I was booking Fi's trip to Chicago and we had an interesting conversation on text message.
Me: Seats: window or aisle?
Fi: Window.
(Five minutes go by. Then...)
Fi: Aren't you jealous of my window seats?
(I actually am, so it takes me a little bit to compose a reply that sounds neutral.)
Me: Well, I'll try to be grown-up about it.
(He has to rub it in.)
Fi: I'll give you a situation. What if there's a little child sitting in the seat next to yours, and s/he requests your window seat. Will you give it? Okay, I know you will, but will you feel bad about giving your window seat up?
(What an erroneous assumption. I hasten to correct it.)
Me: Of course, I won't give up my window seats. I work hard to get them. I book my seats especially because I want them! If the little child wants a seat, s/he should ask her/his mother to book them in advance.
(Apparently we started a discussion in Moral Science right about here.)
Fi: I spoke to Snorky Figgles about this. He says he needs to talk to you tonight about the value of sharing.
(This is hitting below the belt! Is he trying to tell me that I don't raise my little Figgles properly??)
Me: ... (speechless).
I went home. I did have a talk with Figgles that night. Any guesses what he said? Or, rather, any thoughts on what he should have said? Your take, please?!
25 February, 2009
26 January, 2009
The Other One
When Snorky Figgles joined me in Chicago last year, suddenly a bunch of my friends realized there was another 'dimension' to the Summer they'd known. As a result, I've been gifted several additions to the Figgles family since last summer. While I still have to discover all the facets of the personalities of Xiao Guai and Jelly (and, of course, Figgles himself), I absolutely knew what I was in for with Gruntster.
Gruntster, who? This is who.
He came to me along with Jelly on New Year's Day, a Christmas gift from a friend. (Not the same friend who gifted me with Jelly. I'm afraid this friend doesn't know me too well or she probably would have thought long and hard about allowing Gruntster into Snorky Figgles' company. Of course, having said this, I do appreciate the thought behind the gesture.) But, aside from the fact that he was large and glaringly and flashily colored, it also bothered me that he tried to sit like a two-legged creature, could sing and wiggled his ears to the music. Only pigs in Animal Farm try to sit like humans; and I could do without any Orwellian creatures around my little Figgles and family. As for the singing, any pig worth his name does not 'sing'. Pigs do not need to. They're the philosophers of the animal kingdom, not its' court jesters and musicians! Let's leave that to the wart-hogs, shall we?
I was pretty confused when I saw Gruntster for the first time. I initially thought he was a bee (stripes on his stomach). Then I changed that to a cow (the snout looks more like a cow's than a pig's). I actually had to read the label to figure out the horrible truth. I would like to meet the person who envisioned and designed a pig looking like Gruntster. I'm not certain he will walk away from that interview with me, alive.
Look at this picture. Can't you see the difference between my innocent little Snorky Figgles and Gruntster? It's like the 'evil twin' concept that cinema gives us so many examples of. I've been having nightmares where Gruntster's dressed in leather and dark glasses and is chasing Snorky Figgles, a knife in one hand, and, of all horrible ends to pig-stories, with a chopping board in the other hand! Figgles may be having the same visions. I had to coerce my sensitive little darling into this photograph, he turned his nose higher up than it already is, and muttered something about Gruntster's presence "somewhat altering" the tone of the 'family' picture. I must say, I have to agree. And I also have to commend Figgles upon his diplomacy, I couldn't have put it less offensively myself!
I'm still too full of shock to say much more. Still trying to be non-judgemental (very difficult) and reserving my comments for when I have more data! Please write in, expressions of commiseration are greatly appreciated.
Gruntster, who? This is who.
He came to me along with Jelly on New Year's Day, a Christmas gift from a friend. (Not the same friend who gifted me with Jelly. I'm afraid this friend doesn't know me too well or she probably would have thought long and hard about allowing Gruntster into Snorky Figgles' company. Of course, having said this, I do appreciate the thought behind the gesture.) But, aside from the fact that he was large and glaringly and flashily colored, it also bothered me that he tried to sit like a two-legged creature, could sing and wiggled his ears to the music. Only pigs in Animal Farm try to sit like humans; and I could do without any Orwellian creatures around my little Figgles and family. As for the singing, any pig worth his name does not 'sing'. Pigs do not need to. They're the philosophers of the animal kingdom, not its' court jesters and musicians! Let's leave that to the wart-hogs, shall we?
