Frou Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires
February 20th, 2007
So, in the interest of full disclosure of the continuation of embarrassing oddities of this week, it seems only fair to point out that I kind of think Howard K. Stern would be hot if he wasn’t so weird. I mentioned this to Lawyerish the other day, and I can’t help but notice that she kindly let it slip by with nary a word of disapproval, probably because she was so completely freaked out that there was nothing left to say.
But it’s true! It’s true! Look, we’ve established that I have a thing for Jewish guys, and seriously, if he wasn’t all wide-eyed and painfully faux-earnest during his relationship with the weirdest woman alive – I mean, ah, not so alive – he’d be kind of hot, I think, but it’s hard for me to tell, given the circumstances. Assuming he wasn’t batshit insane, that is. Which he is, clearly. On the other hand, I really do feel for the guy, which is probably contributing to the…whatever. God, this so embarrassing, but he loved her! He really loved her!
Ahem. Moving on. I learned that I’ve been mispronouncing yet another word, and worse, I used it in a professional setting. Frou frou. Right. Froo froo! It’s froo froo! I was saying “frow frow,” to clarify, assuming I’d ever said it out loud in my life before, which I’m not sure I have. And I actually said, in a setting that called for the word (and believe me, oh believe me, it did, and lo, it was miserable and very frou frou), “Well, that’s very frow frow, isn’t it?” to the response of confused silence until someone said, “Wait, do you mean froo froo?” and so on… 31 years, and I really and truly think that’s the first time I said that word out loud. At least I hope it was. And you know, Ani DiFranco mispronounces it multiple times on one album, which led me completely astray, I can tell you that. And clearly, I did not take French.
I have also decided that I have major issues with the word ‘post-coital’, which makes me think of goiters (I have a goiter. How gross is that? I AM GOITERED), and the word ‘embiggen’ never ceases to crack me up. In fact, it is only in recent weeks that I realized that it’s a real word, and not one made up by Tolkein for exclusive use by trolls and dwarves. “BEHOLD! Go forth and EMBIGGEN!”
Apropos of nothing, I was working at an event today that involved bagpipes. I always cry at bagpipes. I don’t know why, but from the first tentative, reedy opening to the final chord, I’m holding back tears and trying to maintain professionalism, and I totally fail every time. I just can’t help myself. And sometimes, like today, I end up letting out a loud sobby-type hiccup in the face of an elderly gentleman I later learned was my dad’s high school basketball coach. And of course, this only made me actually cry, which I attempted to cover with the old “My eye! Something’s in my eye!” trick, which doesn’t really explain the trembling lip, but we do what we can. But come ON: I met a random dude today who taught my dad basketball, and how cool is that? He talked about my dad like he was still a jaunty little high school student, and it took everything I had not to throw my arms around him and tuck him into my pocket.
Old people rock. They really do.
*Cocteau Twins. Damn you, Elizabeth Fraser! You never say anything right! How was I to know?
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
29 Comments Add your own
1. -R- | February 20th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Frow frow! I am sorry for your embarrassment, but that is hilarious.
That is really cool that you met your dad’s old b-ball coach. I am glad he was nice and remembered your dad.
(Did you notice how, like Lawyerish, I kindly let your comments about Mr. Stern slip by with nary a word of disapproval because I was so completely freaked out that there was nothing left to say?)
2. metalia | February 20th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I’m not judging, because I have an even weirder “celebrity” crush. All I will say is that Howard K. Stern reminds me of Ted the lawyer on “Scrubs,” only with more hair. (Note: I did not say BETTER hair, I simply said “more.”) I think it’s the constant flop sweat.
3. Meg | February 20th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Dear God, the frow frow made me laugh.
4. Claire | February 21st, 2007 at 6:24 am
oh.
i’ve been pronouncing it that way, too. frow frow. i like the way it sounds. um. but i don’t have a good excuse for not knowing how it’s supposed to be pronounced.
I’ll blame Ani DiFranco, too.
I think i will continue to pronounce it frow frow because i think froo froo sounds silly. I just won’t use it in any ‘out-loud’ conversations…
5. TwoBusy | February 21st, 2007 at 6:41 am
If you’re taking cues from Elizabeth Fraser on how to enunciate, “frou frou” is just the beginning of your troubles.
6. jonniker | February 21st, 2007 at 6:51 am
Claire: Oh that’s awesome. Have you actually said it to anyone, or is it all “mind’s ear?” It LOOKS like frow frow! It does!
TB: Actually, I’m not even sure she says the word *once* during the entire song. Who can understand her?
7. Christine | February 21st, 2007 at 7:06 am
Sorry on the “frow frow,” and the unfortunate finding of Howard K. Stern almost, perhaps, occasionally hot.
And the old man, god so cute! And random!
8. Lawyerish | February 21st, 2007 at 7:12 am
I’m still too freaked out and have nothing to say re: the Howard K. Stern comment. So I’m going to let it slip by once again, but let’s not bring this up any further, shall we?
Frow frow. I love you.
9. Kate | February 21st, 2007 at 7:20 am
I think Howard K Stern is a little bit hot too. I think it’s important to admit these things. I also think in some sort of crazy way, he might have actually loved her. He is the only one being reasonable about the burial issue. OF COURSE SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO BE BURIED NEXT TO HER SON. Gawd.
It is a sad day when I end up championing a sleazy, possibly criminally negligent lawyer as the voice of reason.
10. H | February 21st, 2007 at 7:20 am
Ditto on the bagpipes. There’s an annual parade near here in which a large group of Canadian bagpipers march — er, walk. I’m not sure if they’re officially considered a band, but I always tear up when they play.
Howard K. Stern. There’s so much more to say about him but yes, I can see your point…sort of.
