Christmas in Connecticut

[valoise]

I have to report that my first visit to New England was absolutely wonderful and definitely too short. I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but Redding, Connecticut reminds me so much of Northwest Arkansas. Wonderful hills, winding roads, forested with a mix of evergreens and hardwoods. Really pretty even in barren winter with no snow.

I met my son's girlfriends parents and found a warm and generous household and new friends who feel like long lost family. And I thought in-laws were supposed to be difficult. Looks I got really lucky, but knowing what a wonderful young woman Jes is, I'm not at all surprised.

Which brings me to another point - why do Americans insist on calling adult unmarried persons boyfriends and girlfriends? In the UK people refer to live partners as partners, which makes a lot of sense, but in the US I'm afraid that people would come to the wrong conclusion that you're talking about same sex couples.

Comments

[tazlet.livejournal.com]

Which brings me to another point - why do Americans insist on calling adult unmarried persons boyfriends and girlfriends? In the UK people refer to live partners as partners, which makes a lot of sense, but in the US I'm afraid that people would come to the wrong conclusion that you're talking about same sex couples.

You may have noticed: US=Up-tight Sex. But, invidious national reflections aside, silly as it is, nothing else has ever quite caught on -- occasionally 'Significant Other' (sometimes shortened to 'SO') and, now and then, 'roommate', although, that only seems to apply to a young couple. And circumstances alter cases -- when home with the parents 'live in lover' may not come tripping off the tongue.

SO's and DA's

[(Anonymous)]

I do find on that on various forums, I often see people getting creative with their euphomisms for partners. My favorite so-far is "domestic associate." Living out here on the left coast, gender and orientation confusion inherent in these terms actually seems like a plus and not a negative.

- punkelf

US

[valoise.livejournal.com]

US=Up-tight Sex - this is so true.

Re: SO's and DA's

[valoise.livejournal.com]

But doesn't domestic associate sound kind of business-like or formal or something? Not intimate at all.

But then, please, please, please don't tell me about intimacy between you and Jes. There are just some things a mother doesn't want to know. By the way, I added another photo of the two of you on my flickr Christmas set.

DA's

[honkytonkdragon.livejournal.com]

The formality of Domestic Associate, is what I like about it, especially when said with tongue firmly planted in mouth.
I think the fact that you are using an obvious euphemism, highlights the fact of intimacy, while the term domestic associate kinda makes it sound like you both Home Ec students.
I don't know it's just funny to me.

Oh yeah, I got a livejournal account so I can talk to you on here.

Hope your New Year is full of joy, creativity, and love. Did you try the Garam Masala in your black-eyed peas? I'm putting it in just about everything these days, it goes with savory, it goes with spicy, and it goes with warm (best term I've come up with for the pie spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, etc.)

I should be posting my split-pea soup recipe soon. I don't know if I ever made it for you, but the recipe has evolved quite a bit in the last two years.