Thanks to my green stone necklace and the slight hint of pine green in my skirt, I wasn't pinched today. Not even once. What a relief!
That also might be because my co-workers were trying to stay away from me because I was attempting to speak with an Irish accent for the last 10.5 hours.
Yeah... now that I think of it, that's more likely to be the real reason.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sing Loud, Sing Proud
Our Sacred Harp/Shape Note group was interviewed and featured in a local paper in St. Louis, the West End Word. Unfortunately, our visitors came on a night when a huge storm was expected, so I was part of the smallest gathering I'd ever seen at our singings. And, that is reflected in the picture included in the article. Very unfortunate. But, we still had a great time singing. If any of you blog friends can come up for a visit, I hope you will schedule your trip around the 1st or 3rd Monday of a month so you can sing with us. I would love to introduce you to our Sacred Harp friends - as they are wonderful, wonderful people.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
You Could?
Today, I spoke with someone on the phone. He was really frustrated. REALLY frustrated. I mean, I could hear him stomp his feet and imagined his arms were flailing all around. I'm SURE his face was turning red. His part of the discussion built up to the end when he pretty much yelled, "And you know what? I COULD CARE LESS!!!"
That probably wouldn't be the best time to point out the error of this phrase, right?
Don't worry. I didn't. But, I wanted to do so. Instead, I literally bit my tongue and - as always - tried not to laugh. I rarely succeed.
There are numerous ways in which we flub up our words and pronunciations and grammar, and there is no crime in that. We're human. (I do it all of the time here on the blog.) But, it isn't common to find a phrase that is used by numerous people which is the exact opposite of what they mean to say.
I have been in a few meetings through the years where I haven't been sure if a participant really meant to use the phrase. It can take a while to figure that out because we hear it used incorrectly so often.
My cousin Stephen has the tendency of not using exactly the right words to explain himself. We have a good chuckle when we get together and tease each other about everything. At Christmas, he told me that he could care less about something. I told him I think he meant to say 'I COULDN'T care less.' He told me he couldn't care less about what I think about what he should say. It serves me right.
That probably wouldn't be the best time to point out the error of this phrase, right?
Don't worry. I didn't. But, I wanted to do so. Instead, I literally bit my tongue and - as always - tried not to laugh. I rarely succeed.
There are numerous ways in which we flub up our words and pronunciations and grammar, and there is no crime in that. We're human. (I do it all of the time here on the blog.) But, it isn't common to find a phrase that is used by numerous people which is the exact opposite of what they mean to say.
I have been in a few meetings through the years where I haven't been sure if a participant really meant to use the phrase. It can take a while to figure that out because we hear it used incorrectly so often.
My cousin Stephen has the tendency of not using exactly the right words to explain himself. We have a good chuckle when we get together and tease each other about everything. At Christmas, he told me that he could care less about something. I told him I think he meant to say 'I COULDN'T care less.' He told me he couldn't care less about what I think about what he should say. It serves me right.
Speak Easy
Last night, my parents and I had a long discussion about regional phrases and words. It all started by talking about the chiffarobes in To Kill A Mockingbird. Of course, this led to a little teasing about our family's use of 'chester drawers' which we've discussed before here on the blog. I know there's an overwhelming amount of vocabularly here on the blog in the past two days. But, maybe, just maybe, you can sort these out if you're not quite clear on all of them. I know I wasn't last night.
colloquial - pertaining to words or expressions more suitable for speech than writing; in informal, conversational style.
euphemism - the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt (as passing away for dying.)
vernacular - using plain, everyday, ordinary language; the native speech or language of a place; the language or vocabulary peculiar to a class or profession.
cliche - a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse.
proverbial - of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a proverb; having become an object of common mention or reference.
idiom - an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements (as kick the bucket or hang one's head) or from the general grammatical rules of a language (as the table round for the round table) and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics; a language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people.
platitude - a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
colloquial - pertaining to words or expressions more suitable for speech than writing; in informal, conversational style.
