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Monday, May 23, 2016

Tidbits

Where does that word – tidbit – come from?

Dictionary.com has this to say:
c.1640, probably from dialectal tid "fond, solicitous, tender" + bit (n.1) “morsel."
The British version is titbit. I always snicker when I see that word. Yes, I’ve the maturity of a 13 year old boy. Not proud of that but, ya know, I y'am what I y'am.
c. 17: perhaps from dialect tid tender, of obscure origin
Huh. I'd hoped for something more giggle inducing.
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Our new pal, Mechagodzilla
I never get tired of Godzilla movies and, the other day, TAB found a marathon happening on the TV. Awesome!
Battra–looks like a cute puppy, no?

Mothra vs. Godzilla
Godzilla vs Mothra: The Battle for Earth with special guest star Battra!
Godzilla vs. Megalon
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 
 Ya know, I’d never heard of Mechagodzilla let alone Super MechaGodzilla. And Battra? Who knew!? This marathon was def educational.
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Muumuu – did you know? You can buy brightly patterned muumuus at Walgreens. Yes, a pharmacy that sells polyester, fringed sacks. Cheap too!

Yes, I actually thought about it. For all of a sec before I yelled at myself Snap out of it!

They look so comfy and bright though!
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Back in Book Land – it seems that this is pastel season. The Recommended Reads shelf was oh so appropriately hued. And, now that you mention it, yes, they DO all look like Great Beach Reads for upper middle class mothers.

Elin Hilderbrand is heavily represented with Barefoot, Beautiful Day, Silver Girl, The Castaways and A Summer Affair.

With a couple exceptions, these are about happy weddings, happy, exciting, safe affairs, big, successful, happy careers in the arts and happy families (who may or may not have secrets – cue ominous music here).

In a similar vein:

The Lake Season, Hannah McKinnon
Set in the weeks leading up to an idyllic New England wedding, this “enticing and refreshing” novel sparkles with wry wit, sweet romance, and long-kept family secrets.
The Vacationers, Emma Straub 
An irresistible, deftly observed novel about the secrets, joys, and jealousies that rise to the surface over the course of an American family’s two-week stay in Mallorca.
Cozy, sparkling stories for and about privileged women who don’t need to worry, not even for one tiny second, about money, career, health or their respective places in the world.

PASS!

Oh and nearby there was an entire table of hardcovers dedicated to that ignorant, dimwitted, right wing lie machine (no, not talkin’ ‘bout Trump…this time) Bill O’Reilly.
A) Looks like he’s keeping his ghostwriter very busy
B) What’s with the killing theme? No, never mind, I really don’t want to step any closer to that clapped out, maggot riddled, fever swamp that he, doubtless, thinks of as a keen intellect.
Is this Barnes and Nobles' last attempt to sell these suckers at full-ish price before sticking them on the Oh God, Puh-LEEEZE Buy Me shelves? That being the last step before they're sent back to the publisher where they'll get the fate they so richly deserve – pulping.
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On the meditation front – I’ve tried going down to the seawall without my camera to experience the sunrise, the play of light on the wavelets, the clouds, the gulls zooming overhead. I breathe deep, take in all the magical spring scents and just BE. Doin' great, right!?

Yeah, I’m good for two minutes before I race back to the house for the old Canon because Damn, that’s some fabulous orange goin’ on!

Maybe the act of capturing the beauty around me (attempting to anyway) is, in itself, a form of meditation. Hmmmm? Could be!

2 comments:

  1. Donna, LOL on the Brit version of tidbit! I too have wondered whether I am a 13 year old boy, not only did I love Knight Rider and MacGyver back in the day, but even now as I work at Mass Audubon (doing database things, not cool birdy things), I secretly snicker and am reluctant to point out to newbies when see this bird: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/id

    And please do take your camera as you enjoy the each sunrise! Your brilliant (ok,Brill) mind is trapped in a dualistic...I can only do meditation if I don't do this other thing...artificial construct. Full bodied enjoying the sunrise as you do, also with your loose and careful and funny and beautifully constructed blog of pictures and words, is an expression of your contemplative being. You are so clearly WITH all that you are with. Formal meditation does not have to be at odds with what you do. Check out this guy: http://mentalfloss.com/article/79926/9-tips-starting-meditation-practice-10-happier-host-dan-harris

    His #6 is not helpful probably, but I was wondering generally these things with regard to deafness: is there some technology that converts podcast to text ? Also, I have truly been inspired by you that I still can at my advanced age of 56, learn ASL. Outside of 'just do it'; do your insider hearing peeps have any advice on how best to start or learn?

    And that's it for today, outloud on the interweb to you! -Wendy

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    Replies
    1. Hah! I ALWAYS laugh when I think of that bird’s name. Every damn time. :-) Also too, I envy you working at Audubon!

      And MEGA thanks for the meditation stuff and the wonderful appreciation!

      The best way to start learning ASL is to take a class AND the class should DEF be taught by a deafie. The best class I ever had was with a deaf guy who began every session by reminding us “NO voices.”

      Immersion – effective and nowhere near as daunting as I’d anticipated.

      If there’s a college in your town, that’s a good place to look for a class. Sometimes evening adult ed classes will have a great immersion instructor but a college is more likely.

      2 good websites to look at are ASL Pro http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/phrases.cgi and LifePrint http://www.lifeprint.com/ .

      After you’ve a class under your belt, start going to ASL practice sessions. These are, in my experience, social things with a mix of folks – pros to newbies – all just “chatting.” It’s a great learning forum, it’s fun and a great way to build confidence. That is, I now know that though lightyears away from being fluent, I do OK. It’s encouraging.

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