Remembrance

2 days ago...

Maria: Why is the flag at the Civic Center at half mast?

A-L: James Brown died.

Maria: Was he from Coachella?

A-L: No, but he was the godfather of soul.

24 hours later...

Maria: I just heard that Gerald Ford died, in Rancho Mirage.

A-L: Oh, wow. I wonder if they'll put the flags at half mast for him too? How do they handle that situation, when two famous people die so closely together?

Maria: Maybe they'll put the flags at quarter mast.

A-L: Do you think James Brown would be annoyed if he knew that Gerald was stealing his thunder, as it were? I read in People magazine that they were bitter rivals.

Maria: Wasn't President Ford's wife an entrepreneur?

A-L: Yeah, she ran a chain of clinics.

Maria: Jenny Craig? She's quite a bit younger than President Ford.

another 24 hours later...

Maria: If you come meet me for lunch, be sure to avoid Miles Boulevard. It's closed for the memorial service.

A-L: James Brown's?

Overheard

I'm staying at Maria and Hector's. The following phrases have been said in the last week:

"Don't put that in your mouth. That's not a straw. It's a pinwheel."

"Annais threw up on him."

"No, that's Puppy Puppet. Put Puppy Purse next to Bibbit."

"Did I tell you that Annais threw up on me at J.C. Penney?"

Philly

Pete: I've e-mailed you the itinerary for your flight home.

A-L: Yeah, I got an e-mail from you. But you sent the wrong itinerary

Pete: I just forwarded the one I received from United.

A-L: No, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have booked the itinerary I received.

Pete: No, I've double checked, it's the right one. Irma wanted you to pick up some German Christmas decorations in Frankfurt, and a Liberty Bell magnet for Maria in Philadelphia.

A-L: Oh, so that's why I have two stops between Edinburgh and Los Angeles. I thought it was a mistake.

Pete: No, no. I figured two and a half hours in Frankfurt was enough time to shop for decorations, and three hours in Philadelphia would give you plenty of time to buy the right magnet.

Auster-Doyle Rears Its Spooky Head

Back in the beginning of November the Publishing Ladies* were in Paris to celebrate Jess's birthday. One of the key Publishing Ladies was missing: the Irish-Belgian Abu Dhabi Gemma. (She's the one who suffers from Auster-Doyle syndrome. Which sometimes manifests itself as Auster-Doyle-Smith syndrome. See previous posts.) She's working in Abu Dhabi on a conference on human trafficking, and apparently couldn't sacrifice a weekend for frivolity in Paris.

So, on Saturday night we were out at a restaurant to fete the birthday girl, and who should be sitting at the table next to us? Yes, Paul Auster. Playing the role of Gemma. Coincidence? Perhaps. Probably not. Who knows? Not me.

So, we decided to do the "I'm from L.A. and I see celebrities all the time and I leave them alone" thing, so we took photos of each other, hoping that he'll appear in the background. I will certainly post them when they're developed. What if Roddy Doyle appears in the background?

*Ladies who have/have had a tenuous link to the publishing industry.

Possessive-Definite Articles

Ted: What is the name of your friend, we went to Arthur's Seat?

A-L: My friend from Portland? Who came to visit? Gavin is his name.

And then Ted made a gesture, putting his hand to his heart, to indicate that Gavin is either:
a) one of his 'homies'
b) a really nice person

Ted: Gavin is a very good man.

A-L: Yes, he's very nice.

Ted: He's my the best friend.

A-L: Six months ago you told me that I was your the best friend.

Ted: I lied.

Vocab

Franch: Ted's word for 'French' or 'France'. Or both, at once.

Usage note: "You go on holiday to Franch?"

English Lesson 335

I've taught Ted the following song, which we (ok, I) sing almost every morning in the kitchen when I'm heading out to work, and he's coming back from the night shift, drenched:

Rain, rain
Go away
Come again
some other day

Family Friends

A couple months ago Aila was looking at pictures from Maria and Hector's wedding, and she saw me in the line-up. So this is what happened next...

Aila (pointing to A-L): Mommy, is that your friend Anna-Lisa?*

Maria: No, I don't know who that is. I think she was with the photographer.

Aila: But she visits us twice a year, and always stays about three days too long. I think Daddy said she was your sister.

Maria: I think you're mixing her up with someone. I'm an only child. I don't know that woman you're pointing at.

Aila: When I'm older, can I tell people I don't know who Annais is?

Annais: I already tell people that you're a family friend.

*this is the only factual line of the story.

More ESL Fun

So Ted's English continues to improve. This of course takes some of the fun out of living with him, but there are still a few gems that crop up now and again. The other day, Ted confused 'barbeque' and 'manicure'. How these words have crept into his vocabulary I'm not sure, but the fact that he switched them delighted all within earshot.