Fun with Words Part Deux - by Robert

 How are you?

is a phatic expression (or a social formula). It is a group of words used for social reasons rather than to ask a real question 

I really like the definition above.  Years ago I often listen to Mr. Green, a radio talk show host, who disliked that question.  I can understand his reasoning.  Lets face it, you get some 50 phone calls that begin with “Hello.  How are you?”

Eh, I’ve done it myself several times over the years.  I find myself laughing inside whenever I ask the question or am asked the question.  Lets face it the only person that requires an answer is a physician or close family, who really wants an answer.

My usual answer of late is.  “I feel like I’m 18 again, until I look in the mirror in the morning.”

Now here are answers that I wish I could say and it would not be taken seriously. “My toe nail fungus is driving me nuts."  or

"Dandruff flakes have to be brushed off from my clothes on an hourly basis. Not to mention the itch in my crotch is really bad.  I wonder if it’s just a rash or caused by crotch crickets.”

So  beware when you asked that question, you just may get an answer you didn’t expect.

Fun with Words - by Robert

 

The word eh.  For those who wonder how to pronounce it, just say A.  Long ago this word was used often by Canadiens (or Canadian in English), which made people laugh.  It does have different meanings depending on the situation.

Example #1:  What are you doing? Eh?  The eh emphasises the need for a response to the question.

Before I go on and explain the next definition of the word, I must tell you how this came about.  Imagine you’re back in time in the late 1960s.  You're sitting in a pub and over hearing a group of wise men; ages 18 to 21, discussing the meaning of eh.  After a few beers they all agree on another meaning of eh.  Which comes to the following example.

Example #2:  You’ve done something really dumb.  You are asked.  “Why did you do that? Eh?”  Now the eh has changed from  emphasising a response to simply three words.  You dumb fuddleduddle.

So next time you hear eh and chuckle, give it some thought.

Weekly Musings of the 17th

 

Yup, it was back to hot, hazy and humid and for added fun the smoke from the wild-fires in Northern Ontario have drifted down through most of the province and it just isn't a good idea to go outside for long.

One of the mornings I decided it would be smarter to go for my 30 minute walk with a mask on which helped a lot.  

This morning was finally cooler but the smoke is still hanging around. On top of that just down the highway from us a barn fire happened which killed 20,000 hogs, a devastating loss to the farmer and his family.

After that fire was brought under control the sky became a horrible yellow colour and the smell of smoke got worse which was from the wild fires and not the barn fire.  We kept everything closed and the A/C on which help a lot.   This morning seemed a little better as the temperature was finally cooler so we opened the windows for about 30 minutes before closing things up again.  

 The sun has looked like this for 3 days now.  

As to the lines of the parking lot, well, after seeing what they painted I have a new name for our 2 apartment buildings - The Half Done Apartments.  Everything they have done lately has been only half.  They painted the hallways and doors but not the stairs nor the step into the apartments, they remain in the stairs - two colours ago and on the step one colour ago.  Oh, and they still have not put any numbers on the doors yet.  They say they are waiting for a template.... seriously?!?!  They are numbers, how tough can that be?  

They paved only half the parking lot and therefore only painted half the lines.  Not even all the newly paved area, only the front part.  The baseboard carpet in the hallways they pulled out for the painting over 5 years ago and still have not put them in again nor changed the hallway carpets nor cleaned them as they say they don't need to clean them as they are replacing them.... not sure what decade they plan to do that.  The owners of the buildings live in another city so really not that important that things get finished.  Reason we stay?  Simple we moved in when the rent was reasonable and will stay until it isn't and keep our home clean and maintained behind our door.   

 Didn't take a picture of the lines yet but this is the only area that they are painted.  

Okay enough of the rant of the Half-Done Apartments.  

Since we like breathing without smoke in the air we stayed home and of course I curled up with another amazing book.  This series is one of the very best I have read.  I told you of the first one how the author wrote from the Egyptian point of view instead of from Moses's side which was such a different way and made it such a great read.  This one too was even better.

This one was the 3rd of 6 and I started the next one.  If it is as good as the first three I can't wait to get into the story.

Well, that was the week, pretty much of a stay put and keep the A/C on and windows shut.  I am hoping that through the weekend rain will come and winds to dispel the smoke and the heat and next week will be fresher.

Today we are off to the reserve for our monthly trip - probably with the windows closed and the air on in the car to keep the smoke out. 

Wishing you all a great day and fun weekend.

 

  Kind of hope I am that kind of person