What's Your Story?

I ask the question when I meet people...usually when I'm tired of the more normal "So, what do you do?"

Gads. I hate that question.

But, guilty as charged. I will ask it at networking functions, etc., mostly because I want to know. I would prefer to ask "So, where do you fit in the Space/Time Continuum?" but that nets me weird looks.

The time comes though, when I feel like daring someone to really tell me something interesting. So, I'll ask "What's your story?"

Most people just take it as a new way of answering the what-do-you-do question. They look a bit confused, then they tell me they work here, do that, what-have-you.

Not this guy. UncleWeed was introduced to me by Raincoaster at a DTES event. I had no connections at this thing, so I was not in networking mode. I wanted amusement, but wasn't expecting it here.

Until I asked UncleWeed the question. I suddenly, and for the first time since I started asking the question 10+ years ago, got a story. And for your enjoyment, you too can listen to the story on his latest podcast: the Taos Hi-Jacking Incident. (If you're feeling impatient, jump to around 8 min 30 sec for his reaction to my question, the story truly starts at around 15 min 30 sec.)

He understates how excited I was at the gift of the story...the unexpected, fantastic glory of being taken literally. Seriously though, doesn't everyone have at least one great story?? What's yours?


Happy Holidays,

Lori

Etymologist's View of the World

The linguistic geek in me really likes these maps:

The map makers researched global place names to find their origins, and then translated them to English.

I've always wanted to visit Mango Leaves on the Isle of Happiness myself.

Lori

Palindromes...

Really, who's got the time to figure out that

"Go hang a salami. I'm a lasagna hog."

is a palindrome??

Or, here's one about my cat:

A nut for a jar of tuna.

Found at HowStuffWorks.

Lori

Oh FSM, Help me in this new addiction!

Okay. It's official. I'm a geek.

I get addicted to something on the Internet, and is it something cool, like a game? Seedy, like porn? Edgy, like YouTube?

No. I go to geeksville -- or language geek heaven, depending on your 'take'.

Wordreference.com is a great dictionary reference tool.

And the forums! Lord, love a duck! I've been immersed there for 3 freakin' hours!

Was sent the link to the dictionary by a business associate. Used it a bit, but really got into it yesterday, when I spent most of the afternoon just reading a few articles in French, studying on government time (it's encouraged!). Then I decided to try my hand at translating one of the articles, got stumped on a turn of phrase, posted it on the forum...and haven't looked back!

No computer time for me tomorrow -- unless it's to write my reviews.

Will do laundry instead.

Lori

Fun Words

Ran across a great word today, en français.

un vide-grenier, or a garage sale (or yard sale, or car boot sale, depending on your dialect)...literally an 'empty attic'.

Very cool. Descriptive (a directive almost, one might say), rather than, uh, locational.

Another great turn of (international) phrase that's always been a favourite of mine is dar a luz, Spanish for 'give birth' ...literally, to 'give to the light'.

Any out there for you folks?

Lori