Gryphon's Word of the Day, December 31, 2007

The word of the day for December 31, 2007 is “anniversary” — noun/ 1: the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event; broadly : a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time measured in units other than years <the 6-month anniversary of the accident>. 2: the celebration of an anniversary.

 

Happy New Year’s Eve. Yes, it’s that time of year again. I awoke this morning facing (as Sybil said) “the man with as many noses as the year,” my own dear husband of 41 years now.

 

We met at the Des Moines, Iowa, bus station where I was sending my roommate to Omaha, Nebraska, for Christmas at home. Lloyd was there to make a phone call (no cell phones in those days) He recognized my roommate as an acquaintance and came over to say hello. All three of us went to Omaha that night, and he proposed to me as he took me back to Des Moines (I had to work the next day.) We were married barely two weeks later.

 

The quote for the day is from Ambrose Bierce, (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary:

 

OCCASIONAL, adj. Afflicting us with greater or less frequency. That, however, is not the sense in which the word is used in the phrase "occasional verses," which are verses written for an "occasion," such as an anniversary, a celebration or other event. True, they afflict us a little worse than other sorts of verse, but their name has no reference to irregular recurrence.

 

:^)  Jan the Gryphon

Tags: anniversary, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, September 30, 2007

The word of the day for December 30, 2007 is “squirrel” — Function: noun / 1: any of various small or medium-sized rodents (family Sciuridae, the squirrel family): as a: any of numerous New or Old World arboreal forms having a long bushy tail and strong hind legs. b: ground squirrel. 2: the fur of a squirrel.

 

Lloyd has gone back to sleep while I go off to church. I put “pee-papers” down in the hallway and a gate across the end of the hall. Hopefully, the puppy will get the idea while I’m gone. If not, I may have to train him to clean up his own mess. It’s too cold to leave him outside for morethan ten or fifteen minutes. Still, he likes to sit by the patio doorand watch for the squirrel that comes over into our back-yard elm.

 

The squirrel has a nest in our maple in the front. During the last storm (before we got Bubbles) the squirrel came down the trunk slowly, head first. About two feet or half a meter from the ground, he stretched out his front paws and felt around in the wind and driving snow. His little eyes were squinched shut, so I think he was feeling for the ground. He put his paws back on the tree and moved down a few inches and tried again. Next time he was able to jump down the last few inches and wend his way to the street and across to the neighbor’s walnut tree through the drifts. Such an effort for the poor thing.

 

I wish I could have gotten the camera out quickly enough to take a photo. The squirrel above is a friend of Lloyd's who lives in one of the local parks.

 

The quote for the day is from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher. “Art,” Essays, First Series (1841, repr. 1847):

 

A squirrel leaping from bough to bough, and making the wood but one wide tree for his pleasure, fills the eye not less than a lion,—is beautiful, self-sufficing, and stands then and there for nature.

 

:^)  Jan the Gryphon

Tags: squirrel, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

The word of the day for December 29, 2007 is “exposure” — noun: 1: the fact or condition of being exposed: as a: the condition of being presented to view or made known <a politician seeks a lot of exposure>. b: the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather <died of exposure>. c: the condition of being subject to some effect or influence <risk exposure to the flu>. d: the condition of being at risk of financial loss <minimizes your exposure to market fluctuations>; also : an amount at risk. 2: the act or an instance of exposing: as a: disclosure of something secret <tried to prevent exposure of their past>. b: the treating of sensitized material (as film) to controlled amounts of radiant energy; also : the amount of such energy or length of such treatment <a 3-second exposure>. 3 a: the manner of being exposed. b: the position (as of a house) with respect to weather influences or compass points <a room with a southern exposure>. 4: a piece or section of sensitized material (as film) on which an exposure is or can be made <36 exposures per roll>

 

The puppy and I took a walk this morning. It was 20 F and still dark out at 7:30, so I grabbed a flashlight, slid into some old walkers and my coat, tacked up the dog and off we went. The neighborhood was so quiet: no one heading off for work very few house lights. A couple of places had their Christmas displays on timers still lit.

 

A rabbit ran out from between two houses. Bubbles woofed quietly, more like a sneeze than anything and strained on the lead. However, as the bunny showed no inclination to come play, he gave up after a few moments. This is quite a change from last night, when the neighbor’s dog appeared in their foyer behind the storm door. Bubbles “went for bad” as my husband would say. The two of them had quite a conversation that probably meant nothing more than: “Come on out and play. We’ll see who’s top dog.” and “This is my house and you’re not invited”

 

The quote for the day is from Samuel Butler (1835–1902), British author. First published in 1912. Samuel Butler’s Notebooks, p. 136, E.P. Dutton & Company (1951):

 

Some men love truth so much that they seem in continual fear lest she should catch cold on over-exposure.

 

:^)  Jan the Gryphon

Tags: exposure, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, December 28, 2007

The word of the day for December 28, 2007 is “canine” — noun: a conical pointed tooth; especially : one situated between the lateral incisor and the first premolar — see tooth illustration2: dog 1a; broadly : canid.

 

I went to the Kansas Humane Society to get a dog for my husband. I’m fairly convinced that this means I’ll get to do all the cleanup and most of the letting in and out, at least while I’m on vacation. The new puppy is now named “Bubbles” after my brother-in-law’s baby name.

