civ*et n 1. Any of various carnivorous catlike mammals of the family Viverridae of Africa and Asia, having anal scent glands that secrete a fluid with a musky odor. Also called civet cat. 2. The thick yellowish musky fluid secreted by one of these mammals, used in the manufacture of perfumes. 3. The fur of one of these mammals.

Don't you ever have one of those days where strange, inexplicable coincidences seem to occur for no good reason? I consider myself a pretty well-read, intelligent, scholarly type person and there aren't many words used in daily speech that I'm unfamiliar with. Today I was pleased(?) to learn a new word - civet. Not only did I hear it once today, but twice.

It was first mentioned on Michael Feldman's Whaddya Know? as we were driving home from church where they were talking about the fur from a civet. And then it was mentioned a second time during the People's Choice Awards in a clip from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation where they were smelling the fur of a civet cat. Like I said, I'm not sure why I'm supposed to know what a "civet" is, but twice in one day is incentive enough for me to learn what it is. Someone may be trying to tell me something, but I have no earthly idea what it is.

What's even stranger is that Jen swore it was spelled with a "Q" and had something to do with a yak or something so that is the first place we looked in the dictionary. And this is what we found:

qiviut n 1. the wool of the undercoat of the musk-ox.

Don't ask me how she knew *that*.

What is disturbing to me is that the anal secretions of a civet cat is used in perfumes. Ack. Definitely TMI there. I bet you now you'll think twice before putting on any perfume.

So there you are, ladies and gentlemen - the word of the day is "civet". Sponsored by the Olfactory Division of Elizabeth Arden.

* * * * *

I watched the extended edition DVD of the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers *again* last night but got to see it at home on a huge screen (courtesy of a friend of mine) with Surround Sound Goodness. See?

It was a grand experience that's for sure. You certainly could tell we had a grand 'ol time by the evidence of food that was consumed, which consisted of no less than a plate of oatmeal cookies, two bags of popcorn w/extra melted butter, tortilla chips w/homemade salsa, a 2-liter of Coca Cola, a 2-liter of Sprite, 1 bag of Lays Sour Cream & Onion potato chips, and an orange for myself. And that was just for two of us. Blargh. I think I'm going to be sick just from reading that.

* * * * *

Jen's sister and her youngest brother will be visiting us for a couple of nights this week as they drive back to Utah from Ohio. We're looking forward to seeing them again.

Cute Braden observation of the month: When my sister was leaving at the end of their visit, when Braden went to give her hugs & kisses goodbye, he also kissed her preggo belly to say goodbye to his unborn cousin. And he keeps referring to Jen & me as his "favorite" mom and his "favorite" dad. As if he has any other ones.

At least now you'll be prepared for "Words That Begin With the Letter 'Q'" category if it ever comes up on Jeopardy (name that movie). Along with answers such as, "what is a quince?" and "what is a "quail?", you can now answer, "what is a qiviut?"