Monday, June 22, 2009

Falker Satherhood Revisited

Monday, June 22, 2009

(Hey, I did say I had my fingers crossed, right?)

Since Falker Satherhood is one Hallmark card away from becoming the new official name of Father's Day, I thought I'd share how some of you Wreckies celebrated it yesterday.

Lindsay B. did the sensible thing and bought a cake:


While Jan B. and her daughter Ginny made Dad a banner:


Since the original Falker Satherhood cake debuted back in May, though, there are some dissenting opinions on when it should be celebrated. For example, the Big Doofus over at The Big Doofus Blog lists a quick, educational, and completely made-up history of the day as follows:

"Falker Satherhood was celebrated in the tiny Eastern European country of Belgrid to commemorate the beginning of spring and the annual "Dancing Ritual of the Goats."

Dancing goats? Heck yeah! When I was a kid we had two miniature goats as pets, and they were awesome. Why, my mom still has the scars on her shins from little Starbuck's* playful maulings. [getting all misty-eyed] They butt with love, those wee lil' goats: they butt...with love.


*Yes, his name was Starbuck. This was before the coffee shop was popular, though, so the meaning was more along the lines of he was a star at bucking. Or maybe it had something to do with Battlestar Galactica... we ARE a family of geeks, after all.
Unknown said...

Oh my goodness that is just too funny! *Tears streaming from eyes, snot running from nose* from laughing so hard!

Anonymous said...

I bet MY pet goat danced better than yours.

Denise said...

Sure the name didn't have to do with Moby Dick? :-) Starbuck was the first mate, IIRC.

Deanna said...

Thanks - I needed a history lesson this morning!!! Just came back to your site to bookmark it and noticed you had a new post! And to think I had laughed my head enough this morning...Boy, was I WRONG!

Thanks for the laughs!
~Deanna

Anonymous said...

I had a goat, too! Her name was Bebe Goak because we made the unfortunate decision to let a 3 year old name her. Alas.

Also, Starbucks probably DID exist then, you just hadn't heard of it. The company has been around for 30-40 years.

Half Assed Kitchen said...

And your site is educational too!

Angie (from over at www.HalfAssedKitchen.com)

janet2buns said...

What Denise @5:08 said.

Yeah. Moby Dick predates any coffee chain.

Dorci said...

I love ya, Jen!!! I'm battling some depression right now and you are the only one who can make the corners of my mouth turn up at the moment and it not be a snarl. Thanks for the giggle. Again. :o)

Amber said...

My cat's name is Starbuck and I always have to explain that he's named after the character in Moby Dick and not after the coffee....sigh....

Also, I had miniature goats named Wednesday and Pugsly when I was a wee lass. There's no such thing as a bad goat name.

Anonymous said...

Starbucks junkie here to confirm that the first company store opened in '71.

We had a pet goat, too. Billy. Billy Goat ... aka Billy the Kid. Our family has always been punny.

Heidi D said...

Oh my gosh! Who cares about when Starbucks officially came to be. It wasn't on anyone's radar until the mid 90's...and I grew up in Washington!

Why do people have to nit pick?

Do you all not remember what happened the last time? Two words.

Spaceship. Earth.

I think you are creative and funny Jenn and I love your blog. :))

Kristin - The Goat said...

My Mother opened up a coffeehouse in Lansing, MI called the Dancing Goat Coffeehouse. I don't recall any Falker Satherhoods, but we weren't well versed in all of the customs of the dancing goats.

Abi said...

The video was posted March 21st so I'm going with the 3rd Friday in March.

Sheila said...

Oh. My. God. Dancing goats. HAahahaaa!!! Love it so much!!! :-D

Fluffy Cow said...

I would comment... but I am giggling too hard!!!

WF- butrack. I can't make this stuff up, folks.

Jan said...

That's my little girl! Thanks for posting the pic. :)

Jan M <-- not B

Karen C. said...

I love goats! More about goats! Goats on a cake? Cake on some goats? Two of my favorite things together!

Anonymous said...

There's a small chain of coffeehouses here in WA called Dancing Goats espresso, too.

(Also chiming in on Moby Dick reference. Literacy ftw.)

Nanny Goats In Panties said...

Mikki Black (of Here's What Let's Do) told me about your post today to make sure I didn't miss it.

