147 The black cat

The Black Cat

Picture this. It was Monday morning, about 10 a.m. I had gotten up, dressed, and, for once, was ahead of schedule. So I lounged across my bed, two Schnauzers curled up beside me, and fell back asleep reading an intriguing Stuart Woods mystery. Unusual.

A bit later, I snapped up, wide awake on the bed. The Schnauzers, terriers that they are, were running back and forth from bed to the back window, howling and barking. I looked up. 

 A black cat is hanging from the screen. Whose black cat? How? Why? Where? Brain not functioning on all cylinders.

I jumped up and went to the window as the cat hissed, slide down the screen, careened across the room, hid behind the couch, then up on my husband’s bookshelf of baseball memorabilia. Balls, small framed “historic” baseball cards, and photos tumbled from the bookcase across the floor as the two dogs continued to run back and forth challenging the now snarling cat. 

In typical Schnauzer fashion they came to me when I called their names sternly. They did NOT, however, let up on the barking. 

Max (aka Mad Max) looked at me like “are you kidding? There is an alien in this room.”  

New puppy Bogey, taking the lead from Max, in his surprisingly deep raspy voice continued his howling. I could hear the cat, hissing, scratching at the back of the couch, but not visible. 

I corralled the “boys” downstairs and into their cage. Not happy. OH, NOT HAPPY. Yes, they are fairly well-trained and did deign to go into the cage, but the barking continued. It is now just after 11 a.m. and I have a noon doctor’s appointment. Of course, as luck would have it, the husband was gone for the day. I phoned my brother-in-law with a plea for help as he lives just up the hill. Thank you, Willis.

After getting a chuckle from my dilemma, he sends his daughter down to help. She’s an animal lover, a gardener, a nature girl. Thanks, Jessica, for the quick response. In a quiet manner, she went upstairs. I heard furniture moving. Soon, Jess appeared with the demon black cat clutched to her chest and shoulder. The furor was over. As Jess went outside she released said cat who took off across the field. (This is where I could say, “Curiosity killed the cat,” but we know they have nine lives!)

I do believe this event took a year or two off my life. I know for sure my pulse was racing. I do not like cats. I did not grow up with cats. Cats too often have fleas. Cats do not come when called. Cats rule people. I prefer to be the “alpha dog” among the four-legged animals in our house.

This is not, however, to say I am innocent in all of this. I had left the patio door ajar while I showered and dressed. The invisible fencing to keep pets in a defined space is a wonderful invention. AND both dogs had gone out, ripped and raced, done their doggy business and had come back in. They were with me on the bed. To go downstairs and close the door did not enter my mind. My mistake!

The black cat (and I think his eyes were glowing green) is our first four-legged UNINVITED visitor. We have, since Christmas gift Bogey, had brought a number of birds, voles, and mice to the patio--as gifts, perhaps. That’s what terriers do. They were bred as ratters and they love to root and dig.

Bogey is also a jumper. He can snatch a low flying bird out of the air. Beautiful that we have so many cardinals around, but sad that they are easy to catch. They seem to be Bogey’s favorite. He doesn’t eat them--I think he just wants to play?!?

The animal v human score at the White’s is not equal. Birds lose, cats are not welcome, and the two white 20-pound dogs rule. Sad, perhaps, and a little bit funny, but true. 

Dog lover and         somewhat Savvy Glenne**

(**Thank you to the appropriate folks for these cartoons which showed up on various Google sites)

146 The beach beckons

The beach beckons

The sun, the sand, the waves --- all combine to pull us to the coastline several times a year. The beautiful combination of nature’s amenities calls us with a magnetism that cannot be ignored.

Luckily, my husband and I feel the same way so there are no disagreements when planning these soothing retreats. 

East Coast

We have visited beaches up and down the East Coast, but we always return to a section of shore in South Carolina. The beach is wide during low tide, crowds are moderate, and there is enough to do but not too much,

We discovered this section of the coastline in 1985 with a recommendation from a friend. We have missed very few years since then. After retirement several years ago, we can come more often which translates to about three times a year – we even added an after Christmas visit two years ago that we probably will continue hopefully for many years.

What is it that draws us to this majestic body of water!! Not really sure, but we always feel better after a visit whether it is long or short.

Could it be the lack of structure with no duties to perform?

Could it be the sound of the waves lulling us to sleep as we doze on the beach?

Could it be the amazing views that calm the soul?

Whatever it is, we thoroughly enjoy it and come home soothed.

I sometimes wonder it if is innate – my family on both sides came from the southernmost shore of Italy (my mother called it the toe of the boot), surrounded by a variety of seas.

The views there are also amazing with the water making up the backdrop for everything in the area – there was no escaping the glistening seas on all sides. My mother’s family lived on the top of a mountain, but the drive down revealed the soothing waters of the beautiful Mediterranean.