 

Bubbles is part Jack Russell terrier and part Chihuahua and all love. He is just four months old, so is just ready for house training. They now have pans for “toilet” training dogs as well as cats. It might save us a few arguments about where the proper place to go is. More on that later. I’m off to the vet’s for an introductory visit.

 

The quote for the day is from GEORGE GRAHAM VEST, “Eulogy on the Dog,” speech during lawsuit, 1870.—Congressional Record, October 16, 1914, vol. 51, Appendix, pp. 1235–36:

 

Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us—those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name—may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world—the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous—is his dog.

 

:^)  Jan the Gryphon

Tags: canine, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, December 25, 2007

The word of the day for December 25, 2007 is “abundance” — noun  1 : an ample quantity : profusion. 2 : affluence, wealth. 3 : relative degree of plentifulness <low abundances of uranium and thorium — H. C. Urey>.

 

Yesterday, we had a lovely drive up and back to my sister’s. At my sister’s, we had a lovely potato soup for lunch with fork salad. (Apparently, a fork fell into the gelatin during the making and remained undiscovered until the salad was on the table. This occasioned a few jokes about fortune cakes with rings, etc. and starters for stone soup.) We also exchanged gifts. My sister gave everyone calendars. That’s usually our job, but this year we gave music boxes that play Christmas carols.

 

It was so nice to get what I wanted for Christmas. The new computer probably was not necessary, but the old one isn’t talking to the internet and it refuses to do a search. The new one is totally mobile so I’m writing this while watching As Time Goes By, the series which was Lloyd’s present from me. He is a great fan of Dame Judy Dench, whom he likens to me. (What a sweetheart.)

 

The quote of the day is from Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977), British comic actor, filmmaker. Charles Chaplin. Jewish barber (Charles Chaplin), The Great Dictator, posing as Hynkel (1940):

 

Machinery that gives us abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent, and all will be lost.

 

o<||;^)  Jan

 

Yesterday, I forgot the digital and had to get a one-shot, so we’ll have to wait until I get them developed. The photos above are from this morning.

Tags: abundance, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, December 23, 2007

The word of the day for December 23, 2007 is “snow’ — noun 1 a: precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F (0°C). b (1): a descent or shower of snow crystals. (2): a mass of fallen snow crystals. 2: something resembling snow: as a: a dessert made of stiffly beaten whites of eggs, sugar, and fruit pulp <apple snow>. b: a usually white crystalline substance that condenses from a fluid phase as snow does <ammonia snow>. C slang (1): cocaine. (2): heroin. d: small transient light or dark spots on a television screen.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

It looks likely that we will have a white Christmas this year. Given that the city of Wichita believes in solar snow removal for all but the most “important” roads in the city, only temperatures above freezing for all next week will rid us of the four inches (drifting to three to four feet) laid down yesterday.

 

I don’t mind much as we have ten days off from work. Plus, the snow came down wet, meaning that instead of shoveling, I will build a snowman and make snow angels in the yard. Pretending to be a child at Christmastide is more fun than work any day.

 

The quote for the day is from John Ashbery (b. 1927), U.S. poet, critic. “Punishing the Myth.”:

 

Like snow having second thoughts and coming back
To be wary about this, to embellish that, as though life were a party
At which work got done.

 

;^) Jan

Tags: snow, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, December 22, 2007

The word of the day for December 22, 2007 is "anticipation" - noun 1 a: a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action b: the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation, 2: the use of money before it is available. 3 a: visualization of a future event or state b: an object or form that anticipates a later type.4: the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance — compare suspension.

 

I've decided not to make any plans anymore. Instead I'm going to keep asking everyone else what they are planning until they decide what they want to do. That way I won't be disappointed when my plans fall through.

 

It's a good thing that I had not planned to do anything away from the house today. The weather was so bad that they closed the Kansas Turnpike toll booths because of accidents and kept them closed the rest of the day. Hopefully, the KTA people will get the toll booths and roadway cleared before Monday. I'm not the only one who would like to visit with family on Christmas Eve Day.

 

The quote for the day is from Norman Cousins in Saturday Review 15 Apr 78: Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.

 

Tags: anticipation, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, December 12, 2007

The word of the day for December 12, 2007 is “illumination” — noun 1: the action of illuminating or state of being illuminated: as a: spiritual or intellectual enlightenment b (1): a lighting up (2): decorative lighting or lighting effects c: decoration by the art of illuminating2: the luminous flux per unit area on an intercepting surface at any given point3: one of the decorative features used in the art of illuminating or in decorative lighting.

 

There must be something in the human genome that recognizes a need for light. When the days get shorter, we build bonfires and string lights on trees, bushes and buildings. We invite others to share our light and warmth. We go out of our way to observe the display of lights put up by others.

 

This is the season for recognizing the light of love and hope and of passing it on to others. So to all of you I wish a Merry Christmas, Good Eid el-Fitr, Happy Divvali, Happy Hannukah, Good Yule or a Joyous Celebration of whatever holiday of lights you celebrate.

 

The quote for the day is from Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 - 1894)

 

There are one-story intellects, two-story intellects, and three-story intellects with skylights. All fact collectors with no aim beyond their facts are one-story men. Two-story men compare reason and generalize, using labors of the fact collectors as well as their own. Three-story men idealize, imagine, and predict. Their best illuminations come from above through the skylight.