I'd like to know the Hallmark store that is so huge they carry not just Falker Satherhood cards, but those for one's great aunt AND Falker Satherhood. It must be the Super Walmart of card stores. And I must see it.

Mrs. B said...

Hey Jen, you got a shout out in WIRED magazine! That is awesome, congrats!

SzélsőFa said...

Calling a capital of a separate country with a population of over 1 million inhabitants a tiny town and mispronouncing its name at the very same time is also part of the fun.
The blog is outstanding and hilarious. You just never know what you've been missing all your life. Honestly, I love this.

SzélsőFa from Hungary

Stillapill said...

I had a goat, too! She danced and danced... she danced right up on the roof of my brother-in-law's brand new car. Needless to say, I didn't have a goat very long after that. :*( ...sniff...

Stillapill said...

BTW - my goat's name was Marigold, although I had wanted to name her Maresedoats, like the song. Alas, she already had a name when we got her.

Bilby P. Dalgyte said...

I'm just far too sad then when you said your goats name was Starbuck I thought "Battlestar Gallactica" instead of "Coffee". Wow this falker satherhood thing is pretty popular. I should probably celebrate it some time, it sounds like fun :) (and it's got a delightful history to it!)

Ms Avery said...

I wish my nephews and nieces were cool enough to give me that card.

aussiechef67 said...

Is it just me? Or does the eye of the goat seem to follow you around the room?

WV = aolonga: Aolonga I read this blog, the more I love it!

Margot said...

Falker Satherhood....the Wreckoning!!

Yota Armai said...

I prefer to think it had to do with BSG, but maybe because I wish I was a nugget.

Rose's Goats said...

Whoohoo! I love Falker Satherhood! (Actually I love any holiday that pays homage to the most misrepresented and misunderstood of all the farm animal!)

Christina said...

Even though I'm a caffeine junkie and not terribly particular as to where I get it, I too though immediately of Battlestar Galactica upon reading the goats name. Although I also admit that I thought if the new Starbuck, I like her better, is that allowed?

Anonymous said...

we are now up to 26 200 hits from google when you type in "falker satherhood"

This is really taking off.

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

Thanks for posting the link to my blog. I didn't realize it until I was looking at my comments and found more than the usual 1-2.

Lindsay B. said...

Haha awesome! Jen you rock.

Sarah said...

I was making a Father's Day card for my father-in-law, and all i wanted to write was "Happy Falker Satherhood" but I knew he wouldn't get it. I seriously couldn't get the phrase out of my head, I just kept hearing it over and over and over.

A-not-Ansel said...

You bet your sweet bippy, dancing goats! If I remember correctly, and I think I do, that's involved in the Greek origins of the word *tragedy,* which adds a whole new dimension to the celebration.

Jesus Christine said...

Cheers to Moby Dick nerds.

Anonymous said...

Goats invented coffee, they were the first animals to eat the beans and act all wackadoodle and then Kaldi a goat herder decided to try coffee beans himself. Or so goes the legend.

Kim said...

Yes! that is the legend. The goats found the coffee tree and started frolicking around. The herder found them and tried the coffee cherries, and he started dancing around too. That's where the dancing goats coffee comes from...and that particular image is used in reference to the legend as well!

Pretty funny that you mention having a goat named Starbuck in light of the history behind coffee!

Becky said...

Come to Tacoma and meet my BSG-inspired cat, Starbuck! (No coffee-related shame here, only geekery)

Greenmare said...

i always thought starbucks coffee smelled goaty

Anonymous said...

From Jules (9 years old)
I think the cake wreck Falker Satherhood was really funny.
I'll make one for my dad.

Miranda said...

Hahaha! That Falker Satherhood legend is great!
I just recently learned researching for a group project about the dissemination of coffee as a global commodity that the dancing-goats-and-coffee relationship comes from the legend of the origins of coffee. Kaldi, an Ethiopian goatherd, one day saw his goats dancing after eating red berries (coffee berries)off a bush. He, of course, decided to try some berries as well: mutual dance ensued.
I think this is just what a holiday should be: a wonderful amalgamation of legends and silliness. :D

Lindsay said...

Oh my word. My last name is Falk and my kids are always called the Little Falkers. We call my husband the GodFalker. And I have been known to be called Martha Falker by friends. You have no idea the tears I have wiped away watching the video from the first Falker Satherhood and this. Holy. Hannah. The. Best. Ever!