A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 1045

A.Word.A.Day

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AWADmail Issue 1045

A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language

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From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Interesting stories from the Net

Sanskrit Translation of Don Quixote Rescued From Oblivion
The Guardian
Permalink

The “Hard Yakka” of Defining Australian English’s Many Quirks
The New York Times
Permalink

Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy The Official Old’s Cool Education -- “How do you get down from an elephant?”

From: Tom Stathas (tomstathas comcast.net)
Subject: Staycation

When someone tells you they are going on a staycation, reply with:
Non Voyage!

Tom Stathas, Kent, Washington

From: Duncan MacLaren (duncan maclarens.org)
Subject: Staycation

You wrote:
“It’s all relative. In the US, a vacation taken at or close to home -- a day trip -- is a staycation. In the UK, the definition includes any vacation taken within one’s country instead of traveling abroad.”

This usage was a source of much annoyance for many of us Brits who had always holidayed in the UK (sometimes shunning flying for climate change reasons) and regard a staycation strictly as staying at *home*.

So for me, holidaying in the UK is not a staycation -- it’s always been a holiday! The new usage feels desperately bourgeois. In the same way, many are bemused by “wild swimming” being used of people swimming in the sea. It’s what we used to call “swimming”!

Duncan MacLaren, Edinburgh, UK

From: Shin Tan (tanlooshin yahoo.com)
Subject: Staycation

In Singapore, we love to use the word staycation and it was ever more used during the two years of pandemic. For us, it means staying in Singapore but in a hotel. In fact, if you google “staycation Singapore”, there are many deals and blogs give their take on what to expect from each hotel.

I have enjoyed a few staycations here. The one at Hard Rock Cafe at Sentosa with its many pools, jacuzzis, sand, and swimming-pool bar was a hit with the family.

Shin Tan, Singapore

From: Joe Silber (bishopjoey gmail.com)
Subject: staycation

The Dutch have two places they visit on their staycations. If they live in an apartment, the destination is Balconia; if they live in a house, the destination is Tuinesia (pronounced town-esia) -- tuin is the Dutch word for garden.

Joe Silber, Leiden, The Netherlands

From: Richard Davis (tisbd hotmail.com)
Subject: Romania

My dad, Of Blessed Memory, would always tell us we were going to Romania. We got very excited until realizing he intended “Remain ‘ere”. Little did I know I would spend almost five years in Romania later in life.

Richard Davis, Mill Valley, California

From: Bette Sullivan (betteirene aol.com)
Subject: staycation in Patio Vallarta

Last year, I spent my staycation in Patio Vallarta.

Bette Sullivan, Sumner, Washington

From: Mary Boy (mary.miller.boy googlemail.com)
Subject: Staycation

Here in Germany we tell friends that we will enjoy our holidays on the islands of Terrassia or Grand Balconia (maybe not a blend word, but a spin on the words for patio and balcony).

Mary Boy, Falkensee, Germany

From: Janet Moursund (janetmoursund gmail.com)
Subject: staycations

How about isocation, when (as happened to me) you come down with Covid while away and have to extend your vacation in quarantine?

Janet Moursund, Eugene, Oregon

From: Rusty Austin (rustyaustin gmail.com)
Subject: Staycation

Oblication, visiting relatives in another city on your week off. It can be enjoyable but it’s still obligatory.

Rusty Austin, Los Angeles, California

From: Narada Hess (kanrah pacbell.net)
Subject: nakation

There’s also the nakation, where you stay at a clothing-optional resort.

Narada Hess, Menlo Park, California

From: Frances M Hendry (francesmhendry2704 gmail.com)
Subject: staycation

The problem with being retired is that you never get a day off; every day is a staycation.

Thank you for years of pleasure. Who needs a holiday when you cheer up every morning?

Frances M Hendry, Nairn, Scotland

From: Raju Parekh (rajump62 gmail.com)
Subject: New blend of vacation

Covid pandemic made work from home a necessity. People who had wfh would go to a vacation and work from there. It is called as workcation.

Raju Parekh, Ahmedabad, India

From: Bindy Bitterman (bindy eurekaevanston.com)
Subject: Staycation

Some people choose a staycation, and some people have one thrust upon them. With the perfect storm of age (91), Covid, and jammed airports and highways, I kinda feel that the latter choice applies to me, but I’m not complaining. Thank goodness for good health, a still-functioning mind, and an ability to compose laugh-inducing rhymes. With all those, plus family, friends, good food and service, and a daily AWAD to titillate my creative juices, I couldn’t be more satisfied.

Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois

From: Fred F Perri (f.b1 verizon.net)
Subject: Staycation

My LEAST favorite way would be having to evacuation.