 

O<||;^)

 

Tags: illumination, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphon's Word of the Day, November 27, 2007

The word of the day is "varied" -- 3 a: of differing kinds : multifarious b: dissimilar in nature or form : unlike 4: having a number of different aspects or characteristics <a various place> 5: of an indefinite number greater than one <stop at various towns>6: individual, separate <rate increases granted in the various states>

As many of you know, my daughter Cybil was married Oct. 5, which was a wonderful event that came off excellently well--not without a hitch, but at least without any events that will appear in the America's Funniest Videos.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving. First we went to my sister's, where we made the pumpkin I had bought for Halloween into pie. Then Cybil came over and we played a game called Apples to Apples. This is a rather complicated game for people who have more than "a little brain." It involves making comparisons between people, places and events and attributes thereof. Cybil made the feast of pork tenderloin and stuffing wrapped in filo dough (somewhat like beef Wellington).

 

After supper, Lloyd and I drove on to Omaha where we stayed with his elder daughter. She had the traditional turkey/stuffing/pumpkin pie feast. We went out after a light supper of leftover turkey to look at the Christmas illuminations in downtown Omaha and in a neighborhood where most of the houses could hold my house 3 or 4 times over. Beautiful lights, gorgeous houses.

 

At home on Sunday, I strung a few more lights around our blue spruce. This weekend, I'll probably put a few lights on the porch, or maybe around the birdbath.

 

The quote for the day is from Walt Whitman (1819–1892), U.S. poet. I Hear America Singing (l. 1–4).

     I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
     Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
     The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
     The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, ...

Tags: varied, humor, word of the day, quote for the day

Gryphn's Word of the Day, September 4, 2007

The word of the day for September 4, 2007 is "labor" — noun 1 a : expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory. b (1) : human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy. (2) : the services performed by workers for wages as distinguished from those rendered by entrepreneurs for profits. c : the physical activities (as dilation of the cervix and contraction of the uterus) involved in giving birth; also : the period of such labor. 2 : an act or process requiring labor : TASK. 3 : a product of labor.

Yesterday was Labor Day, the end of a three-day weekend for me. Lloyd and I went to Omaha on Saturday, where we watched his football team win their first game of the season. The score was decidedly uneven: 52 to 10. I depend on Lloyd to start grumbling any time now as to how it is unfair for the coach to schedule easy teams for the first few games as it gives the players a false sense of security before they have to play really tough teams.

After we got back on Sunday afternoon, we did very little. However, Monday morning, while Lloyd caught up on his sleep, I cleaned the kitchen counters and scrubbed the walls and appliances. In the afternoon, I cleaned off the counter in the bathroom and used heavy-duty chemicals on the tub, basin and commode. I didn't get to the floor, but as that will involve stripping the wax, I'm holding off until next week. This all has to be done before Tim and Amelia come to visit before Cybil's wedding, as I don't want the house to reek of pine and lemon when they get here.

Our quote for the day is from Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885):

          A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and
      there is an invisible labor.

;^)  Jan

Tags: labor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, July 16, 2007

The word for the day for July 16, 2007 is "ringmaster" —  noun : one in charge of performances in a ring (as of a circus); broadly : a supervisor or moderator especially of a performance or presentation <the ringmaster of a talk show>.

We went to the Air Show at the local Air Force Base this weekend. They had an exhibition by the Blue Angels flying team. At times it seemed there was no way for them to avoid hitting one another—truly hair-raising for the audience. We were just close enough to the viewing stand to hear the occasional phrase from the announcer, who would state the approximate speed of the planes—"in excess of 500 mph"—for nearly every pass.

As one of the main functions of the announcers at these spectacles is to enhance the thrill, I'm just as happy we were not sitting in the stands to hear the whole spiel. As it was at least 100°F on the concourse, we sat in the scant shade of one of the concession booths and tried to keep cool. I sometimes wonder if the Roman Coliseum had announcers to hype the contestants. "Next we have a match between Brutus Ginormeous, who has won 49 matches against gladiators, lions and wolves, against the Beast from the Uttermost East. This Beast is so savage it will attack even the mighty elephant. Let's hear it for Brutus!"

The quote for the day is from Melinda M. Marshall (20th century), U.S. author and editor. Good Enough Mothers, ch. 3 (1993):

 

     The problem of invisibility, the incredible deficit of self- esteem that full-time mothers
     describe, seems to come with the territory. Day in and day out, the feedback from
     their spouse and kids suggests they are part of the woodwork, with no intelligence to
     illuminate a homework question or share any insights on politics. . . . When no one
     recognizes or applauds their amazing juggling act, they perforce derive their sense of
     self-worth from being ringmaster—someone not necessarily talented but indisputably
     in charge.

Tags: ringmaster

Gryphon's Word of the Day, July 11, 2007

The word of the day for July 11, 2007 is “anticipatory” — adjective : characterized by 1 a : a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action. b : the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation. 2 : the use of money before it is available. 3 a : visualization of a future event or state. b : an object or form that anticipates a later type. 4 : the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance -- compare SUSPENSION : ANTICIPATING <took anticipatory measures to prevent floods>.

 

Jenny (my soon-to-be commadre) called to discuss the upcoming wedding. Since she is the mother of two sons and no daughters, and since she is geographically closer to Cybil than I, she offered to go shopping with Cybil for wedding sites, dress, etc. As I loathe shopping, I’m happy to sit at home and nag. (Do you have a celebrant lined up for the ceremony? Have you made a final decision on flowers?)

