Thanksgiving has come and gone...at our house it was a little unusual...I did not cook or serve or make anything to cause stress...and you know it was just fine...we had a nice everyday meal...enjoyed being together and the visit ....and found that turkey and dressing and pecan pie was not necessary...and I did not have an attack or anything...HURRAH FOR US!!
and
now that day is over as I sit here and I look outside as many of you...I find more things to be thankful about...
even though there is ice and snow outside and we are having the coldest weather in years... and the roads are the ...stay home kind...I am inside and warm and my tummy is full...and my library book bag contains some good books ...waiting for my reading..still holding to my ...be careful stuff...no new foods..resting and all of that...I seem to be OK..
and
I must tell you about the book I just finished reading...I was sitting in my chair laughing out loud..and giggling and laughing until tears rolled down my cheeks..oh yes...if son had found me he would certainly have thought ...mom has lost it...now for those of you have seen and read ...Fried Green Tomatoes...by Fanny Flagg...you would understand..and though I have seen the movie several times...I still find it so laughing good...
well
Fanny Flagg has a new book out...The All-girl Filing Station's Last Reunion...if you need a lift to your day...please read it...but even though you will spend lots of time laughing...at the end the tears of fun will change to sadness....BUT you will close the book saying...boy that was good..
well
guess that is about it for now...hoping that you are well...and warm and tummy full...and having a good masto day

redbird
the word writer

"getting old is not for wimps".

Redbird,



Interesting question.  



As a hobbyist philosopher, I can say it is nearly certain that, people made up words as they went along.  And the meanings of words can change over time, the word "gay" for example.    There is a discipline... I forget the name, it calculates divergence of cultures using "language drift" as a measure of time, German and Dutch languages being examples there, as languages tend to diverge from their common root at a certain pace.   The German and Dutch languages are similar, but not quite the same.   For example, in German, the words Father and Mother are:  Vater und Mutter ;  in Dutch they are: Vader en Moeder.   As you see they are very similar, and even bear similarities to English.  



I would also direct you to onomatopoeias.  I love onomatopoeias.   And you will notice how the various functions of the body, to which all our early ancestors would have had frequent access to hearing on a daily basis, typically have onomatopoeic origins, "Burp" for example (I will leave you free to explore the various functions of the human body on your own, in this regard).   Also notice how simple actions that make sounds also appear to have these same origins.   Words like:  Smack, Whack, Whip, Flip, Swish, Swirl, Clap, Scratch, Buzz, etc., etc..



Further, when your include writing in the concept of "words", then you will notice how early writing was in the form of pictograms (cave paintings), and hieroglyphics.    The Chinese language, which is very old, can then be seen as a bridge from a pictogram based language to a more advanced and purely phonetically based language, like English.   About 13% of the Chinese language is pictographic in nature.  The word for "man", for example, is a stick figure of a man.   The word for "tree", is like the outline of a pine tree.   The word for "rest" then is the pictograms of "man" + "tree" drawn together.      

So, as beings of conceptual consciousness (it has been said), we require a series of phonetic sounds to represent various existents in reality, and also our concepts of consciousness itself.    In other words, we make up words when we need them.   And then we change them when we want to.   You know, there's only been a really good and functional dictionary of the English language for a little over 250 years (!)  



I'll limit myself to that.   Like I said, "Interesting question".    



Todd in Tenn.      

this morning I was in that...twilight zone...you know that spot where you really are awake but do not want to open your eyes...and your blanket is warm and fuzzy and so you just lay there....

suddenly I heard son yelling...mom ...mom...get up you must see this...what is this...
so out of bed I jumped as quickly as my old bones would let me...did not even grab my robe...still in my pjs...I ran to see what could be happening that had him so concerned...
look...look he said...pointing to outside the window...what is that in the sky...IS IT A UFO????
well says I...it could be...now I am one of those people who have always thought...I will have to see one to believe it...however I do read lots of stuff about it and area 51 and others...this thing is round...however some are shaped in a cigar shape and I have read that some or others come in all kinds of shapes...I can see the lights...some are beaming out on the ground...
shhh... maybe whoever and whatever is listening to us..I sure do not want to be one of those....beam me up people...
so I very quietly made my way to the computer to see if I could find an image that would match...scrolling scrolling....and FINALLY.........
hold on folks...it's coming up....................