Fred Perri, Scituate, Rhode Island

From: Leslie Bradley (lesliedbradley me.com)
Subject: More vacation words

I beg to differ with you. I think we need more vacation words. I have long thought that we need different words to describe a vacation taken with only your husband, or only with your girlfriends, or with your sisters (and mother), or blessedly, by yourself. The word vacation should not even be used to describe leaving home with your husband and children. Frankly, that is the opposite of a vacation as you have to accomplish all the things you do in your regular life in a foreign environment without the convenience of having the things you need readily available (a washer and dryer, space to send irritable humans into a neutral corner).

Leslie Bradley, Georgetown, Texas

From: Andrew Bertola (polenta comcast.net)
Subject: Staycation

How about a simple nocation? I have taken a lot of these over my 88 years.

Andy Bertola, Beacon Falls, Connecticut

From: Dave Horsfall (dave horsfall.org)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--orature

The Australian First Peoples (Aborigines) have no written language as such (although many spoken languages); everything is passed down orally, and is indeed quite rich.

We White Australians are still learning from their culture, such as how to manage fires and floods, etc; they’ve been doing it for over 60,000 years.

Dave Horsfall, North Gosford, Australia

From: Ron Pierce (ronpierceco2 aol.com)
Subject: Pennant

Also a rope line used to raise and lower the centerboard of a (usually small) sailboat.

Ron Pierce, Fort Myers, Florida

From: Bob Sadowski (bsadow26 gmail.com)
Subject: Flexitarian

A similar coinage is reducitarian, those who consciously reduce their consumption of meat. My wife and I learned this concept in a course on the effects of food production on climate change, and have been striving to practice it ever since.

Bob Sadowski, Grand Rapids, Michigan

From: Patricia Skidmore Pierce (p2pierce bellsouth.net)
Subject: Flexitarian

I once worked with people whose vegetarianism had religious undertones. They were constantly arguing among themselves which combination of lacto, ovo, pisco was best. Fed up, I announced that I was lacto, ovo, pisco, beefo, porko!

Patricia Skidmore Pierce, Cleveland, Tennessee

From: John D. Laskowski (john.laskowski mothman.org)
Subject: Bromance

Bromance? So why no sismance?

John D. Laskowski, Carsonville, Pennsylvania

From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: Flexitarian and bromance

Among his many talents, elite multi-discipline surfer Kai Lenny appears to be a bit of a billionaire magnet. Both Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Virgin Group’s Richard Branson have hung-ten with Kai, perhaps hoping some of his surfer magic might rub off on them. But the bromance between Kai and Mark Zuckerberg has become the most high-profile of the billionaire/celeb surfer-dude hookups. Here, Zuckerberg tests the waters off Kauai, foil surfing with his new bestie, Kai.

In this scenario, it seems our flexitarian may not be totally committed to this dietary regimen and could be weaning off meat... “cold turkey”, opting to go full-vegetarian. These days, going green is a good thing, in more ways than one. Now, eat your lima beans, boys and girls! Ha!

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

From: Karen Folsom (kgfols yahoo.com)
Subject: Bromance

Bromance. I quote from Josh Billings, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

Karen Folsom, Santa Barbara, California

Anagrams


This week’s theme: Blend words 1. Staycation 2. Orature 3. Pennant 4. Flexitarian 5. Bromance	=	1. We’d rest at home 2. An uncle’s tradition 3. Banner 4. Meat was her exception 5. Frat boys’ link	This week’s theme: Blend words 1. Staycation 2. Orature 3. Pennant 4. Flexitarian 5. Bromance	=	1. Holistay 2. Fables 3. Banner, pennon 4. I err -- can eat toxic meat 5. Kindred mates who we trust
-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)			-Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz)

Make your own anagrams and animations.

Limericks

Staycation

I’m working from home, which is swell,
And when I need a break, it’s farewell
To house-bound workstation --
Hi, couch-bound staycation:
Homeoffice becomes a hometel.
-Duncan Howarth, Maidstone, UK (duncanhowarth aol.com)

“According to my calculation,”
says he, “in our current inflation,
with tickets to fly
and gas prices high,
the best we can do’s a staycation.”
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

I dreamed of a thrilling vacation,
A road trip all over this nation.
But since Covid hit,
My plans changed a bit --
My life’s been just one long staycation.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

The airports are jammed and confused,
The roadways are way too much used.
If you live in a nation
Like ours, a staycation
Has thousands of families enthused!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

“Please spare me the long dissertation,”
Said my husband in pointed frustration.
“Though you kids think it’s crass,
We’ll save money on gas
With a nice backyard camping staycation.”
-Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com)

“After fighting the Romulan nation,
On Earth I deserve a staycation.
Next week, though, they’ll bring on
Some time warp or Klingon,”
Said Kirk. “Screw the damn Federation.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Orature

