Thursday 13: 0710.03

by
Thirteen Things about MISS MELISS
Things that Begin with U

  1. UFO: I don’t really believe that there are aliens who borrow people for experiments, but I have to admit that I often stare up at the skies and wonder. Don’t we all?
  2. UHF: I grew up before remote controls were ubiquitous, and before cable television was widespread (in fact, because my parents were anti-television, we really didn’t have cable until I was in high school, and even then, it was only basic). The first television I remember had two channel selection dials, and there were often really interesting things on the UHF channels.
  3. Ulalume: One of my favorite of Poe’s offerings, and appropriate for this month.

    The skies they were ashen and sober;
    The leaves they were crisped and sere-
    The leaves they were withering and sere;
    It was night in the lonesome October
    Of my most immemorial year;
    It was hard by the dim lake of Auber,
    In the misty mid region of Weir-
    It was down by the dank tarn of Auber,
    In the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir.

  4. Umber: I like the word, it reminds me of the deepest notes of a cello. I like the richness of the colors this clay-y pigment produces: Raw Umber and Burnt Umber. I like the autumnal feel of both those color names, as well.
  5. Umbra: The darkest part of a shadow, where the source of light is blocked completely. It’s such a mysterious and romantic word, even if it is dark.
  6. Umbrellas: I’ve had favorite umbrellas – black ones that opened automatically and a clear bubble-style one leftover from the early seventies, with yellow trim and a white handle that just screamed for Go-Go boots to go with it. I also like the use of umbrellas in movies and novels – Gene Kelly’s dance in “Singin’ in the Rain,” Julie Andrews using one as “Mary Poppins,” and the scene in Little Women where Friedrich and Jo finally admit their feelings, under the umbrella, in the rain.
  7. Undertow: I always thought the undertow was a sort of deep sea monster, and I never quite believed in its power until I was caught in one at Half Moon Bay when I was thirteen. Wet denim, in case you were unaware, is one of the most uncomfortable fabrics on Earth. Being rolled in white water is scary, but coming out of it, figuring out which way is up again, and making it to shore alive – that’s just exhilarating.
  8. Underwear: I like pretty underwear. True, no one sees it except me, and maybe Fuzzy, but it makes me happy. Also, it has to coordinate with my outfit. This is important. I blame my mother for this fetish.
  9. Undine:

    In Teutonic folklore, undines are female water-spirits who like to associate with humans. They often join villagers in their dances and merry-making. An undine was created without a soul, but by marrying a mortal and bearing him a child she obtained a soul and with it all the pains and penalties of the human race.

    Undines, like all mythological water-beings, have always fascinated me.

  10. Undulate: This word is visual onomatopoeia. It just sounds like a writhing, sensual dance with swaying hips and bare feet and sweat and spice and firelight.
  11. Unicorn: I went through the requisite unicorn phase at the end of elementary school and beginning of junior high school – about the same time that those shirts with a rainbow arcing from sleeve to sleeve across the chest were popular. In a dish on my dresser I have a pair of sterling silver unicorn earrings that I just can’t toss, even though I’ve no intention of ever wearing them again.
  12. Unicycles: I’ve never ridden one, I’ve always wanted to. Like juggling, riding a unicycle is one of my unvoiced circus trick dreams.
  13. Unique: I would rather be unique than boring, any day. I have moments where I am only interesting inside my head, but I hope I’m never average.

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19 thoughts on “Thursday 13: 0710.03”

  1. These are great. There are many things about the letter U I never really thought about before– especially the word undulate!

    Thanks for visiting my TT and for your comment as well:)

  2. I had never heard of an “undine”… fascinating indeed. I also grew up in the pre-cable era and loved some of the UHF channels that we were able to get. There were 3 that really stick out in my mind, channels 20, 50, and 62. Although they were all based in the Detroit area, residents in Flint (my hometown) could still get them. These channels had an excellent mix of reruns, old movies, cartoons, and local programming.

  3. I also didn’t take cable TV although in Belgium it existed since the 60th and was layed in the ground together with electricity and telephone cable. You only had to pay for the connection. I had to take it because when my son was in primary school they talked about TV broadcasts and he was the only one who hadn’t seen it ! So we asked for the connection. BTW little Belgium is the most TV cabled country in the world.

  5. BTW I loved your site look and feel!!

    I loved your Unique list…I have this fetish for umbrellas…and believe it or not these days me and my umbrella are inseperables :D
    About the denim and getting caught in it after its wet….Oh dont even remind me of that :(
    :D The undie thing…even me match it with my dress and wear :D
    Thanks for the info on the word undulating…
    Happy TT

  6. Ah, the requisite unicorn phase, I remember it well.

    I must say I never thought I’d see unicorns, undines and umbra all in the same post somewhere.

    Niftily done. :)

    ~X

  7. I remember UHF channels. And, I love different umbrellas, too.

    And, just in case you’re wondering, I think you’re pretty unique!!

    Thanks for visiting my TT!

  9. Did you know the word underground is the only word in the English language which begins and ends with und?

    Thought you might find that interesting :)

  10. What an excellent and articulate TT! “ubiquitous? Umbra, Undine, onomatopoeia”?!!! Yay you!!! You win first place in my internal “Best vocabulary Contest”!!! Charming and well written! Thanks for visiting my TT, and I do hope you’ll come back; I’ll definitely be visiting you often!

  11. I’m amazed! Sadly, I’m not sure I know 13 words that begin with u…I can’t wait to see what you come up with for Z (or Y for that matter) :-)

    I actually learned a few things, I had never hear of the undine before!

    I went through the unicorn thing too, but I was actually in college when it hit me. I liked the really cool, fantasy figurines.

  14. Thanks for reminding me of “Ulalume”—it’s been years since I’ve read or thought of that poem. this is one of the best “alphabet lists” EVER.

  15. Uni ~ sea urchin ~ a sushi specialty not for the faint of heart.

    I am so with you on all 13. I had not read or seen the Poe poem in such a long time and forgot how much I loved it. I am going to pull out my Poe collection and reread them all.

    There is a “special” at my school named Unique. She tags with the moniker “Uneek.”

    Happy TT!

  16. The word ‘unique’ is one I get to use every day to describe myself.

    ‘Umbra,’ lovely thought…often what lies unseen in the shadows adds richness to the entire experience.

    I remember when I was the remote control. ‘Hey kid, change the channel.’ or ‘Hey kid, you’re a better door than a window.’ or ‘Hey kid, move those antennae.’ Oh yeah, the days of UHF.

    Fun list today! And um, yeah the undies thing… me too.

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