I was pretty confused when I saw Gruntster for the first time. I initially thought he was a bee (stripes on his stomach). Then I changed that to a cow (the snout looks more like a cow's than a pig's). I actually had to read the label to figure out the horrible truth. I would like to meet the person who envisioned and designed a pig looking like Gruntster. I'm not certain he will walk away from that interview with me, alive.
Look at this picture. Can't you see the difference between my innocent little Snorky Figgles and Gruntster? It's like the 'evil twin' concept that cinema gives us so many examples of. I've been having nightmares where Gruntster's dressed in leather and dark glasses and is chasing Snorky Figgles, a knife in one hand, and, of all horrible ends to pig-stories, with a chopping board in the other hand! Figgles may be having the same visions. I had to coerce my sensitive little darling into this photograph, he turned his nose higher up than it already is, and muttered something about Gruntster's presence "somewhat altering" the tone of the 'family' picture. I must say, I have to agree. And I also have to commend Figgles upon his diplomacy, I couldn't have put it less offensively myself!
I'm still too full of shock to say much more. Still trying to be non-judgemental (very difficult) and reserving my comments for when I have more data! Please write in, expressions of commiseration are greatly appreciated.
14 January, 2009
Happy 2009 From The Zoo!
I got into town on New Year's Day 2009, to find Snorky Figgles and Xiao Guai anxiously awaiting my arrival. Apparently they had 'the feeling' that there was going to be an addition to the family. I think my littlest roommate might have spilled the beans beforehand, because I had barely walked into the apartment with my bag when she pointed to the little Christmas tree with an "All yours!" to the gifts still under them. I opened up the goodie-bag to find this:
My littlest roommate wanted to name her 'Woolly' but I wanted something with her (my roommate's) name in it too, so she's 'Jelly'. She's really soft and warm, and I think she'll be a good "Mommy" factor within this little unit. Here's a "Family Picture".
Well, not quite "Family Picture". I forgot to talk about The Other One. I think I'll do it later, I don't want to have to give good and 'weird' news in the same post. For now, Snorky Figgles, Xiao Guai and Jelly wish all of you a wonderful 2009! Wish you good health, peace, joy, success and many wonderful surprises this year. And if it has to be bad news, let it be something you can handle and, hopefully, learn from.
My littlest roommate wanted to name her 'Woolly' but I wanted something with her (my roommate's) name in it too, so she's 'Jelly'. She's really soft and warm, and I think she'll be a good "Mommy" factor within this little unit. Here's a "Family Picture".
Well, not quite "Family Picture". I forgot to talk about The Other One. I think I'll do it later, I don't want to have to give good and 'weird' news in the same post. For now, Snorky Figgles, Xiao Guai and Jelly wish all of you a wonderful 2009! Wish you good health, peace, joy, success and many wonderful surprises this year. And if it has to be bad news, let it be something you can handle and, hopefully, learn from.
21 December, 2008
Pig-tails!
There was a sad pig with a tail
not curly, but straight as a nail.
So he ate simply oodlesof pretzels and noodles,
which put a fine twist to his tail.- Arnold Lobel.
It is really so easy to get Figgles to eat his noodles now!
09 December, 2008
Quiet
My colleague, S, who gifted Xiao Guai to me, has left for China. Her one year as a visiting research scholar is up, but I hope to see her in April - and I hope we have several opportunities to meet and collaborate over the course of our careers. My little Xiao Guai took it hard at first. Things were rather quiet initially, at work and at home - I missed S and Xiao Guai realized he missed his homeland. Luckily for both of us, Snorky Figgles was around.
I believe Xiao Guai's started to look much happier after several sessions with my little counselor. After all, what can't be cured must be endured, no?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
