My New Toy

Y'all!
I totally won a Kindle!
Remember this post? Well, the kind people at Thomas Cook decided that my post was a winner.

Just a few days ago, I got my new toy in the mail and I'm already putting it to use.  Ross has declared that it looks more magical than an iPad, because of the E Ink.  I turned on my shiny Kindle and was faced with a dilemma.  (A minor one, sure... but a dilemma nonetheless)  It asked me to select what language I'd like my Kindle to be in.  The automatically highlighted choice was "English (US)".  Just below, was the option "English (UK)".  I wavered for a moment... unsure which to select.  After just a brief hesitation I moved the cursor down (ok, I actually jabbed at the screen with my finger until I realised it wasn't a touch screen and THEN used the arrow button to scroll down) and selected "English (UK)".  I figured I live here, so my Kindle should be in the language of my adopted country.  Also... Ross pointed out that I might have trouble with the system if I didn't say UK, since I'd be using Amazon.co.uk and not .com.   But, really, I'd already decided before he told me that.  I wondered if this decision was a true sign of me fully adopting my new country.  (I don't think it was anything that profound.  I really like living here and feel quite at home and have for some time!)  But the thought was still there.

I've already downloaded several free books (and even finished reading one) and am really enjoying the Kindle.  I think the one-handed reading will come in handy during feedings and comforting sessions!

Have you had any small decisions that indicated that you'd fully adopted your new home country?
Have you hesitated and put way more thought than necessary into options to pick for something relatively insignificant?
Does anyone know why some Kindle books are SOOO expensive?  (Seriously... It's only a download!)

Cheerful Sunday

A brand new stripey shower curtain for only £3 is very cheerful!

Word of the Week

Buttonbadge

"I'm for Ferraro!"

(is what I'd proudly declare as a 5 year old)

Definition:  An accessory worn for either fashion or political reasons, adorned with images or words, generally affixed to clothing or bags via a pin on the back

Used in a sentence:  At TGI Fridays, they used to call buttonbadges that they wore as part of the unifore "pieces of flare".

I was going to post something today...

but....

You guys!  I started reading HypnoBirthing:  The Mongan Method.

available from Amazon

I told you we ordered it... well it came today and it's totally fascinating!!  I just finished reading the section on why labour came to be seen as a scary/painful thing and it makes so much sense.  

So far, I'm seriously drinking the Koolaid.  I'll keep you posted.

Term of endearment

Lately, I've been hearing something that strikes me as strange.  It's not a new thing to hear, but there were two different instances tonight that brought it to the forefront of my mind.  It's to do with a term of endearment that I've heard bandied about quite a bit here in England.

Who can I send this card to?

We went to our third week of Birth Classes tonight.  (We covered that I might be emotional and Ross should try to help out.  For nearly 2 hours.... well worth it...)   The class was led by two women who work at two separate area Children's Centres.  They seemed to know each other, but not particularly well.  One of the women referred to the other as "my love" for the entire evening.  As in- "Have you seen the handouts on What to Take to the Hospital, my love?"  I can't imagine giving a presentation with my co-worker at my old job and referring to her as "my love"- and we were very good friends.  She was even a bridesmaid in my wedding!  But "my love"?  She's not "my love".  And I'm pretty sure the woman in question was not the "love" of the other woman either...

After the class, we went to get dinner at Pizza Express.  (Two for one deals with the Taste Card rock!)  The waitress referred to each of us as her love!  "Here's your pizza, my love."  "Can I get you anything else, my love?"  "Let me get the bill for you, my love."  I'm not her love!  And unless Ross has some serious explaining to do, he isn't either.  One of the baristas at our Starbucks does it too, but for some reason it doesn't bother me quite so much.  Perhaps because we are regular customers, so we have some sort of relationship at least.

Now, I've had some exposure to this term of endearment in the past.  My grandmother will refer to me as "my love".  I've heard her use it when talking to other family members as well.  Her children and grandchildren.  This makes sense to me.  We are all related after all.  Ostensibly, she does in fact love us.  We are from her loins, either directly or once removed... thus the possessive.  I call Ross "my love".  I'm allowed.  He is my husband and I love him!

It's not uncommon for men to refer to women, even strangers as "love".  Without the my.  As in "Calm down, love" or "What can I do for you, love?"  For some reason, this seems more endearing to me.    I know some women find this demeaning or offensive, and I can imagine a scenario in which is would be patronizing or irritating.  Most times I've heard it though, it comes across as sweet and jocular.  Like a grandpa being sweet.  I guess that makes me some form of sexist.  Maybe it's the "my" that makes the difference.

What do you think of the use of "my love" as a form of address from a stranger or in a work setting?

What terms of endearment do you use generically?  (In Texas, it's not uncommon to call a woman "sweetie" or "sweetheart".)