language lessons

"On vacation? In Georgetown??"

Yes, believe it or not. And they came from a puzzle-a-day calendar, of all places. I've done a couple of those crossword puzzles while here with Stella, but this was the most fun of the bunch!

"Didn't you do some on your last stay with the dog? I don't recall you making a big deal of any of those."

Yes, I did do crosswords then, too, but I just didn't say anything. I really might see about getting one of these calendars next year. I'll have to see what different makers there are. These were all from the New York newspaper and some of the clues are about people I've never heard of. Maybe I'll find a Jonesin' puzzle calendar!

"Oh, that would be fabulous!! You've done his puzzles for so many years!"

I have! I very much enjoy his sense of humor! This one reminded me of his style, in a way, but what I most enjoyed was learning some new words from other countries.

"I see that you have persisted in using an ink pen on these puzzles."

As I said years ago, the vibration of the graphite in a pencil against the fibers in paper really aggravates my hand. Remember, my right hand still has carpal tunnel syndrome. It was just never so bad that it needed fixing, like my left had.

"Yes, dear."

You can 'Yes, dear' me all you want, that doesn't make it any less true.

"Yes, dear. I mean, do continue about the puzzle, won't you?"

Yes I shall, as that's my purpose here on this beach today. It was actually two school-related clues that really convinced me I was right place, right time. The first was "Vacation, in Swedish, and half of an academic year, in English." How very cool to give an alternate meaning for 'semester' to a retired professor like me! 

"Oh, that was very nice!!! What was the other?"

It was "High school, in Danish, and an indoor sports area, in English." I actually recalled knowing, in my distant past, that 'gymnasium' was that term. I must have picked it up in my reading, back when I read books.

"I have to wonder if our use of that word is maybe from another country."

You're right! The roots are from Italy and Greece. That latter is the more interesting, as it denotes "a place for exercising naked". Hahahaha!

"That's funny!!! So, what else did you learn in that puzzle?"

Here's one: "Vintage car, in German, and a former military person, in English." Who would have thought 'veteran' had that other meaning! Plus, that was another case of right place, right time, for me!

"That's pretty amazing. And do I see that puzzle appeared in the calendar for January 7, 2026? Is that right?"

You're correct. I was working on these crosswords in the order in which they appeared, so this was the seventh I'd run across. Not that I attempted each one, mind. I'd look them over first, to see if I could see a pattern or whether I could answer several of the clues. If I could, then I went for it! I didn't want to leave a bunch of half-done puzzles for Dawn and Koz to work on later.

"Ah, how kind of you? Sure seems like you cherry-picked the easiest ones."

No, I did not. Remember, everyone has different areas of knowledge and experience. I was being selective based on my talents in those two areas. Like with this clue: "Competition, in French, and an instance of agreement, in English." I determined that to be 'concurrence', which actually has its roots in Old French.

"You do so love looking up a word's origin!"

Specifically, that's called a word's etymology. I like to think of it as its genealogy. You can almost follow the migration of people by the travel of a word from one language to another.

"G'friend, you do like tangents, don't you?"

Nice of you to notice!

"So, were those four the only language-learning clues?"

Nope! There was one more, and it seemed meant for me, too! "Plywood, in Danish, and a dwelling with multiple units, in English." Years of working with my brother at his flooring business, coupled with continued forays to cinemas, lead me to 'multiplex', of all things. Whaddaya think of that?

"Perfect!"

Now, I'm going to work on finishing my Stella-in-June Film Festival. So far, I have "The Wedding Singer", "Pitch Perfect", "Pitch Perfect 2", "Shang Jin And The Ten Rings", "I, Robot", and Weekend At Bernie's". Time to add "Grumpy Old Men", as it starts in just a few minutes!

"What a smorgasbord of genres you have there!!!" 

how a rhodesian ridgeback spends a rainy day

First, she duly goes out on the front porch with the human, who wants to give her a change of pace.

But the ground is too wet to lie down.

Raindrops are still misting through the air and onto her face and nose.

Drops of water are still falling erratically off the roof.

There is no way to dodge them to get to the yard.

Finally, the human opens the front door and they go inside.

 

How to pas the time inside?

Well, Miss Stella has a variety of options.