IT IS THE SUN....gosh we have not seen it in several days...in fact we have almost 200 hours of temps below freezing...so we did not recognize it...now of course I for one would have like to see a UFO but I will take the sun instead...however don't get excited...sun but no warm..

redbird
the word writer

"getting old is not for wimps"

OH Todd....

PLEASE KNOW....that I love your's and anyone else who would like to post on my blog...I like to hear from about all kinds of different things and really I am not sure that my blog is a blog..according to what I read in other places...I just don't fit in....you see I just write words that roll around in my head until I have to spit them out on paper.. I just  think about stuff and wonder and as you see there is no correct form...I just write words..
I love your state it is so beatiful..my daughter worked in KY for a college one time and I got to visit the area and meet lots of mountain people who I loved..
if you have anything rolling around in your head and want to say it...please do...or anyone else as well...

redbird
the word writer  

today I want to tell you a "feel good story"...one that makes you tingly and shed a tear or two...IT IS TRUE STORY...

from time to time I have told you how proud that I am to live in Oklahoma ...and be an Oklahoman...seems that when times are tough and we here in our state have had a lot of those times...we all seem to pull together and help those who need it...one that will never be lost in memory was the bombing of the federal building ...the Murrah building with a bomb going off killing and ruining the lives of many including children...
more recently this past May we had a EF5 tornado that almost wiped the town of Moore Okla completely away...and that included 3 schools where children were huddled for safety and some of them did not make it...famous people came and went...giving help and money and raising money for those people...and we so appreciated their help...but as time went on they had to leave...Oklahomans are still helping...

but the story I want to tell you today is....about my town...yup my little town...the main street is four blocks long and we have one red light..the total pop. of our town might stretch to 1200 people...and lots of those are elderly people..
now some years ago my daughter was working as a Social Worker at the Veterans hospital in Oklahoma City..it is a large place with both in patients and lots of outpatients coming and going...and as Christmas drew near I got to thinking...what could we do for those people who were going to be there for long term stay...so I ask her...what could we do...and she thought about it for a couple of minutes and told me...well these vets could use some Christmas cards to mail to their relatives and friends...and another thing ...eye glasses...now here you are saying...well those are provided...well no they are not..the usual way is for a vet to look thru a box and find a pair that they can see to  read...so those thoughts set in motion a plan..I called the local mgr of our only big grocery and ask if I could place a couple of boxes in the lobby area for the collection of Christmas cards and old eye glasses...SURE he said...and I did...now next I wrote a letter to our little weekly newspaper and told the readers what we wanted to do and where they could leave the items...
and they did....
boxes and boxes and even loose xmas cards showed up and even stamps to mail them...the eye glasses box held several from people who could nor did any longer wear them..those came from the people of my town and the little surrounding area..we were so proud to sent them on to make someone happy..and we did

but this months event is what I really want to tell you about....
the editor of our local newspaper was in his office talking to the director of the little food bank in our town..it serves the surrounding rural area as well...and as they talked the director made the remark...how it would be nice if they could offer ...sugar...as lots of the older people like to bake items for Christmas gifts...
and so the plan for ...Sweet Thing To Do....was put into motion...Steve the editor placed a notice in his newspaper about the need for sugar for the food bank...letting people to be able to bake for Christmas...and he made the remark...wouldn't it be great to get a ton of sugar...and that stirred the town..and the rural area and maybe even other towns I am not sure...
so you guessed it...sugar came pouring in...and in...and in...I wish I could post the picture of all this sugar piling up on the floor of the newspaper office...plastic bags everywhere...now the final count went as this...485- 4# bags of sugar, 22 - 5# bags, 23-10# bags of sugar making a total of 529 bags totaling over a ton of sugar with 2274 lbs..

