You know how some posts are like the junk drawer, with rubber bands and paper clips and metal doohickeys and picture hanging gizmos and drill bits and sticky notes? This one is like that. (You've been warned.)
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Last weekend I went to Iowa for a birthday dance. That was fun, especially meeting Hannah and seeing Sarah again (links on sidebar). It was also nice to take a road trip, particularly with such good companions!. The fields and fields and fields and fields and fields of corn were a bit odd, though. Late at night, after Oreos, the conversation turned (okay, so maybe I brought it up) to the possibility of genetically modified corn attacking the car. I thought with the addition of, oh, moose genes, f'r instance, they would charge, but someone had to dash my theories by saying they probably had fish genes instead. Which is, of course, still bad, like all GMOs, but not as intimidating sounding- or as funny- when driving through the 21,000th corn field late at night.
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I got a new dog. His name is Cato. He comes, sits, and generally tries to please. His paws are huge and he eats all the food he can get. Pictures are forthcoming.
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Dad blogged about Custer and Crazyhorse. The Eddie Arnold CD he mentions in his post has been a lot of fun to listen to. Fortunately, Marcy doesn't appear bothered by listening to songs about red-eyed cows and ghost riders in the sky.
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I'm painting our bathroom. The soundtrack includes Gillian Welch, Norah Jones, and The Call.
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I've been on a Hank the Cowdog reading spree. Laughing until your sides hurt at the Head of Ranch Security is good for you.
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"Twinings has been blending my family tea for years. Today, I am proud to continue this tradition with the tea celebrated throughout the world known as Twinings Earl Grey. Legend has it, that my ancestor, the second Earl Grey, was presented with this exquisite recipe by an envoy on his return from China.
(signed) The sixth Earl Grey"
(from the back of my tea bag wrapper.)
Here we have proof not only that Twinings makes great teas, but also that even Earls are not immune to excessive comma usage. To my mind, that should read "Legend has it that my ancestor, the second Earl Grey, was presented...."- however, either way, I am really enjoying the tea.
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That's all, folks.
50 comments:
The Eddie Arnold CD ... Marcy doesn't appear bothered by ...
Does she come when he sings Cattle Call?
Laughing until your sides hurt at the Head of Ranch Security [Hank, the Cow Dog] is good for you.
Agreed!
Ahem.
Are you saying that there is something wrong with cornfields? Such a statement could very well cause Hannah to declare you no longer her twin. Cornfields are just about her first love. Mine too. We actually suffer from cornfield deprivation when we leave the Midwest.
Yeah, commas can be scary things. However, I make it my rule: when in doubt, add a comma. This makes for some interesting sentences, no doubt, but at least I try.
Hello, from another Natalie!
I just found your blog off of Carmon Friedrich's (where you commented), and it looks like we have a lot in common.
Am I right in supposing you're homeschooled too?
Commas! My mom just told me the other day that I had scattered them all over my blog!:-)
Oh, and I've read all of the Hank books...very funny!
Does she come when he sings Cattle Call?
Not yet. :-) Maybe we should work on that...
Sarie, there isn't anything wrong with cornfields...just...its a little odd that they're so big and there are so many. :-) Here we have smaller fields due to the terrain, and so I'm used to a variety of crops all over. Cornfield deprivation...hahahaha... :-)
Hello, Natalie! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I am a homeschool graduate. Good guess. :-)
Commas are rather sneaky that way... they tend to slink into my sentences when I'm not looking. :-)
Yes, we love the Hank books. I see from your profile that you like P.G. Wodehouse, John Buchan, James Herriot, C.S.Lewis, J.R.R.Tolkien, Jane Austen, Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie mysteries. High five! So do I! :-)
Does she come when he sings Cattle Call?
Not yet. :-) Maybe we should work on that...
Would that not take too long to call your cow?-)
Why, the singing to call her would take longer that the milking! :)
Should I feel honored or squished that I am inside your junk drawer post?
Hi!
Thats awesome that you got a new dog. I love dogs, perhaps my favorite animale! What kind is it?
