You know how on Star Trek everyone could understand each other because they had those translator thingies that instantly translated alien languages? If only I had one of those to translate what’s in my brain into something everyone can understand, it could seriously reduce the amount of time I spend on writing.
Yesterday’s one-word meme is a perfect example. When I received it I thought, great! Short and sweet! Like free association. Then I started realizing how long it takes to translate the first thing that pops into my head into something that people might understand.
For instance, when I read the question, Your car? the first thing I thought of was noseprints, because my car windows are usually covered with them. Then I thought, that’s disgusting. People will think I’m not only crazy but a pig, too. So I changed it to pawprints. That made perfect sense to me, since I often refer to my kids’ hands as paws, and evidence of their paws is all over the car in addition to the dog’s. Besides that, their school used to give out bumper stickers with pawprints all over them and I’ve had those on the car for years. So even though technically it should be two words, pawprints seemed like the perfect one word description.
Then just before I published the post, it hit me. Who in their right mind uses the word PAWPRINTS to describe a CAR? That makes NO SENSE at all! I even went and woke my husband. I said, Honey, if someone asked me to describe my car and I said ‘pawprints’ what would you think?
He rubbed his eyes and didn’t even bother to look at me like I’m nuts because he knows that already, and said, Um…your dog rides in the car?
Sometimes I have to settle for close enough.
If by any chance you’re feeling like an alien, too, click here to watch The B-52’s Planet Claire video. It made me feel better, anyway.
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11 comments:
I thought your dog rode in the car, too!
That must be an early B-52's song, huh? We have one of their CDs, probably with Rock Lobster or Love Shack..My friends and I used to sing Love Shack at karaoke!
Well, if you think your "pawprints" thing was weird, check this out! When I saw you had posted on your blog on my Followers list it said this, "If only I had one of those to translate what's in my bra..." I swear, that's what I saw, so of course I had to come here and take a look! ROTFLMAO!
Seriously, I took "pawprints" to mean you might have cats in your neighborhood. We always had cat prints on our cars back home.
BTW -- I added my answers on my blog today. No pawprints though. Belle is sleeping right now and doesn't feel like going out in the rain to walk on my car. ;)
OH, and I LOVE the B52s! Do you have their newest CD? It's pretty cool!
Kelly - Yep, the dog rides, too...and she gets car sick :(
But the kids still manage to make a bigger mess...
Rena - Didn't see you there! That's hilarious about the blog list blurb...
I also thought about the kitty prints thing. And I will definitely check out the new B52s!
My dogs rode in the car when we went to get our Christmas trees and the cat is always jumping up on the warm hood after we get home - not so weird - but I love your husband's response. Avoidance so guy like.
I knew exactly what you were talking about and thought how clever of you, the first thing I thought of was black…how boring.
What I really liked was the word you used for your dad.
Louise
I love following trains of thought and trying to trace them back when I get so far away from my original thought!
I totally get the pawprints and car association.
I thought dogs in a car, you're not that far off the mark:)
Um, I totally get the pawprints association too. My kids leave them all over the car windows. I can't remember what my car used to look like without them. Was there ever such a time???
I thought maybe a cat or a raccoon walked over your car with dirty paws. Made perfect sense to me!
I've got Planet Claire in my head now, thanks. ;)
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