Jami's Friday Feast

Feast 172 Appetizer Make up a word and give us its definition. Afkaflabbered - it's the way you feel when someone does something so stupid or rude that you are beyond shocked and/or appalled. Soup What is currently your favorite song? Sing, Mary, Sing - Jennifer Knapp. It's a great Christmas song Salad What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year? Realistically? Those express board games and anything Simpsons. Just dreaming? A big pile of money so we can adopt again. Main Course Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life. Scents seem to remind me more of events or places rather than people Dessert Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn’t be, and why? How about that whole TMZ show? That just makes me sick. Or maybe Maury. PS - no entries into the Word Game this week, so it'll continue for another week with mephitic. Post entries here to win the glory. That's all, no physical prize.

Jami Gets a J-O-B

You read it right, Jami is back in the work force. I am officially a Data Collection Analyst. I know, impressive right? Ah, sigh, it's not nearly as exciting as it sounds. Basically it involves using a handheld scanner thingy and going to various stores and scanning things. I am legally not allowed to tell you anymore. Yup, that's right. If I tell you, I have to kill you. Which is all kinds of crazy paperwork, so I'd rather not. It's really flexible time-wise, decent pay and according to the people who interviewed me mind-numbingly boring, but hey, a paycheck is a paycheck. My new boss seems to be a real peach and says she adores me, I have to add. Not only have I apparently demonstrated a higher IQ than their normal new recruit (which, apparently means I have no obvious signs of severe brain injury) but I also fixed a problem on my own scanning thingy, rocketing me into genius territory (for now; we all know better). So that's good. She seems to be the kind of boss who won't flip out if I mess up, and she even told me that except for not showing up, there's not much I can do to get fired. Good to know, but I think I'll not test that out. On to more important matters, this week's Word Game Winner, the inimitable PW who used the Word of the Week (furbelow). Lori also had an excellent entry, but PW's beloved Loki definitely better fit the feel of "furbelow" in my estimation and that's the one that counts. To play this week's game, check out the rules here. The word for this week is . . . mephitic - adj- [muh-fit-ik] 1. offensive to the smell. 2. noxious; pestilential; poisonous. Today, my grandmother changed Eddie's mephitic diaper. Perhaps you can use it to insult someone without their knowing it. Always fun.

Jami's Next Word Game Winner, and a Few Notes

Well, you might think it's obvious as we had only one entry, again. Lori, who has won previously, definitely gets bonus points for the conversation, which gave me a good chuckle. However, I am going to declare it a tie, Lori and my mom, who didn't post, but did use the week's Word in a purposeful and amusing way. Even though my mom didn't follow the rules about posting, since she used it in conversation with me, I'll give her props. Congratulations to Lori and Jami's Mom, Thanksgiving Word Winners. A harder one, this week, one I didn't even know - this week's Word: encomium - noun, (ěn-kō'mē-əm) 1. Warm, glowing praise. 2. A formal expression of praise; a tribute. To everyone else, I hope your Thanksgiving was as great as ours, with excellent food, plenty of loved ones and more. The Husband and I went to see Avenue Q, which I'll be reviewing shortly on Circle of Friends Reviews. I will say here though, that as my friend Tim has noted previously, anything is funnier if a puppet says it. Also I'll be adding a few Christmas-themed reviews, so it'll be worth your while to check out. An encomium, if you will, to media for the season. I never, ever go anywhere on Black Friday, so I'm in my comfy sweats, TV on, Eddie at Grammy's house, eating a recipe I like to call "Cold Turkey with Salt" and loving it.

Jami's Word Game Returns

So here's how it works. I give you the word, you use it in conversation in the next week, post the conversation in the comments of this post and I pick the winner - the person I feel used the word best. So easy. So do it. This week's word an easy one, chosen because I just watched the episode of King of the Hill where it is over and semi-incorrectly used: resplendent [ris-splend -duhnt] adjective - shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid So, go forth, use the word and post your resplendent conversation here. . . .

