Sunday, September 30, 2007

This n that

Good Sunday morning to you. Last week, one of my students said, "Happy Monday," and I snorted and said, "That's an oxymoron!" Then I had to explain what that meant even though it's the same word in French. They finally got it when I explained, "You know it's like saying a kind asshole, or a fat anorexic." It's not quite the same as redundant phrases such as "free gift" or "unexpected surprise", though both are frowned upon in writing.

Yesterday, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at our friend Dan's house. He made cassoulet. It was delicious. Afterward, we were sitting around and I asked, "Is everything already formed when it comes out, or is it more like a pastry bag effect down there?" Dan felt that everything is previously formed, while Serge felt that at times it's more like a pastry bag. We agreed that the worst is when there's air caught in the pastry bag. That always complicates things.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

An oxymoron is Military Intelligence!
The pastry bag controversy may never be decided.
Enjoying the Rainbow picture. Why are there so many songs about Rainbows and what's on the other side?

Cooper said...

I will never think of a pastry bag in quite the same way again.

Sunshine said...

Or the tautological "end result"... I wish people would just stop saying that. :P

Anonymous said...

Me pastry bag, Eduardo outraged at the very thought of discussing it.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I'm bothering to comment on this, let alone that I've given it any thought, but I think it's a combination of both. Based on observations, that is.

Chunks said...

Now Ed has me singing Rainbow Connection and that damn song ALWAYS makes me cry!

Alden said...

I think it probably depends on what the ingredients are to begin with.

Snooze said...

It took me a while to even figure out what the last paragraph was about. Bleh.

TJ said...

At least you waited until after dinner to discuss making pastry.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Chunks, I don't want to make you cry. "Someday will find it, the Rainbow connection, the Lover, the Dreamer and me!"

Anonymous said...

Already formed.

At least that's what I think.

Joel said...

I was JUST explaining oxymoron to my daughter today. I made a statement and she said is that a metaphor? I said, No, Oxymoron...she said...yea THAT's the word. I used the example "Jumbo Shrimp" to further explain my point of what it was.

Paul said...

You know, sometimes when you think it's just air, but it's not ... I hate that.

Anonymous said...

Delicious cassoulet. Now there's an oxymoron!

Patricia said...

uhhhh, in my opinion, errr... oh look, pretty rainbow!

Anonymous said...

Having recently had to make sure keys swallowed by my daughter had actually exited her body, I can tell you that everything is already formed. Think of it as little pellets formed after every meal,squishing against the earlier ones.