Love of...Colin Firth

You've probably heard about this author named Jane Austin. Well, I'd heard of her too. But unlike so many readers and writers out there, I never had the "I love anything Jane Austin, especially Pride and Prejudice" bug bit me. 

I think I know why I never really connected with Miss Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy before now.

You see, I'm an audio book fan. It all began with the narrator for the Harry Potter series. That guy was amazing. And because I am able to listen to books while I work (they actually help me stay focused on that work!), I usually opt for the audio version of books if they are available.

Therein lies the problem.  I listened to Pride and Prejudice instead of actually reading it, and it didn't work for me. There are some stories that must be read. I would be willing to bet that the older the actual book itself is, the better.

So I listened to the story, but didn't fall in love.

Until now.

I present: 

Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, you need to. This is the 6 hour version. And yes, it's totally worth the 6 hours spend. (Though I think you'd have a hard time convincing my husband it was worth the 12 hours it took me to watch it twice. In 3 days.) I saw the Keira Knightley version from 2005 a few years ago. But this one is So Much Better!

Now, I can't wait to get my own copy of the original book and actually read it. Too bad it will probably have to be a newly printed version instead of one so old the pages are nearly falling away from the binding.

Lasterday: Made-up Words

My daughter, who is almost four, has her own little collection of made up words. Most of the time she's speaks the same dialect as the rest of us, but every now and then the Made-Up-Words come out.

Member - This one's just short for Remember, but it's still cute.

• "You said I could have a treat after I ate all my lunch, member?"

Yabecause - This is said all as one word. She uses it when she's looking for an excuse to get out of something. Not only that, but it's usually used in the completely wrong way. (Is there actually a wrong way to use made-up words?)

• me: "It's time for bed."
• her: "Yabecause, I want to watch a movie."
• me: "You already watched one. Now it's time for bed."
• her: "Yabecause..... (thinking really hard, looking around her room for something, anything, to ask for...) I want another drink."
• me: "Okay, one more drink.... (gets another drink, tucks her in - again) Go to sleep!"
• her: (two minutes later) "Mom!"
• me: "Go to sleep!" (trying to maintain the sweet voice, despite my desire to duck tape her to the bed)
• her: "Yabecause, I can't fall asleep..."

Begot - It's amazing how many times she can use this one.

• "Mom, we begot to have a vitamin."
• "Mom, we begot to have a treat."
• "Mom, we begot to play the game."

           Then, of course, I like to point out how she "begot" to say "forgot".

Lasterday - This is her most recent word, and one I thought was pretty unique. Until I looked it up on the good old web. It's not actually a word, but it's used a lot. Urban Dictionary has several:

• A word used to describe an indefinite time in the past (e.g. last week, last month, last year)
       Remember lasterday when we went to the beach?
• The time peroid that falls between yesterday and last week. Excelent for college students who don't have the capacity to remember what day it is. 
       Jess: Yell lost her phone lasterday.
• The day or days before today, any day before the current day with no exact date in mind.

                I did that at school lasterday.

Hmmm... I wonder if I can use them all in a sentence...

"Yabecause you begot to paint my fingernails lasterday, member?"

Whether in real life or in the world of fiction - I'd love to hear about the made-up words in your world.