Jami's Friday Feast and Word Game Winner

Feast 168 Appetizer Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies? Popcorn, lots of butter OR if it's fresh popped: salt no butter! Soup What year did you start using the Internet? 1994, one of my co-interns on my summer internship showed me how to use it, even thought at the time I didn't want to let him know that I'd never done anything except email from my college computer lab. Salad What is your first name in Pig Latin? Mee-Jay Main Course Name something you are picky about. Geez, do you have the time? I could make you a giant list. Let's say, I can't stand eating eggs and cheese if I see them touching. I love eggs, I love cheese, and I even eat them on the same sandwich, as long as they aren't touching each other on the sandwich. Ham is a nice barrier to protect the eggs from the cheese. Dessert Fill in the blanks: I ____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today. I cleaned house yesterday and I am cleaning today. AND THE WINNER IS: Lori, once again! Thank for playing the Word Game and I'll post a new word next week.

Jami's Odds and Ends

Does anyone else think the name "Umberto" is just too close to "umbilical"? Every time I hear someone say "Umberto" my head adds "cord" to the end. I don't follow baseball much, but isn't the World Series, at least in theory, supposed to be a contest between the two best teams in North America? Then how could I have turned the game on last night to see Boston ahead by twelve runs in the bottom of the eighth? They are still just one point a piece, right? It's not like they've added touchdowns. This is true: the commentators were so bored they were discussing Van Halen. Again, I'm not that up on the current baseball situation, but as far as I know, Van Halen is not really involved in the game, even the finals. I have never locked the keys in the car, but I did leave them in the car today, in the ignition (!!) and with the passenger side door unlocked (so technically, I still haven't locked the keys in the car). I'd have to say that the Galleria parking lot must be a very safe place, because the keys, the car and all its contents were still there an hour later when I got back. And finally, back to the Word Game, which I forgot last week: Rules are here. I expect EDW, Patrick and previous winner PW to humor me this time, please? This week's word: abstruse /āb-strōōs'/ 1.hard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories. Obsolete. secret; hidden. 2. Concerned with obscure subject matter. Have a great Thursday. Hope I haven't been too abstruse.

Jami Celebrates 11

Whew, here we are at Thursday, again already. Last week I totally missed announcing a winner for the word contest, but only had the one entry, anyway. So congrats again to Lori, this week's winner and if I'm not too tired when I'm done writing this post, I'll put up another word. Otherwise, maybe we'll wait a week. Right now, it's October 11, and 11 years ago, right at this very time, I was getting ready for bed. I wouldn't sleep much that night. Even though I had my own apartment, I was back in my parents' house, actually in their guest room, sharing the foldout bed with M, as we'd done at many a sleepover. We had just steamed out the train of my gorgeous wedding gown and we were both giddy and excited, because the next morning, at 11 am, I would be getting married. Eleven years. Sounds like a looong time doesn't it? Eleven years ago, October 12, 1996 - the best day of my life until January 9, 2006 tied it (the first time we had Eddie). I made a real effort to remember that day and I do, I really remember so much. Picture me at 22, in my huge white princess dress, with my veil on and blusher down, standing on the stairs to our church's sanctuary. The organ played Canon in D while my best friends at the time (notable exception excluded, but that's a different story) strode down the aisle. I could see just two people in the very last pew. M, of course, the last to go before me, was about to step up and for a hideous moment, I thought I might puke from nerves. (Interesting side note - when I get really nervous, I am always certain that I am going throw up and faint, not necessarily in that order, but I never have. I mean, I've yakked, but not due to nerves and I've never fainted, ever. Each time though, I am sure this time I will do both.) It occurred to me that going up that last step, around the corner as the music changed to the Bridal March (I'm a traditionalist, sue me) that I would be crossing a Point of No Return. It is the same feeling you get when you aren't sure you really want to be on a scary-looking ride, after you're strapped in, but before they actually throw the switch. It's that "I probably can't even stop it now if I wanted to. But I don't, really. Probably" And then, the music changed, the congregation shifted in their seats, I could hear it and . . .I stepped out. The Husband stood, all the way down the aisle at the front, seemingly miles and miles away. And all my nerves were gone. Because I knew how right it was. Once I saw him, once I saw him see me, I knew. So I savored that walk up the aisle with my Daddy, because I love being the center of attention, of course, and because I wanted to enjoy that perfect rightness, the anticipation of our lives beginning. On the way back down the aisle at the end, I can tell you who I saw and who smiled or waved, but on the way up, I only saw the Husband. A beautiful ceremony followed. An incredibly fun reception. A lovely "after party" at my parents. A first night at a nice hotel. A fun and exciting honeymoon. And the rest of our lives so far. Eleven years - laughter, tears, great joy, painful loss, grand adventures, unbearable tedium, but mostly eleven years of love. Happy Anniversary, Love of My Life. I hope we have one-hundred-eleven more.