 

So far we’re all on the same page. This is a good thing. Maybe we’ll get the plans set and everything accomplished by the wedding date after all. Maybe we’ll still be sane after the reception, too.

 

The quote for today is from Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield Disraeli (1804–1881) Henrietta Temple. Book ii. Chap. iv.

     What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens.

 

;^) Jan

Tags: anticipatory

Gryphon's Word of the Day, July 9, 2007

The word of the day for July 9, 2007 is "ambulatory" -- adjective 1 : of, relating to, or adapted to walking; also : occurring during a walk. 2 : moving from place to place : ITINERANT. 3 : capable of being altered <a will is ambulatory until the testator's death>. 4 a : able to walk about and not bedridden <ambulatory patients>. b : performed on or involving an ambulatory patient or an outpatient <ambulatory medical care> <an ambulatory electrocardiogram>.

We are going to the Department of Motor Vehicles at lunch time today. I finally talked Lloyd into getting the paperwork from his primary care physician to get a handicapped placard for his car. This will allow him to park in designated areas closer to the entry of stores, theaters, etc.

He hasn't been too enthused about this, but I managed to get him to use a cane when walking in crowds and areas with uneven footing. Last week, I called the doctor (and got his physician's assistant) who saw to it that the paperwork was completed. Lloyd picked up the paper Friday. Now he is all excited, and why didn't we do this years ago? <:^|

The quote for today is from Alice Thompson (b. 1963), British travel writer, journalist. “Ticket to Ride the Rails of France,” Times (London, July 16, 1992):
     Inter-railers are the ambulatory equivalent of McDonalds, walking testimony to
    the erosion of French culture.

Tags: ambulatory

Gryphon's Word of the Day, July 2, 2007

The word of the day for July 2, 2007 is "adventure" - noun 1 a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b : the encountering of risks <the spirit of adventure>. 2 : an exciting or remarkable experience <an adventure in exotic dining>. 3 : an enterprise involving financial risk.

We took our granddaughter to Rolling Hills Adventure for her half-birthday. Like Queen Elizabeth, Caitlin has an inconvenient true birthday, so we celebrate in late June or early July. Naturally, we had to invite siblings and parents and grandparents. Except for my husband, everyone agreed that the zoo part was plenty to do. Thus Lloyd and I with our daughters, Cybil and Claudia, went through the natural history museum while the rest of them walked through the rest of the zoo.

Caitlin decided that the first card she opened said that she was to see the giraffe. So after she opened all her presents, everyone walked off to see the animals. Those of us who were waiting for latecomers rode the tram later and caught up with the others at the anteaters. When we got to the giraffes it was feeding time. Grandma Jenny wanted Caitlin to feed the giraffe, but I was busy getting lemonade, so I don't know if she did. Anyway, she also got a giraffe mother and baby stuffed animal pair from the gift shop, so she was happy for that.

The quote for the day is from Helen Keller (1880 - 1968):
     Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature,
     nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no
     safer in the long run than exposure.

;^)  Jan

Tags: adventure

Gryphon's Word of the Day, June 4, 2007

The word of the day1 for June 4, 2007 is “preposterous” — adjective : contrary to nature, reason, or common sense : absurd. 

The company I work for has got something against AOL. I used to be able to access my AOL account at lunchtime from my work computer. It was not easy; the company IT group created a little pop-up that reminded one that one can not download anything from the internet without dire repercussions. I didn’t want to down-load anything, just read my mail and write my word of the day, yet I had to click the pop-up every 20 seconds or so to continue what I was doing.

Now I can’t even log onto the web-based AOL to read the mail. This is another example of a hard-wired solution to a potential discipline problem. I suppose that I should be glad that I am still able to receive “foreign” e-mail at work. Closing down e-mail from “un-approved” sources will be the next thing. I just wish they could more easily stop the occasional spam letter that gets through without stopping notes from Cyb or my sister.

The quote2 for today is from H.L. (Henry Lewis)Mencken (1880–1956), U.S. journalist, critic. Heathen Days, ch. 3, p. 34, Knopf (1943):

     It was easy to recognize in him the anti-social animus of a born evangelist, but there
     was also something else—a kind of voluptuous delight in the shabby and
     preposterous, a perverted aestheticism like that of a latter-day movie or radio
     fan, a wild will to roll in and snuffle balderdash as a cat rolls in and snuffles catnip.

;^)  Jan 

Tags: preposterous

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 28, 2007

The word of the day1 for May 27, 2007 is "cumulus" — noun 1: heap, accumulation. 2: a dense puffy cloud form having a flat base and rounded outlines often piled up like a mountain.

Happy Memorial Day to you all. The sun has been skipping in and out among the clouds again today. The air is sultry, readying itself for full summer. The wind has switched around to the south again. The clouds are piling up in the west, getting ready to pour again. It's probably a good thing that we haven't stirred from the house except to get the paper.

I have to marvel at the European women who traveled across this country in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They wore long skirts with multiple petticoats. They were walking for the most part and cooking over open fires. Even with sun bonnets and masks, which would have held in the heat, they would not have been immune to the sun. Fashion is a killer. It wasn't just that era, but in the early 1970s when midi-skirts, boots and mutton-sleeved blouses were in fashion, the women of Puerto Rico were wearing the fashion in the streets and looking down their noses at us turistas in our short shorts and tank tops.

