Testing (on Perception), Road Trip, and Thoughts about Accents

[paragraphs]

Nick has been after me to make a post for the last few days. I'm at work, but going to leave in 45 minutes, go to TCU and pick him up, and then we're headed to San Marcos. Tomorrow we'll tromp around San Antonio (again--did that in the Spring) and then to Austin before heading back home Sunday evening. Glad to hear that the gas prices won't go up thanks to Gustav until Wednesday. Getting great gas mileage--amazing what new tires will do for that.

So, what is going on? Nick's busy wrangling TCU freshmen, and feeling all mature and grown up now. Which of course is the truth. Smile. He's got his testing sign-up sheet up and little kids (lol) are flocking to participate in The TARDIS Study. Based on a few emails, Nick suspects there might be those who think they'll get to watch an episode of Doctor Who... Not so, alas.

I've done the testing a couple of times now. Interesting results, N says, though my knowledge (as provided to me over the last months by N) may have influenced my results. No way to know for sure, though the second time, I did some things I didn't the first time--like 'zoning' and just kinda focusing on one spot, letting my reactions be based on what I saw peripherally. And, of course, discovering that I can hit the two keys at the same time and it didn't mess things up because...well, no need to explain that.  Still, Nick said I was clever...  I try, I try.

 

Quick check of the clock: forty minutes to go. I am tired. We had a party at lunch today, and I ate breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner--sub sandwiches, though I had a roll-up. I think it was the Doritos actually that got me. Yawn.

 

Speaking of Doctor Who leads me to Torchwood which leads to John Barrowman, which leads to thoughts I've had recently regarding accents. Nick is, as you all know, German. But what most don’t know is that Nick is what I call a mimic. He has no set 'English accent' and as such is influenced easily by what he hears. After watching a Brit tv show for instance, Nick's accent tends to slide into a more Brit-sounding accent. Scottish--same thing.   People we've run in to speculate often about where he is from--heard all sorts of suggestions, rarely German, the most interesting South African. Nick does not have what one thinks of as a German accent--like in movies, for instance, where Germans are turned into caricutures. Or, lol, like my pediatrician, Dr. Steinberger, or my German teacher--they had clear 'German' (Bavarian?) accents, Nick does not. Nick just has... is...  "Somewhere European."  LOL.

 

John's civil partner/love o'his life is known to have said that since he met John 'with his American accent' that it throws him when John slides (naturally) into his Scottish. He's asked him please not to do that when they are together--lol. Usually happens around mom, dad, sister. Here and there. I didn't think much about it until recently, when I realized that when Nick's accent takes a turn this direction or that, I am disturbed.  Suddenly, 'my' Nick is gone...  Okay not really, but I find myself frowning, puzzled, sighing...  And then poke him and demand he stop that. LOL. 

 

I am used to having Nick all to myself, you see. Whether in Germany or here, until this visit, Nick was all mine...not really influenced by outsiders. The obsession (grin) with Brit etc. tv had yet to strike, really...and friends we visited (Chelsea in CA and Christiiiine and KL and Shannon)--none of them had that overpowering accent that makes one want to 'accent-along.'

 

This visit though? Nick is EVERYWHERE...spending lots of time away from me, talking to others, and we're watching tons of Brit/Scottish/etc. on the telly (or rather, computer). It is...odd. But intriguing, too, to have "MY" Nick disappear into... Well, let's just say, Nick IS a mimic, and finds it easy to dive into different accents, and it throws me for a loop now and then. 

Hmmm. Maybe he should become an actor?

 

Comments

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

That would be cool. :)

[immora.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes, Christiiiiiine-me doesn't have that much of an accent! But when I get around my Georgia relatives, I ease on into that draaawl.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

That is fascinating about accents!

[liriaen.livejournal.com]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BAVARIAN.
Bavarian isn't German.
Not by a far shot it isn't.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

You KNOW Nick would have my head if I believed that! In spades! LOL.

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

My former coworker from South Africa was always asked if he was from Germany or Austria. It helped that he was 6'4", blond, muscled and had a deep voice like Mr. Schwarzenneger.

Do I get to take the TARDIS test when I'm there next month???

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOLOL too silly. Nick says SURE!!!!!! I've taken it and it is a TOTAL BLAST (cough cough snort snort). LOL. :)

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Hah! Hope you're doing well with Gustav bearing down on your region.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Nah, though refugees from the storm are definitely heading this way. We learned while in Austin today that all the hotels are full to the max, all around, and on the way home, the road signs were all pointing This way or That way to those escaping.

After Katrina, we were flooded by people. Almost every other car, it seemed, had Louisiana plates. I expect we'll see lots of cars on the road over the next week. We'll get rain, but it's not predicted to be too much, up to 2.0 inches. Can handle that. NEED that.

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Well, as long as you get what you need and not what you can't handle! Can't believe I'll be down that way in just about two weeks.

[nocluvok.livejournal.com]

Send Nick here, and I could learn him to speak with no accent a'tall.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOLOL I SO would laugh at that!!!! :) Your accent btw is a delight. It makes me GRIN!!!!!!!

[nocluvok.livejournal.com]

I should take my act on the road! Reckon the world is ready for a Redneck version of Bill Cosby?

Me and the bedhog dog are headed out again in the morning. Got to go make some money to pay for Lucy's doggie biscuits. Kathy got her hooked on Beneful dog food while we were home too. So much so, that I emptied Walmart's shelves loading my cart with the stuff.

Mom and Dad's visit went well. We're oil and water when it comes to our politics, but we have fun poking each other about it.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Sigh--you dont' want to know what I think of Beneful! If she starts pooping alot, you will know why--that is one of the top five worst dog foods on the market due to the amount of corn in it.

I hope she won't have problems--I have heard of dogs, even a champion Siberian Husky owned by a friend, that once they tried it, refused to eat anything else. LOL. I feed my guys Wellness Core from PEtco. No grains. :)

She may gain weight too-- LOL.

Have fun on the road and be careful!!!

[nocluvok.livejournal.com]

Oh boy, more poop! I still have quite a few can of Pedigree left that she can have if that happens. Weight gain is another issue. She's already fat enough from riding with me all the time. I don't always have the time to let her run around and burn off all those calories. Micky D double cheeseburgers don't help much either. Funny, it's gotten to where I can't say "rest area" or "Mickey D's" around Lucy without her going nuts.