Let me introduce you to the joy of English Place names.

We have neighbouring villages up the road called Tiptoe and Sway. Other side of Poole you get to Piddletrenthide and other quaintly named villages along the river Piddle. In the New Forest a hill is called a Hat and a valley is a Bottom - so you have Horseshoe Bottom, High Hat etc. I have friends in Nether Poppleton in Yorkshire... and many more ...Here are some more They did rename a place called Lost, Lost Farm since people kept nicking the sign...

There's a Monongahela in Michigan too? Guess the ability to pronounce that isn't just a test for being from PA anymore (the Monongahela is one of Pittsburgh's Three Rivers).

More Philly tongue twisters: Conshohocken, Wissahickon, Wyomissing, Manayunk and Schuylkill. :D

I particularly adore the place names of the west country.
I have little stories in my head about Queen Camel imperiously bossing around the hapless Bovey Tracey....

Rational decimalization... how odd!

I assign the decimal system in all its convenience. Now I just need somebody to buy my decimal clock idea...

I assign the English Standard system in all its whimsy. Now I just need someone to go along with me in converting all maths into hexadecimal numbering.

Weird and slightly smutty place names? You want to check out one of Castleton's premier tourist attractions if you ever visit Derbyshire. :D

How about links that cause you laugh out loud, causing various family members to send very odd looks your way. Thanks Lal!

Placenames
 

A friend of mine lives in a tiny Dutch village with a name that roughly translates to "Yummy-church".

As for tongue-twisters... "Scheveningen".

:cool:

I assign trying to keep a few NY towns straight: Owego, Oswego, Otsego, Otego, Otisco. I have a friend who lives in one of them, but you've got me as to which it is.

And the names of a few others... Poughkeepsie ("Puh-kipsy"), Skaneateles ("Skin-yat-lis"), Rensselaer ("Rinse-uh-leer"). My favorite NY name though, is Canajoharie. It's just fun to say. Say it with me, "Cannidge, Ahari." :D

Oh, and I assign having the courage to take risks once in a while. Even if the risk is merely saying "Hello."

Springtime! I don't know if it's the weather or what, but I feel a lot more cheerful and energetic than I have in ages.

Also, doing silly things for fun, like making Perler beads and sealing wax.

And getting the inspiration to continue working on old projects. That's a good one too. :)

Calculus-induced headaches.

Now before you think me insane (which I wholeheartedly accept that I am, by the way), do hear me out. It proves one important thing: my brain still works.

Having the first day back at school be only a half day, being so 'ill' today that I'll only be going in for the afternoon, and having the afternoon off tomorrow - meaning that my first week back I was barely there!

I'm so not looking forward to a time when I can't just skive :(

Also soup, very nice on sore throats.

Driving practice on your favorite car (you know, the one with bad breaks, no power steering, and veers ever so slightly to the left? the one that most people loathe driving...) with your big brother beside you and the radio full blast as you keep an eye out for deer, kids, and dogs.

Dinner with your grandparents where finally, somebody gets it. "The meat is fantastic." my grandfather teased lovingly. "Leave her alone." Grandma shot back. "She doesn't eat meat and she doesn't have to. And she's healthier than you are, so you can just hush up." And then laughs all around.

Photography adventures on the back of a four-wheeler. Hidden lakes that take effort to reach and, once found, incorporate a slight amount of paranoia into your life given the knowledge that it's getting late and there's a mountain lion in these woods...

Sacrificing sleep for reasons that have nothing to do with homework or finals; working until the wee hours on a surprise birthday present that you know will be loved.

Taking risks and having them pay off. Opening up and realizing that it's okay that you're not perfect.

Road trips with mom.

Scoring high marks after the hardest semester, academically speaking, of your life thus far.

To summarize, I suppose I'll merely assign spring break.