The quote for today is from Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo–U.S. poet. “Clouds”:

     I watch the clouds as I see them
     in pomp advancing, pursuing
     the fallen sun.

;^)  Jan

Tags: cumulous

Gryhphon's Word of the Day, May 27, 2007

The word of the day for May 27, 2007 is "incommunicado" — adverb : without means of communication : in a situation or state not allowing communication <a prisoner held incommunicado> <remained incommunicado while working on her book>.

My sister's birthday is today. (She is mumble-five years old.) When I called to sing at her, she apologised to you all for not getting out the Word of the Day for me during my vacation. She had a good excuse though. The library where she works had electrical problems while I was gone. They did not know from day to day whether they would have light to work by, let alone computers for all the reasons that modern libraries need them.

Electricity has been a great boon to libraries—starting with extending the daylight, working hours and diminishing the risk of fire. However, as with any technology, the drawbacks become evident in catastrophic ways. When man went from clay tablets to paper as writing medium much of what was written was subsequently lost to fire, water and vermin. Now that we are putting our thoughts in electronic form and storing it on CD and DVD discs. Indestructible, you say: they'll last forever. But technology marches on. How many of you have used a 4 1/2 inch floppy disk lately? Could you retrieve computer information from a cassette tape deck? Have you ever used a keypunch machine to make out data cards? Yet those of us who have been using computers for more than fifteen years probably have used all of those and more. My advice is to save your data on as many different mediums as possible. That way someone will be able to decipher your stuff, much in the same way the Rosetta Stone was used to learn heiroglyphics.

The quote for today is from Barbra Streisand (1942 - ):

     A human being is only interesting if he's in contact with himself. I learned you have
     to trust yourself, be what you are, and do what you ought to do the way you should
     do it. You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it..

;^)  Jan

Tags: incommunicado

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 26, 2007

The word of the day for May 26, 2007 is "fantasy" — noun 1 obsolete : hallucination. 2: fancy; especially : the free play of creative imagination. 3: a creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived: as a: a fanciful design or invention b: a chimerical or fantastic notion c: fantasia d: imaginative fiction featuring especially strange settings and grotesque characters—called also fantasy fiction. 4: caprice. 5: the power or process of creating especially unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological need <an object of fantasy>; also : a mental image or a series of mental images (as a daydream) so created <sexual fantasies of adolescence>. 6: a coin usually not intended for circulation as currency and often issued by a dubious authority (as a government-in-exile).

We watched Pan's Labyrinth this afternoon. One can see why it won the Best Foreign Language Oscar. The cinematography fits the story, and the excellent acting is so well directed. Although the story did not have the scope of Lord of the Rings, it certainly weaves a spell on the viewer.

When my story, "An Equitable Division," was published in Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine (Spring 1996), I lent my copy to my dentist's receptionist to read while the dentist was inspecting my teeth. She was pleased with the story and told me that it reminded her of Tolkien's writing. Not that there is much resemblance at all: my story was a retelling of King Lear set into an alternate world. Of course, the receptionist had never read any fantasy but Lord of the Rings, so I thanked her for her kind words and didn't explain that it was specious and fulsome praise.

The quote for today is from Robert Heinlein (1907 - 1988):

     To be matter of fact about the world is to blunder into fantasy — and dull fantasy at that, as the
     real world is strange and wonderful.

;^)  Jan

Tags: fantasy

Jan's Word of the Day, May 25, 2007

The word of the day1 for May 25, 2007 is "chronology" — noun 1 : the science that deals with measuring time by regular divisions and that assigns to events their proper dates. 2 : a chronological table, list, or account. 3 : an arrangement (as of events) in order of occurrence chronology of the trip>.

Several people have mentioned that they were unable to access the My Photos album that I sent out the other day. I have put the photos into Gryphondear’s Word of the Day, where they can be accessed without password (as those of you who do not receive the e-mail version already know). Unfortunately, AOL puts the photos into a random shuffle. There are no captions, continuity or chronology.

The AOL staff, like most of us, are working all the time to improve things. Sometimes this works really well, like opening free accounts for those who can't afford the premium service. Sometimes the changes are annoying like the photo album shuffle, which is apparently an attempt to break away from the mundane. Sometimes those making modifications seem to take the adage "the more things change, the more they stay the same" to heart and we get cosmetic adjustments that don't solve any problems at all—art for art's sake, possibly.

 

The quote2 for today is from James A. Garfield (1831 - 1881):

     History is philosophy teaching by example, and also warning; its two eyes are geography and chronology.

;^)  Jan

Tags: chronology

More Vacation Pictures

These are my "people pictures" from my vacation. Lloyd's cousin, our son and his girlfriend, my friends and Lloyd and I are all in this pile of photos.

;^) Jan

Tags: photos

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 24, 2007

The word of the day1 for May 24, 2007 is “alternative” — adjective 1 : ALTERNATE. 2 : offering or expressing a choice <several alternative plans>. 3 : different from the usual or conventional: as a : existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system <an alternative newspaper> <alternative lifestyles> b : of, relating to, or being rock music that is regarded as an alternative to conventional rock and is typically influenced by punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, or folk music c : of or relating to alternative medicine <alternative therapies>.

