Yes, that surprised me, pleasantly. Now how about realistic diplomatic engagement with Iran? And the congressional Dems say they're going to get tougher with the R's? Well, actions speak louder than words.
The fanciest sad irons had a detachable handle, so one could be used while the other(s) warmed up. Wouldn't be surprised if there were regional names for them, like a skillet is a spider in some places. My mom had to learn from the locals how to use one, and how to use a curling iron heated on the wood stove. (You heat it up, then grasp it with a thick bunch of newspaper. When it no longer burns the newspaper, it is safe to use on your hair.)
Looks like we're in line for some rain, maybe starting tomorrow (today as you read this), and lasting maybe for upwards of a week. We can sure use it. [BTW, it's all my doing; I ran my car through a car wash this morning.]
Cat--my sincere best wishes and hopes for your sister, but I dare not ask Heaven for more. She wouldn't be human if she were not concerned, and neither would you.
I finished CS Forester's Payment Deferred, and have a fair start on The Pursued. The former is a ripping good story, and the latter augers to be as well. I begin to wonder if the female characters are portrayed plausibly; they are major characters in each story, and beyond sex and the fact their thoughts and behaviors are set down by a male writer, they lived in a different culture from our own. The stories are set in the *perhaps* slightly better off working class of England in the 1920's and 1930's, so the formative years of the characters would have been around the turn of the century or slightly after, in Edwardian times. I should appreciate feedback if or when one of you reads either or both of the books. [My offer to loan them stands.]
Alan, it *is* possible for opposite sex authors to get the other 1/2 right. At least some of the time. Minny years ago, took a chapter of a novel I was writing at the time to my writers group. There was a scene of a guy in the bathroom, remembering when he was a little boy and peed not only in to the bowl, but on the floor and wall and. . . . After, all four of the guys in the group, one by one, came up to me an quietly averred that women were NOT supposed to know such things. How had I found out? (Six brothers, one husband, two sons. . . . )
I have always heard those irons referred to as "flat irons." There is a famous historic building in Chicago called the Flatiron Building because of its shape. (It's located on one corner of a triple intersection, so a more or less triangular shape is required.)
There are also "Flatiron Building(s)" in NYC and San Francisco. It would be facile to assume that "sad" irons were so named because one became sad because of the difficulty of working with them, but I suspect it may be the corruption of another word. I understand that spiders were so named after skillets designed for use over wood fires, which had long black iron legs on them, hence their resemblance to arachnids.
Hallo all! I'm home from work and verrry tired. Still, our annual Library budget meeting was tonight and it went great...budget passed fine (which means I get a teeny raise come July), and the whole meeting took about 40 minutes, including the part where we gave flowers and a cash gift to the outgoing Chair of the Trustees. We are sooo going to miss her in this role, as she is incredibly fair, kind, adept and wise. But she has been on as long as one is allowed (can't recall if that's 9 years or 12!), and has earned a rest.
Mah*Sweetie got his truck fixed this week. The speedometer had quit working and a bulb in the dash lights needed replacing. That plus an oil change and coolant flush....all came to over $300, after about $200 had been quoted, as they had a lot of trouble getting the stuff to work right. In fact, Mah*Sweetie suggested at the outset that it might need a new ground wire, and that turned out to be true. Okay, so he pays the big bill, gets into the truck and drives off to (finally!) get his fly shot. On the way there he realised his radio and clock no longer work...! On the way back the speedometer quit again. Needless to say, he stopped in and they're going to look at it over the next two days and have it all ready by Sunday. Since he starts his new job on Monday, I certainly hope so! Son*in*Maine had loaned him a car for a few months and we've been planning to drive it back to Maine tomorrow. I tell ya those gremlins have been hard at work here today! Ha!
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I noticed that!! I was wondering (but not seriously) why your Sweetie wanted someone to shoot his fly. And why he even owned a fly in the first place. :-D
Howard. Is. First.
ReplyDeleteObama nixed the pipeline, woot!
Yes, that surprised me, pleasantly. Now how about realistic diplomatic engagement with Iran? And the congressional Dems say they're going to get tougher with the R's? Well, actions speak louder than words.
ReplyDeleteThe fanciest sad irons had a detachable handle, so one could be used while the other(s) warmed up. Wouldn't be surprised if there were regional names for them, like a skillet is a spider in some places. My mom had to learn from the locals how to use one, and how to use a curling iron heated on the wood stove. (You heat it up, then grasp it with a thick bunch of newspaper. When it no longer burns the newspaper, it is safe to use on your hair.)
