Another Random Hate-Worthy Pet Peeve

The word 'verbage'.  I heard it today at work.  It really set me off.  It should never be used.  In general.  EVER.

Why?   Why not just say 'wording'.  Or 'words'.  I cannot think of any time either of these are not an acceptable choice.

This word just reeks of 'corporate speak' (see aslo: touch base).  It just sounds stuffy.  Intellectual wannabe-esque.  Every time I hear it, I want to counteract it with something highly undignified, such as 'DUDE' (which I find more socially acceptable).

Anyone else HATE the word verbage?  Anyone willing to voluntarily admit he/she uses it?

Jaime's Second "Word of the Day" Since the Inception of this Blog Over a Year Ago

Outlandish.


out⋅land⋅ish  [out-lan-dish]
–adjective
1. freakishly or grotesquely strange or odd, as appearance, dress, objects, ideas, or practices; bizarre: outlandish clothes; outlandish questions.
2. having a foreign appearance.
3. remote from civilized areas; out-of the-way: an outlandish settlement.
4. Archaic. foreign; alien.


Basically it means peculiar, or out there (well, at least that's what I use it for). I don't know why, but I love love love it. It's my favorite word for this general meaning. I think it's partially because there's a facebook group category entitled 'Just for Fun - Outlandish Statements'. I often make outlandish statements. I love outlandish things. This blog is outlandish at times.

Holy Dance Clothes, Batman!

Ok, I suppose this post is only going to be appreciated by my fellow dancers. I am not sure how many read the blog. I'm guessing somewhere around 2. At best.

However. Anyone ever notice that these days, some people wear the strangest things to dance class!?!?

I normally go for the leotard and black dance pants. I understand maybe not everyone owns or likes clothes specific for dance, so really, anything in the sports bra & t-shirt or some kind of exercise-looking top and some form of loose-fitting pants would make sense to me.

However, I keep looking around and I happen to see the strangest things...such as one legwarmer. On multiple people. Does one leg get colder than the other? I could see if it was going over a knee-brace or something like that, but sometimes these people take the legwarmer off (the heat disparity between legs must disappear or something) and there's nothing there. I can't see a legwarmer providing support INSTEAD of a knee brace, so I'm thinking there must a be a reason to actively warm one leg more than another.

That, or really crappy old clothes (schmata, if you will) - layers and layers of them! Now, don't get me wrong - I wear old college and high school t-shirts for workouts, but I'm talking stuff that the homeless would turn their noses up at if they pulled them out of a trash bin. This would sound snobby, if it weren't that these same individuals adorned in crap also have Ugg boots on their feet and coach bags on their shoulders. This look is obviously by choice and an attempt to make a statement - but I'm not sure what this statement is supposed to be. ("I like to give my fellow dancers the illusion that my life is falling apart" or "Maybe if I look homeless I won't have to pay for class". )

Anyhow. I seem to notice, week after week, that me and my dance class buddies seem to stand out for traditional garb. But you know what, that's ok. Thoughts?

Jaime's Word of the Day

Tchotchke

tchotchke \CHOCH-kuh\, noun:A trinket; a knickknack.

I have heard and used this word many times. However, I have always spelled it 'chachkie'. I had NO idea of this spelling. This is a spelling bee winner, ladies and gents. Despite being a blogger, I don't often get excited about words - in fact, I don't really EVER get excited about words. However, today has been an exception to the rule! I am going to start using this word ALL THE TIME!

(How did I find out about this correct spelling, you ask? Cosmopolitan magazine, baby! And you thought they were only good for new sex positions....)