There Are Places I Remember – Rubber Soul
May 25, 2007
There are some words and habits I’ve picked up from places I’ve lived. From living in France I like having salad after my main course. From the US it’s mostly vocabularly.
I was talking to Wendy (you know, Wendy) yesterday and I said “eraser”. Now if you have caught the audio posts at the weekend you’ll know I don’t sound American. Maybe the odd word, but that’s it. Anyway, I said eraser.
A hush descended. Then another. She breathed as if to speak, paused, then did: “You can say rubber.”
“True,” came my reply.
I had been making the point though was about stationery fetishes and the feeling of writing in biro on a rubber. Or ball point pen on an eraser. If they are both new then it’s a strangely fulfilling experience. Same thing writing on new trainers. Or sneakers. Damn these subtle differences in languages.
But it feels good. It’s like peeling the foil off a fresh jar of coffee, or throwing something REALLY high in the air and catching it without having to move. Explain that.
Have a great weekend. I’ll do that weekend song post thing starting tomorrow and see what we can’t cook up.
Let’s go to the phones now. (Message boards. We don’t actually have phones.) The topics are:
Habits and fancies you’ve picked up from living somewhere else
Doesn’t have to be different countries, just things you do differently now because for a while you were a fish out of your regular water.
Weird everyday stuff that feels good
Go, ahead caller.
Oh, and free Bronze Club membership (or upgrades where applicable) to anyone who ends their message with a cheesy shout out to a friend who doesn’t read this site anyway.
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35 comments
You didn’t mention writing in biro on the side of a polystyrene cup. And then breaking it into teeny tiny pieces afterwards.
I didn’t learn to do that in France or anything. Sorry.
writing in biro on the side of a polystyrene cup
See, I’m not really feeling it, but that’s what’s cool about these things.
Try it. You’ll never look back, and people who own cafes will find you intensely annoying.
Doesn’t it squeak? That would bother me.
Cliff, I thought you said “eraser” because you were being a gentleman and didn’t want to offend my lady ears with talk of rubbers in the middle of the afternoon.
Lady ears – does that sound rude to anyone else?
I got into the habit of holding people upside down by their ankles when I was in the circus. Weird but fun.
I like to have a bath!
I missed the last bit of your post first time. Even thought I lived in Aberdeen for many years, I don’t eat deep fried Mars Bars.
And Anne? Don’t be a stranger! Catch you on the flip side! Be good! And if you can’t be good, be careful!
I often don’t pronounce my h’s even though I’ve not spent much time in Ireland.
Speaking of, Shout-out to Sean, Crumlin-born-and-raised, a stone’s throw from Leighlin street, where Phil Lynott grew up, now living in Wimbledon or parts south!
Thin Lizzy has cropped up a time or four in the last couple weeks.
Oh and Wendy, what are the pointy white things?
And to all:
Happy 30th Anniversary of the release of ‘Star Wars’, and also of the release of ‘Smokey and the Bandit’.
Where were YOU?!
Hahahah, Ed. At the risk of annoying Cliff and losing my potential upgrade, I’ll answer here since Vox is such a pain with the registration thing (but it would be nice to see you there). I have no idea what the pointy white things are. I quizzed him further and am still clueless – all I managed to get out of him was that he used to have them on his knees.
Ahhh, Star Wars. I was in primary (elementary) school when it came out in the cinema. I remember one boy bragging after he’d been to see it, claiming that he “wasn’t scared”. I think he may have missed the point. Where were you?
I was in Riverdale Utah.
I actually quite like the feeling of a super fine-point pen on nice letterhead.
And Wendy, at least you said “lady ears” and not “ladyparts.” THAT would have sounded rude
.
Ohhh I remember the ‘writing on a rubber’ thing and YES it’s a lovely feeling!
Writing on a balloon is similar although it’s a bit tinged with ‘danger’!
How about drawing on a big piece of paper with a very wet marker pen (not one which squeaks though)?
Writing on a white-board is nice too with a juicy pen!
Ah – 1977, Exton, PA. My dad fell asleep during Star Wars and I was too embarassed to tell anyone.
Gorilla – that’s something I should try.
