Michael Gates's Blog, page 25

Random Sequence: serpigo

"Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum / For ending thee no sooner."
--William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Act III, Scene I, Line 32

serpigo (noun) = a skin eruption, like ringworm

Oh, yuck.

Zen Books That Never Were

Zen and the Art of Dishwashing
Zen and the Art of Coffee Drinking
Zen and the Art of Shoe Tying
Zen and the Art of Telephone Dialing
Zen and the Art of Stair Climbing
Zen and the Art of Tooth Brushing
Zen and the Art of Showering
Zen and the Art of Peeing
Zen and the Art of Shirt Buttoning
Zen and the Art of Floor Sweeping
Zen and the Art of Dusting
Zen and the Art of Vacuuming
Zen and the Art of Weeding
Zen and the Art of Lawn Mowing
Zen and the Art of Stamp Licking
Zen and the Art of Hair Combing
Zen and the Art of Recycling
Zen and the Art of Window Washing
Zen and the Art of Parallel Parking
Zen and the Art of Bill Paying
Zen and the Art of Pot Stirring
Zen and the Art of Nail Hammering
Zen and the Art of Email Checking
Zen and the Art of Door Locking
Zen and the Art of Pillow Fluffing
Zen and the Art of Cork Screwing
Zen and the Art of Can Opening
Zen and the Art of Water Boiling

~~~

"After enlightenment, the laundry." --Zen Proverb

Word of the Day: gallimaufry

What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...

gallimaufry [gal-uh-MAW-free] (noun) [TWITO, page 59]

A hodgepodge, a jumble, or a confusing medley


Photo by me. Long story.

Link Mania: Some Pumpkins?

11 Words That Prove The English Language Is Meaningless And So Is Life So Let’s All Give Up
Yeah, it's awful....

~~~

Behave Yourself! 10 Words for Good, Bad, and Indifferent Conduct
Are you feeling stolid or bellicose? If you are excessively sanguine, you may become insouciant. So watch yourself!

~~~

12 Lost American Slangisms From The 1800s
Not "some pumpkins", but you might find this a "lally-cooler". Alas, the "shoddyocracy" is still with us.

~~~

11 Stellar British Swear Words That Americans Should Borrow
Not Kermit! Including "gormless" (TWITO, page 62).

Random Sequence: conventicle

"Ay, all you have laid your heads together—
Myself had notice of your conventicles--
And all to make away my guiltless life."
--William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part II, Act III, Scene 1

conventicle (noun) = a secret meeting, often by people with unconventional opinions

I'm sure that, somewhere, some people are having a conventicle right now. Let's hope they're good people.

Fish Food for Thought

Story Cubes 8: Waning

It was four o'clock and already dark on that wintry day. My eye was nearly touching the telescope lens as I squinted at the moon. Then my cell phone bleeped. Was it her? She'd vanished months ago without saying good-bye. Was it her? That was the constant question mark that hooked me like a fish every time the phone rang. When I answered, it was a female voice saying "hello?" I smiled, and a little shock of surprise and momentary hope traveled up my spine like an electric insect. "Nadia?" I said. But it wasn't her. Just a woman reminding me about an upcoming dental appointment. "Thanks," I said and hung up. I stamped my foot, because my feet were getting cold, but also out of frustration. The moon was waning, and so was my patience.

Free Ebook and Audiobook: Your Move

LINK: The Iron Box

Word of the Day: gelastic

What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...

gelastic [jel-ASS-tic] (adjective) [TWITO, page 60]

Provoking laughter

"Only Desmond's gelastic comments made the tedious seminar bearable."

(See "Photo of the Week" below.)

Photo of the Week: Empty Waders

I don't know why I snapped this picture at the local flea market. And maybe you don't know why you want to click it for a better view. But you do.