"Twinings has been blending my family tea, for years. Today, I am proud, to continue this tradition, with the tea, celebrated throughout the world, known as, Twinings Earl Grey. Legend has it, that my ancestor, the second Earl Grey, was presented, with this exquisite recipe, by an envoy on his return from China.
(signed) The sixth Earl Grey"
oops. That should be "by an envoy, on his return, from China"
James Thurber didn't like commas, but his editor did.
Should be "celebrated, throughout the world"
or even "celebrated, throughout, the world"
Han- Honored, of course! Junk drawers contain those items so vital to survival that they cannot actually be put away, but only put in the junk drawer. Essentials- purple Sharpies, clothespins, post-it notes, and the like.
Loz- I love dogs too. I don't know what kind he is... probably a mutt. :-) He was abandoned, so we took him in. He is pretty tall and will definitely be big!
Han and Sarie- reading these was almost more painful than listening to a bunch of puns! Don't use so many commas... it is just wrong and wasteful. Stop being selfish and think of all those poor kids in foreign countries who don't even have commas. ;-)
What a lovely little smorasbord of delights.
Congrats on your new dog with the big paws - can't wait for photos!
Well now that you mention it it does just a little bit break my heart to know of such a horrible situation where children poor children are denied of all things commas and in fact this has touched me so much that I think I might have to foreswear all punctuation at all Nah I guess not although it is a bit relaxing to break from periods Here I'll stick in a nice ellipsis...
Chiefbiscuit- thanks! :-)
Han- Aaaaaaaauuuuuuuggggghhhhhh! How horrible. Is there nothing in between? *smacks self between the eyes with Shirley Grammar textbook* I still believe in the possibility of a third option, where commas are used- but rarely. :-) Oh happy thought!
Hmm, we could give the children in thir world countries all of our semicolons and they could use those instead of commas; nobody needs semicolons anyway.
SHIRLEY GRAMMAR!!! *happy dance*
Heheh, we listened to the "chanting" tape once... we couldn't bear the southern accents without ending up laughing our heads off. My mom put a stop to that.
ANYWAYS, don't take my semi-colons! They are so useful; they're like Scotch tape!
Like Scotch tape? If they are the Scotch tape, are commas the masking tape? Perhaps commas are more like the electrical tape of punctuation. If so, are periods more like duct tape or packing tape, and why? (Your answer should be in complete sentences. Five hundred words or fewer [I don't think you need to use "Less words" I'm fine with big words])
The world is in a sad state when people begin to consider "fewer" a big word.
Purposefully misunderstood.
Perhaps commas are more like the electrical tape of punctuation.
If commas are electical tape, don't let them get punctuated.
**Ouch!!**
I think I punctured a comma!!
**Now, how many volts was that?**
To borrow from my twin:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5178/152/1600/pun%20faces.jpg
Don't use so many commas... it is just wrong and wasteful.
And Jesus said, "Let none be wasted." (John 6:12)
... note the use of a comma, quotation marks, parentheses, and a period.
And about children in third world countries who have been deprived of commas and assorted marks of punctuation ... I don't think it is helpful to provide them with such things. Because when they use them up, they are gone. (It's the old "Give a man a fish / teach a man to fish" dichotomy.)
I think, instead, we should send them some of Natalie's junk-drawer contents: "Essentials- purple Sharpies" and let them make their own puncutation marks.
"And someone up above needs to learn how to use 'nested quotes' in their writing."
The proper use of nested parentheses [assuming that someone (aforementioned) would want to use them] should also be covered.
:)
And I'm not sure what that punctuation mark is, but I sure see it a lot [along with (but not limited to) ;) ;-) ;)) :p :D etc.]. Note that no commas separated the items in that list. It would have just been too confusing!!!
Anybody game for trying to reach 200+ comments on this post?
:)
"Anybody game for trying to reach 200+ comments on this post?"
JFC: do or do not. There is no try. (Haven't you ever seen Star Wars?)
Of course, perhaps that should be: "Do or do not; there is no try."
Or: "Do, or do not; there is no try."
Or it could be any number of endless variations.