She chooses to lounge on the couch, stretched out to her maximum length...

ah, yes, mine mine mine!

When she tires of being there, she drops down into her doggy bed on the floor, then settles in after rearranging the pillows...

yes, that will do!

Feeling thirsty, she rises and gets water, then repeats her time on the couch and bed. 

 

Here's the thing: she has yet to go outside and pee.

The human is concerned and walks with her onto the back porch, coercing her to follow into the yard.

They are the only creatures out in the light rain that continues to fall.

Together, they go by the Tree of Ducks that stands near the graceful canal... and a small wooded copse.

Yes, the rain barely falls in that bit of trees, so at last she has relief!

Bladder empty, and also the bowels, it was time to return to the dry house and maybe get some treats!

Then back to the couch...

liquid dihydrogen oxide

Rain.
Drizzling, dripping, dropping.
Water from the sky.

My first niece contacted me this morning.
The text may have even woken me up.
her: Would you like to go to lunch today?

That was around 10:19 AM.
My response was about an hour later when I saw the text.
me: Am awake now.
her: How does Carey Hilliard's sound?
me: You must be reading my mind. Why would you want to do that? :-)
her: There are some pretty cool ideas in there!
me: :-)
me: Which Carey? Waters? Skidaway? Abercorn? Garden City?
her: Definitely not Garden City.
her: Other than that one. You choose.
me: Waters. Because it's rainy. :-)
her: LOL. OK. When would you like to go?
me: About 1230 or so?
her: Ok.
me: C U there and then!
her: At 12:30? Or so?
me: Exactly.

And so we did, having a sunshiny day, just the two of us.
As always.
(smile)

are you ready for some baseball???

I was!
I had my hair up in double ponytails, to offset the summer heat!
I had my favorite summer top on!
Chicken Tender Platter, topped with dill pickle chips?
Check!
$1 soda in my Season Ticket Holder cup?
Check!
Woohoo!!!
Go Gnats!!!

So, up into the General Admission wooden bleachers I went, to sit and cheer with Mister Willie.
Woohoo!!!
Sadly, the game never even got started tonight.
I should have realized something was amiss when I saw that none of the players, ours or Lexington's, were warming up on the field.
About fifteen minutes before start time, this was the sight.

Not a good sign.
They were already pulling the tarp over the infield and the game had not even begun.
The announcer said a lightning storm was coming, so the game would be delayed until it passed.
Okay! Fireworks by Mother Nature, as a preview to the post-game, Saturday night, fiReWOrKs! That would be cool!

Yeah.
That didn't happen.
When the rain finally did begin, almost an hour past start time, no lightning accompanied it.
Just rain, lots and lots and LOTS of rain.
The tarp gleamed and light reflected off the puddles to the right, to the left, in the outfield - everywhere.
Yes, I'm sure the ducks of Daffin Park were elated at the new little lakes in Grayson Stadium.
The Sand Gnats' fans? Were they elated?
No, not so much.
We had been looking forward to a summer evening outdoors, watching talented young men playing America's pastime, with fireworks to delight us at the end of our adventure in baseball.

That worked out okay, though.
They finally called the game just before 8 pm, after two hours of fans just hanging out together.
I took Mister Willie home, then headed off for my $5, 5-topping pizza.
This time, my cheeseless, thin crust, pie had chicken breast, spinach, diced Roma tomatoes, pineapple, and chopped artichoke hearts. Sooo very tasty!!! And he rain had cooled the house off enough that I could even turn on the oven and bake it! Woohoo!
How did I get a $13 pizza for only $5? The boys had scored the requisite five runs last night for the deal at Papa Murphy's. Actually, the boys won with a score of exactly five runs, allowing the Legends to only make one run.
We'll see how the teams do for tomorrow's doubleheader.
Maybe more pizza is in my future!

mister willie, baseball, and thriller

" Now is the time
for you and I to cuddle close together, yeah

All through the night
I'll save you from the terror on the screen

I'll make you see"

" That this is thriller,
thriller night

'Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try"

"Thriller,
thriller night

So let me hold you tight and share a
Killer,
diller,
chiller,
thriller
here tonight"

Because the baseball game was called to a halt tonight - after three innings of continuous rain - I found myself home earlier than anticipated, but too late to go to a movie at the cinema.
No worries!
One of my favorites, with Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo - mRrreRrr - seemed to have recently started, so I settled in to half-watch "13 Going On 30" while putting away the laundry from earlier.
Then I realized... I had NOT missed my favorite part of the movie!!!
Hooray!!!!

