Word of the Day

doughty • \DOW-tee "OW" as in "cow"\ Audio icon • adjective
: marked by fearless resolution : valiant

Example sentence:
"Guy . . . is a doughty Swiss immigrant who insists the only cure for illness is fifteen minutes of violent gymnastics followed by a freezing shower." (Tad Friend, Vogue, January 1991)

Zappa Quote of the Day

My music makes the mind think.

Time magazine Dec.20/93, page 73

Friday Update

It is finally Friday. I am glad the weekend is almost here. Except, it is the last weekend before Thomas and Diedre go back to classes. I will miss them. It looks like Ashley will have school today. I'm sure the snow days will have to be made up later in the year.

Yesterday on the way to work, I saw one woman up over the curb on 1st Ave. facing in the wrong direction and another car stuck in a pile of snow at an intersection. Other than that the ride to work was very smooth.

That is all for now. I have to get ready for work.

Word of the Day

claque • \KLAK\ Audio icon • noun
1 : a group hired to applaud at a performance
*2 : a group of sycophants

Example sentence:
The most popular girl in school was routinely accompanied by a claque of hangers-on.

Zappa Quote of the Day

In every language, the first word after "Mama!" that every kid learns to say is "Mine!" A system that doesn't allow ownership, that doesn't allow you to say "Mine!" when you grow up, has -- to put it mildly -- a fatal design flaw.

From the time Mr. Developing Nation was forced to read _The Little Red Book_ in exchange for a blob of rice, till the time he figured out that waiting in line for a loaf of pumpernickel was boring as fuck, took about three generations. ...

Decades of indoctrination, manipulation, censorship and KGB excursions haven't altered this fact: People want a piece of their own little Something-or-Other, and, if they don't get it, have a tendency to initiate counterrevolution.

Word of the Day

couloir • \kool-WAHR\ Audio icon • noun
: a steep mountainside gorge

Example sentence:
During our helicopter tour of the mountain range, we saw several snowboarders taking on the steep terrain of the couloir.

Zappa Quote of the Day

It's fucking great to be alive, ladies and gentlemen, and if you do not believe it is fucking great to be alive, you better go now, because this show will bring you down so much.

From Just Another Band From L.A.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Word of the Day

redoubtable • \rih-DOW-tuh-bul\ Audio icon • adjective
1 : causing fear or alarm : formidable
*2 : illustrious, eminent; broadly : worthy of respect

Example sentence:
For many years the redoubtable Helen Hayes reigned as the first lady of American theater, with brilliant performances in a wide range of shows.

Zappa Quote of the Day

Weedley-Weedley-Wee

Specifically, the small fret guitar-playing technique that musicians have a tendency to display while in pursuit of a cross between a waitress and a hoover vacuum... This is from his book.

Tuesday Update

Back to work today. Bahhh!!!

At least the weather is a bit better today. Unfortunately, I have a flat tire and Doug will have to get up to take me to work. No school delays for our area today. Ashley will be so glad to get back to school. Well, not much else to say. I had better get ready for work.

Word of the Day

emote • \ih-MOHT\ Audio icon • verb
: to give expression to emotion especially in acting

Example sentence:
The actor in the movie's lead role seemed to be trying too hard to emote, and as a result his character was not very believable.

Zappa Quote of the Day

Anyone who is disturbed by the idea of newts in a nightclub is potentially dangerous.

During one of his trials, one of the prosecuting lawyers quoted some of his lyrics which pertained to newts in a nightclub and said he found this image disturbing. Frank responded with the above.

Zappa Quote of the Day

The only difference between a cult and a religion is the amount of real estate they own.

Word of the Day

coterie • \KOH-tuh-ree\ Audio icon • noun
: an intimate and often exclusive group of persons with a unifying common interest or purpose

Example sentence:
Dorothy Parker belonged to a literary coterie known as the Algonquin Round Table, whose members were legendary for their terse, acerbic writing.

Word of the Day

soigné • \swahn-YAY\ Audio icon • adjective
*1 : dressed with great care and elegance : well-groomed, sleek
2 : elegantly maintained or designed

Example sentence:
Wearing a fetching evening gown, Alyssa looked soigné and sophisticated and ready for a night on the town.

Zappa Quote

Look, just because you have got that fuckin' thing between your legs it doesn't make any diference. If a girl does something stupid I am going to call her just as I would a guy.

Sunday Update

Yeah!!! Chloe finally returned from her trip to Vail. She had lots of fun skiing and hanging out with step-cousins. She loved all of her presents received from us.

Todays Soup Sunday should be really good. We are having yummy Hors D'Oeuvres. Doug is making some Mini Quiches and Bar-B-Que'd Meatballs. Deb is bringing Roast Beef Roll-Ups and Baked Brie. I made a Cheeseball, Carmel Apple Cheeseball and dips for vegetables and crackers. Ashley will put together the relish trays. Tommy is making Bar-B-Que'd Lil' Smokies. And Chloe is making People Chow and Cookies.

Word of the Day

pinguid (PING-gwid) adjective

Fat; greasy; unctuous.

Some clays are more pinguid." Mortimer.

Zappa Quote of the Day

The sad think about the Sixties was the weak-mindedness of the so-called radicals and the way that they managed to get co-opted. I think one of the things that helped that happen was LSD. It's the only chemical known to mankind that will covert a hippy to a yuppie.