euphemism - the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt (as passing away for dying.)
vernacular - using plain, everyday, ordinary language; the native speech or language of a place; the language or vocabulary peculiar to a class or profession.
cliche - a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse.
proverbial - of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a proverb; having become an object of common mention or reference.
idiom - an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements (as kick the bucket or hang one's head) or from the general grammatical rules of a language (as the table round for the round table) and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics; a language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people.
platitude - a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Chopping Chiffarobes
A kind co-worker loaned me a book on CD after we discussed how much time I spend in my car each week driving to and fro. It was "To Kill A Mockingbird" to be exact. I am slightly ashamed to admit that I had not yet read it, but I knew of the main story points. This week of commuting has not been a chore as it sometimes is. I need to get back to listening to sermon tapes, which used to be my constant car companion, and mix them up with novels every once in a while. It was sad to see that I had placed CD number 10 in the player this morning and had only one CD remaining in the box, so the story will soon come to a close.
Of course, as usual, I have been keeping a mental list of the words I've needed to look up once I arrive at home or work. And, as usual, there are many more on my list than I would like. My vocabulary is tiny (so please don't make too much fun of me!) I guess that's why I'm so interested in learning new words or looking up words to confirm I'm using or interpreting them correctly. Here are some I looked up this past week.
beadle (n.): a minor city official, lower in rank than either a sheriff or a policeman, whose main duties revolve around preserving order at various civil functions such as trials and town hall meetings.
calomel (n.): a laxative; often used as a cure for intestinal worms
changelings (n.): a child secretly put in the place of another
charlotte (n.): a desert made with fruit in a mold that is lined with pieces of bread or cake.
chiffarobe (n.): a large cabinet with drawers and a place for hanging clothes
fractious (adj.): mean or cross
Franklin stove (n.): a cast iron heating stove, invented by Benjamin Franklin.
impudent (adj.): To be impudent is to be shamelessly bold, as if you don't care what anyone thinks about you.
invective (n.): Invectives are abusive terms, curses, insults, and/or cuss words
obstreperous (adj.): noisy and unruly
palliation (n.): act of lessening the pain or fear and anxiety of something without actually making the fear and anxiety go away.
philippic (n.): a bitter verbal attack
scuppernongs (n.): a sweet table grape, grown chiefly in the Southern United States.
smilax (n.): a bright green twinning vine, often used for holiday decorations.
taciturn (adj.): almost always silent.
unsullied (adj.): something that has been basically untouched or unused.
Of course, as usual, I have been keeping a mental list of the words I've needed to look up once I arrive at home or work. And, as usual, there are many more on my list than I would like. My vocabulary is tiny (so please don't make too much fun of me!) I guess that's why I'm so interested in learning new words or looking up words to confirm I'm using or interpreting them correctly. Here are some I looked up this past week.
beadle (n.): a minor city official, lower in rank than either a sheriff or a policeman, whose main duties revolve around preserving order at various civil functions such as trials and town hall meetings.
calomel (n.): a laxative; often used as a cure for intestinal worms
changelings (n.): a child secretly put in the place of another
charlotte (n.): a desert made with fruit in a mold that is lined with pieces of bread or cake.
chiffarobe (n.): a large cabinet with drawers and a place for hanging clothes
fractious (adj.): mean or cross
Franklin stove (n.): a cast iron heating stove, invented by Benjamin Franklin.
impudent (adj.): To be impudent is to be shamelessly bold, as if you don't care what anyone thinks about you.
invective (n.): Invectives are abusive terms, curses, insults, and/or cuss words
obstreperous (adj.): noisy and unruly
palliation (n.): act of lessening the pain or fear and anxiety of something without actually making the fear and anxiety go away.
philippic (n.): a bitter verbal attack
scuppernongs (n.): a sweet table grape, grown chiefly in the Southern United States.
smilax (n.): a bright green twinning vine, often used for holiday decorations.
taciturn (adj.): almost always silent.
unsullied (adj.): something that has been basically untouched or unused.
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