Weird Words Part II

Cruciverbalist: A compiler or solver of crossword puzzles (aka "fan" of crosswords).

First appeared around 1980.

See details below:

If you encounter the clue “crossword puzzle fan (14 letters)”, this is the answer. It seems to have appeared in English about 1980 (the first reference I can find is to the Compleat Cruciverbalist of 1981 by Stan Kurzban and Mel Rosen, subtitled “how to solve, compose and sell crossword puzzles for fun and profit”). However, Stan Kurzban tells me that Mel Rosen had encountered the word some years earlier in the title of a directory of crossword puzzle notables that was not widely circulated. Whatever its origin, cruciverbalist has spread into the wider language as a result of their efforts to the extent that it now appears in some larger recent US dictionaries. The word is a modern mock-Latin invention, being a translation back into Latin of the English crossword (using Latin crucis, cross, as in words like cruciform, plus verbum, word, as in verbose or verbatim). There is also cruciverbalism, for the art of crossword compilation or crossword fandom generally, but that is much rarer.

Weird Words

For all you english-and-intelligent-sounding-word gurus....here is one for you to decipher!

Today's word: Cruciverbalist

Date first appeared?

Definition?

Be honest...and don't google the answers....LOL! I will post "the rest of the story" tomorrow!

Treasures in the Laundry

I was putting the darks in the washing machine just now....and I had to check each pocket of my boys' jean shorts. It is very interesting the little "treasures" that I find in their pockets! The old saying goes, "Boys will be boys" certainly applies here. LOL! Anything from rocks, bottle caps, little sticks, and of course any type of change! Good thing they don't like bugs!!!!

I was just thinking, though, what a treasure my boys really are to me. Sometimes it's frustrating when they drag their feet and don't clean their room....but honestly, I have such a treasure in being a mom. I would so rather raise my children in a healthy single-parent home than unhealthy two-parent home. I am thankful that God has blessed me and given me strength to raise two adventurous little boys who love to find little treasures.

And you know what else....I found my own treasure in doing laundry!

Diehard Baseball Fans

No, this was not found in the Sports section...LOL!

Since I live in St. Louis and we border with Illinois, there is alot of rivalry between Cards fans and Cubs fans....so I had to tape this joke by my computer! The majority of reps in my office are huge baseball fans, and my boss is originally from St. Louis, but just moved back from Chicago. You should hear the stories he has to tell about the fans!

I am sure this could be adapted to fit your own favorite team rivalry...here goes:

Four baseball fans are climbing a mountain. One Red Sox fan, one Yankees fan, one Cubs fan, and one Cardinals fan.

When they get to the top, the Yankees fan wants to prove he is the greatest fan. So, he raises his hands in the air and says, "This is for the Yankees," and jumps off the mountain. The Red Sox fan doesn't want to be outdone by the Yankees fan, so he raises his hands in the air and says, "This is for the Red Sox," and he jumps off the mountain.

Now all that is remaining is the Cubs fan and the Cardinals fan. The Cardinal fan raises his hands in the air and says, "This is for the Cardinals," and pushes the Cubs fan off the mountain.

Moral of the story: When the Cards are playing, you better root for my team! j/k =D

One of those days....

Ever since I overslept the morning after our power went out during our storms this week...I have been late to work every morning!

Today, I was paying my daycare when my oldest son got in a squabble already. I realized because I was running late, I had not taken time to pray with my boys as I usually do each morning. So I took them into the office, sat them down, and prayed about our day and their behavior.

Except I forgot to pray about that little motorcycle cop that gave me a ticket on my way to work.

Late again! This time I have a bright yellow ticket for an excuse! LOL!

Oh well, it's just one of those days....

(TGIF and I get to start over next week!)

The Gray Hair

In keeping with the "hair" theme this week....here is my contribution. After passing the 30 mark a few years ago, I am coloring my "gray" which looks more like silver-white. Just last night, I underwent the process of becoming my natural brunette. (And no, T, it's not burgundy red this time...lol!) So, when I read this comical story, I HAD to post it!

The Gray Hair

When I discovered my first gray hair I immediately wrote to my parents:
"Dear Dad and Mom. You saw my first steps. You might want to experience this with me too."

I taped the offending hair to the paper and mailed it.

My father's response was in the form of a poem:
"It's a trustworthy observation that nothing can compare, In the process of aging with finding the first gray hair."

He signed off with this observation: "Believe me, that gray hair you sent is not the first one you gave us!"

Here's to Hair Color! (It will be different in six months, trust me!)

Funny Signs

Since it's Middle-of-the-week Day...here is some humor to get you over the hump until FRIDAY!

• Plumber: "We repair what your husband Fixed."
• On the trucks of a local plumbing company in NE Pennsylvania: "Don't sleep with a drip; call your plumber."
• Pizza shop slogan: "7 days without pizza makes one Weak."
• At a tire shop in Milwaukee: "Invite us to your next blowout."

Long Week -- TGIF!

Boy, but it has been a long week! And today seemed like Friday...so I guess that means I get TWO Fridays? Oh well, it was worth a shot! LOL!

On the positive side (for those of you who may wonder...I am an optimist--at least when things are going good) I am glad I have one more day to finish up some projects at work. I got a tremendous amount accomplished today, despite the morning seeming to drag at only 10:30am!

Here's to the weekend! =D

Water Into Wine

I am posting about three major miracles that have happened in the last 24 hours.

First miracle = Patience: My ex-husband actually paid me his 50% of the boys' ball team registrations. Mind you, he argued (in front of the boys) that he did not "owe" me any of the fees. This was two months ago, but I really needed the funds this week. God's Timing for sure!

Second miracle = Grace: My apartment complex was willing to work with me on paying my rent in two payments and not sending my account to legal. Simply asking a question.

Third miracle = Faith: My bank was willing to reverse several charges that were a direct result of a mix-up on the hotel bill from my regional training trip for my job. I had waited about a week and was intending to stop in the branch today and see the manager personally, who had told me that he wasn't able to go into my account due to computer issues. (and I thought he was full of IT)

Thanks to those in my life that have so committedly stood by me and encouraged me even when times seem dark. It is simply a storm passing by. And I know God calms the storms just as he turned water into wine.

Stress Free Zone

My doctor tells me to work on relaxing this past weekend, because stress is killing me. Well, I knew I didn't have kids for most of the weekend, so I wanted to plan something fun. At the last minute, I got invited to go out on the boat with some neighbor friends. Thankfully, I was able to find a music leader to cover me for kid's ministry on Saturday night, so I could go with them on Saturday.

I take the wrong turn twice on my way out to the marina, even though I had been out there once before. In normal fashion, I start "stressing" because the boat was leaving at 11:30am. When I pull up (20 mins late), I see another couple just getting there as well. Whew! Another friend of theirs helps me carry my stuff down the dock and we all jump on the boat...AS IT IS MOVING!!

Once we pull ashore, I noticed they have changed the name of their boat to "Stress Free Zone"!

How about that...doctor's orders send me to the "Stress Free Zone"....literally! =D