“My great grandpapa, grandpa, and dad,
Left a powerful impress on this lad
With their orature. Now
It’s my turn to endow,
But my young are indifferent. How sad.”
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes btconnect.com)

Says their mother, “These stories we share
are a long-standing fam’ly affair.
Since you enjoy orature,
you can hear more at your
grandmother’s house when you’re there.”
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

A nursery rhyme or a song
Is orature we pass along.
The tales that we tell
Are old, but they’re swell --
The pull of tradition is strong.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Said Dickens, “Humbug! Orature?
‘Tis in writing I do portraiture.”
Then he smiled and laughed
As he penned a first draft:
“May I please have some more porridge, sir?”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Pennant

“Batten the hatches, Lieutenant,
The weather’s becoming inclement:
We’re faced with a gale
So shorten our sail
And run up the Storm Warning pennant.”
-Duncan Howarth, Maidstone, UK (duncanhowarth aol.com)

Win at cricket, they give you the Ashes.
Beauty contests do crownings and sashes.
But in baseball the prize
Is a pennant? You guys!
That ain’t much after so many clashes.
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes btconnect.com)

The pennant perhaps we could win,
But training we need to begin.
We need it -- and how! --
‘Cause as of right now,
What terrible shape we are in!
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

From the top of the flagpole you’d hear
This great flapping; folks smiled going near.
It made everyone glad
We had won! Yes, we had.
That pennant implied “PERSEVERE!”
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

“As actors,” explained David Tennant,
“We win statues, not some little pennant.
And in mud athletes slide!
We work mostly inside,
Never bothered by weather inclement.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Flexitarian

I have tried being vegan. No joy.
Couldn’t go without burgers -- hate soy!
Flexitarian now,
I am happy -- and how.
Extra greens on my Big Mac -- Oh, boy!
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes btconnect.com)

If he’s vegan, then plants are his dish;
If Catholic, Fridays mean fish.
But if flexitarian,
he can eat dairy ‘n’
anything else he may wish.
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

“My diet I’d call flexitarian,”
Announced my old friend, the librarian.
“I think it is why
I’m such a spry guy --
A vigorous nonagenarian!”
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

My friend Phil was a strict vegetarian.
But, he later became flexitarian.
He said, “I ask you.
What’s a burger or two?
So I guess that makes me a barbarian.”
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

Said Harold Hill, “Madam Librarian,
To woo you, old ways I’ll be buryin’.
No more con games or lies!
But ditch burgers and fries?
Please, at least let me be flexitarian.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Bromance

Reimagined, these men-only tales
Tell of bromance embraced hunting whales.
Blokes bond closely with blokes,
Share adventures and jokes,
But with none of what romance entails.
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes btconnect.com)

For fear of what others would say,
he holds his male friends all at bay.
Says he, “There’ll be no chance
of possible bromance,
or people might think that we’re gay!”
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

A closeness these two leaders had
That worried the world just a tad.
It seemed so insane
And hard to explain --
The bromance of Donald and Vlad.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Even recently, gossipy folks
Would titter and make lots of jokes
They’d need a word, cuz
(And “bromance” it was)
Gotta classify friendships of blokes!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

Said Donald to Kim, “At one glance,
I just knew this was it -- a bromance.
Those who worry are kooks;
I love missiles with nukes!
Yours remind me of what’s in your pants.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Puns

“I may have left Louisiana,” said the chef as he stirred his jambalaya, “but in my heart I’ll always staycation.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“I’d be delighted to behave like a wh-orature command, Master!” said Jeannie to Tony.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“Put down your pennant-ear up your notes of this meeting,” said Donald to his translator at the Putin summit.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Pennant-eller are my my favorite magical act.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“We possess the strength and power of our great master race,” said Donald to the Proud Boys. “Now let’s flexitarian-s!”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

He had withstood all the Lord’s tests and trials with faith unbroken. But when his wife said, “Jo-bromance is out of the question tonight, I have a headache,” that was the final straw.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: Driving Mr. Crazy

At the last Jan 6 House Select Committee hearing, Cassidy Hutchinson, former aide to Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, dropped some bombshell testimony as to what skullduggery transpired amongst Trump’s inner circle of enablers. Among other things, we learned that an enraged Trump, riding in the presidential limo, was hellbent on going to the Capitol to further incite the insurrectionists. Reports emerged that Trump tried to physically impede his driver/security guy from heading back to the White House.

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Money does not represent such a value as men have placed upon it. All my money has been invested into experiments with which I have made new discoveries enabling mankind to have a little easier life. -Nikola Tesla, inventor (10 Jul 1856-1943)

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