11. lizgwiz | February 21st, 2007 at 8:52 am
I have had those exact same thoughts about Howard K. Stern. You are not alone. And I do think he loved her. Craziness and all aside. Okay, that’s a lot to put aside, but still.
12. guinness girl | February 21st, 2007 at 8:56 am
Hee on the frow-frow! But thank you for posting this, because it taught me that although I pronounce it correctly, I do not spell it correctly. (I spell it “froo froo”). Hrm.
I have a deep and abiding hatred of bagpipes, incidentally.
13. Paula | February 21st, 2007 at 9:08 am
Frow frow! Ok, I mistakenly pronounced matronly as mah-trawn-lee for years. Yes, I could die from the shame.
“Embiggen” is a real word? Who knew!
14. jonniker | February 21st, 2007 at 9:11 am
Paula: I don’t think it’s an actual word in the M-W dictionary sense, but it’s way more commonly used than I ever anticipated, and is widely recognized. Who knew? WHO KNEW, I say?
15. TwoBusy | February 21st, 2007 at 9:39 am
I presumed you were just making it up. Could you define it, please?
16. Heather B. | February 21st, 2007 at 9:47 am
To be honest, though I can properly pronounce ‘Frou Frou’ it’s only because it was the name of Imogen Heap’s band/group whatever.
And don’t worry, my dear, I have a thing for Jewish guys as well. Not Howard K. Stern per se, but I figured I’d make you feel a little better.
17. jonniker | February 21st, 2007 at 10:12 am
Heather: I listen to Frou Frou too! And I PRONOUNCED IT WRONG THERE AS WELL. Thank God they broke up, and I can focus only on Imogen.
TB: It’s used in the newspaper business and online as an infinitive to make a thumbnail larger, as in “Click here to embiggen…” I thought it was something Beth at So The Fish Said.. made up, as she uses it all the time, and then no fewer than FOUR PEOPLE used it yesterday, and I was baffled.
18. Claire | February 21st, 2007 at 10:28 am
yes! with the Frou Frou band. That’s the only reason why i’ve said it outloud to other people… who have looked at me strangely, because.. well. I thought it was Frow Frow.
Obviously from now on, i will not admit my mistake to anyone else and will only say frow frow to myself. Froo for the rest of you.
19. Sundry | February 21st, 2007 at 10:28 am
Embiggen is, to my knowlege, a Simpsons Word. You know, “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man”?
Also, Howard. K. Stern. Dear GOD. I am FROUNING at you right now.
20. jonniker | February 21st, 2007 at 10:33 am
Sundry: Thank you for the origin. I had no idea, and dude, it’s seeped into MY WORK. MY WORK PEOPLE USED IT YESTERDAY, hence my assumption it was a newspaper word. God, is there no end to my idiocy?
Also, I think you mean frooning, which could very well be my next abomination.
21. Gentry | February 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am
When you mispronouced frou frou, you at least used the uvular “r” didn’t you. Didn’t you?!!! And I feel guilty for perhaps inspiring your post-coital revulsion.
PS. Did you see the pug in the paperboy cap on cuteoverload.com
22. jonniker | February 21st, 2007 at 10:59 am
Gentry: Totally. You used it the other day, and I can’t get it out of my head. Although I’ve used it myself, so I am equally guilty.
23. Andrea | February 21st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Okay, I have to ask. You’re the only blogger I’ve seen use “apropos of nothing” on a regular basis. How do you pronounce apropos? And my word, that’s hard to type without messing it up!
Also? You like Grey’s Anatomy, right? I found a blog yesterday written by the writers. It’s behind the scenes stuff about HOW they come UP with this shit! I’m sorry to do this to your spare time, but http://www.greyswriters.com
24. jonniker | February 21st, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Andrea: Yes! Yes! I love Grey’s. Also, I say “app-roe-POE” but given my track record, let’s be honest, who knows if I’m right?
25. Paula | February 21st, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I had just seen Sundry’s “embiggen” before your post this morning and had credited her with a great new word. Then you burst that bubble by saying it was a real word. Now Sundry is crediting THE SIMPSONS. SHOOT ME. SHOOT ME NOW.
26. Melissa | February 21st, 2007 at 1:39 pm
“It embiggens the soul!” is the line I remember. I think it’s a great word, Merriam-Webster approved or not. More should use it.
27. amanda | February 21st, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Misled. Simple, right? Mis-led. Not in my head. I was pronouncing it my-silled. Even after hearing someone say misled I had my-silled in my head as a way of being slighted. Thank god I never said in the heat of an argument, “But you my-silled me!” It’s bad enough I say things to my husband, king of the cliches, like “Let’s call a horse a horse” or “I’m stuck in lingo.” All things considered, frow frow ain’t all that bad. Besides, you have the fantastically riveting writing to fall back on should speaking prove too riddled with opportunity for mispronunciation.
28. no name slob | February 21st, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Hey, amanda, I always say “misled” the same way in my head! To me, it’s much more onomatopoeic that way. “My-zzled” (it’s a bit more z-ish in my mispronunciation) just *sounds* slimy and misleading. In short, I concede to Merriam Webster’s when I say the word aloud, but I personally think my own version is better. So there.
29. Jonniker. » Summert&hellip | August 8th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
[...] Now, bear in mind, I’m not paragon of pronunciation, with frou-frou and clandestine and … well, let’s just say that I know full well that Jurgen Nation is pronounced “YURR-gen”, and yet there I am to myself, every time “JERGEN!” But I’m not sure that counts, because that one I really do know, I just … well, I just apparently choose instead to flout the gentle rules of the English language and go with some vague, arbitrary phonetics. You have complete free reign to mock me and tell me how ridiculous I am with my fear of yoogely annoying hwa-ite-hot yoomidity. [...]
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