In this “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston, UPDATED: 02/22/2010, it has the young boy pleading with his mother: “Aw, does it have to be Brenda? I want Charlene to babysit, Ma – Please?” “Charlene’s neat ma –an’ Brenda’s MEAN! REAL MEAN.” And finally he finishes to himself: “Brenda makes us go to bed on time!”
Funny how we often make strong judgements on how people treat us, whether it is right or wrong? And even though others might be doing the right thing and often as in this case, the thing that is best, for us, we often refuse to see that and consider them Mean, like poor Brenda in this Cartoon.
So today’s question is, who is it around you now that you currently think are mean? And are they really? Or is it you, like the young boy in the cartoon, the real mean and selfish one? Again just something for you to think about and maybe even do something about it, if felt led in that direction.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
No, I’m Not Discombobulated!
Seems I am not the only one with an interest in unusual words, as I have received a couple of replies lately in reference to my blogs on them. One, while it didn’t discombobulate me like the writer intended, did make me stretch my memory a little. Fortunately it has been a word of the day not so long ago and so had there been any discombobulating, it wouldn’t have lasted long anyway. What about You? Are you discombobulated by the word, Discombobulate?
If so, be discombobulated or confused no more! For discombobulate simply, but very grandiosely, means, “To confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate:”
Okay so your challenge for today is to, like these ladies, to come up with your favourite Pretentious or unusual word. Thanks.
If so, be discombobulated or confused no more! For discombobulate simply, but very grandiosely, means, “To confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate:”
Okay so your challenge for today is to, like these ladies, to come up with your favourite Pretentious or unusual word. Thanks.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Are you or have you, ever been called a Flibbertigibbet?
I just love the Word of the Day for Jan. 6. It is “flibbertigibbet”.
Although certainly not a nice thing to call anyone and especially a young lady, you have to admit it sounds rather impressive doesn’t it?
So the next Time someone calls you a Dumb Blonde, tell them you are not. Tell them you are simply a Flibbertigibbet!
That is, “A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.” No real difference I agree, but you will dumbfound them with this extraordinary word.
According to the word of the Day source, “Flibbertigibbet is from Middle English flipergebet, which is probably an imitation of the sound of meaningless chatter.”
Which on reflection, is what this blog is today: Meaningless chatter! So Bye for now!
Although certainly not a nice thing to call anyone and especially a young lady, you have to admit it sounds rather impressive doesn’t it?
So the next Time someone calls you a Dumb Blonde, tell them you are not. Tell them you are simply a Flibbertigibbet!
That is, “A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.” No real difference I agree, but you will dumbfound them with this extraordinary word.
According to the word of the Day source, “Flibbertigibbet is from Middle English flipergebet, which is probably an imitation of the sound of meaningless chatter.”
Which on reflection, is what this blog is today: Meaningless chatter! So Bye for now!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
All your own choosing?
In this “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston, (15/12/2009) it has two men in a shop. One, a bachelor guiding the married man in buying a present for his wife.
The conversation goes: B. “A pearl necklace would be perfect” H. “Are you sure?” B. “Absolutely”. Get her something simple and elegant. That one for instance, is quite lovely.’ Turning to the salesman the bachelor, says: “Yes, that will do nicely. Can you gift wrap it for my friend, please?" Sales man: “My pleasure.” The S.M. then turns to the husband and says: “Your package sir.” H. “Um … thank you”. Then, as they are outside the shop and going home the bachelor states, “Trust me John. Elly will be thrilled that you chose and wrapped something like this yourself!”
Ever find yourself in a similar situation? A situation where it seems like you are in charge, but in reality, someone else, often with no real experience to your own situation, is really pulling the strings?
True sometimes this can be quite helpful and appreciated and even right. But many times it can also be unhelpful misguided and totally wrong.
Oft times what is right and appropriate for one person’s situation is totally wrong or inappropriate in another, isn’t it? Just something to also think about when offering help too, isn’t it?
