Signs, Symbols, Stores and Sir Walter Scott

So - I love Barnes & Noble. One of my top five favorite stores probably. Years ago, I was browsing through the store and saw a book about word and phrase origins. I really wanted it, but it was pricey, and I, very uncharacteristically, walked away....thinking it would always be there - I could get it another time.

Of course, I've never seen it since - (Kurt - see, this is why I should buy stuff when I see it and want it!)

Anywho - here's an entry from a similar online book. It seemed apropos today.

"BAD PENNY -- The phrase usually is heard in this country (U.S.) as 'A bad penny always turns up,' meaning that a no-good person can be counted upon to come back again and again. The expression was originally English and the unit of currency referred to was the shilling. Sir Walter Scott, in one of his early nineteenth-century novels, whereto: 'Bring back Darsie? Little doubt of that. The bad shilling is sure enough to come back again.'" From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988).

Learn something new every day.

Belated note to self: STOP! Don't pick that penny up!

Proof & Sesame Street

I know - I should let this go, and I will....soon....but, look at this screen shot of my e-mail!!!:

What do you see at the top????!!!!

Two of these things are not like the others.
Two of these things are just not the same.
Two of these things keep coming back.
Two of these things are pretty lame.

And, this is after deleting several others of their kind. I guess my little rant didn't reach the AARP execs...or they don't care.

AARP and Aardvarks

I am way behind in much more important posts than this one, but I just have to put this out "there" because it will make me feel better....probably....

Has someone played a "practical" joke on me or is AARP recruiting babies to be in their little group????? .....because I am getting regular e-mails from them all of a sudden. Who do these jokers think they are?! I am 40. I think I am a little young to be considered an American Retired Person for Pete's sake! Besides consulting on golfing attire for the REAL retirees, I don't golf AT ALL. Am I guilty by association? Why are these people targeting such a YOUNG audience? Do they want to age me before my time?

Look at this recent picture. Do you see any grey hair?!!! Do you see wrinkles? (Don't look too closely...)


By the by....the "aardvarks" has nothing to do with anything other than double alliteration....cuz there had to be something redeeming about this little geriatric rant.