Thu 20 Sep 2007
This morning in the car NPR was on and Dr. G and I were cracking up at some of Alan Greenspan’s ridiculous, old-man-economist phrases. Two of the big winners: “marginally immoral” and “moderately euphoric.” If I got a student essay containing those modifiers, I’d ex them right out! It reminded me of last week I was at an economic development meeting where the keynote speaker seemed to delight in mixing his metaphors. My favorite: “The low-hanging fruit will bob to the surface.” I love English. I love what people try to do with it.
The reason Dr. G and I were driving around together was our appointment to sign papers at the title company and check up on the home repairs going on at the new house. I must have signed or intialled 300 times since we started this process. If I had thought ahead I would just have had a stamp made, like the CEOs do.
They replaced the wrong shower enclosure at the new house! There is one in the master bedroom and another in the hallway. The one in the bedroom was old but okay; the one in the hallway was pretty beat up and had a hole in it. So, we asked them to replace the “secondary bathroom” shower and tub (as opposed to the master bathroom). But they interpreted “secondary” differently than we did and replaced the old-but-okay shower. Bummer! I wonder what will happen.
September 21st, 2007 at 5:37 am
I was eating breakfast while reading and nearly lost a mouthful of raisin bran at “the low-hanging fruit.”
September 21st, 2007 at 10:34 am
I must admit, the “marginally immoral” phrase has some appeal. Many’s been the time when I wanted to consider something only marginally immoral.
Hee!
So does this mean you’re gonna buy the man’s book, or not?
September 24th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Tara, it is hard to be the only wordsy person at these meetings. i wish you could come with me to them.
Kate, no, not going to buy the book. i figure if I want chairman stories I can just ask Matt L.