I haven’t felt much like writing lately, just trying to keep my head down and my mouth shut. And I have been somewhat successful in that capacity, but it’s rather boring. Though, I don’t know, sometimes more fun than socially awkward situations? Like this morning when I asked to pet a neighbor’s dogs and then they ferociously barked at me (however ferociously small terriers can). And then when I told them that I had three cats one of the women said, “We like dog people.” I, uh? Back to the cave, Mer. It’s too scary out there!
Luckily, as they often do, my site stats came to the rescue. This search term made me howl with laughter and decide to try to say a little something today.
especially lobster claws. ectrodactyly that is.
OK, so someone was cleverly searching about the genetic disorder I have, sometimes called lobster claw syndrome, or ectrodactlyly more scientifically. (You can read about it here if you are curious.) I’m really not sure why exactly it is phrased like this. Maybe there is some three-toed comedian who altered the Beverly Hillbillies theme song to talk about ectrodactlyly? Probably not, but that’s exactly what the phrasing reminded me of.
Also, in site stats news, isn’t the country data fascinating? I love to see that people from all over the world end up here. And it was no surprise that most people who view my blog are from the US, but number two? Why the Ukraine, of course. (Side note–I am not certain if educated people put the article “the” in front of Ukraine, but to me it sounds so odd without it. But, maybe I’m committing some faux pas, like speaking about yourself in the third person.)
Welcome Ukrainians! Is that right? Yikes! I don’t know. I am not sure what brings you here, but I am delighted that you are my number two! While attempting to learn more about your country on the Internet, an ad for “Ukraine brides” came up, and I must say that was a bit off-putting. But that was just a pesky ad, maybe there isn’t a surplus of sad ladies willing to marry some foreign schmo for a chance of a better life? Oh, but I did discover that you are located near Poland, and I am a quarter Polish. Maybe that’s why you come here? Pole bonding? Also, I read on Wikipedia that one of the sizeable minorities is comprised of Romanians. Now, I could be completely wrong here, but I think Romanians are often (derogatorily) referred to as “gypsies.” Well, I dig any kind of oompa music. Maybe I can grab a tambourine and come along?
Sadly, my knowledge of geography was taxed as I wracked my brain trying to figure out if I could place Lesotho or Brunei Darussalam. It went something like this:
Lesotho: First impression–Africa? There are a lot of countries I don’t know there. Yes! Wikipedia says that it’s on the African continent to the east of South Africa. Cool!
Brunei Daruassalam: First impression–This is a Middle Eastern country? No, no. Wikipedia says, ‘A sovereign nation state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in southeast Asia.’ Darn, well at least I got one…
Finally, the thing that made me laugh/cry this week: the discovery of Deaf Cat. Picture it: 8am on a school day. My son and I are heading down the sidewalk, when we see a small black-and-white cat just ahead of us. As I love animals, I started talking to B&W Cat to let it know we were going to be crossing its path. Well, B&W Cat had its back to us and was intently smelling something on the sidewalk. Now, I was talking loudly and constantly as we approached, but as it turned, finally, to see us, it was newly christened Deaf Cat. Poor Deaf Cat jumped and scurried into the drain. I’m sorry, Deaf Cat. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to make you cry. I, however, laughed and cried like a fool. I hope you have a happy home, though I wonder about the people who let their deaf cat roam the streets.
Alright, may next week bring another odd search term or two, and less social awkwardness, if at all possible…
