Sunday, November 8, 2020

A book, a window, a cat, and a word

I got my dictionary off the shelf yesterday to look up a couple of words, which became three before I finished writing my blog post.  When I opened the book, I noticed I had put my name in it, along with the date when I bought it.  I grinned when I realized I'd gotten this much-used book 25 years ago this month.  The date was 11/2/95, and I paid $19.95 for it, making it a rather expensive book for the time.

I also noticed it has a presentation page.  "Presented to __________ By _______ Date ______."  Who presents dictionaries to people?  And why?  Have you ever "presented" a dictionary to someone?  If so, tell me, what was the occasion?

View from My Window

My friend Sharon invited me to join a new Facebook group called View from My Window.  It's kind of like WindowSwap, but we put up our own recent view from a window, saying where we're from.  Only one post a day per person.  Next time I may show them this picture of Clawdia in her window with fall-colored trees between me and the tall buildings of Clayton.  The sun was setting from the west (off to the right), casting shadows across our street when I snapped this view yesterday.

Being helpful

If you've ever had a cat, you realize how "helpful" they can be.  Here's a photo of Clawdia, for example, napping on my clipboard while I was trying to take notes during a Zoom meeting.  It couldn't have been the least bit comfortable, sleeping on that hard surface.  But she did it, by golly!  Just to be helpful, ya know.  Okay, I know that sounds rather catty.

Word of the Day
cat·ty / ˈkadē / adjective = deliberately hurtful in one's remarks; spiteful.  Example:  "That catty remark was uncalled for."  Similar:  snide.  Opposite:  kind, complimentary.

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6 comments:

Elza Reads said...

Hi Bonnie! Oh yes, Elza can be ever so helpful! Like your word of the day. I still do the Wondrous Words Wednesday. Such fun!

Hope you will have a good week.

The Sunday Post #17

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

My sister-in-law always insisted that I write in the books I gave her son, and I did to satisfy her, but I did not like doing it. I had a student give me a book her mother, a psychiatrist, had written, and I kept it for many many years, not because I loved it but because it had a presentation page like your dictionary above.

The window to our backyard is my usual view these days. I have several bird feeders and a birdbath now (once I only had a single feeder) because I love watching the birds appear outside.

I cannot remember a time when I have been so anxious. I wish I had a magic potion to combat it. I do what I can to get past it.

Mae Travels said...

I'm curious about your photo of your cat enjoying the view of Clayton -- I just read a book about the history of St.Louis, and I have a few more of them on my list, as I grew up there. I looked at a few more of your blog posts, and saw a reference to Ted Drews' custard so I know it's _that_ St. Louis!

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Yes, it's THAT St. Louis. I moved here in June 2014 and marched with others after Mike Brown was killed in August. I live in the County (not the city), and I've tried to support those in Ferguson by going there to eat, for example. I went to your blog to see which book you read, and now I plan to get The Broken Heart of America: St. Louis and the Violent History of the United States by Walter Johnson, published in April 2020. There are 17 copies in the County Library system, and all of them are currently checked out, so it may take awhile. Although I'm not into food and cooking as you are, I've added your link to "Blogs I read" on my sidebar.

shelleyrae @ book'd out said...

When I was at school, fancy editions of dictionary’s and thesauruses were presented for some academic awards, I’m fairly sure I still have one still somewhere :)

Wishing you a great reading week

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Thanks, shelleyrae, for that information. I hope you have a great reading week, too. Stay well.