Tag Archives: language

Yesterday morning and last night

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

I received the following text from my son who is presently teaching English in Japan: A student wrote, “I cleaned my room last morning” and my JTE corrected it to “yesterday morning.” So then the student asked, why “last night” … Continue reading →

Posted in grammar | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“What Bee Did” by Julie Larios

Posted on June 27, 2011 by

Bee not only buzzed. When swatted at, Bee deviled, Bee smirched. And when fuddled, like many of us, Bee labored, Bee reaved. He behaved as well as any Bee can have. Bee never lied. Bee never lated. And despite the … Continue reading →

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Oxymorons by William Matthews

Posted on April 19, 2011 by

Summer school, and jumbo shrimp, of course. Friendly fire, famous poet, common sense, and, until very recently, safe sex: Blind date, sure thing, amicable divorce. Also there’s loyal opposition, social security, deliberate speed. How about dysfunctional family? Eyes blackened, hearts … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry, words | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

To blind someone by placing a red-hot copper kettle near their eyes

Posted on March 1, 2011 by

I have a thing for dictionaries. I really love them. In fact, I have a collection of old dictionaries and even use them in my art. Some years ago I created a shaman jacket that is covered with images from … Continue reading →

Posted in art, collections, reading, school, Teaching, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Spread the word…

Posted on January 24, 2011 by

Indeed! Adopt-a-word. This is a plea from Oxford Dictionaries/ Oxford University Press: Each year hundreds of words are dropped from the English language. Old words, wise words, hard-working words. Words that once led meaningful lives, but now lie unused, unloved … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, words, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Yes, the dogs are loose

Posted on December 29, 2010 by

One evening, years ago, when Jane Byrne was Mayor of Chicago (1979-83), I had parked my car in one of those “almost” legal spots downtown. Because Jane Byrne lived downtown, the police were especially vigilant about monitoring illegal parking. (It … Continue reading →

Posted in cars | Tagged , , | 2 Comments