I wonder where one can find out what sort of pollution is created in the manufacture of solar panels. What with oil prices higher than they ever were, people are once again willing to try alternative energy sources. However “alternative” is as subjective as any other term. If we just want to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, coal is a reasonable alternative. However, if we want to go to a renewable source, we need to look into hydrogen combustion and vegetable oils.

If we really want to do the earth and our progeny a favor, we will turn to less pollution generating power—wind, solar and water. The thing is that nearly anything we do to harness that power for a mechanized society causes hazards of some sort.  Wind generators disturb the migration of birds; hydroelectric plants disturb the migration of fish and create heat pollution. Batteries cannot be discarded just any old where because of the toxicity of their components. Solar panel construction must also be toxic because of the chemicals involved. We have to weigh the alternatives more carefully before we trade a bear for a wolf.

The quote2 for today is from Margaret Mead (1901–1978), U.S. anthropologist. Culture and Commitment, introduction (1970):

     The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he
     postulates. Not only does he picture us caught in a tremendous man-made or God-made trap from
     which there is no escape, but we must also listen to him day in, day out, describe how the trap is inexorably
     closing. To such prophecies the human race, as presently bred and educated and situated, is incapable
     of listening. So some dance and some immolate themselves as human torches; some take drugs and some
     artists spill their creativity in sets of randomly placed dots on a white ground.

;^)  Jan

Tags: alternative

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 21, 2007

The Word of the Day for May 21, 2007 is "spectacular" - adjective : of, relating to, or being a spectacle : STRIKING, SENSATIONAL <a spectacular display of fireworks>.

The quote for the day is the old adage:
    A picture is worth a thousand words.

;^) Jan
Tags: spectacular

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 19, 2007

The word of the day for May 19, 2007 is “persevere” — intransitive verb : to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement.

I finally got my photos downloaded. It took me all day, not because the files are so huge, but because I was running up and down stairs to the laundry as well. Also, I was trying to print them out to see which of them were really worth keeping.

Lloyd, Tim and Jan at picnic in Portland,
May 7, 2007.

The best of them, of course, are of the places and people we visited. Most of the photos were taken while on the road. America is so vast and amazingly spectacular! Something new appears every few miles. Lloyd said he had seen way too many mountains on this journey. Still he enjoyed the trip. However, the next trip we take, I intend to fly if the drive will take more than six hours in a day.

The quote for today is from Bill Clinton (b.1946), U.S. president. New York Times, p. A17 (September 12, 1994):

     I will get things done for America.... Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will
     seek common ground.... Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me
     this year. I am an Americorps volunteer.

;^)  Jan

Tags: persevere

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 18, 2007

The word of the day for May 18, 2007 is “disappointment” — noun 1 : the act or an instance of failing to meet expectations : the state or emotion of being disappointed. 2 : one that disappoints <he's a disappointment to his parents>. 

A former co-worker called last night with the news that a job opening was available at Lloyd’s old job. Today I had to work hard not to discourage him in the face of his enthusiasm. He spent most of today trying to get in touch with Ed, his former supervisor, to learn more about the job—a contract job. Finally, after supper, Lloyd asked me, “We don’t really need me to work do we?” “No,” I answered with a mental sigh of relief.

 I’m not unhappy that this job did not pan out. Lloyd’s stamina is not what it was fifteen years ago. His company, which he retired from after 22 years of service, is notorious for insisting on overtime. Also, it would take more than six months to get him back up to speed on the machines and computer systems he would have to use. Besides, it is always better to let him come to the realization that he doesn’t need some thing or activity.

The quote for today is from Mason Cooley (b.1927), U.S. aphorist. City Aphorisms, Eighth Selection, New York (1991):

         Disappointment proves that expectations were mistaken.

;^)  Jan

Tags: disappointment

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 17, 2007

The word of the day for May 17, 2007 is “exhausted” — adjective : 1 a : consumed entirely : USED UP. b : tired extremely or completely. c : deprived of a valuable quality or constituent. 2 a : drawn off or let out completely. b : emptied by drawing off the contents; specifically : created a vacuum in. 3 a : considered or discussed (a subject) thoroughly or completely. b : tried out the whole number.

Back from vacation late yesterday evening. We had a great time, but we are both extremely tired. Makes the aphorism “Been there, done that, got the t-shirt” seem lame by comparison. Lloyd says that the next time we have to go more than a six hour drive, we’re going to fly.

We stopped at Denver for a lovely visit with Lloyd’s cousin, her family and one of my high school friends and her husband. Then to San Francisco to eat shrimp and view the Golden Gate Bridge. On to Portland, OR for a great visit with Tim and his friend, Amelia. Off to home again through Eastern Utah and Western Colorado through some of the most spectacular landscapes one can imagine. As soon as I can get the photos into “You’ve Got Pictures,” I’ll post the URL so you can all be bored silly at your leisure.

The quote for today is from Vince Lombardi (1913 - 1970):

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

;^)  Jan

Tags: exhausted

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 4, 2007

The word of the day1 for May 4, 2007 is “valedictory” — adjective : of or relating to a an act of bidding farewell. : expressing or containing a farewell.

Happy Cinco De Mayo, early. Since we are off on our jaunt tomorrow, I wanted to wish those who are celebrating this weekend a happy fiesta. As I mentioned before my sister, drgns4ever@aol.com, will be sending her version of WOTD to all you word junkies. As she knows more than I do (a consequence of birth order, I assure you) they ought to be interesting.

