February 24, 2008

Idiosyncrasies


Everybody has quirks and I am no exception. One of my quirks has to do with numbers. I stick gender on them.

In English we don't assign gender to nouns, such as el gato (Spanish, "the cat " —masculine) or tο πνευμα (Greek, "the spirit" —neuter). We also don't assign gender to numbers. However, in my mind they are masculine or feminine. I don't know why but here's how it generally breaks down into my mind:

MASCULINE
1,2,5,7,9

NEUTER
3,4,6,8

For the most part odd numbers in 1-9 are masculine and even numbers are feminine. Oddly, too, the numbers compete together like some numerical battle of the sexes. Being a male I cheer for the odd ones to prevail. (Yeah, it's weird. Don't ask me to explain it, either!)

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By Larry McCallister 0 comment(s) Links

February 20, 2008

The REAL Virginia


West Virginia is a state.

I thought I should clear that up. It may surprise you but I don't think everyone in the United States realizes this fact. As I traveled around the country in the summer of 1991 some folks seemed confused. No, I'm not from western Virginia. I'm a native son of West Virginia. Don't insult me.

It is a bit strange, historically speaking, to be a West Virginian. I feel as if our history doesn't begin until June 20, 1863 when we seceded from the then seceded Confederate Virginia during the Civil War and entered the Union by permission of Congress and President Lincoln. Actually, that isn't true. We are part of the original 13 colonies that comprise the founding of this nation. Our history is Virginia's history until we split away from them and re-entered the Union. Still, there is a disconnect between the Mountain State's history pre and post 1863. It's unfortunate.

However, back to my blog and my "teaser" headline. I believe West Virginia is the real Virginia. After all, we were the first people back in. Virginia was in rebellion to the United States and we said, "We're gonna take our mountains away from you and give 'em back to the USA." I, personally, believe our name should be Virginia and their name, upon admittance to the Union, should be "East Virginia".

I could see where that may have caused a sticking point in the minds of eastern Virginians. At the very least, however, I believe we should be known as West Virginia and East Virginia.

Because we Mountaineers...the real Virginians...are second to no one.

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February 15, 2008

Gas Station Blues

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February 11, 2008

Simple Things


If you are like me, you enjoy the simple pleasures of life. It's the little things that can facilitate moments of happiness in your day. These pleasures don't have to be expensive to enjoy; in fact, some of these wonderful delights are not for sale. I've listed a few of my beloved simple things:

a new razor used for the first time
a new bar of soap, just out of the protective box, that still bears the crisp engraved logo
the sound of a purring kitty
a sleeping dog with his chin lazily resting on the ground
the smell of kerosene when a heater has just been lit
the peaceful quietness of a room during the afternoon with nothing but sunlight and ambient noise
the lulling drone of an air purifier that drowns out the noise of the world, enabling slumber
the touch of cool marble on the fingertips
the invigorating breeze of air during a heat-drenched day
the aroma of cedar in a log cabin
the crackle of a fireplace in a log cabin
the call of a quail in the countryside at morning
the prism of colors crashing into a church from the sunlight hitting a stained-glass window
the rolling waves of an ocean surging against a shoreline
the satisfying "sssst!" of a cola can being opened
the mist of a waterfall on a summer day in a forest
the comfy feeling of lounging around after a shower at the end of a busy day
What are some of your simple pleasures?


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