less walking), walk to Mom's work, call her to get her keys and drive home! And maybe I won't have to go back to get her because Dad will pick her up on his way home.

Maybe I'll take a cell phone picture of my travels and post it (probably about like getting my haircut picture posted)

OK, so who's in charge here?

I went to make some changes, but realized I'm not the administrator. Who is? Will you add me as an administrator if I ask nicely and smile? Please?

Jeans and the Neatnik

Before Mom starts commenting on both my hair and my jeans, I thought I'd better write my own blog (LOL). The story is that my jeans used to be a little longer and did cover my socks. But, maybe they've been shrinking (LOL again) and now are too short. So, I tried to get Mom to go with me to the store but she was unavailable and I headed out shopping on my own!! Mom said she had luck getting my size of jeans at JC Penney. I had a hard time finding the store at the mall but after a phone call to mom, there it was! So, in the mens department, I locate the jeans area. They are piled up on tables. I found one pair I liked and then another, in the right size and color and style. I tried them on and thought they were plenty long to cover whatever color of sock I might be wearing, whether standing or sitting. I wanted to find another pair but the piles of jeans were so incredibly unorganized it was a mess! So, you know me, I stood there folding jeans and organizing two tables of piled up jeans! And lo and behold, I found one more pair. It took me some time to buy three pairs of jeans, but mission accomplished. Mom burst out laughing picturing me folding all the pairs of jeans and organizing them. It would have been a quicker trip if Mom had come with me!!! She knows how to pile jeans and dig through them - she's had 5 kids after all. Well, I've just been wearing one pair until they were washed after wearing and I could be sure they were the right fit (that way I could return the others if need be). Ok, Jocelyn, let's go get some socks!

Socks

I like to wear white socks. Apparently I like people to see my white socks, as I sometimes wear pants that are just a bit too short. However, I don't like Jocelyn to take pictures of my socks or of people who also wear white socks. Maybe, if I'm really good* this week, Jocelyn will go shopping with me and we can find either some pants that are longer or some socks that are darker.

*Good means calling Jocelyn to tell her how much I love her or at least to say hello.