Classes like the one I had today, in which we got a 10 minute break because my professor managed to break a window trying to kill a wasp with the Divine Comedy. We were blessed with a brief reprieve from our unproductive, frustrating, biased, exclusive discussion! :D

Exciting political speakers: in November, Jesse Jackson spoke to us, two weeks ago, we heard from Bob Dole, and tonight, the College Democrats are hosting Al Franken. I'm ridiculously excited.

An exceptionally magnificent firework display, enjoyed by our whole street this evening, courtesy of Her Majesty, who was celebrating her birthday just across the river. Many happy returns, Ma'am, and thank you. Those rockets were positively Gandalfian, and thus obviously belong in the Shire.

Aye, aye! Seconded. Actually I think Her Majesty was pottering about in the town across the bridge earlier today...

I thought I'd seen her Madge on TV, hanging about outside the Windsor branch of Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Was there a sale on? ;)



PS
I won't complain about her - we get a day off for her birthday every year in May! :cool:

I started off the evening feeling vaguely peeved with her, as her imminent arrival at Kew Palace meant so many police, outriders etc that our Indian takeaway was very late arriving. But those fireworks more than made up for it. Everyone was outside in the road, enjoying it, cars were stopped everywhere to watch, we all had a jolly natter before going back indoors to continue our Friday evenings....all most convivial....

I wonder if the sudden police presence around the town had something to do with that . . . it would be odd, we live 2 hours away!

But I'm assigning the police people wandering all over the place. They're very friendly and don't mind when you sidle up to them and mention that you've never seen a real live policeman before. (This is true, I've only ever seen policewomen.)

I believe the local police force from my hometown (not necessarily where I live now, though it's not too far from Philly ;)) would fit nicely with the Shire's Shiriffs.

When my parents first bought their house, the previous owner left it a mess. My dad went out to clean the gutters over the garage, and was startled by a strange voice behind him, which turned out to be from a uniformed officer. He'd come to welcome us to the new house and then spent some time helping my dad clean up. :D

Anyway, the police are very nice there.

That's actually Dutch rather than Native American.

And yes, we actually have a 'Zilwaukee' in Michigan. There's also a Saugutuck. :) Hmm... how does one tuck a sauga, and what does one tuck it into? :p

Still fun to say, love, and everybody pronounces it differently. There are some, silly fools they are, that insist it's "Ren-zuh-layer." ;)

I assign having an inbox full of kind and funny birthday greetings. Thanks, guys! :)

Also, having someone to call you and sing 'Paljon onnea vaan' while you're standing in a puddle in the middle of a small forest with your dog since the path you were following just disappeared is definitely Shire-worthy. :)

In case Nilp forgot to greet you for me, happy birthday. :)

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/images/chatskwerl.jpg

I would like to remind all participating members that the long life and survival of this thread is directly connected to its being kept free of chatting. Off-topic posts may be edited or deleted by a moderator if you do not do so yourself.

I assign chat skwerls, how cute they are :)

Suckup... but well intentioned at least
 

I assign all the mods while we are it, all the users of the BD. This forum is so much better than any other I've been to that should it be anywhere else but the Shire, it might cause a glitch in the time-space continuum that may cause us to pass out.... or destroy the whole universe.

I assign the sudden tears - no matter how few - that fall after keeping them in against your will for so long. And the people who made it possible. Love y'all. :)

When the guy friend of yours whom you secretly fancy breaks up with his girlfriend. Muahaha... maybe this relationship stuff isn't so terrible... :p

I finally thought of something useful to post!

I assign April. Silly though it sounds, it's a good month.

Here in the Southern Hemisphere, it's Autumn, and a season I quite enjoy. It's just cold enough that a coat will keep you warm (as opposed to me NEVER being able to keep warm in the middle of winter....*grumble*), and you get wonderful acts like roasting chestnuts to make it warmer. :) A season to lock yourself up indoors and enjoy good people's company. *nudges the Downs* :p

Another reason I assign April is that today's the 25th, or ANZAC Day. To remember those who gave and are still giving their lives for your peace and contentment is never a bad thing.