The conversation goes: B. “A pearl necklace would be perfect” H. “Are you sure?” B. “Absolutely”. Get her something simple and elegant. That one for instance, is quite lovely.’ Turning to the salesman the bachelor, says: “Yes, that will do nicely. Can you gift wrap it for my friend, please?" Sales man: “My pleasure.” The S.M. then turns to the husband and says: “Your package sir.” H. “Um … thank you”. Then, as they are outside the shop and going home the bachelor states, “Trust me John. Elly will be thrilled that you chose and wrapped something like this yourself!”
Ever find yourself in a similar situation? A situation where it seems like you are in charge, but in reality, someone else, often with no real experience to your own situation, is really pulling the strings?
True sometimes this can be quite helpful and appreciated and even right. But many times it can also be unhelpful misguided and totally wrong.
Oft times what is right and appropriate for one person’s situation is totally wrong or inappropriate in another, isn’t it? Just something to also think about when offering help too, isn’t it?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Apothecary
You may already know that I am a fan of the Word of the Day” and am often intrigued by some of the words they use. Some are quite ordinary and still in common usage, some quite interesting although somewhat rare, and others are just so plainly never in common usage in today’s English. And others just seem so archaic to us Aussie’s (Australians).
On our recent Rivers cruise of Europe, we came across one such seeming word, which in my mind is now, my word of the Year. And that word is “Apothecary”
I called it above, a seeming archaic word. That is because here in Australia, it just isn’t in common usage at all. However in Europe it is so common that it is plastered almost everywhere.
I suffer at times from headaches and so like to have some Aspirin or Panadol handy at all times, but with Drug enforcement so strict, I didn’t want to go through the fuss of taking some with me from here to Europe on our trip, and so decided to wait till we arrived in the Netherlands and then nip out to the nearest Chemist shop to buy some.
However upon arrival there could not find a single Chemist, or even a Pharmacist sign anywhere. Found out a couple of days later that they don’t have chemists or pharmacists in the Netherlands or indeed in Europe at all. No! What they do have though are, yes you guessed it, “Apothecaries”!
Thus armed with this information I was able to buy some Panadol. (Trying to ask for Panadol in English, where English was not spoken was another issue, but that’s another story.)
Just recently I was reading the Book of Ecclesiastes, in my King James Bible. And when I came to Chapter 10 verse one, I nearly fell out of my bed. For there, in my very own Bible, was the word Apothecary.
(Upon doing a word check I found that it is also used another half dozen times in the KJV.) However as I don’t normally use the KJV regularly, and in the modern translations they use the more broader meaning “of mixing of herbs and spices” and use the word Perfumer, which in Australia at least is not a particularly popular or common word either.
So that is my uncommon “Word for the Year”: so far. What are some uncommon words that you have found recently, that are more common than you originally thought?
On our recent Rivers cruise of Europe, we came across one such seeming word, which in my mind is now, my word of the Year. And that word is “Apothecary”
I called it above, a seeming archaic word. That is because here in Australia, it just isn’t in common usage at all. However in Europe it is so common that it is plastered almost everywhere.
I suffer at times from headaches and so like to have some Aspirin or Panadol handy at all times, but with Drug enforcement so strict, I didn’t want to go through the fuss of taking some with me from here to Europe on our trip, and so decided to wait till we arrived in the Netherlands and then nip out to the nearest Chemist shop to buy some.
However upon arrival there could not find a single Chemist, or even a Pharmacist sign anywhere. Found out a couple of days later that they don’t have chemists or pharmacists in the Netherlands or indeed in Europe at all. No! What they do have though are, yes you guessed it, “Apothecaries”!
Thus armed with this information I was able to buy some Panadol. (Trying to ask for Panadol in English, where English was not spoken was another issue, but that’s another story.)
Just recently I was reading the Book of Ecclesiastes, in my King James Bible. And when I came to Chapter 10 verse one, I nearly fell out of my bed. For there, in my very own Bible, was the word Apothecary.
