Are you Skype-hot? (Or, The Victory of the Pear)

Skype-hot
[skahyp -(ht)] adj. informal: hot/attractive from the shoulders or neck up
variation: Skype-hotty (adj) (antonym: Skype-dog)

I've discovered (invented) a new word. Like most words, it was borne due to a need in the language for a description of a certain slice of reality. Here's how I came upon this need:

Situation 1: On Christmas day, I was happily heading towards the brunch table, when a relative of mine sidled up to me. He started talking about his daughter's diet, how she had "ballooned up to 195" but was now down to a decent weight, and still headed in the right direction. I nodded at him, and thought it sweet that he was such a doting dad. He trailed off, for some reason, and left for a few minutes, but came back with more info about the diet. He then told me that he thought I might be interested, given my WEIGHT. As though it is an entity unto itself. As though it warrants a mention. Suddenly, I was no longer an attractive woman wearing a nice (LOFT) ensemble, with pointy-toed slingbacks. I was Miss Piggy, with little hooves. I was (am?) a woman who appears to be struggling with her weight. Beyond depressing.

Situation 2: At (ironies of ironies) the Mighty Taco drive-thru the other day, I had no choice but to block a jeep from leaving as I waited in line. One of the men accepted my apologetic gestures, and then motioned for me to roll down my window. When I did, he yelled to me, "You're hot, so I don't mind". I laughed sort of hysterically, and felt good for about 3 minutes, until I realized that Miss Piggy probably looks pretty good from the neck up, too.

Situation 3: Each year, the American Philosophical Association has its annual meeting, which involves hundreds of academic job interviews, on Dec. 26th. This year, the meeting was cancelled, due to the east coast snowstorm. And it so happened that this revolutionized the philosophical world, because, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Since very few people could make the interviews, the philosophical world resorted to Skype interviews. And they discovered that this is a great way to save money. My husband, who is Chair of his dept., also pointed out that it's less sexist: people are only seen from the neck up. (As my follower, Emcy, said, a lot of smart pear-shaped people are going to get hired). He actually told me this when I got home from Mighty that day. And so, it gelled: I'm Skype-hot. Hot (if you will) from the neck up. From what you see in a Skype interview, or the car door window, I might warrant a second look. But, alas, get me out of the car, or meet me in person, and my WEIGHT has a life of its own, apparently.

Don't you think that the English language needs this word?

Which Jane Austen heroine are you?

I

Take the Quiz here!
I am Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! I am practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though I am tremendously sensible and allow my head to rule, I have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.


Can this be true??!!?? 

The Importance of Paper Airplanes

      Last night was my husband's weekly "poker game for nerds". He and some of his colleagues meet at a local bar to have dinner and drinks and discuss an article that they've read over the past week. Last week the article had a substantial part of it devoted to what sort of property the elasticity of a rubberband is. Last night this group of professors from local colleges discussed whether the same piece of paper can be an airplane and a letter. When I wake up at midnight to his dark form in the bedroom, groping through piles of clean (or dirty)  laundry for his pjs, and ask him how it was, he usually says, "terrific".

      That's the problem with philosophy. It can look absolutely ridiculous from the outside (and my description isn't helping). Having my hands full all day with 3 little ones, I see it out of context and can see how people scoff at it. Or run from it. But, for example, when I read Epictetus' writings on Stoicism, or Locke's writings on political philosophy (which, I will say, I am forced to re-read because I assign it to my students; otherwise, I just don't have the time!), I remember why I love it. And why I want my kids to read it. And love it. (Which is the kiss of death). 

        In any case,  I worked a "double" yesterday so that my husband could discuss paper airplanes.