But back to the point...I don't think one tries to reach 200 comments, it just sorta happens.
Hmm. Maybe we should try for 200+ commas instead. It would be easier.
Perhaps a simple comma would do: "Do or do not, there is no try." I don't know.
Personally, I'd prefer it to read:
"Do or do not-there is no try."
I think, instead, we should send them some of Natalie's junk-drawer contents: "Essentials- purple Sharpies" and let them make their own puncutation marks.
How about some black ones? Purple commas on black text (or no text at all) would look sorta interesting!
Personally, I'd prefer it to read:
"Do or do not-there is no try."
Well said Natalie!
Anybody game for trying to reach 200+ comments on this post?
Game, as in a target to throw comments at??? ;~)
Anybody game for trying to reach 200+ comments on this post?
Should we post each word separately?
It sure would make it very interesting to read, but the posts would definitely add up fast. :-)
Commas tell you were to pause when reading, and semicolons help combine sentences.
It would be hard to read if there was no punctuation or spaces between words in sentences.
It would be a lot better to study the grammar rules and learn to use them.
Yes,
of
course
we
should!
Well, mabye not, but it sure would get the number over 200 faster!
:)
And I'm not sure what that punctuation mark is, but I sure see it a lot [along with (but not limited to) ;) ;-) ;)) :p :D etc.]. Note that no commas separated the items in that list. It would have just been too confusing!!!
I think that's an emoticon, particularly ... well you should know that!
No, we should send rainbow sharpies! :-) They're the best... plus, they can write with them as well so there won't be any problem with black text and colored punctuation.
No sharpies. Ball-point pens are the way to go. Sharpies are so uncivilised. We're trying to civilize these people aren't we? Goodness gracious! What will they think of next!
But 200 comments? Whyever bother? I mean, unless one has something to say, or a very significant nothing (I classify this as a significant nothing).
Goodness sakes! Let us try to be entertaining.
We could post puns...I know someone who wouldn't find the very...(dare I say it...?)...(Maybe I had better not)...(and yet...)...*drumroll*...punny!
Oh. What a dreadful pun! Don't kill me, Naddy, please! If I do use terrible puns, I also wrote you a dance. Don't kill me, please!
By the way, what color are you painting the bathroom?...comment 48!
Sarie! Sharpies are NOT uncivilized! How CAN you say that?! I knew that civilization was without a doubt advancing when I helped a friend address ball invitations with an elegant silver metallic Sharpie. Without Sharpies, helping people move wouldn't be nearly as exciting or fun (labeling boxes with pens...no way!)- and without Sharpies, how could we have people sign the backs of our shirts, creating mementos to last for years? Cease and desist from such absolute and utter nonsense, my dear twin's sister, or I may be forced to take drastic measures! I may have to write a low budget Broadway musical, so watch your step, or your missteps will be chronicled in song and dance!
*ahem*
I do agree with your point that we ought to post something interesting to get up to 200, not just get up there for the sake of it. Perhaps quotes or something would be more humane than puns, Sarie *icy glare* especially puns of that calibre. I will spare you this once, but only because every time I hear the phrase "box-the-gnat" I giggle.
I painted it white, Natalie. :-) I may add some trim colors, or perhaps even some sponging, but we're still deliberating on that. We can't decide on what color for the trim, and I think it makes the powers that be nervous to think of setting me loose with a sponge and paint. :-)
Have we abandoned the quest then? No one seems to wish to press beyond the 49 comments already chronicled. Onward, men! Onward!
Ah. You're yellow! You run from a challenge. Courage, men! Honestly, what's the paltry sum of fifty comments? Nothing! Come on, y'all can do better!
"every time I hear the phrase "box-the-gnat" I giggle."
Ah. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who finds it hilarious. When you are the only one who gets a joke most people think it's because of some failing in you mental capacities or whatever. I'm not alone!
When you are the only one who gets a joke most people think it's because of some failing in you mental capacities or whatever. I'm not alone.
Or perhaps we just have the same failing in our mental capacities...or whatever else is wrong with us. ;-)
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