a wolf angel is not a good angel

I have gotten into a discussion about what I call benefactive me in Standard-ish North American English over at Suzette Haden Elgin’s place. This is the “me” (or whichever other pronoun) in a sentence like “I like me some chocolate”.

Before you go and see what I think, I have some questions about grammaticality and felicity (is this otherwise grammatical sentence okay to say in this context?).

First, can you say these sentences in an approximately neutral context? (Say, not write. These are in an informal context, too.)

1. I got me some candy.
2. Sam caught him a mouse.
3. Matilda wants her some catnip.

Let’s say you went to the market and bought all the carrots because you want to make a lifetime supply of carrot bread right now. (Good choice! I love carrot bread.)

4. I bought me some carrots.
5. I bought me all the carrots.
6. I bought up all the carrots.
7. I bought me up all the carrots.

What about these (very short) discourses?

8. I caught me some fish. I’m going to give them to a friend for dinner — I do not eat fish.
9. I got me a new book. Well, actually, I asked my friend to pick it up for me.
10. I got me a new book. Well, actually, I got it as a gift.

I am way out of practice at making up good data sets. Oh well. Still, I’m really curious, so I’d love responses; I would welcome more examples of things which are good or bad. If you’re willing, the dialect of English you speak (probably where you grew up) adn your age would be interesting, because I think there is an age factor.

Yet again, another day sitting around, thinking of all the things I should be doing but am not. I’m not even going to bother to list them this time. Back to writing up a report.

I have been trying to do this for a while, but finally I have managed to do it. Yes: I am updating my “currently reading” list. Should this be so very effortful? Perhaps not. In any case, you can now follow my every book again.

It’s always funny to see where cats choose to sleep. My grandparents’ cat likes to crawl into the middle of the bed, under the covers, without making any mess at all, so there’s a big purring lump in their bed. Sammy likes to sleep on top of cushions, smushing them down. Cocoa likes to sleep in the crack between two seat cushions on the pillow, or, occasionally, on Matilda’s spot on my bed. Matilda likes to sleep on my bed, or on top of a suitcase that is still sitting in my room. None of these (well, except what Charlie does, except the head under the sheets bit which is suffocatey) strike me as actually comfortable.

On the other hand, I am way less crampy — or depressed — than usual. It’s sort of a general ache instead of agonising pain. I am taking pills for it too, which helps. Eventually.

I really, really hate getting my period.

Motto

In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will be singing
About the dark times.

-Bertolt Brecht (translated by John Willet)

It didn’t rain today. I got to walk around a while outside in the sun. It might have been cold, but there was sun.

Just as well: it is supposed to start raining again tomorrow.

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Is this really grade 8? It seems sort of easy for grade 8.

Obviously I could only post this because I got 10/10. I would have been too humiliated otherwise. I will admit that I actually figured out what 5.5 squared (using the useful “how to square numbers ending in 5″ trick which has now come in useful exactly once in my life) is instead of looking at the possible answers first.

So that’s frustrating.

A phone call from the notary. “The certificate of location which the vendor is supposed to provide, they didn’t, and we won’t get it until Monday afternoon. The notary cannot do the sale without this certificate.” Uh. Okay? But she will have it? I don’t understand. “How about Tuesday at 2?” No, that is the main time I cannot do it. The notary cannot later, my agent cannot earlier (I figure if she wants to be there, there is some reason, so I will have her be there). Right now we are hoping that Wednesday morning works. I don’t suppose it really matters in the end, though I am marginally panicky about this.

It’s just as well I didn’t order my cheques yet.

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