[rlpw]

Originally Posted by Jelena

Does that mean that the accent of the police woman Marge (Frances McDormand who was brilliant btw) actually is the accent of Minnesotans? She said that Swedish sounding Jaaa every now and then which of course made me laugh.

There are a LOT of Swedish immigrants in the Minnesota-Wisconsin area

[Jelena]

Originally Posted by rlpw

There are a LOT of Swedish immigrants in the Minnesota-Wisconsin area

I know. During the 19th century lots of people left for America because of the bad economic situation they had here.
Apparently I've got some distant relatives in Minnesota as well, but I've never met them although they came to one of the big reunions the family on my mother's side had some years ago.

Anyway. I just never thought that there would be anything left of Swedish language sounds in that area. So I assumed that the accent of Marge in Fargo was just a gimmick.

[Lee in Limbo]

I also hear a lot of the Minnesotan accent in the voice of Edie McClurg's portrayal of Grace (the secretary) in Ferris Beuller's Day Off. I had never realize this until I was in Minneapolis for about a half hour, and a woman working in a opticians store started talking to me and she sounded exactly like Grace. I heard this from at least one or two other women before my visit ended. Remarkable.

[Giligan]

After living elsewhere for about 7 years, and going back to Minnesota recently, I admit the differance in accent was a bit of a culture shock. Most people don't seem to know what Minnesota accents sound like, though, as I've been asked if I'm Irish.

The movie "Drop-Dead Gorgeous" and "A Prairie Home Companion" are excellent examples of a Minnesota accent, although the former movie isn't flattering to us at all.

I know. During the 19th century lots of people left for America because of the bad economic situation they had here.
Apparently I've got some distant relatives in Minnesota as well, but I've never met them although they came to one of the big reunions the family on my mother's side had some years ago.

Anyway. I just never thought that there would be anything left of Swedish language sounds in that area. So I assumed that the accent of Marge in Fargo was just a gimmick.

My great-Grandmother came directly over from Sweden at about the turn of the century. As opposed to my great-Grandfather, who came over from Germany at the same time. From what I've heard, she was quite possibly the nicest person who ever walked the earth, and he was the opposite. Opposites attract, I guess. One thing I've never understood, though, is that her name was Ruth. Is Ruth a common Swedish name?

My great Ont (Note: this is a Minnesota accent joke on the word "aunt") went over to Sweden to find if there were any relatives there. Apparently, she had an ont and several cousins over there.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Originally Posted by Lynsie

Trep, honey, I'm glad to see that you quit that job. It was a go-nowhere job for you. Yes, it gave you income and some experience, but in a few months time you gained all you could from it. You couldn't grow there. And right now you need an environment where you can grow and be respected. You have much to offer, but when the bottom line is all that can be seen by the upper management, potential is ignored.

Open your wings and fly, my good friend - let no one and nothing hold you back!

Love, M

(((((Lynsie)))))

Ever the wise ol' fairygdmther [sic] that you are, yet I've known what you know. It was really simply a matter of time. I had been scouting other places all along, all the while suffering where I was. Even if I had made the most passionate effort to make my value known it would have been in vain, as the bureaucracy's ceiling would still impede me (as it does my now former director there). I was paid far less than I'm worth and the experience wasn't that deep, but it was the title that I was after, hopefully it'll help open a few better doors soon.

Thanks for the warmth, mon ami.

[Jelena]

Originally Posted by Giligan

My great-Grandmother came directly over from Sweden at about the turn of the century.

Just out of curiosity, have you got any idea from where in Sweden she was?

One thing I've never understood, though, is that her name was Ruth. Is Ruth a common Swedish name?

Since it's a biblical name I guess it's common all over the Christian world. Today it's a fairly common name for elderly women (I haven't met any kid-Rut in all my years as a teacher) although here the spelling is Rut.

[Giligan]

I've no idea, I'm afraid.

[Jatsie]

I saw a guy today who looked like the Stay Puft Man.