Jami Catches Up

Whew, it's been awhile since I posted. Thanks to a busy week and a minor computer issue, suddenly it's been a week with no post. Apologies. First, congrats to Lori - this week's winner of Jami's Word Game for her excellent use of last week's word, "vexatious" - see her use in the comment section of this post. Lori doesn't have a blog (as far as I know) so no link, but way to use the word, Lori and keep up the fine work! Lori recently taught me the word "chaplet" which actually came up in a conversation shortly thereafter. Three weeks, three different winners, are you next?? I know you can do it. This week's word is: turbid [tur-bid] 1. not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque; obscured: the turbid waters near the waterfall. 2. thick or dense, as smoke or clouds. 3. confused; muddled; disturbed. This is a new one on me, I'd heard of "turgid" but never this one. Best of luck, post your entries and I hope you win. Other brief notes: We're going camping this weekend and I can't wait. I so need a break and there's not much that's both cheap and totally relaxing as drinking malt-ternatives around a campfire. However I am also totally dreading the part of the weekend that is leaving Eddie for two whole days. I've never been away from him that long (since he came home). He's all excited, he loooooves going to Grammy and Pop's house, it's all he's talked about all day. So I may be crying into my malt-ternative. I'm out of Sue Grafton books. I thought she'd finished the alphabet (she writes the A is for . .B is for . . . mysteries). I counted on a nice full 26 books before I ran out, she started writing these in the 80s, after all and I go to get T and it's not even released yet!! There is a 200+ person waiting list!! What the $*%#? Where's my *$#%^ "T", Sue?? "S" came out two years ago, I read way faster than that! Grrr. This happens to me with every author. I'm not even a huge mystery fan, it was just something to keep me busy between other books and now I'm out. So sad. Does anyone else think OJ Simpson is some sort of criminal savant? Commits a double-homicide, gets away with it, commits some more felonies (sure, 10 years later, but still) and makes such idiotic remarks as "I thought what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" (um, I doubt they said that to encourage you to come to Vegas and commit armed robbery; I think they were going more for the legal, but perhaps less moral activities) and something about how could people say he'd think he'd get away with a crime (hmmmmmm). Sigh. Please, OJ, muster what little dignity you have left and stop breaking the law. Please. Here's the story of a woman who tried to eBay her two kids (just for a couple of days). I can't imagine what could go wrong with that. Having kids leads you to say things you never thought you would, like "Please quit rubbing cheese into your hair", "No chasing the dog with pliers!" and "You're lying, you did poop!" I had a dream last night, the details unimportant, but the cool part was that it had a soundtrack - all Monkees songs, too. So now, I guess we're all caught up. Don't forget to post your entries to the word game here. Peace out, I gotta go catch a tiny lunatic and try to convince him to go to sleep.

Jami's New Game, The First Winner

I started this New Word Game here and promised to announce the first winner today. I was tempted to give the nod to PW who is trustworthy and since she said she'd do it, I believe her, but since she didn't post the conversation and the rules clearly state you do, I declare the first winner to be . . . . ME! Just because my use was in the actual comments. This'll be the last time I win, so if you want to be a winner, and I know you do, read the rules again and play this week with the word: susurrus su-SUHR-uhs A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur. Now go play!!

Jami's New Game

Here's the game - every Thursday I'll post a word. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to incorporate the word into your conversation at some point during the following week, and then post the following in the comments for that Thursday:

• The person you were talking to (description is fine, like "coworker" or "aunt").
• The sentence you used, in context.
• When/where the conversation happened.

Then the following Thursday, I'll announce the winner. There's no prize, just pride. I'm going to judge based on:

• Proper usage, and that means not "this week's word is . ."
• Creative insertion. Yes, that's objective, but it's my game
• Recipient of word usage. For example, talking to my 2-year-old is less impressive than using it with your CEO.

That's it, so tell your friends and get to speakin'. Today's word is: oscillate

os·cil·late os-us-leyt 1.to swing or move to and fro, as a pendulum does. 2.to vary or vacillate between differing beliefs, opinions, conditions, etc.: He oscillates regularly between elation and despair. 3.Physics. to have, produce, or generate oscillations. 4.Mathematics. (of a function, sequence, etc.) to tend to no limit, including infinity: The sequence 0, 1, 0, 1, … oscillates. 5.to cause to move to and fro; vibrate. –verb (used with object)

Have fun!