Thursday 26 March 2009

I Do What I Do

There are some phrases in other languages that English has adopted, and people don’t realize that they originated somewhere other than English. There are others that we’re acutely aware came from another language. Having studied Latin, I tend to notice both types of these, and think about what they mean in English compared to what they mean in Latin.

One of these phrases—one that never fails to entertain me—is Modus Operandi. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, it means “method of operation.” You might have heard it shortened to M.O. Taking this a step further, that means that in the ancient Roman empire, there was a way to say “That’s how I roll.” Keep that in mind next time someone recites Latin to seem intelligent.

Thursday 19 March 2009

Tick Tock

Sometimes you’re sitting, talking with people, and you realize something isn’t quite right. One person might say something, and the mood of the entire room just changes. Sometimes things darken, smiles fall away from faces, and you’re left thinking “What just happened?” It’s not that people are angry, or depressed, the conversation isn’t a loss. It just takes a while for people to start laughing again, because it’s almost like they forgot that they could do that. I always wonder how often that happens and I don’t realize it, I just miss the moment entirely. More importantly, how many times do I perceive those moments when they haven’t happened? How often do we have days or weeks like this, where we feel like some aspect of life is uplifting or draining us without rhyme or reason? The sun is good at that. When it’s here, people are generally happier, and when it’s gone, we tend to be more fragile. We always have to comment on it, too.

Mood and conversation are two topics that I find myself thinking about a lot. Consequently, I talk and write about relatively often. They’re both outward representation of thought, which is what the title of this blog is really about. Samuel Johnson said, “Language is the dress of thought.” I don’t entirely agree with that statement, but it does represent a part of my own internal reality. That’s what this blog itself is about: the things that are real to me.

Tuesday 17 March 2009

A recent switch

A good friend of mine, Dan, has claimed that he uses his weblog as an introspective tool. Sure, people read it, but that’s not the purpose. This is my first post on this site, after a brief time blogging on Meet the Phlockers. I felt that it was time to change sites, not for any conscious reason, but rather because it just felt right. I’m not going to question that sort of urge, because I know that it really doesn’t make a difference. This is just a minor change that I’ll adjust to.

It’s Saint Patrick’s day. Slainte mhath. It’s just spring enough that people are starting to beat back the lower mammalian instincts that say it’s time to pair off. People around me get frustrated at this time every year. I don’t understand it. This is when the world is finally warming up enough that you can walk outside without fearing death from the cold. The sun has returned. The world knows it. The birds are louder. Rodents are peeking out. Even the grass has decided it’s okay to show up again. What is there to be unhappy about? I don’t have answers. I don’t particularly want answers, I probably wouldn’t like them. But I have plenty of questions. Maybe there’s nothing to be unhappy about. I could be right.