What a great evening it had been!
I had spoken to Willie earlier in the day.
Might I be going to the game tonight?
If so, could I pick him up along the way?
"Yes" and "yes" were my replies.
When I had arrived near six PM, he was in fine form, cheerful and ready for some baseball.
Alrighty then!!!
let's go!!!

Perhaps he knew it would be a shorter evening, too, allowing him an early return home for the fine dinner his Sweetheart had awaiting him.
Plus, the Gnats won tonight!
Yeah, it probably was because he was there to encourage them.
(smile!)
You betcha!

it was a dark and stormy night

... and there we were, tromping around in a cemetery, with lightning flashing.
Not jellyfish lightning, just the normal variety.
The group of us were there for the Bonaventure After Hours tour, a "rain or shine" event.
This evening, it was definitely "rain".
Then again, I was there with my bfe, so of course the weather was marking the occasion by throwing water at us.
At least it was warm water!
Seriously.
I guess we should have given fair warning to the rest of the group.
"Hey, just to let you know! The bfe and I made this tour date with plenty of advance notice to Mother Nature, so you should make sure to bring your wet-weather gear!"
We were all pretty thoroughly soaked by the time the tour was done. The plastic rain ponchos and umbrellas and raincoats were no match for the dripping of the sky and the trees and the bushes. Nope, no match at all.
The tour guide was fabulous, keeping up his steady patter as if the day were bright and clear, rather than dark and stormy. His huge flashlight illuminated the statues and slabs and tree roots of interest along the way, serving as a focal point and a distraction from the water drops beading up and dripping from every surface around, and on, us.
Still, I enjoyed myself.
You know me: I come to the party to actively have a good time, not to placidly be entertained.
Once the tour was done and we were heading back toward the exit gate, I was free to listen to the music in my mind.
After all, the bfe had other things on his mind and was fairly uncommunicative. He'll soon have to say a last farewell to his favorite cat, as she has a cancer which currently occupies about a quarter of her mass, but does not seem to cause her pain. I hope she will make it to the summer.
Most of the group was lagging behind, perhaps mistakenly thinking they might be able to stay a bit drier if they tarried.
I had no such delusion.
The deluge had me soaked pretty well from my knees to my toes.
So, as we had just left the final resting place of Johnny Mercer, I started singing "Skylark" to myself and dance-walking along the puddle-strewn paths.
Hey! That was fun!
Then, "Singing in the Rain" popped into my brain and, as that is one of my all-time favorite songs since I was a girl, I started dance-walking to that, singing to myself and snapping my fingers a bit.
Definitely fun!
Then I just turned loose! Why bother trying to keep the hood of the rain poncho up on my head? My hair was getting wet anyway! And why, pray tell, should I entertain myself with song sotto voce when it was clear to all that something was up? Whistle, my girl, whistle away!
And so I did, whistling while my hair was caressed by the wet breeze, whistling as I snapped my fingers and waved my hand and waggled my shoulders and hips, whistling as I STOMPED in the puddles!!!
Why not?
After weathering the emotional storm throughout the week, this bit of weather was just that: a bit of weather.
Wet weather.
Rain.
And I like the rain.
I have some of the best times ever with my bfe when the rain falls.
Even when he is mourning his dear cat.

rainy night, with lights

It was a rainy night. The little ship had been tossed about on the rough waves for what seemed like hours. No relief was in sight, no friendly beacon to guide its way, no soft welcoming beach to cushion its landfall.

The little rednosed reindeer realized something was amiss. It could sense that lost folks were wandering in the sad downpour, in need of a warm welcome. The deer leapt on top of the roof of the stable, hoping the little red light would be bright enough to lead the weary travelers to a safe harbor.

But the dinosaurs were roaming the soggy ground that night, in search of those scurrying for shelter not yet found. The ever-hungry beasts were not concerned about the source of their snacks. By land, by sea, by air - not a care, as long as it was edible and slower than they. RAWR!

