1. Y’know how little kids call blonde hair “yellow”? I just realized my 9-year-old still does. I love that.
2. How is it that after a 9-mile training run, the next day’s 3-mile recovery run still feels hard?
3. I just discovered Rhymezone.com, thanks to Laura. I’m just gonna put this out on the table as a potential addiction, right here and now.
4. This year’s science fair projects are (drum roll, please): lead testing toys (taller one) and comparing the fat content in various fast foods (smaller one). These are sure to transform the face of healthcare in America. I mean, just in case Hillary doesn’t get to that.
5. I am seriously, compulsively enjoying Kingsley Amis’ The King’s English. Here’s one (of about a zillion) reasons why:
Thankfully
Not an illiteracy in sentences like, ‘After my long walk in the sun I thankfully put down a glass of shandy,’ where the walker/drinker is thankful. But a stark illiteracy in, say, ‘Thankfully, the shandy is well chilled,’ where nobody in particular is thankful. A word like luckily is required instead.
The use of thankfully in a dangling position, however, as in my second example just above, is not a politician’s use like that of dangling hopefully. It makes no attempt to smuggle in more than it says, even though it is a warmer sort of word than luckily. In any case, this is a use that looks likely to catch on further with or without the approval of honest writers, who will go on avoiding it.
Because that’s 12 miles within 24 hours, m’dear. Oh, and because you wanted it to seem easy after all the hard work from the day before. And anytime we think “piece of cake”, the run likes to make us feel like a “piece of” something else. 🙂
Oh, right. I shall banish “piece of cake” from my vocabulary.
Sounds like something I’d like. Unlike RhymeZone, which I’ve known about, but dislike.
I have to admit that I haven’t used RhymeZone for writing yet — just for playing around with words. But The King’s English? I really think you’d love it. It’s about 10 years old I think, and it’s set up sort of like a glossary. And it’s witty and a tad bit biting. Check it out…
fun
Oh the long stretching days of school break can feel magically delicious sometimes, can’t they? But now, like the decorations, I’m ready to pack it up again for another run at a schedule.
I’m impressed about the science fair projects! We’re still in the idea stage.
I haven’t been here in a while and loved catching up on your posts.
Bernadette
Re: fun
Welcome back! 🙂