I didn't get in on the review of the first book, The Daring Book for Girls, a few years back and man was I disappointed. So this time, when the chance came along to get my hands on the second version, The Double-Daring Book for Girls, I hit reply and said "yes" as fast as I could. Of course, as is my nature, all that hurry-up disappeared and I've now procrastinated until the veeeeeery last minute to post my review. That's just how I roll, people.
This review, though, is a bit different because it's been set up as a "book shower" and I've been tasked with issuing a challenge: A DARE, if you get my drift.
The book is filled from front to back with all sorts of random bits of knowledge, trivia, skills, and advice that girls should learn over the course of their childhoods. Sure, some of the skills would be great to teach boys as well, but there's a special effort to teach or talk about some things that are more specific to girls, or subjects that are traditionally overlooked. (The entries on "How to Say No/How to Say Yes" and "Shooting Pool" come to mind.)
So I took my sweet time flipping through the pages, trying to think up the perfect activity for a dare. The biggest problem has been my own personal preferences in activities, paired with my ability (or inability, as it were) to do something fancy like upload a video of myself. (Hey, hate the computer, not the playa.)
Take, for example, the excitement I felt over seeing the entry "Dancing the Cotton-Eyed Joe". Sweet! Here's something my back-woods, cotton-pickin heritage has actually prepared me for! I've spent a lifetime dancing the Cotton-Eyed Joe, the Chicken Dance, and the Schottish at junior high dances, weddings, and even a few saw-dust floored dance joints. (What? Stop looking at me like that.)
Sadly, upon reading the entries two descriptions, versions one and two, I discovered they ARE WRONG! WRONG, I tell you! They've got some creepy line-dancing methodology that disturbs the rural purist in me. So I thought it would be great to show you the CORRECT way to do the Cotton-Eyed Joe... except for, you know, the inability to show it to you. Plus, what would I dare you to do, save trying to beat my speed? Or maybe performing the most artful version?
So I moved on. I thought about challenging you to share your most Notable Women story, but that just sounded sorta bland. Finally, I found something that I think we'll all find entertaining.
Sayin's. Or "colloquialisms", if you please. The entry "Phrases and Idioms and Their Origins" outlines 16 sayings and how they came to be. A few were stories I did not know. I've mentioned before that I speak in sayings. Clearly, some of that bleeds through here. Though, I'm willing to bet that many more sneak into my everyday speaking than do on the screen - typing being so wearing and whatnot.
I say things like "as the crow flies" without batting an eyelash (see!), and, when in the right company, I'll let fly with some of the more obscure and colorful sayin's in my considerable repertoire. And, since I love a good story, I know the origin of most (though not all, thankfully, I think) of them.
So, here's my challenge:
Tell me your absolute best sayin'. Whether it's rare, or particularly descriptive, colorful, or just goes with a great story - tell me what it is and 1) where it came from, or 2) the best instance you've heard it used.
I realize this is a completely arbitrary and subjective contest, but who cares?! It'll be fun!
Clearly, I'll go first:
This one is courtesy my mother, who is directly and genetically responsible for my idiom addiction. My mother, who, keep in mind, is one of the most polite, courteous, and calm women you'll ever know.
Once, when hanging out with friends over a dinner party, one of the guys asked my mom for clarification about some upcoming event. Because the event in question was primarily the purview of the men at the party, my mom replied, without dropping a beat: "I don't know - You're the one fuckin' this duck, I'm just holdin' it's wings."
He practically fell on the floor from laughing so hard, first, because my mom had sworn. And second, because of the saying itself. He went around for months - nay, YEARS - retelling that story to anyone who knew my mom. And so did I. Because who wouldn't?
Okay, you're up: Show me whatcha got!