Looks like we're in line for some rain, maybe starting tomorrow (today as you read this), and lasting maybe for upwards of a week. We can sure use it. [BTW, it's all my doing; I ran my car through a car wash this morning.]
Cat--my sincere best wishes and hopes for your sister, but I dare not ask Heaven for more. She wouldn't be human if she were not concerned, and neither would you.
I finished CS Forester's Payment Deferred, and have a fair start on The Pursued. The former is a ripping good story, and the latter augers to be as well. I begin to wonder if the female characters are portrayed plausibly; they are major characters in each story, and beyond sex and the fact their thoughts and behaviors are set down by a male writer, they lived in a different culture from our own. The stories are set in the *perhaps* slightly better off working class of England in the 1920's and 1930's, so the formative years of the characters would have been around the turn of the century or slightly after, in Edwardian times. I should appreciate feedback if or when one of you reads either or both of the books. [My offer to loan them stands.]
TTFN
YAH!!
ReplyDeleteAlan, it *is* possible for opposite sex authors to get the other 1/2 right. At least some of the time. Minny years ago, took a chapter of a novel I was writing at the time to my writers group. There was a scene of a guy in the bathroom, remembering when he was a little boy and peed not only in to the bowl, but on the floor and wall and. . . . After, all four of the guys in the group, one by one, came up to me an quietly averred that women were NOT supposed to know such things. How had I found out? (Six brothers, one husband, two sons. . . . )
ReplyDeleteI have always heard those irons referred to as "flat irons." There is a famous historic building in Chicago called the Flatiron Building because of its shape. (It's located on one corner of a triple intersection, so a more or less triangular shape is required.)
ReplyDeleteThere are also "Flatiron Building(s)" in NYC and San Francisco. It would be facile to assume that "sad" irons were so named because one became sad because of the difficulty of working with them, but I suspect it may be the corruption of another word. I understand that spiders were so named after skillets designed for use over wood fires, which had long black iron legs on them, hence their resemblance to arachnids.
ReplyDeleteFrom the "I learn something every day if I'm not careful" department:
ReplyDeleteConcise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sad iron
▶noun
historical a flat iron.
– origin from sad, in the obs. sense ‘weighty’.
Interesting origin. Thanks for looking this up, Alan.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever did such a thing. But it's not hard to imagine a less fearful and repressed boy doing so.
ReplyDeleteHallo all! I'm home from work and verrry tired. Still, our annual Library budget meeting was tonight and it went great...budget passed fine (which means I get a teeny raise come July), and the whole meeting took about 40 minutes, including the part where we gave flowers and a cash gift to the outgoing Chair of the Trustees. We are sooo going to miss her in this role, as she is incredibly fair, kind, adept and wise. But she has been on as long as one is allowed (can't recall if that's 9 years or 12!), and has earned a rest.
ReplyDeleteMah*Sweetie got his truck fixed this week. The speedometer had quit working and a bulb in the dash lights needed replacing. That plus an oil change and coolant flush....all came to over $300, after about $200 had been quoted, as they had a lot of trouble getting the stuff to work right. In fact, Mah*Sweetie suggested at the outset that it might need a new ground wire, and that turned out to be true. Okay, so he pays the big bill, gets into the truck and drives off to (finally!) get his fly shot. On the way there he realised his radio and clock no longer work...! On the way back the speedometer quit again. Needless to say, he stopped in and they're going to look at it over the next two days and have it all ready by Sunday. Since he starts his new job on Monday, I certainly hope so! Son*in*Maine had loaned him a car for a few months and we've been planning to drive it back to Maine tomorrow. I tell ya those gremlins have been hard at work here today! Ha!
Speaking of gremlins, was your Mini among those recalled for defective water pumps?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120114/AUTO01/201140386/1121/auto01/BMW-recalls-90-000-Mini-Coopers--Ford--Chrysler-announce-smaller-recalls
He's was going to go fishing? In January? In Vermont? ("fly shot")
ReplyDeleteNope, mine isn't a turbo.
ReplyDeleteOoohhhh!
ReplyDeletefly shot = flu shot
ROFL!!
Packing up for NH and then ME. Taking computer along...because Mah*Sweetie got me a new Mac battery today!! Whoo hoo!
ReplyDeleteOh, good. I kept thinking about your burning smell and this.
ReplyDeleteSo the trubble has been a low battery? That is a relief (cause it fixes things so easily!).
ReplyDeleteYeah, yeah, yeah. I noticed that!! I was wondering (but not seriously) why your Sweetie wanted someone to shoot his fly. And why he even owned a fly in the first place. :-D
ReplyDelete