Who In The World Is Ferba Dunn?

Not only do I have a friend Anne, I have a cousin Anne. Both women were born in 1972, so I'm older than they are. (That's getting to be less and less of a tongue-sticking-out fact). My cousin has been a source of glee for me since we were toddlers. When I was about 9 or 10 (and if I'm remembering the origins correctly), she came up with the name Ferba Dunn during a game we were playing. It cracked me up then. It still cracks me up. We started calling each other Ferba. And still do.

Earlier tonight Ferba showed up on AIM, which is about the equivalent of spotting a kangaroo hopping down Main Street, USA. I pounced on her with a big WOOOO-HOOOOO! We chatted for a bit, then I remembered I had a webcam. She doesn't, but that's okay. She even downloaded Yahoo Messenger just to see my cam. I turned it on, and then we turned on our microphones and voice chatted. It's been a long time since I've laughed so hard. I mean, I was doing goofy stuff like flaring my nostrils at her (webcam close-up, you gotta see it to believe it). And making faces at her. And doing a Fargo accent.

Last summer, before my sojourn in the States, Ferbs and I planned a road trip to Chicago. It was my idea, but she was into it. She drove from Philly to my dad's house, and the next morning the four of us (us two plus my kids) headed west toward One of My Favorite Cities. We stayed with her parents, who were still living there at the time (now they're in NYC; I smell another road trip, if ever I get back "home").

It's late and it's been a long day for me, and I'm losing my train of thought. Either that or having a blonde moment. (Speaking of blonde, does anyone know how to cook "blonde" lentils? Mine turned into total mush tonight. Guess they cook up quickly). The point is that I wanted to tell Ferba Dunn how cool she is, how much she makes me laugh, and how much I love her.

Reading: A book in which the author used "phased" and "fazed" and meant the same thing both times (I was mentally preparing an incendiary blog entry about the use of phased for fazed when I came across the correct usage a chapter or so later). Oh, it's Almost French by Sarah Turnbull. An appropriate follow-up to the Bill Bryson book. And one I could have written.

Hearing Right Now: "Town Called Malice" by The Jam. No, wait. It's "Baba O'Riley" now. Both are good.

Finished: Smearing the bedroom walls with that crépi stuff. :-)