neenee's low octane alphabet challenge

[Janice, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "Neenee - nice display.
Janice - I have not heard that expression in years!!! LOL. I have only heard one other person use it. My best friend's mother."

I grew up with that expression! Funny, the differences we all have Now I have to wonder how the expression came to be.

[Cherie]

I am sure it has to do with getting ready to keep up, Janice.

My impression is that it is uncomfortable or hard to run if your socks keep scrunching down inside of your shoes or falling down around your ankles. You cannot run fast that way. Mrs. Kepley grew up in Oklahoma. I just might have to call her and ask her. :D

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I always thought it was because you were scruffy in behaviour and appearance if your socks were falling down (when long socks were worn). And that "pulling your socks up" meant you were pulling yourself back in line. That's how it's used here anyway.

I'll look at my Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable when I get home in an hour or so and tell you the actual meaning/origin.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Brewer's failed me. It had it in there but no history on where it came from :(

[Sarah]

We use the phrase in the UK too - both your explanations make sense!

[Neenee]

Rusalka wrote: "I always thought it was because you were scruffy in behaviour and appearance if your socks were falling down (when long socks were worn). And that "pulling your socks up" meant you were pulling you..."

Never heard of it before. it wouldn't mean anything if it was used here.In this hot and humid part of the world, we hardly wear socks.

[Janice, Moderator]

The closest I could find on the internet was Rusalka's explanation.

[Cherie]

Janice and Rusalka - I "googled" the expression and it seems you are correct and I was taking it the wrong way. I always thought she meant that she could not keep up with us. Now, I understand that it meant that she needed to do better...

[Neenee]

Done with Jhumpa Lahiri's book Unaccustomed Earth. Onto Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides for my V.

[Neenee]

It's almost two months!! Been under the weather and lost interest in the internet for a while. Managed to finished V, and W , though.

Now, to the X, which I still don't have any idea. Tried looking into Project Gutenberg, but nothing exciting there.

[Rachel]

sorry to hear you were sick-glad to see you posting again-hope you're feeling better

I've never read anything byJeffery Deaver but I have a few of his books on my tbr including XO which is the third book in the Kathryn Dance series. ( The Sleeping Doll is the first book in the series)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Yay! More Diana Wynne Jones!

[Neenee]

Rachel wrote: "sorry to hear you were sick-glad to see you posting again-hope you're feeling better

I've never read anything byJeffery Deaver but I have a few of his books on my tbr including XO which is the thi..."

Yep, better but not really recover. My nose still blocked & feeling as if I'm in a bubble. I have to ask people to raise their voice slightly when talking to me or I will just hear them mumble mumble.

Thanks for recommending XO, Rachel.I haven't seen the book yet. I will look it up.

[Neenee]

Rusalka wrote: "Yay! More Diana Wynne Jones!"

I love her books!!

[Sarah]

Welcome back Neenee - hope you are back on top form soon!

[Neenee]

Phew... Never thought it's going to be this hard. It took me forever to find an X book. Finally settled with . Then to finish it took another lifetime.

Next, the Y:

[Neenee]

I didn't like at all. The jokes I could never get and has too many crazy characters. So decided to pick up a new Y.

is bearably okay. Managed to finish it in two days. Predictable even though sprinkled with several twists here and there.

[Janice, Moderator]

I hope you finish your last book with more than "bearably okay". You need a zinger for your Z book.

[Cherie]

Wow, only one more! I was just re-reading through all of the posts, Neenee. Almost as much fun as reading the books!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Go you good thing!

[Neenee]

thanks, guys! now to the last push

[Neenee]

phewwww.... finally made it. finished the last book for this challenge. never thought it would be like this. most are interesting, but there are also rubbish. had to push harder especially with the final five of the books. it's been a long year but a memorable one.

[Janice, Moderator]

Congratulations on finishing the challenge Neenee!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Grats Neenee!

[Neenee]

Thank you, Janice & Rusalka!!

[Cherie]

Great news! Congratulations!! I am on my Z book. Didn't get much reading done today. Playing with play-doh with my grandsons right now..

[Marnie]

Yea Neenee!! Great job on finishing your alphabet...now on to the Chunksters :)

[Neenee]

Haha... i don't think i can endure such length. good luck with the chunksters challenge, Marnie!

[Neenee]

Cherie wrote: "Great news!... "

i peeked at your Z book, Cherie. it looks exciting and funny.

i hope you are having a great time with your grandsons. Yeah, we should spend more time with our family and friends. Happy Holidays!!

[Cherie]

Neenee wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Great news!... "

i peeked at your Z book, Cherie. it looks exciting and funny.

i hope you are having a great time with your grandsons. Yeah, we should spend more time with our fa..."

Yes, Neenee. Zuleika Dobson is very funny so far. At the very first it seemed like it was going to be very stuffy, but not now. I am just waiting to see where it is going to go. I have learned some new words too - not that I could use them in any kind of conversation today. :P