for the New Year

It might be helpful to face this very frightening new year with some humor. Words can be hurtful, depressing, sad, or they can lift our spirits. I've chuckled over these as I paged through Alphabet Juice by Roy Blount, Jr.

From Samuel Goldwyn:

"Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined."

"My wife's hands are very beautiful. I'm going to have a bust made of them."

"A verbal agreement is not worth the paper it's printed on."

These are folksy figures of speech:

"I feel like a hog starin' at a wristwatch."

"So ugly he looks like a homemade child."

"A wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse."

"Quiet as a mosquito doing push-ups on a lemon meringue pie."

Blount's book isn't actually a book of jokes but an analysis of the ways language is used so I almost felt guilty picking these out. It is mostly light and entertaining and well worth a read.

That's not a bad way to escape the worries that are a'coming. Surely we all wish our new President wisdom, strength and ways to bring about peace in 2009. And those are good wishes for us all.

The 2B Prez

I know, I know - we only have one president at a time. Mr. Obama has said that repeatedly, and that's wise, it not only cuts out criticism by those who might charge that he is infringing on the current administration as necessary appointments and preparations continue for noon on January 20 and after. Emphasizing the only-one-president-at-a-time theme also keeps responsibility on the current president and his team.

It's a small point perhaps but I'm getting tired of seeing and hearing those discussing the new president as President-elect Obama. Occasionally one of them slips, as Chuck Todd did this morning on MSNBC, and refers to President Obama. Todd quickly caught his error and corrected it. You hear it over and over, President-elect Obama, Very awkward, and just doesn't sound right. I have a solution. Why not shorten this mouthful to 'The 2B Prez', or even '2BPrez'?

"2BPrez Obama today appointed former gas station owner, Myron Fizzle, as Secretary of Hybrid Fuels." "The 2BPrez will throw out the first puck at the Lowell, MA junior hockey tournament." "2BPrez and Mrs. Obama were seen with their children dining out Monday in Chicago."

Simpler way of putting it, I think. It just may catch on.