My husband traces his heritage to colder climates with an abundance of water. The beautiful freshwater lochs of Scotland are soothing and beautiful to behold. There are more than 31,000 of these sparkling jewels in the country.

Possibly this could be the reason for our unwavering attraction to sand and sea.

Sometimes, we wish we lived nearer the beach, but then maybe it wouldn’t be so special. For now, we will have to settle for periodic trips that renew and refresh. 

Of course, our children and grandchildren have the same love for the beach as we have since we have made annual excursions to the coast for more than 40 years. It has been wonderful to watch them grow and learn and become beach bums like the rest of the family. 

Naturalist, author, and environmental philosopher John Muir is famously quoted as saying “The mountains are calling and I must go.” 

While we grew up in the mountains, we would have to paraphrase the quote, “The beach is calling and we must go.”

Beach bum Frances              

145 FL vs VA

Florida versus Virginia

I am not talking about football!

Rather, we frequently visit Florida and am often struck by the differences between the central east coast of Florida and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia:

The snow bird phenomenon is interesting in Florida. The permanent residents treat you nicely but as a temporary inconvenience. Of course, the shop and restaurant owners love and miss you. They also know me by first name at the Taco Shack--love those fish taco salads!

I am writing this blog after a wet and cold Apple Blossom weekend with temps at night in the 30s. BRRRRR! May head back to Florida!

Trish       

144 Fun Listicle

Etymology of Some Words We Use

      ~A Fun Listicle~
Hello, Readers! I really like this new word “listicle”--defined as the format for short writing done in list format. Maybe it’s because this is the way I think. Make a list. Then add notes as necessary. More and more notes as I get older!! And, often, I find it is also the way I write everything. According to my family, everything is a “punch list.”


Also, for those of you who regularly read our SavvyBroads blog, we are sometimes noted for our snarky humor. And I love words. I know many, many more words than I actually say out loud or use in conversation, BUT we also use “common” words daily with no idea of their etymology.

One fun thing to do is to try to create new words. My friend Walter uses the word “assortorate.” Sort and prioritize simultaneously. I use this as often as I can hope someday he will make the dictionary. Walter’s word is a good one and I do believe that a number of words have entered American English this way.

Here are eight of my favorite words with an interesting etymology:

• Doozie--something wonderful or out-of-the ordinary. Check out this 1931 Duesenberg and--there you go--that’s the origin of the word.

• Kowtow--to show deference. This comes from China and literally means “knock the head.” Apparently, the custom was to touch the ground with forehead while paying respects to an illustrious person.

• Buccaneer--a pirate. The etymology is a 17th century West Indian word meaning “he who cures flesh on the barbeque.” The word was transferred to Spanish pirates who cooked meat over open flame.

• Tempura--Japanese dish of deep-fried vegetables or seafood. However, I just learned that it is neither a native Japanese dish nor a Japanese word. The Japanese noticed that when the Portuguese arrived in Japan in the 17th century, the Portuguese ate fish at a certain time for several weeks. 

The Portuguese called what they were eating “tempura.” To the Portuguese this meant food allowed during LENT and had nothing to do with the food product. The Japanese concluded that “tempura” meant fish fried in a light batter.

• Yankee--you may already know this one as a nickname for New Englander--or sometimes for Americans in general. The etymology is not wholly determined. One theory is that it is derived from the Dutch word “Jan Kees,” which was a slur against those Dutch in New York. However, author James Fennimore Cooper reported that the Indian word for English was “Yengees.” Some Europeans continue to believe it is Scottish--“yankie”--a tavern word meaning dishonest person. Hmmmm?!

• Tycoon--a wealthy, powerful business person. The word is from the Japanese “taikun” used to designate the role of the shogun when he was addressing foreigners. When the “taikun” spoke he had even more influence than the emperor. A similar Chinese word “t’ai kiuen” translates as “great prince.” Aaah, somethings never change.

• Sabotage--to deliberately destroy or obstruct. During the French Revolution the peasants wore clumsy wooden shoes known as “sabots.” Creeping into the language over the years, “sabotage” became re-popularized in 1910 during the French railroad strikes when the workers would stick their sabots into the gears – literally obstructing the mechanism. Other unions picked up the idea to “sabotage” machinery in their plants to boost their requests for improved conditions and higher salaries.

• Fiasco--a humiliating failure. In Italian, the making of fine Venetian glass is an intricate and difficult process and must be perfect. If the piece is not perfect, it is turned into a common flask or bottle.

My compilation is another page long. If you like this blog topic please let me know and some other words will come your way!! For fun, look up the etymology of “trivial.” Three something?!? In the meantime, a whole list of homonyms is now scribbled down the side of the legal pad for a future blog. Are you smiling or rolling your eyes?

Glenne