We will be driving, and probably stopping at every rest area and tree. Therefore, we will have a leisurely journey across the American West. We intend to stop at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, CO. We’ve been there before, but we intend to drag family and friends along. We also intend to view the zoo and aquarium in San Francisco, CA—the last time we visited those it was over 30 years ago so we expect some changes. In Portland, OR, I want to visit Powell’s Book Store to see the column with famous SF writers' signatures. And I will do all my shopping in the gift shops. See you all on or about May 17, 2007.

The quote2 for today is from Tom Waldman (d. 1985), screenwriter, and Frank Waldman (d. 1990), U.S. screenwriter. Harvey (Bing Crosby), High Time, giving the graduation valedictorian speech (1960):

     Miracles sometimes happen, but more often they’re made of faith and will
     and hope and imagination, to say nothing of sweat.

;^)  Jan

Tags: valedictory

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 3, 2007

The word of the day1 for May 3, 2007 is “security” — noun 1 : the quality or state of being secure : as a : freedom from danger : SAFETY. b : freedom from fear or anxiety c : freedom from the prospect of being laid off <job security>. 2 a : something given, deposited, or pledged to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation. b : SURETY. 3 : an instrument of investment in the form of a document (as a stock certificate or bond) providing evidence of its ownership. 4 a : something that secures : PROTECTION. b (1) : measures taken to guard against espionage or sabotage, crime, attack, or escape (2) : an organization or department whose task is security.

I lost my work identification badge again the other day. This is the ubiquitous credit-card sized photo badge with magnetic strip for entry to the plant. Back in the old days, there were no photos on the badges, so they were a lot easier to forge. Assuming your eyesight was good, though, you at least knew to whom you were speaking. Now they have bar codes, holographic doodads, magnetic strips or (fancy) interactive computer chips in addition to your name and face.

Fortunately for me, the previous time I had lost my badge, it had stayed lost long enough for me to get a replacement. So I took the old one to the security guard and swore I would get it reactivated that very morning. So he let me in through the car gate. (The badge activates the pedestrian turnstile.) As soon as the Badge Room was open, I trudged over and had the clerk do her magic. Voila! I’m back in business. Of course I found the second badge two days later, so I’m keeping it in my twinkie case for the next time.

The quote for today is from Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797):

     Better be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security.

;^)  Jan

Tags: security

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 2, 2007

The word of the day for May 2, 2007 is “pugilism” — noun. : boxing : the art of attack and defense with the fists practiced as a sport.

I recently started wearing arm bracers to ward off carpal tunnel syndrome. The first thing Lloyd said when he saw me in them was, “Who are you going to fight?” Mostly the keyboard and the steering wheel, I told him. My fingers had felt all pins and needles on waking for about a week. Since donning the bracers, things have gone back to normal.

Several people at work have also asked me if I intend to fight someone. They’ve been watching too much Million Dollar Baby, or something. This raises the vision of me at my desk wearing red boxing gloves. Or even better, Sylvester Stallone at my desk, scratching his head with one hand, holding the computer mouse in the other.

The quote for today is from Budd Schulberg,  On the Waterfront, (film, 1954):

     I could have had class. I could have been a contender!

;^)  Jan

Tags: pugilism

Gryphon's Word of the Day, May 1, 2007

The word of the day for May 1, 2007 is “maying” — noun. : the celebrating of May Day.

Happy May Day, and Goddess Bless to those who celebrate Ostara. One May Day morning, when I was twelve or so, I got up early and picked flowers for my parents. I had made a cone-shaped basket the day before from purple construction paper—stapled and taped to a fare-thee-well. I very carefully wrapped the flower stems in wet paper towel to keep them fresh. I also wrapped them in waxed paper so the water wouldn’t ruin the basket. Very proud of the result, I hung the basket on my parents’ bedroom door and went back to bed. I didn’t realize that my wax paper shield would not keep the water from drip-drip-dripping all over the hallway floor.

This is also Labor Day for most communist countries in honor of the Soviet Revolution—and some other countries who thought that the advent of Spring was a good time to celebrate Labor. The communists used to celebrate with big military parades. I suppose that’s still true. People hate to give up a good parade. Here in Wichita, we have a parade on the first Friday of May to open our River Festival Week. We also have parades for St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day (which is the first Monday of September in the United States) and Thanksgiving Day, sometimes followed by a Christmas Parade. This does not include long distance races, walks for [cause of your choice] or Shriners’ Parades, which seem to erupt spontaneously.

The quote for today is from Robert Herrick (1591–1674), British poet. "Corinna’s Going a-Maying" (l. 62–67):

     Many a kiss, both odd and even;
     Many a glance, too, has been sent
     From out the eye, love’s firmament;
     Many a jest told of the keys betraying
     This night, and locks picked; yet we’re not a-Maying!

;^)  Jan

Tags: maying

Gryphon's Word of the Day, April 30, 2007

The word of the day1 for April 30, 2007 is “celebrity” — noun. 1 : the state of being celebrated : FAME. 2 : a famous or celebrated person.  

We’ve been keeping an eye on the reports from the San Francisco area about the gasoline truck accident that has taken out the converging approach ramps for the Oakland Bay Bridge. Luckily for everyone concerned, the truck driver only sustained second degree burns. Unluckily for everyone concerned, traffic will be snarled for the next half-year or more as they rebuild. 

