Musings about the Mind

I like the word, "mind." It can be a noun or a verb. As a noun it refers 1 third of your being, as in body, mind, and spirit. It often refers to the brain. But also the brain plus the processes that the brain initiates.

The verb mind is a synonym for pay attention to (something).

Do you mind?

What's on your mind?

If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

You're out of your mind!

Mind your manners!

Mindless chatter.

mind
mindful
mindfulness.

I am not a SOPHIST!

Call me a language maven, wordsmith, grammarian, etymologist, or philolog, but don't call me a sophist!

The word of the day is sophistry.

Sophistry -- n. a deceptive or fallacious argument.

Sophistry is deceiving someone by making a superficial or defective argument, which doesn't hold water. Example: telling your mother you can't clean your room because it will destroy the delicate balance of the ecosystem. 

Sophistry is not a word that you hear every day in conversation, but just turn on the TV and watch the commercials. You'll see plenty!

Balance

I think I need more balance in my life.

What exactly does that mean?

Most times I think people mean they need more leisure time or more family time. I have never heard anyone say this who wanted more time at the office.

But balance is a good positive word.

I want balance in my life between work, family and recreation. I want a high balance in my checking and savings account. I want low balances on my credit card bills.

Zero balances are good, on credit card bills, not good for your checking account.

Nobody likes to be off-balance.

And what is meant by "perfect" balance...

Hypnosis can be used to improve the balance in your life. Consult with your local hypnotist to identify the areas that are out of balance and set goals to improve your life.

You Take my Breath Away!

"You take my breath away" or "You can take my breath away," as the song says.

Is that a good thing?

If something really took your breath away, and you couldn't breathe, I think it would be bad. What a strange expression.

It's like getting the wind knocked out of you -- not a good feeling, at all!

Still, great beauty can take your breath away. Or it can leave you breathless. And a breath-taking view is awe-inspiring.

Thank you for allowing me to clear the air and enjoy a breath of fresh air.

What does Green mean?

Green is a beautiful color. The color of the heart chakra, the fourth chakra, symbolizing balance, or love.

Green with envy.

You look green! (sick)

Green fruit is immature, unripe.

The meadow is green! lush, verdant.

So many and varied meanings.

Recently, it has come to mean environmentally conscious.

Kermit the frog said, "it's not easy being green."

Another Day

I was challenged to complete this sentence on another brilliant blog, by the philolog:
Another day, another _____.

So I have completed it many times over, for many different people from diverse occupations.
Another day, another dollar (or dime) for a banker.
Another day, another disaster, for a pessimist.
Another day, another doorway, for an architect.
Another day, another dinosaur, ...paleontologist.
Another day, another ding dong, ...doorman.
Another day, another dirigible, ... submarine manufacturer.
Another day, another dipthong, ...grammarian.
Another day, another dimwit, ...customer service rep.
Another day, another dam,..... canal worker. Also, it's one dam thing after another!
Another day, another diaper, ... mother.
Another day, another dragon, ... mythologist.
Another day, another drug deal, ...dealer or narc.
Another day, another dill pickle, ... pickle lover.
Another day, another dipstick, ... mechanic.
Another day, another drunk, ... bartender.
Another day, another drink, ... drunk.
Another day, another divorce, ... lawyer.
Another day, another dumb bell, ... weight lifter.
Another day, another diamond, ... jeweler.

I like that one. It's not just for jewelers.

No dictionaries were consulted for this post, so please forgive any aberrations in orthography. Thanks.

This article sucks

When I was a kid, "suck" was considered a bad word. We could only say it if we were talking about vacuum cleaners. Now it's all over TV and high school students use it freely. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to teach Algebra to H.S. freshman. One day after hearing the word about 500 times and most recently about 50 times from a student in my class complaining about how the school, the teachers, his parents, and his life sucked. I threatened to write him up for disciplinary action if he said it again. He thought I was crazy. "Suck isn't a curse!" He protested. But the way I remember it, it was a minor curse word like Crap or Damn. And it wasn't used lightly. As kids we used to say it stinks when we were displeased. The other word was only suitable when something was outrageously unfair, not just a minor inconvenience. Last week a student in my Greek class (where I am a student), said that English should be spoken correctly. Thay way it would be easier to learn another language. It seems he's not familiar with the proper usage of future and past verb tenses, in English. They aren't common in our spoken language. But he is in his 20s and never learned the finer points of our own language in school. What's happening to the English language? I'm all for progress, but after all is said and done, it will have sucked (future perfect tense).

Maddeningly Optimistic

Why do we say Thank you from the "bottom of my heart." Why not the "top of my heart?" It sounds more positive and optimistic to me.


"She was madly today." That's a sentence my son wrote for his homework. (I think he was referring to me.) He couldn't find madly in his dictionary. It was listed within the definition for mad. I hope he will learn to love the dictionary as madly as I do.



Mad. Where did that word come from? Dictionary says from Middle English, from Old English. Which means they aren't exactly sure how it came about, since English is a combination of so many influences.


And why can I think of no other sentence containing madly except "He loves her madly." What other things do we do madly? I read madly. I write madly. I eat madly. No they don't sound right. He was madly running way from the cops! She was madly dashing about the room looking for her shoes. It does go with running or dashing. And I think a bird could flap madly around in a cage. Can thoughts rampage madly through your mind??? I can, and often do, rummage madly through my pocketbook, looking for keys or a hairband.


Have I gone mad? Or am I just mad about words and expressions? Or am I just maddening?

You're Welcome

Why don’t people say “you’re welcome” anymore? This used to be the standard reply in response to Thank you. But I never hear it anymore. I’m on a personal mission to bring it back. You’re welcome to join me in this effort!

Speed Bumps

They have speed bumps in Cyprus. The roads are very narrow. Cars are parked all over the place, especially sidewalks. But most streets in the old town don't have sidewalks. I think it is time they actually start building garages. I did not see one garage in Cyprus. I saw a few car ports, and some new apartment buildings, have been designed to have ground level parking, but usually not enough. I guess it's something new that every family has a car. My husband's parents NEVER owned a car. His father used a bicycle when they were kids.

Watch out for the speed bumps! Before you drive over one, you will see a sign that says "Humped Crossing." That refers to the speed humps!