It's great to live in Oklahoma and be called an Oklahoman..and I am so proud of my little town and area...going to be lots of baking going on...can smell those cookies and cakes and candy now!!


redbird
the word writer

"getting old is not for wimps"

OFFICIAL REPORT ON CAN OPENER CRISIS

WELL....here it is almost Christmas and I do have some can opener news for all of you..
.
a fact finding discussion was held at our table on thanksgiving day  in regard to this problem..and a committee of one..daughter was appointed.....she has 3 dogs and 2 cats so she has lots of cans to open.

now our family is a "table sitting" family..all important decision and discussion are held around the dining room table..we recently tried to think when this started but no one could remember ...it was just something we always did...maybe we are a little different I am not sure but when we visit we just sit and visit....you might see someone leave his or her place for a short trip to the throne room...but their place is always held for their return..we have been known to sit for a discussion for 3 hours..it's just the way we do things..we just like to talk to each other..

now since that time...daughter has filed a report and I will share it with you...she has also had the experience of several electric openers that broke quickly and manual ones that did not work either...
but after much research she obtained a different and new electric one...and it seems to be working wonderful...she indicated that it holds the can and immediately on pressing the lever starts it's job...

COULD THIS BE TRUE..COULD THIS BE THE ONE????
on receiving a call from her that we should watch for the man who delivers pkgs in the brown truck..we would receive a package..now watching was necessary because the "man in the brown truck" likes to not deliver all his days work and sometimes slips back to the terminal with the excuse ...could not find their house...so son was watching...and sure enough the brown truck pulled to the side of our road..son went out to meet him and said...and watched as the brown truck driver took a pkg from the dash of his truck and THREW IT ON THE ROAD...son said was that package for us...no says brown truck driver..for you neighbor..
so the next day..nice morning brown truck driver...left us a package on our porch...out to pick it up and since we knew daughter sent it but mystery was WHAT IS IT??

on opening the box...oh look...son...look it is a new electric can opener..daughter says...this is a great one...it opens cans and sits and looks pretty...HURRY son and get it out so that we can try it...and son did...
people...let me tell you how wonderful this HAMILTON BEACH CAN OPENER is...I can even work it...son tried to get me to try it out on lots and lots of cans in the  pantry...but I resisted..IT WORKS..no longer do I have to ask son to open my cans..
now if you look for it...it is the one with the lever on the top that you just hold down and zzzzzzzzzzoom...around it goes..cuts the top from the can..no sharp edges...
table conference is now filing their final report...
problem solved

redbird
the word writer

"getting old is not for wimps"

well Christmas came and went...and sticking to my stress free plan...made it fine..just a little tired but then that is not new..no new foods..cooking a nice meal instead of something giant..visited with family and it went well..
had watched on TV one of our big channels as to how the local EMS units had been out on 134 calls and most of those were in heart problems/stress..had on interview  last year a local man had a heart attack from the stress of preparing for Christmas and all the things but this year he had taken a different approach...same as me...good for us..

now we did have some visitors at the farm..we were up early so that I could shove a ham in the oven..but as people began to gather...I silently chuckled to myself...now I have told you about how our family are "table sitters"...well son was first to the table in his spot waiting for others to arrive...next came granddaughter ...husband and children..now granddaughter made her way immedately to the table for sitting...now husband is sorta new to the family so he took a seat..on the couch..but he will catch on in a few more trips...daughter made it and perched on a bar stool within 3 feet of the table and I took the other one just as close...so we all are now "close or at the table"...
maybe I should tell you about the table...it is an oval oak table...with claw feet...and chairs that have no cushions which makes it a little hard for sitting...but we are not about to give up our places..
the children  great grandchildren are all over the living room and seem to be very content as long as the batteries hold out...they are fine...
well conversation included lots of things...granddaughter's chickens and how they were laying..to the goose that bit her...and lots of other sorta important things...
but finally we got around to the "can opener report"...after much discussion it was time for a demo...now lots of cans on the counter top for opening...granddaughter went first...with lots of instructions from daughter..she put the can in...push the lever...and waited...in a few seconds it was done...but it did not open the can she said...daughter gently said...lift the lid...she did and immediately...shouts of...I WANT ONE...NOW it was time for the sorta new member who had to try...and he did...it worked for him as well....lots of ohs and ahs...so we are sure that this research project is finished...
in fact we are considering contacting the company to see if we could be a sales person...especially for us old folks..I am going to write them a letter..
I am hoping that your day was special

redbird
the word writer

"getting old is not for wimps"

have you ever wondered...
that in TV shows or movies that no one ever has to go to the bathroom...even in a reality TV show that is suppose to be the real thing...just wondering

redbird
the word writer