Luckily I didn't make the connection until later on, else I wouldn't have been able to control my laughter around him.

I'm just picturing him in a little sailor hat now.

[Melanie68]

Oh dear, I'll bet that was funny.

I was just thinking about the Stay Puft Man when I was reading the Seven Wonders thread. I thought about the Statue of Liberty and then I thought about Ghostbusters and then I thought about the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (and I sound like a 5 year old...)

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Damn these beautiful German men!! Damn them!

samsie

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

Originally Posted by Melanie68

I was just thinking about the Stay Puft Man when I was reading the Seven Wonders thread. I thought about the Statue of Liberty and then I thought about Ghostbusters and then I thought about the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (and I sound like a 5 year old...)

"Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back."

[rlpw]

Don't cross the streams, it would be bad.

[Hammerite]

Originally Posted by Trep

Damn these beautiful German men!! Damn them!

they want your number

[pinkgothic]

Dear AG blog,

I'm worried about my mum. I last heard of her on Friday, and tried to reach her on Saturday between 19:00 and 20:00, and the same now. Normally, I always reach her during that timeframe, and now I've been unable to reach her twice in a row. The odds just seem pretty low. She's always so paranoid that she'll hurt herself and no one will notice - I'm scared that that's what happened, in which case I'm probably too late to do anything, even if I had any sort of clue as to what to do now.

Her mobile number seems to have expired too, which has made things more complicated, as it means the only way I can contact her is by landline or by eMail, short of driving up to St. Peter Ording to check (or the even more ridiculous snail mail) - so I've sent her an eMail asking for a sign of life, but obviously I would give her a day to respond to that, which is Yet Another Day.

Equally, I'm not sure if it's ridiculous to hop straight into the car and drive up there and knock on the door just because of those two incidents?

Meep.


Kind regards,
- Neike Taika-Tessaro / pinkgothic

[Jatsie]

Can't you call a neighbour, and get them to check on her?

[Jelena]

^that's what I was thinking too. Most people are happy to help out and it'll give you some ease of mind to know your mum's all right.

[pinkgothic]

I don't know the number of the neighbour. Which is ironic, really, but explained (albeit a bit bizarrely) due to my mum's plan that either the neighbour is taking care of her, or me. Currently, the neighbours are there, and so I don't get daily eMails confirming that she's alive and well. So it's not like no one's watching over her... theoretically. The idea is that either I'm getting those eMails, or the neighbours call me if anything's happened.

Again - theoretically.

Unfortunately, I don't even know the surname of the neighbours (pure forgetfulness on my part ), otherwise I could just inquire the number. Gah.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

pinksie, do this. Take at least a day off from work/school. Drive to your mum and see how she's doing. I trust she's okay but probably just out of it due to no emails and phonecalls from her. While you're at her place talk to her neighbour and get ALL their information (home phone, cell phone, email, etc.), and give them ALL of yours and your mum's (as gratitude for their care take them out to dinner or bring them flowers and treats whenever you visit). If she needs a new cell phone get her one and arrange it so that you can pay it regularly so she needn't worry (or forget) to pay it. Instruct her to call you every two days at least so you'll know she's fine and in case she needs anything.

Does she have a nurse or personal assistant? Does she need one? When my dad was alive it was arranged so that a nurse came at least once a week or two to check up on him. Nanay was here of course and it helped her a lot, but essentially Nanay was the 24 hour personal assistant for Dad.

[pinkgothic]

Trep - thanks bunches for your help!

...but, symptomatic of the way my mind works, the moment I say I can't remember a name, promptly, five minutes later, I remember it. I called directory assistance, and got the number - and I now know everything's fine.

I've written both the surname and the number down in my phonebook now, so I won't possibly misplace it. (It's a digital phonebook with about ten backups)

[rlpw]

Hey Pinky is it hard to get the authorities to take a drive by and see if she's okay? I had to do that several times with my grandmother (She lived like 700 miles away)