At last, the desperate captain's plea for help was heeded by those on land. Folks gathered in their vehicles, lights blazing, sound waves preceding their rush toward the towering carnivores. Taken aback, the beasts returned to the dark glens of their natural lairs, returning peace and safety to the shore.

The people sent out their lollipop vessel to help guide the lost ship to the harbor. The plethora of circular lights, mounted well above the vessel's deck, were easily seen, casting its beacons in all directions and even a path to the shore, much as the light of a full moon will lay a silver carpet on a tousled sea to guide the way to safety.

The swath of light led straight to the harbor, highlighting the buoys marking the channel. The bright lights of the pier gave the weary crew a goal to which to steer their ship, aiming for the starboard side of the channel markers. The calmer waters of the harbor gave ease to the rocking of the ship, gave ease to the tossing of the spirits of the crew, gave hope to the passengers flocking to the rails.

The open arms of those ashore gave warmth to the bodies of those who had been wandering the sea in the rain. But those loving arms also provided respite from the worries and concerns of those who had been lost in the darkness. Home!

the evening of the first day

We visited the Festival of Lights this evening, the final night to do so. When I say "we", I refer to my first niece and her two little ones.
Although this was the second trip for each of us to enjoy the seasonal display, this was a much different experience. I had gone with my bfe, early in the season: December 12th, a chilly, rainy evening. She and the children had gone about a week later, on a very cold, very blustery night, with other family and friends in tow.
This first night of the new year was perfect. Slightly cool, warranting light jackets, but clear and calm. The cruise of our vehicle on the darkened racetrack allowed us ample time to "ooh" and "ahh" and snap photos to aid our memories. How nice to be able to stop along the way and roll down the window without fear of a wintery gust of freezing air or blowing rain!

The infield was best for all of us! No soggy ground, no bone-chilling wind, and the lights were on - yeah! The children could walk at their leisurely pace, drinking in the many sights, and we could as well. Oh, look! Those children are riding a camel! Over there! There's a pony pulling a carriage! And bonfires! Yeah!

First stop: the petting area, of course! No alpaca this time, but the two camels were riding herd on the menagerie of sheep, goats, and a Shetland pony. My niece and I took turns distracting the camels with food, so the children could get in close to the smaller animals for touches and feeding. Fun! I even threw handfuls of food into the enclosure, so the more timid sheep and pygmy goats would have some goodies to forage. The children enjoyed petting the pony, the braver sheep, the warm-horned yak, the many types of goats, and even the huge camels. So many different types of fur and horns!

Then we all washed our hands and made s'mores. That's right: s'mores! The concession stand not only had hot chocolate and warm cider, but the family pack of s'more fixin's. That meant 4 marshmallows and enough graham crackers and chocolate to complete the melty, crunchy goodness. Yum! Oh, and long toasting sticks, too. We taught the children to toast marshmallows, but they didn't really get the concept of s'more-making. That's okay, we all had a good time there by the fire!

Afterward, we went to the tent with the endangered animals. Lions, and tigers, and red-bottomed baboons, oh my! The big cats were sleeping, nestled around each other, but the baboon was alert and pacing, barking out orders on occasion. Fierce!

The parrots were squawking! The lemurs were luring us with their big eyes! And one of the four spider monkeys was entertaining himself, and us, but swinging back and forth on the jungle gym of bars in their cage. I even managed to snap a few photos of him in motion!

I don't know which of the four he was. Peter? Parker? Davy? Jones? Whichever, he was the only one with a waistbelt, so perhaps he is the celebrity who worked with Steve Carrell. Maybe!
We closed down the festival. We were the last to leave, and no one was even trying to hustle us out, they were allowing us to fully enjoy the experience and our company. But the lights of the displays on the racetrack had all been extinguished, save those few bidding us a "good night to all!" as we steered toward the exit... and straight on 'til morning.

no, i think it was a ball...and the ump says?

My car has officially earned its second strike. Last Saturday was the first strike.

Oh, no. Really? It broke down again?

You betcha. And with a real lack of imagination, it did so the same way it had before: gear shift knob just rattling around loose, not even trying to find a gear. Very aggravating.

You were out and about?

