13: Making a List
1. You would think that the word window would have something to do with the wind, and you’d be right. Window comes from the Norse for “the wind’s eye.” See some windows of opportunity HERE.
2. Presents or gifts? The word present originally meant the same as the adjective present, “being there.” It was used in the French phrase “to offer in the presence of,” but by the early 1300’s, it became synonymous with the thing being offered. The word gift had multiple meanings before arriving at its current common meaning: “something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance.” In Old English, its most dominant meaning was “payment for a wife,” or a dowry. ~ From thesaurus.com.
3. Floyd is lucky to have Katie Wells, one of the most talented dancers I have ever seen. Watch her video montage in which she included several clips that I videotaped HERE.
4. My current philosophy on entertainment is a lot like how I feel about food. Provide it yourself or get it locally grown whenever possible. Sometimes a special event is worth leaving the county for. Over the years, Kurt Vonnegut, Vandana Shiva, William Sloane Coffin, Toni Morrison, the Indigo Girls were all worth the 45 minute drive to Blacksburg to see. And so was Bruce Cockburn. The fact that he played at the historic Lyric Theater was an added plus. More HERE.
5. I used to sign my kid’s Christmas presents SANTA and change my handwriting so they wouldn’t guess it was me. When they got older I signed them SANTA MARIA just for the fun of it.
6. At Christmas, instead of sitting on the analyst’s couch to talk about what we want out of life, we sit on Santa’s lap and confess.
7. Read about the year Christmas was cancelled HERE.
8. My dad was like a cross between Santa Claus and Jackie Gleason and had the temperament of both.
9. And our last name is Redman, which reminds me: My maternal grandmother’s name was Mildred Manning. If you take the last three letters of her first name and the first three letters of her last name, it spells Redman, the name of the man her only daughter would eventually marry.
10. I was looking for simple recipes for gingerbread men cookies to bake with my grandsons when I found THESE lump of coal cookies.
11. 5 year-old Bryce to his 3 year-old brother Liam: Liam do you think Santa’s gonna bring you presents? Well, you’ve been a little bad, but I don’t think you’re that bad.
12. The Facebook Fast Lane: Funny how when I read emails and blogs now, I find myself looking for the LIKE button, rather than typing a response.
13. I just realized that tea is kind of like a hot bath, not as good if it cools down.
________________Thirteen Thursday
December 12th, 2013 2:05 am
Another fun collection. I laughed at #6. That’s so true.
December 12th, 2013 7:14 am
Nice to know #2. I’ve asked that question maybe a half of dozen times when i was an adolescent. #8 sounds like my Uncle and number 11, lol.
http://sidnereading.blogspot.com
December 12th, 2013 7:26 am
Great list. Had to smile at #11. Guess this applies to us all.
December 12th, 2013 1:19 pm
#13 oh so true
December 12th, 2013 1:41 pm
#6 Hmmm. So going to Santa was like going to confession?? (lol).
I don’t understand #12…Maybe you have to be on Facebook to get it. No matter….as always Colleen, you give us a varied and wonderful T13!
December 12th, 2013 3:21 pm
You taped the Katie Wells video? Cool!
December 12th, 2013 3:50 pm
!. I thought of Sherry when she used to say windchill instead of windshield when referring to the front car window.
2. Normally I say present but I always used to use “gift” when writing, because I could never remember is the word present or presant.
5. I used to change my writing too because we could always tell ma’s, as we got older, on the Christmas tags.
I’ve also written tags with “the prettiest girl in the 4th grade” or words to that effect.
8. That’s for sure.
9. I’ve always loved that one.
11. adorable.
12.Me too.
13. Coffee too, which is why I don’t sip it. I like it hot so I drink it fast.
December 12th, 2013 4:06 pm
Liked one and two. I think it interesting that our English word for “present” comes from French, when the French word for “present/gift” is “cadeau”. My T13
December 12th, 2013 4:52 pm
No, I didn’t tape Katie’s video but I she used some video clips in the montage that I did tape. I’m glad I captured them. She is a dancing photo-op!
December 12th, 2013 8:47 pm
OMG #12! I do the same thing! LOL. Great list, Colleen. Happy Thursday.
December 13th, 2013 3:26 am
Another wonderful Thursday with Mildred’s grand-daughter. Thanks CR.
My father must have been a force. Even today, 10 years after his death–on what would have been his 88th birthday–I still can’t write about him. I have to approach his memory by invoking my mother’s first… See
THIS
He was a WWII soldier, too, as so many of his peers were; was highly decorated for his efforts & is buried with his veteran brothers far enough away so I don’t have to feel guilty about not visiting.
We had a pretty contentious relationship.