Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Special "Guest" Wednesday

OK, so I went on and conscripted Shayna for this weeks "guest." Actonbell, you're on notice, Missy.

Shayna defined for us the word, GUEST.

GUEST, v.i.




About Shayna: Unlike some sites where they make you work for your guest post, at Shayna's My Music Highway Project, you just fill out a little form, answer a couple easy questions, and BAM! Next thing you know, your name is in lights and people are saying all kinds of nice things about you beginning with Shayna. Plus, you get to name a favorite song, bring attention to your favorite charity, cuss at some children and you're done. ¡No hay trabajo, no hay problema! For those of you who don't speak Spanish, that means Keine Arbeit, Keine Schwerigkeit.

Shayna's main site, My Music Highway is where Shayna talks about Shayna instead of about you. It's surprisingly engaging for that. It's not an exaggeration to say that Shayna writes her life through music and the people around her. Shayna is a former professional singer with a big voice and a little Willie. She writes of her past and present, posts songs and movies and still manages to always pay attention to the people she knows locally and through blogging. I first got to know Shayna under another name when she interviewed our Alice/Cooper. Since then, Shayna has also interviewed friends Pia, Sar and mi hermana, Miz B. Some dude named Sgt. Hook too but you'll have to read the interview to find out who he is. I'm supposed to be working.

As in the blogosphere, so in flesh. Shayna's attention to others fills her own life as well. Her friendship with Eugene, an aging veteran has moved a lot of us, as have often difficult stories of her youth as does her life with her husband and son, the aforementioned Little Willie. What did you think I meant? They make a wonderful family, despite any deficiencies she might find and point out to the world at large. This is the part where I normally thank the guest for being a guest but since Shayna didn't volunteer I'll thank her instead for having the kind of generous heart I just knew I could take advantage of.

How to be a future guest on this site: Just send an email to dpascover at mac dot com. On a future Wednesday, after posting that week's guest, I'll send you an email with a word to define. You'll be expected to return your definition along with a graphic representing either your definition or yourself by the following Saturday. The only rules are no profanity and no novels, please. And whatever I make up at the last minute.

I will be contacting previous guests who regularly comment here to repeat in no particular order. Previous guests who haven't been much heard from since their guest post should recontact if they would like to repeat.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Freshman

FRESHMAN, n. A student acquainted with grief.

2006 Update: In High School, a jaded lover and recovering alcoholic. In college, a dew-eyed innocent.

Welcome to college, Solace Cai. Best of luck and remember, books are for nerds.

Get well soon, Penguin!

Monday, August 21, 2006

Jove

JOVE, n. A mythical being whom the Greeks and Romans ridiculously supposed to be the supreme ruler of the universe- unacquainted as they were with our holy religion.

2006 Update: Chief of the Roman pantheon, lord of lightning. Wisdom was born when he cracked his own skull.

"Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down, oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I'm almost to the ground, oh, yes, Lord" -Nobody Knows The Troubles I've Seen, traditional.

While Minka and Puppytoes are sorely disappointed in me, their own fault due to impossibly high or medium expectations, Shayna is treating me dandy at her Music Highway Project. More on this later (when it can be up all day,) but it's the work of a warm heart. Thanks, Shayna.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Towering

Story #58, in which a princess lets her hair down.

To hear the story, climb the tower.




Happy birthday to Sonia, benevolent despot.

This week in The Prattler, "Now for some Joementum."






To read the story, tilt at the windmill.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Painting

PAINTING, n. The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic.

Formerly, painting and sculpture were combined in the same work: the ancients painted their statues. The only present alliance between the two arts is that the modern painter chisels his patrons.

2006 Update: A pagan ritual for interacting with the world in our imagination rather than in reality, Queen of sciences and mother of journalism. A 2-D inanimated Human Graphic Interface.

...and welcome home, Mo'a.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Austere

AUSTERE, adj. Having the quality of an antique virgin, or a legislator approached with a bribe by the side he has been paid to oppose. The care that is taken to guard against confounding this word with "oyster" will be well-rewarded.

2006 Update: Without pie.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Super Extra Special Guest Wednesday

This week, I'm more than honored to have you as my guest. You are asked to pick any word you would like to define in the comments and follow that instinct. For purposes of linking and crossword puzzling, we'll say today's word was Olio.

About You: You are wise beyond measure. You are as brilliant as the full sun over Timbuktu and yet as humble as the sands beneath it. You write dozens of blogs, thousands of well-chosen words per day. You cover a broad range of topics from politics to literature to feminine hygiene in a variety of styles from facetious to sarcastic. You look great in stripes. Sometimes you hold contests and you win them more often than not. You are strong. From time to time you can be a little repetitive, but, really, who among us isn't now and then? You are truly a citizen of the world, multicultural and multilingual with multiple personalities. You haven't aged a day since I've known you. I mean it.

Getting to know you has changed my life. I feel like I've made a great friend since we've met and I don't make friends easily. While sometimes I'm not entirely sure you should be walking the streets, I keep a $10 bill in my pick-up truck just in case I see you. Truly, the time we spend together is as meaningful to me as my job and easier to remember. You totally rock in your own unique way. You are gracious, salacious, independent, resplendent, an excellent defendant, generous, ponderous, pristine, punctual, pleasant, aggressive, impressive, congested, suggestive, kind, cornered, confessed, flagellated, agitated, aggravated, rhetorical, historical, poetic and apparently peripatetic. You watch too much television. You want the World Champion Chicago White Sox to win it all again this year and I bless you for that, my dear friend..

How to be a future guest, again, on this site: Just send an email to dpascover at mac dot com. On a future Wednesday, after posting that week's guest, I'll send you an email with a word to define. You'll be expected to return your definition along with a graphic representing either your definition or yourself by the following Saturday. The only rules are no profanity and no novels, please. And whatever I make up at the last minute.

I will be contacting previous guests who regularly comment here to repeat in no particular order. Previous guests who haven't been much heard from since their guest post should recontact if they would like to repeat.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Heigh-Ho

HEIGH-HO, int. This word is supposed to denote a certain degree of languor, mingled with regret. It is frequently seen in literature but never heard in life. By some it is supposed to stand for a yawn, by some, for a sigh. The poets use it variously, Joaquin Miller as a war-whoop, Adair Welcker with good effect as the love-plaint of the night-blooming tomcat.

2006 Update: The work song of a dwarf and lunch whistle to the giant.

August 15, 2006 Update: Heigh-Ho and Happy Independence Day to all billion desis. It just occured to me that the chances of Blogger staying up while the subcontinent celebrates are about nil so this may be farewell until tomorrow.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Morrow

MORROW, n. The day of good deeds and a reformed life. The beginning of happiness. (See TO-MORROW when we get to it.)

2006 Update: n. obs. April 7, 1897.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Mestizo

Story #57, in which Doug doesn't hitch-hike.

To hear the story, catch that plane.






To read the story, visit scenic Florianopolis and tell me how it is.




And Happy Birthday to Princess Lucia from



and



and me


This week (around 9AM EDT) in The Prattler, The Root Causes of George W. Bush.