Mary/the Teach hosts Ruby Tuesday. You got it – RED on Tuesdays. Go on over and check it out.
I love words and I love books.
This is one of my prized possessions
She’s an oldie. This edition was published in 1982. I know!
Imagine that. E.V.O.O. isn’t in there!
OMG! – WTF!? How did we ever get through a day needing to say four full words?
Extra Virgin Olive Oil? I’m exhausted just typing it.
It’s so much easier to capitalize each letter and make sure the freakin’ periods are in there.
Now I sound like a cranky old lady. These kids and their abbreviations and their text messages. Their books on audio and music on ether and movies on phones.
I love me some technology.
BUT …
That tingly feeling when you riffle the pages. Looking for one word I always found many others. The smell of books, especially old ones. The mustiness suggesting protection of ideas. The tiny print giving the feeling that there is so much to be discovered. They had to cozy it all in there and still the book is heavy.
The wonderful weight of knowledge.
52 comments:
I love dictionaries. Thesauruses too. My grandmother had an unabridged dictionary, probably from the 70's, that I would sit and look at, use as a stepstool (it was gigantor!) and I wish, wish, wish we had kept it.
Great entry!
I wonder if someone has created a text mesage dictionary yet. Of course they wouldn't call it a dictionary now would they? It'd be something like:
W.N.W.D.F.T.S.I.A.T.T.S.T
"Webters New World Dictionary For The Spelling Impaired And The Time Sensitive Teenager"
LOL love Jeff's comment. As a librarian, I hope lots of people think like you do!!
Wonderful! Sadly my dictionary got lost in my two thousand moves and I now rely entirely on cyber dictionaries. This is a wonderful - I'm torn between saying elegy or ode - on the wonder of words and words in BOOKS... and fully written out! A wonderful post. Or should I say A.W.P. I'm too old for all those abbreviations. I sit puzzling over them and half the time I can only guess what it is they mean. I love Jeff B's comment.
Happy Tuesday!
Oh - I meant to tell a boring story about a gift my brother gave me when I was 8. It was Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. I remember thinking (I was 8, remember)... "THIS is a gift?" I was deeply underwhelmed by it at the time, but it's now one of my best treasures despite the fact that it was a gift from my demon brother.
My apologies for doing a triple here, but you forgot to add your name to Mr. Linky over at Maryt's place.
I adore my old dictionary...it's where I first looked up gullible when my uncle told me it wasn't in the dictionary.
LMAO @ JeffB!
snoopmurph - I have packed and moved this dictionary into every office I have ever worked in. Funny thing is I can't remember how or where I got it.
Jeff - there IS a dictionary for text messaging!! My niece suggested I get it when I told her to stop abbreviating everything in her e-mails to me, I had no idea what she was saying!
I have to ask her what it's called.
You are my own private COW 2 weeks in a row and it's only Tuesday ;)
raven - triple play! LOL
thanks for reminding me. would you believe I got so engrossed in the dictionary when I was checking how old it was that I posted and forgot everything else.
I don't understand the majority of the teenage word shortening. That is probably because I don't like teenagers and don't ever speak to any. I have a pocket dictionary. We were required to carry them around with us when I was studying acting. I think that was brilliant of them. Now I'm constantly online to find the word I need and discover new ones.
Dianne, I just love old books and old dictionaries more. I have a couple of old ones. And yes I love the feeling of riffling throught the pages. BUT technology, text messaging and abbreviations are great too! :) This post is fantastic and funny FAF! :D
Words are wonderful! I never have learned to text message, and doubt I ever will. I know what you mean about looking up one word and finding others along the way. That's half the fun of it.
RLL - that's funny! My uncle Philly - yes he isn't on being called Philly - was always telling me words didn't exist.
knight - but you were once a teen! and not that long ago LOL I like the online dictionaries too because you can hear the pronunciation. Especially critical since I'm from Brooklyn ;)
mary - I knew you'd love old books. I can't get the hang of texting - by the time I find my glasses and by the time my big fat fingers hit the wrong keys - hell - I've forgotten what I wanted to say LOL
bobbie - I just finished telling Mary how I can't text LOL you're not alone :)
I use an online dictionary these days but I still get sidetracked like I did with a proper printed one!