Hope that wasn't too corny for you all! *giggles*

Tara :)

I assign that good smell when you're peeling an orange.

I also assign that the trees are finally green, and in fact the color green itself.

Be praised for all Your tenderness
By these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless
And bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat
And be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green
That fills these fields with praise

Except that horrid avocado green that was popular in the seventies, and the green/yellow color of disgusting and molding things that I won't mention.

Being reminded of primary school excitment for the first day of classes by your own giddiness and inability to avoid showing up to your classes, even the second day, early. Yesterday we got the basics of the classes and spent an hour learning how to lie convincingly. Today I get to play with Adobe Photoshop while the rest of the class learns to use it and then I get to sit and write. I forgot how exciting it is to really want to go to classes.

And I assign grapefruit juice and dreams in other languages. Allergy medicine that kicks in fast, and sunlight that sneaks through my window to wake me up more gently than an alarm clock ever could.

I assign long phone calls and photos taken just for me.

I assign my entire good mood because I don't have any more time to explain, given I have one of those classes in ten minutes. :)

To the Shire:
Finding out that I got a spot for an ophthalmology clerkship at a fairly famous ophthalmology center. :D

It's not the date I wanted (scheduled after application reviews and interviews are over), but spots are hard to get, and at least they'll know my name when my residency application shows up on their desk.

Good thing I checked my email. I'm a little less bitter about my presentation in half an hour now. :rolleyes:

I just saw that I have finally passed Accurate English with rather astonishingly high grades.

This means I will never ever have to prove that I can speak / write English again. Only those who have taken as many extremely dull and painful language acquisition courses as I have can truly understand what a blessing this is.

So yeah. I assign 'eventually passing a horrible course' to the Shire.

I assign the nights when Neal cooks. This chicken is incredible.

Which reminds me to assign whole chickens. You can roast them, cut them up, whatever...and they're so much better than any of the stuff we can afford to buy cut up. And they're so CHEAP!

GIRL SCOUT COOKIEEEEES!! I have three boxes all to myself! *mwahaha*

Namely Samoas, but especially thin mints.

Knowing you're going to see your friends for the first time in a week tomorrow, even if it will only be for a few minutes.

Having teachers that are wonderfully understanding about the health problems you've been having recently, and have given you extensions on coursework and are offering extra help when you get back so you can catch up.

My mum and dad, who have rearranged their whole working week in order that they can keep an eye on me (in a good way for once!).

Having my godmother get the job she applied for and knowing she'll be great at it. And knowing that the teacher who opposed the idea of her going for said job when I mentioned it to him will now be proved wrong.

Almost being able to breathe normally all day for the first time in a week.

The 'pom pom' music on the Sky TV guide!

Agh! I just wasted my 1000th post on a flubbed assignation!!! GAH!
 

Discovering in the car on the way to church that you missed a spot shaving...just BELOW your hemline.

Umm...wrong place. Must go assign this elsewhere. Here I'll assign that I was the only one who noticed.

There's something elegant about that. A metaphor in there somewhere, don't you think? :D

Um, I assign English muffins. :)

And writers' festivals that actually do inspire writing. .... and reawaken my love for poetry. Writing it, that is; ... and also delving into the wonders of Emily Dickinson.... for the fun and joy of it, not having to take classes or prepare for exams....

Which sort? The ones that are like cakes/buns/fairy cakes and come in flavours like choccie and lemon (you get these in Greggs, and they are lovely)? Or the ones that are quite flat and doughy, and that McDonalds do in a morning, e.g. the very tasty Egg McMuffin? Or the Lancashire Oven Bottom ones that are like a slightly overcooked barm cake/bap/roll/breadcake/stottie? I currently favour the latter - we have them stuffed with honey and mustard sausages and Lee & Perrins Worcester & Tomato sauce on a Sunday morning. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

I assign regional food confusion. ;)