pedestrian saga

Tuesday evening I was helping my 15-year-old pupil with her pre-algebra review. As we dryly recorded the multiples of 9, I was suddenly overcome by the resulting pattern of 9 times 4 through 9 times 7: 36455463. My student was all big eyes and confused looks as I gestured wildly and exclaimed, "Look! It’s a palindrome!" Once I copied the number and drew lines and explained the (almost) mirror image she relaxed into a smile and said, "That’s cool!"

The little 7-year-old boy had pinched his hand between the chair and table, and I leaned in to inspect the damage and offer whatever consolation I could. Looking up at me, he stopped crying suddenly, furrowed his brow, and said with deep concern for my well-being, "Miss, you should know that you have a big zit on your forehead."

Long live legumes! Before heading out to an evening of good ol’ country music, I spent last Sunday afternoon making three kinds of soup: split pea (best), cumin-spiced lentil barley (not nearly as yummy but all right), and garbanzo beans with garlic and mint (very close second). Freezer is packed with single servings enough to keep me for a month.

una tertulia, feminine noun = a social gathering, a tea party, a salon. As in "Una tertulia inesperada", the first chapter of El hobbit. That would probably make the first chapter of El señor de los anillos "Una tertulia muy esperada". I think maybe "Tertulia" is an interesting translation of one of the Web sites I’m most addicted to: Salon. Someone who knows better correct me if I’m wrong about the usage of this word! At any rate, I like the way it rolls off my tongue. Ideally I’d have the discipline and stamina to find a Spanish word a day to study in depth this way. Too ambitious a plan destined to disappoint!

‘Petrichor’ [PET-ri-kuhr] is the most important word for me today. It is "the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell", the vital essence of Greek gods, stored in the dry earth and released by the rain. Thanks again, Anu Garg! I deeply appreciate the rare rainy day in LA, and now I’m empowered to explain more specifically why – the petrichor is the olfactory indication of relief and renewal, a well-needed wash of the concrete and drink for the parched plants.

A quick Google search reveals some interesting folks who appreciate petrichor too, in their own way: you’ll find them here and here and here.

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; Some blunders and absurdities crept in; Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

Thank you, Emerson for this advice; I needed to hear it! And thanks of course to Anu over at AWAD who collects and shares such incredible words.

We ran out of our usual store-bought bar soap today, so I tried instead the awesome lavendar soap that my neighbor makes. There is nothing quite like a fine bar of homemade soap (er, unless it’s the kind the Fight Club guy makes). I try to buy local products whenever possible – looks like for my soap I’ll just walk next door from now on!