Nice edition! Ummm . . . I'm older than that book though. LOL!!
But how many Q-without-U words does it have? I love words, too, which is why my official Scrabble dictionary is my favorite book. :-)
But how many Q-without-U words does it have? I love words, too, which is why my official Scrabble dictionary is my favorite book. :-)
That was a post after my heart i soo love words they are my playthingsmy red post--
is not a tail light nor even remotely auto related I will post the answer tomorrow
I can't wait until my kids are old enough to need to use a dictionary or an encyclopedia for school work. I'm going to make them ride their bikes all the way to the *gasp* LIBRARY and look it up the old fashioned way!
akelamalu - I get lost on the online dictionary too :)
and when I use a translation program, next thing I know I researching word origins
karen - I'm WAY older than that book :)
diane - now I'm going to have to go check the Q-no-U words!!
marcia - I'm going to go look again, I want to try one more guess.
leighann - the LIBRARY!? Oh you wicked Mommy you!! and you're not going to drive them!? I'm calling the authorities!
I love the library and for a small town we have a pretty good one. I take the VFW guys there twice a month. We have a great time, usually we get yelled at for being too loud.
idk. my parents were all about that book learning n i do so heart the smell of a used bookstore but if not for the information highway i'd have never met so many wonderful people over the past 12 yrs.
crap. pir. gotta go.
i missed u.
Love it! You even did your post in red. I love dictionaries too, and reading, and words....
OMG11
Look at that relic! That dictionary is so old skool!
TTFN
MTFBWY
L8R G8R
Ok...can I just say, "THANK YOU FOR THIS POST!!!"
You said a mouthful of TRUTH here, Dianne.
I too enjoy me some technology, but it's truly gotten out of hand. The whole "text messaging thing" is racking my nerves!!!
And I've even noticed it with myself. I'm finding that I need a keyboard to even write a letter anymore.
I love books like you. And I had to laugh at your mention of the SMELL, because it's one of my favorite things about reading a book (sniffing it every couple of chapters).
I try very hard not to use spell check, and keep my dictionary close by.
"Thinking" seems to be a thing of the past.
GREAT post, Dianne!
Thanks for sharing this!
Dianne, I've tagged you! Don't worry do it only if you want to! :D
lisa - I missed u too!!
I love the internet tubes for networking and blogging and for research too. I just don't want the joy of books and curling up in a chair and reading to be forgotten. My nieces curl up with their laptop LOL
ellen b - yeah I get carried away with themes LOL
you should see me decorate for a party!!
jay - "look at that relic"! how'd you know what I say in the shower every morning!? you peepin' again?
ron - me too! I can't think without a keyboard and that bugs me!!
it's the phones that really bug me. how much contact could any one person possibly need to maintain!?
i still curl up with my books. there are at least 7 on my nightstand right now and a stack beside the nightstand because it's starting to lean, but i admit it, i curl up with my laptop quite often.
as in any aspect of life, i guess it's all about finding balance and the kids don't have that so much when it comes to reading a book v. reading all your friends myspace pages.
Hi Dianne! Thank you so much for the laugh. I really needed it today.
Rachel Ray (or Rey) however you spell her name would be so disappointed. Good. Can you tell I don't like her. Well it isn't that I don't like her, but sometimes she gets on my nerves.
I feel bad for the kids today, not knowing what it is like to go to the library and looking for a book via the card catolog. And yes the smell. Or sitting down and losing themselves in a good book.
Because I suck at spelling, I have the dictionary next to me at all times. If I can't find the word, I call Bobbie.
I agree that some technology is a good thing, but come on. Sometimes the old way is the way to go. Lisa
I love dictionaries. That looks like a good one. :D
lisa - I just finally got a laptop for Mom's Day so I haven't developed a pattern (habit) yet :)
balance is a good thing - in life and in nightstands.
lisa (villas) - so many lisa's in my life :)
RR gets on my nerves!! It's all the perky and the scratchy voice
I hate perky LOL
I LOVE that you call bobbie if you can't find the world - such great friends.
thanks askew! it's been with me for a long, long time.
I have the concise Oxford, if it is not in there, or online, I just pop over to my friends house, she has the Oxford Unabridged (from when it was only two volumes). You need a magnifying glass just to look up words and a stronger one to read what the description is! Funny, I don't remember using two magnifying glasses 20 years ago - and it is the same set of books, I'm sure it is!