Torsten – that is cool and rock
Sooz – White board is a definite one
Wzzy – Or a shap pen on the top page of a ream of new paper – thanks for the comment and welcome!
Wendy – Spaniel’s ears
Ever since you put this post up my roommate and I have been singing “There Are Places I Remember” to each other.
Neither of us can sing and neither of us can remember the words, but apart from that it’s going pretty well.
“Wendy – Spaniel’s ears”
Looks like you were right after all, Wzzy. He HAS offended my lady parts.
Time now to get some more supportive underwear.
I know, I know, family blog…
Wendy – Not YOU!!! It was all about the funny.
Katy – I can picture it. “In mYYYYYYYYYYYYyyyyyy life…”
Yes – that’s the problematic bit right there. Somehow it’s always just beyond the lowest part of my range. “In mYYYYYcroakyrasprasp life, blah blah blahblah”
I know the lyrics. OH, and the chords! I play this song often un guitar, it’s one of my favorites of all time. I’ve found that a great many of the Beatle’s more elaborately recorded tunes- Strawberry Ferilds, Day in the Life, In My LIfe, ACross the Universe- sound just beautiful, perfectly musical, and amazingly complete when played just on acoustic guitar alone. THis, I think, may be the secret to their genius- if you strip away all the frou-frou, so it’s just the song and the guitar, and it still stands up, you’ve really got something.
And I think that’s applicable to lots of things.
Yeah, but don’t knock the frou-frou, either. I love the harpsichord in that song. Like the pocket trumpet (help me out) in Penny Lane. It’s a whole other post.
I’m not at all knocking the frou-frou- where would the Egg Man be without his backup singers?
No, I wasn’t saying they’re BETTER without it, I’m saying that many of those songs are so good on their own that it makes me think maybe it;’s the song after all;)
Damn, don’t we usually say ‘eraser’ in the UK? I’ve been living in Korea for the past year, surrounded by North Americans and Korean kids who all speak North American-English. I thought I had been so careful to avoid my tongue being corrupted, I forgot all about rubber…
Funny, I just yesterday bought three rubber ereasers for use at home. I emailed an interest of mine, who happens to be British, and told her I had bought some rubbers, and to be prepared for their use. And I sent a picture of the erasers I bought.
Hmmmm. I don’t think she got the joke.
I’m American but lived for years in the UK and Australia and along the way I have picked up slang from all over. I use it without thinking a lot in the States and don’t remember that most people here have no idea what ‘knackered’ is or that being ‘daggy’ is actually not a very good thing to be. It’s funny though, for all the time I lived in London I don’t remember erasers being called rubbers. Rubber just makes me think of condoms. Must be the American coming out in me. *giggle*
Me, I think “lady ears” sounds sexy. Can you dip ‘em in your tea, like their fingers? [quick segue; still with Wendy] At the state fair, here is Sacramento, deep fried Twinkies are a big deal. Which is amazing, not so much that the idea is disgusting and unhealth, but they cost $3.00 a twink.
btw is “quick segue” redundant? Are there slow segues?
Whoa, Cliff. In definite agreement with this: “… it feels good. … like peeling the foil off a fresh jar of coffee, or throwing something REALLY high in the air and catching it without having to move.” Makes me want to throw something high in the air right now, only there’s risk of a broken window.
Wait a second Tom. Do you dip ladies’ fingers in your tea??
Noone’s ever done that to me before. Am I missing out?
Oh yes. Wendy. It makes me think of dancing. Or flying. One of those. You ARE missing out if you like love bites. Btw, my initials are TEA.
I’m not sure quite how to feel at this point. Sullied, maybe.
Is this just me finding rude stuff where it doesn’t really exist again?
I think I may need help.
MORE COWBELL!
No, Wendy. No more cowbell for Wendy. Tom, easy on the lady fingers. Kathryn, stop giggling. Honestly.
Okay. Who told teacher?
Ah, yes. Swallow some of this blue oyster, Wendy, my precious.
Tom, I see what you’re doing. Apart from messing with my mind, that is.
Oh, Wendy. Thank God! Now somebody can explain what I’m doing TO ME!!
Tooth cavities and belly-ache if you carry on like that, Tom.
Leave a comment. Play nice. I will turn this blog around.