Well, no. Fortunately, I was at home. I had moved the car earlier in the driveway when I was mowing the front yard and the car had not even hinted that it had a problem. No. It waited until I was showered and ready to go... then it wouldn't. I was to meet the best-hugger friend at an art reception and had to let him know he would need a different ride home.

How terrible!

Not really. I mean, it could have been raining buckets. And he could have ended up stranded, but didn't.
And when I called my first niece for assistance, she could have been out and about.
Fortunately, she was not.

What about the tow truck?

Well, fortunately, my road assistance picked up the tab on that. I was here, so i knew where to have the car taken, so that was fortunate, too.

Excellent!

Really, it was. My first niece and her family picked me up and we went traipsing off to dine on Italian fare and had a nice meal together.
Then I came home and the librarian fetched me and we went dancing with Magic Rocks, accompanied by a cooling breeze and night view from the roof of the purple and red palms.

Ohhhh-kayyyy! That sounds like fun!

It really was! I had feared I wouldn't be able to get any dancing in, with my car having failed me again. My night's fun was rescued!

Very good. And your car?

Well, knowing the librarian had other plans today, as did my first niece, I decided to take a cue from the wave and researched bus routes. Fortunately, the 31 bus stop is just a few minutes from my front door and it would take me almost to the car shop. Nice! Even better, the trip would only take about 35 minutes, which is pretty incredible, considering how many stops are along the way.
Things were going pretty good. I only waited about ten minutes for the bus. The driver understood that it had been awhile since I rode and was patient with me, reassuring me that this bus would, indeed, take me close to my destination.
So, off we go! And the bus is making good time, too.
And I mistakenly get off about two stops early along my route, but that's only about a quarter-mile off, so I start walking.
And the rains come! Torrential downpour, with gusting winds and thunder and lightning!

Oh my God! Did you have an umbrella???

Seriously, that would NOT have helped! I managed to run up under the eaves of a nearby business and that was helpful for a bit, until the wind started blowing the rain nearly perpendicular. I noticed the side of the building looked a bit more protective, so I ran over there... and was out of the path of the downpour. Whew!
Then it was a matter of waiting it out... and waiting... and waiting. Even after the opaque downpour had slowed to a steady soft rain, it was still enough water falling that I would have been totally soaked long before I reached the car repair shop. Which would be closing in less than an hour.

So... the rain finally stopped?

No, I didn't have to wait that long. When I could tell that the worst of the storm had passed, I ventured under the front overhang again, making me visible to all driving by. So, I'm watching the raindrops hitting the parking lot puddles, watching for a sign that it was safe to hit the street again, and the street came to me!

That sounds like a cute trick.

No, really, I'm just standing there, fairly damp from earlier, and this little, faded red car pulls in and a window lowers partially, and I hear the words "do you need a ride?"

Seriously!? What the hey!

Yeah, right? But there was actually a little concern in the voice. So I looked at the young man driving and told him I was waiting for the rain to stop so I could retrieve my car. And he said he could take me there. So, I made a quick decision and let him do so.
Yeah, I know. You NEVER get into the car of a stranger. N E V E R. But I did.
Fortunately, he was a good guy. He knew the woman who owned the business I was sheltered by and he had been concerned for her sake when he saw me there.
Then he saw my bedraggled self and my butterfly bag and decided to offer help.
Seriously. I think it was my Italian butterfly bag that tipped the scale in my favor, in his eyes.
Maybe.

You must be out of your mind. You got into a stranger's car? And no one knew where you were??? You simply do NOT do that!

But I did. And fortunately, all ended well or I would not be writing this now. Right?
He wasn't a big, burly guy, so I feel sure I could have muscled my way around him. And he was alone in the car, so I wasn't concerned about getting overpowered.
He was a nice young man on his way home from work. And I think he was at least as nervous as I was when I accepted his offer and climbed into the car.
Fortunately, he took me straight to the car repair shop, which wasn't far at all, dropping me off right at the door. Very nice!
Of course, I thanked him several times.
How very fortunate I was that he came along...

How very fortunate you were that he wasn't dangerous...

Yes, yes, yes. I know. And fortunately, the guy at the shop was very understanding of my being put out with them earlier. He had the two cables there waiting for me, explaining what was wrong with them and reiterating what I had already found out: only one of the cables and the bushing had been replaced before.
I guess sometimes we hear what we want to hear. And I had not known of there being twin cables leading from my console to the transmission.
But now I do.
So I waited about fifteen minutes for the rain to slow, then I took my cables and went home. In the rain. Waiting for the car to try to strand me again. Hoping it would not.

