Saturday, May 20, 2006

Nothing Exciting

I wish I had a clever, enlightening post to share with you, but I don't. After becoming one of the cogs of industry this last week, my creative juices are running low. But I thought I would at least give an update to tell you all that I'm alive and after a delightfully restful Shabbat, I will live to work another week. Or at least, four days. Brad and I are departing after work on Thursday for sunny Florida, to attend the nuptuals of Feff and Jritha. Don't you like that word- nuptuals? It sounds like it should be a flower.

After being used to a half hour commute on rural New Hampshire back roads, the transition to metro-Atlanta traffic has been somewhat jarring. However, I'm sort of learning the traffic patterns and what to expect. Just because you are slowed to a crawl on the highway a few times doesn't mean you're going to be late.

I feel like a bit of an outsider in the office- like everyone belongs to a club that I can never join. But that's okay, I guess. I'm enjoying getting to know the people in my office.

After all the jabs I've given Brad about putting on a southern accent at the store, I found myself saying, "MMMMMM-hmm..." just like a southerner the other day. Wow. One week after immersion and the inflection flickers into life. I don't think I ever noticed the Southern "Mmmm-hmmm" before. The Northern version is pronounced with equal emphasis on the syllables, if not, perhaps a little more stress on the end, maybe even going up a little...But the Southern version almost leaves off the hmmm at the end, so strong and long is the MMMMM at the beginning.

So, there's the trivia of my life right now. And thanks for all the birthday greetings last weekend, everyone.

7 comments:

Avalanche Cowpoke said...

MMMMMM-Hmm.

Loreo said...

Wouldn't you say that MMMMhmm is an African-American inspired thing? Obviously, I don't live in the south, but there are lots of blacks here, and I find myself enjoying a soulful "MMMMMhmmmm!!!" too, at times!

Anonymous said...

Ahh Claire, what a good description of the way that silly word is pronounced. I can hear it now! Don't go and betray us northerners now by succumbing to that honeyed, subtle, drawl. Above all, remember who you are, and where you came from. Hardy har.....

Loreo said...

..."honeyed, subtle drawl" sounds so good, Karena, she may want to succumb!

Booker said...

Hurray for the upcoming nuptials. Looking forward to seeing you both there :-)

Cara said...

I read the post, then spent a few minutes Mmmmm-hmming trying to see the difference. Definite difference. So far my mmm-hmms are Northern...how surprising! Good think no one was around while I was mmhmming. They would have heard me go mmmm-hmm. MMMMhmm. MmmmHMMM. etc.

Claire said...

Loreo, I think you're right about it being an African American thing...

Karena- no danger in me forgetting. I stick out like a sore thumb in these parts.

Ryu- glad you'll be there!

Cara- haw haw!