Many years ago, when watching the movie "Amadeus", I was struck by Salieri's statement that "The universe was laughing at me." It made me very sympathetic toward the fellow for that moment, even though he wasn't a very sympathetic character. I have since referred to occasions when the universe seems to be having a joke at my expense as being " ( Read more... )

The (possibly made up) word of the day is "decolloquialization".

What this means is that Bill writes in far too approachable a fashion for the style guide, so we need to tone it down a bit...

No, no one else in the company is responsible for this particular word. It is my creation. :)

These things happen in our household.

Gretchen and I were driving home from lunch and listening to Radio Margaritaville when our discussion turned to Italian food. Gretchen mentioned that she was fond of ravioli.

Now, we have frequently discussed the similarity between ravioli, pierogi, and various other ethnic foods. It was thus that I sang the ( Read more... )

So after the Battle of Hogwarts, were the fallen of the victors taken to the Voldemortuary?

Things I say to Gretchen:

So, tell me, dear, could we best describe the great rift between those who put ketchup on hot dogs and those who believe that ketchup on hot dogs is an abomination as the Condimental Divide?

She didn't hit me...

Because Tom Smith asked for it, here is how I came to make french fries one day.

This was back in the days when Gretchen and her then husband, Doug, lived on the first floor, I lived on the second floor, and Paul and William Henry lived on the third floor of this rambling connected set of three-flat apartments in Evanston. Or as Gretchen says, ( Read more... )

While at a function at Julie's school tonight:

"Where do upwardly mobile undead shop for clothes? Aberzombie and Lich!"

This is what happens when I have too much time to think:

I have the name for a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band that plays filkish gaming songs.

Lyroy Jynkyns.

That's all. Nothing else to see here...

If someone has been arrested multiple times for selling illegal gyros, is he a repita offender?

It was a happy surprise to discover that Gretchen's brother, Jeff, was in town and had called Gretchen to arrange to meet us for breakfast over at T-Bob's this morning. The conversation was very silly, to the point where I do not remember what prompted this to come out of my mouth, but suddenly I announced ( Read more... )