(Upon doing a word check I found that it is also used another half dozen times in the KJV.) However as I don’t normally use the KJV regularly, and in the modern translations they use the more broader meaning “of mixing of herbs and spices” and use the word Perfumer, which in Australia at least is not a particularly popular or common word either.
So that is my uncommon “Word for the Year”: so far. What are some uncommon words that you have found recently, that are more common than you originally thought?
Monday, August 16, 2010
Not well.
There I was, standing at the counter to hand my purchase and my money over, when the young lass on the other side, cheerfully said ”And How are you today? “ So I cheerfully replied, "Not too bad thanks!”
Then I wondered to myself, “Well that was both a stupid question by her, and an equally stupid, not too mention, incorrect answer by me.” After all, if I were well, would I be in a Chemist (Pharmacy/Apothecary) paying good money for medication for myself?
Yes, silly indeed, but how often do we all answer blithely and without thinking, the questions of others? Even to the point of saying, all is well, even when it is obviously not?
Just a little reminder to all here, and especially myself, that next time, before I speak, I stop, think and mean what I say! Will you try that too? Good for you!
Then I wondered to myself, “Well that was both a stupid question by her, and an equally stupid, not too mention, incorrect answer by me.” After all, if I were well, would I be in a Chemist (Pharmacy/Apothecary) paying good money for medication for myself?
Yes, silly indeed, but how often do we all answer blithely and without thinking, the questions of others? Even to the point of saying, all is well, even when it is obviously not?
Just a little reminder to all here, and especially myself, that next time, before I speak, I stop, think and mean what I say! Will you try that too? Good for you!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Daffodils, Dad & Wordsworth
At the beginning of this month, I wrote the following on my Facebook site: “Way back in the 1950's, dad brought a dozen King Alfred Daffodil bulbs. Although it is over 4 years now since His passing, the descendants of those original 12 bulbs still bring me great joy and remembrance of Him, as I sit here watching their blooms toss in the wind through my window.”
Today, a fortnight later, the same blooms are still giving me great delight and not only reminding me of Dad but also of a great poem I was taught in primary school, some half a century ago. It was by William Wordsworth and although all about daffodils, is actually called, “I wandered lonely as a cloud.”
Anyway, here it is, for your pleasure as much as mine I hope.
“ I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of dancing daffodils;
Along a lake, beneath the trees,
Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.
The waves besides them dance, but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: -
A poet could not but be gay
In such a laughing company;
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth the shew to me had brought:
For oft when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood.
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills.
And dances with the daffodils.”
Now, I have actually been to England, but sadly never made it to the Lakes District and seen these descendants of Wordsworth’s daffodils in all their glory. Nor have I quite seen ten thousand blooms dancing in the Breeze at any one time, but I have seen the massive and glorious golden masses of my late father’s daffodils and thus, I too, like Wordsworth, can often look back and remember these “Golden Memories”.
What are your golden memories and how often do you look back on them? Just something for you to think about, as I now think about “Daffodils, Dad & Wordsworth”.
Today, a fortnight later, the same blooms are still giving me great delight and not only reminding me of Dad but also of a great poem I was taught in primary school, some half a century ago. It was by William Wordsworth and although all about daffodils, is actually called, “I wandered lonely as a cloud.”
Anyway, here it is, for your pleasure as much as mine I hope.
“ I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of dancing daffodils;
Along a lake, beneath the trees,
Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.
The waves besides them dance, but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: -
A poet could not but be gay
In such a laughing company;
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth the shew to me had brought:
For oft when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood.
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills.
And dances with the daffodils.”
Now, I have actually been to England, but sadly never made it to the Lakes District and seen these descendants of Wordsworth’s daffodils in all their glory. Nor have I quite seen ten thousand blooms dancing in the Breeze at any one time, but I have seen the massive and glorious golden masses of my late father’s daffodils and thus, I too, like Wordsworth, can often look back and remember these “Golden Memories”.
What are your golden memories and how often do you look back on them? Just something for you to think about, as I now think about “Daffodils, Dad & Wordsworth”.
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