A coworker complained that there had been very little reporting on the incident here in the Mid-West. I explained to him the cardinal rules for what gets on the newscasts: footage, location, horror/grossness, celebrity. If the news people have footage, even if it is a squirrel escaping the attic of a burning building, it will take precedence in the newscast. Next is location—is it local, state, federal, or did it happen to someone from our home town? Then there is horror/grossness, or the amount of damage to life and limb. Also, did it happen to a celebrity? (This is the “John Jacob Astor and 1250 Souls Perish” type of headline.) The best of all possible headlines for a news program is to have footage of a British Royal run over by one of the racecars—driven by a lesbian in diapers—at a Nascar event in one’s hometown. 

The quote2 for today is from H.L. (Henry Lewis) Mencken (1880–1956), U.S. journalist. “Sententiæ: The Mind of Men,” A Mencken Chrestomathy (1949): 

     A celebrity is one who is known to many persons he is glad he doesn’t know. 

;^)  Jan 

Tags: celebrity

Gryphon's Word of the Day, April 29, 2007

The word of the day for April 29, 2007 is “premonition” — noun 1 : previous notice or warning : FOREWARNING. 2 : anticipation of an event without conscious reason : PRESENTIMENT.

I suppose I could have told you before I went to see the movie, Premonition, that the critics would hate it. The story takes too long for the viewer to catch on to what is happening. Or perhaps I was just having a dull day. Lloyd fell asleep about a third of the way through the movie and woke up just in time for the most exciting part. There were only a handful of others in the theater, none of them children, which was in this case a definite plus.

Maybe the writers had a clear idea where they were going, but the rest of us had to deal with a lot of disjointed scenes that didn’t really make sense until halfway through the movie—mind, Lloyd was asleep by that time. Thus, I had the dubious joy of discovering what the hero (Sandra Bullock) was dealing with and how she would do so all by myself. The two little girls were not asked to do anything beyond their abilities and were therefore a bright spot in an otherwise confusing movie.

The quote for today is from William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet responding to Horatio’s offer to forestall Hamlet’s duel with Laertes, of which Hamlet has a premonition that all is not well, in Hamlet, act 5, sc. 2, l. 165-8 (1604). 

     We defy augury. There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If
     it be now, ‘tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not
     now, yet it will come. The readiness is all.

;^)  Jan

Tags: premonition

Gryphon's Word of the Day, April 28, 2007

The word of the day for April 28, 2007 is “cacao” — noun 1 : the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter —called also cacao bean, cocoa bean. 2 : a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained.

The US government is considering changes to the labels on foodstuffs. A petition by the manufacturers and packagers are suggesting all kinds of changes that will enable them to substitute cheaper ingredients, but call them the same thing. For instance, the chocolatiers are suggesting that they should be allowed to use any old vegetable oil instead of cacao butter in their product. Cacao butter has no trans fats and is a source of anti-oxidants. Mind you, they aren’t advocating forced usage of veg oil—yet. Still, there’s a group out there agitating to petition Congress to stop this adulteration scheme immediately. HTTP://WWW.DONTMESSWITHMYCHOCOLATE.COM offers no insight or background on the situation, but does offer a way to start up a petition.

Personally, I stayed away from chocolate for an entire year before the major chocolate producers swore they wouldn’t buy chocolate resulting from slave labor. I’m not real sure whether to trust them. It would be really difficult to label each and every bean. However as an addict, I find it very easy to rationalize my position. If they have to raise the price of chocolate to make it slave-labor-free/cacao-butter-full, I’ll grit my teeth and pay.

The quote for today is from Abigail Trillin, age four, on finishing a dish of chocolate ice cream, quoted by her father Calvin Trillin, Alice, Let’s Eat, Random House, 1978:

     My tongue is smiling. 

;^)  Jan

Tags: cacao

Gryphon's Word of the Day, April 27, 2007

The word of the day for April 27, 2007 is “inspection” — noun. 1 a : the act of viewing closely in critical appraisal, looking over or examining officially b : recognition of a familiar pattern leading to immediate solution of a mathematical problem <solve an equation by inspection>. 2 : a checking or testing of an individual against established standards.

 

We watched LOTR: The Return of the King again the other night. The trilogy has go to be my husband’s favorite movie. He has his favorite moments in each segment. In RotK he especially likes Miranda Otto as Eowyn taking down the Witch King. I like the Orc parade, when Frodo and Sam nearly get caught. The idea of having an inspection for that rabble is the sort of delicious silliness we have come to expect from Peter Jackson.

 

Part of my job as drafter involves inspecting the work of others. We have found that self-inspection works, but has it’s drawbacks. I think the mind fatigues after a certain amount of time, and one refuses to see the most simple yet obvious errors. It’s like studying for spelling tests. After writing a word ten times, it looks wrong no matter how you spell it. Thus I always thank people who find mistakes in my work. If it weren’t for the inspectors, some of my released work packages would be embarrassing.

 

The quote for today is from John Milton (1608–1674), British poet, referring to Satan, searching for a place “where to lie hid.” Paradise Lost, bk. 9, l. 82-6 (1674).

 

Thus the orb he roamed
With narrow search, and with inspection deep
Considered every creature, which of all
Most opportune might serve his wiles, and found
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field.

 

;^)  Jan

Tags: inspection