I love encyclopedias too, Wikipedia is too enabling of my curiosity, I can spend hours, just clicking links.
Good choice of a powerful red book :)
Diana,
Thank you for your kind words about my blog...I'm trying to figure all of the things out
I love this post....reminds me of when I was teaching high school back in the early 80's god that makes me feel so fucking old to say it like that
******not that I am apply that I have seen any evidence of any child like or high school type of behavior********
BOOP...Bunch Of Old Poops!
Dianne I have dictionaries older than dirt and trade with them daily. I let them stay out of landfills and they give me new words. But I can still read the acronyms of the youth as long as they type them out s...l...o...w...l....y
reb - every time I do any research I always end up clicking links and then more links. often I will send more time on the new stuff I find than on the original subject!
napanoaniya - "powerful red book" - I like that! thanks
charlene - from your profile photo you look like you're IN high school so wear those fucking years proudly girl!
as for child like beahvior - oh there'll be plenty of that round here.
welcome to blog heaven
mark - BOOPs - I LOVE it!
You shall be our king!
oh, i am WITH you! you know what gets me? playing scrabble with my mother-in-law {who is as old-school as it gets, mind you}, and when she's losing, she'll throw up a slang word and tell me...{here's where it gets ugly}
look. it. up.
and the only dictionary i can find? a new one. with all the crap words that've become acceptable.
ugh.
I'm right there with you, Di. It's awful how too many things have become, much like me sex life, abbreviated. LOL. CUL8TR. Cheers!!
"Looking for one word I always found many others."
I'll remember that line next time I'm about to type in dictionary.com rather than walk all the way across the room for my Webster's.
Oh, how I love books. I hope they never get completely replaced by technology. There's nothing like a book! Excellent Ruby Tuesday, excellent post!
I have an old dictionary that was my parents that is about 6 inches thick.
Hmm . . . I love Google . . . and Wikipedia. That counts for something, right?
karey - how funny that you MIL is old school until she wants to pull one over on you :)
I hate new invented words just to be lazy - like EVOO
LOL matt-man - my impression is that there is nothing "abbreviated" about you!
cool michelle :)
I'll use online when I'm rushed or to hear the word otherwise it's the big red book.
willthink4wine - I smile every time I type your name :)
books will always be, I'm sure of that
tammy - that must be so cool.
tranny - you're back!? everything you do counts for something :)
i don't have anything more to say about the book, but i would like to say that you have the funniest people commenting at your blog! I come here and end up clicking for the rest of the afternoon!
lisa - I'm glad you enjoy coming here!
and yes - I have the greatest readers/commentors - funny and talented
thanks lisa!
Oh I'm right with you on this...I'm a book sniffer. I love older books & their beautiful end-pages. Plus the whole sensory experience is a part of the joy for me...there's just no romance to techno-books.
Acronyms drive me batty, especially when people say them---Can you get this to me ASAP? Gahhhhhhh, only if I can kick you in the balls first LOL!
jo - but the ball kicking won't work! you know they want you too ;)
I want to go to the library with you.
dianne - what a great post. Oh how I miss my dictionary. I'm sure it's packed away in a box somewhere, but just the other day I was in front of my computer wondering - how do i browse words??? you can't do that ONLINE! You have to know what you're looking for. I hate that. I may buy a dictionary now just so I have one.
one from a used bookstore, because NOTHING beats the smell of an old book. Makes me think of my old math books that I cherished!
etk - thanks sweetie. definitely take a trip to a used bookstore, it's so good for the soul.
Your last sentence said what I've been trying to say for years but couldn't put into words....how funny is that??? It's exactly how I feel...the smell of old books makes me feel calm and evokes such memories...your description...wow...right on sister!
My sisterlittle is getting her Masters in Library Science...she'd love that! Think I'll send it to her if it's ok with you.
Gawd you're awesome!
xo
tt - I'm only awesome cause of friends like you.
anything of mine is yours sweetie!
I bet I'd like sisterlittle and I'm thrilled that's she is visiting for a spell.
Dianne: I hope it counts when I say that I finished "The Rolling Stones, in the beginning"!
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