The gift that keeps on giving

Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 10:59 am (Writing by Ear)

I’m so excited. My bank may be giving me a present for Christmas (no wait, for “Holiday”)! They just e-mailed me!

In a few weeks, you’ll find something in your mailbox that’s sure to make your spirits bright…

Doesn’t that sound exciting! What could it be?

…— the opportunity to skip a loan payment,*…

It involves skipping?!! Skipping is a lot of fun! Oooooo, what next?

…which will put extra cash in your pockets at just the right time.

Extra CASH! In my POCKETS?!! (Not just ONE pocket, even, but multiple pockets!)

It just keeps getting better. Who doesn’t want to spread Holiday cheer instead of paying their bills on time?

Of course:

*Certain terms and conditions apply. See important offer details provided in the “You Deserve A Payment Holiday” offer you will receive via U.S. mail.

You don’t suppose interest continues to accrue in that month everyone’s skipping?

You don’t suppose they’ll just extend my payments for an extra month…?

What? Surely not.

Surely the bank’s motives are entirely based on spreading Holiday cheer and generosity.

Surely there’s no downside to this Holiday gift. (Stop calling me Shirley.)

After all, they love me. I’m a valued customer, see:

It’s our way of helping valued customers like you relax and enjoy life even more.

It’s a good thing, see:

So watch your mail because a good thing is coming your way — just another benefit of banking with [my bank].

I have the best bank ever.

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~ William Wordsworth

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My favorite word

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 2:11 pm (Writing by Ear)
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I share this article from the Post-Gazette for one reason only: It includes what I’ve long said is my favorite word…

Council honors owner of Steelers bar in Italy
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The owner of a bar in Italy was named honorary “ambassador plenipotentiary of the Steeler Nation” this morning by Pittsburgh City Council.

Giovanni Poggi, owner of La Botticella in Rome, said he gave the bar a Steelers theme about five years ago because Pennsylvania students were frequent patrons.

Today, the establishment is well known as a “home away from home” for Pittsburghers, Mr. Poggi, on his annual visit to Pittsburgh, said.

The bar shows Steelers games when the time difference allows and has a black-and gold, Pittsburgh decor, including university memorabilia, he said.

Mr. Poggi said he now travels to Pittsburgh once a year to visit friends. He always attends a Steelers game but has not once seen the team win.

The proclamation honoring Mr. Poggi boasts that the “Steeler Nation is mighty and vast.” Rome is one “outpost,” it said, thanking Mr. Poggi for welcoming fans “with libations that maintain the traditions of Pittsburgh hospitality in a venue decorated with Myron Cope’s mighty, mysterious and all-powerful Terrible Towel,” or as it’s known at La Botticella, the “Asciugamano Terrible.”

“I have to say, I have met a lot of great people. Grazie,” Mr. Poggi said.

Did you guess what it is?

It’s a noun, and as I just learned, an adjective.

Merriam-Webster online tells me it from circa 1656 (none of those new words for me).

It has 7 syllables. 7!

Yep, it’s “plenipotentiary: a person and especially a diplomatic agent invested with full power to transact business.”

Don’t ask me why, but I have always loved that word. And loved saying it. But of course, have never been able to say it in the context of anything other than “What’s your favorite word?” conversations.

You have those conversations, too, don’t you?

Anyway, my day is complete. So what’s your favorite word?

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and a smooth road all the way to your door.
~ Irish Blessing

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And the last shall be first

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 8:46 am (Writing by Ear)
Tags: ,

I got up the gumption last night to attend a new yoga class, since my regular class is on hiatus until January. I had never been to our local Y before, and was surprised when someone from my regular class told me I could take classes at the Y without being a member. It’s a bustling place (tons of kids and tweens), and I managed to buy my pass and make my way through the circuitous route to the aerobics room where yoga would be held (down the hall, down the stairs, through the women’s locker room [with a keycode lock I couldn’t open], and there you are).

I was about 10 minutes early, and 3 or 4 people were already there. So I found a spot out of the way (didn’t want to take anyone’s “favorite” spot; funny how you always have one) and started warming up. Then more and more people filed in, 8, 10, 12, probably 15 or more by the time class started (and even after it did) in a very small room. As more and more people arrived and everyone squeezed in, I, who was 10 minutes early, ended up in a very awkward spot, diagonally in the corner, next to the exercise bikes.

Now, I know yoga is all about love and light and calm and rejuvenation, but as I was living in the moment, I was pretty darn annoyed that the latecomers were rewarded with a better spot than my ever-prepared, almost-always-early, non-disruptive self.

But hey, what did I expect for a $4.00 class? I got a good workout (it’s faster paced and less meditative and instructive than my regular class), so I can’t complain. Because they let anyone (like me) drop in, they never know how many people to expect, and I’m sure class space is hard to come by.

But still. Don’t you hate it when you’ve carefully chosen your seat at the movies or an auditorium, and then someone rushes in at the last minute and expects you to make room? Sure, it’s what nice people do, and if you’re the late one, you’re grateful when they do. But there oughta be a rule: Nobody sit in these 2 (undesirable) rows, and anyone coming in 2 minutes before or anytime after a production starts has to sit there. No fuss, there’s always a seat available, and nobody gets displaced who shouldn’t have to be.

Remind me to make that happen when I rule the world.

In the meantime…Oooooommmmm. Namaste. Have a nice day.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
~ Anonymous

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