And...?

And I arrived home just fine. As did the car.
And I put on dry clothes and tried to decide what to do with my evening. I let my first niece and the karate kid and the wave and the librarian know that I was home. Of course, I didn't tell them about my taking a ride with a stranger.
I didn't want them to fuss at me about it.
I can be a bit too trusting at times, I know.

You think?

Yes. I had thought the librarian and I would go to a new play tonight, but she had an out-of-town friend show up unexpectedly and so those plans changed. Still, I thought I would still go to the play, until my Quaker friend called. He was concerned about my car situation and was a bit upset that I had not called him for a ride! So, I'll do better about that next time...Maybe. You know how stubbornly self-reliant I can be sometimes, right?

SOME times? You do mean, MOST of the time, right?

(Grin.) Maybe. Anywho, he invited me to come to the concert of the cigarbox guitar and cigarbox bass and cigarbox ukelele, so I agreed to go.
What a great idea!
I had expected my copper friend to be there, but she ended up changing her plans.
I did see my baseball foodie friend there and met some of his buddies.
And I did dance! By myself at first, but then joined by a fellow named Jay, who was pretty good on that concrete floor. Woohoo!
And to think, I had not planned to be there at all.
How fortunate that I was!
And afterward, I had dinner with my Quaker friend and his neighbor and she insisted on paying. What a treat!
And now, I am home, and gratefull to be in for the evening.
My librarian asked if I wanted to go out with her and her group tonight, but I need a night off, I think.
Or, if not off, at least early.
G'night, all. And sweet dreams.

what a difference

"What a difference a day makes/ twenty-four little hours/ brought the sun and the flowers/ where there used to be rain." Esther Phillips may not have been the first to sing it, but her version is the one I hear in my mind when I think of this song.

Today is definitely a new day. After sleeping in this morning - a rare nine hours of rest! - I feel like a new person. Even though I awoke to rain and gray skies, I am not daunted. I can take on THE WORLD! Now, if I could just break away from this computer... Soon, I promise! The Irish festival awaits! I have free tickets, obtained by my promise to volunteer as a ticket-taker for three hours tomorrow. Cool beans! Exclamation points FOR ALL!!!

I really need to get more sleep, obviously. I'm practically high just from having had so much peaceful sleep and no plans for this morning... no real plans for today... the true meaning of "open options." Yeah, I deserve to treat myself this way more often.

And now, I'm going to get in my car and see where it takes me... maybe the REAL beach?

rain

"I can't stand the rain/ Against my window." So sang Ann Peebles back in the day, so sang Tim Love last night with the Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love. On the other hand, I love the sound of rain, I love the sound of driving on a highway in a steady rain. Not a gully-washer, nor a light drizzle that makes the windshield wipers scrape, but a steady, drenching wash of water.
Today was a rainy day in Georgia and it was a rainy day in South Carolina as well. I had intended to go over to Beaufort to visit my ailing father in the morning. Time ticked away and I was still at home after noon. Then the postman delivered a big envelope from my youngest brother and the letter had a message for our father. Finally, motivation to get me out of the house! Northward I drove, with the rain beginning as soon as I hit the highway. Big lovely drops of rain, falling out of the sky, falling on the rivers and creeks and marshes, sweetening the air, knocking out the dust. Ahhhh...
I had a really good visit with Daddy and his family, even discussing the rain at one point and how much he and I both enjoyed driving in it. Not in town, mind you, where folks with licenses from Cracker Jacks feel free to get out and muck up the roads every time precipitation occurs. No. We like driving on the highway, accompanied by the wooshing sound of rubber on wet pavement, the "tlok tlok" of windshield wipers keeping time with the tunes on the radio, the gentle drumming on the roof of the car.
On the drive back to Savannah, the rain commenced again as soon as I was back on the highway. Nice! With dusk settling down around me, I saw the many slender fingers of the fog reaching out of the rivers and creeks and marshes, reaching for the sky, reaching for the soft dark underbellies of the clouds. What an incredible view: water, water, above and below and all around.