The Scribbly One

One friend calls them “deal-breakers”. Another calls them “non-negotiables”. Yet another refers to them as “must-haves”. And a fourth dubs them “DNA”.

DNA??

“The most necessary, basic ingredients,” she explained. Ahhh.

When it comes to relationships, every person has his or her own deal-breakers, non-negotiables, must-haves, and DNA - things you absolutely cannot live with, or things you consider essential for a relationship to thrive. I’ve just learnt more about mine.

On one hand, I laud him for being unashamedly honest, and on the other, I feel sorry for him because his honest admission is what earned him my “no”.

This came through email:
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich!

From the latest issue of The Word Detective:

Dear Word Detective: Years ago I used a word that means a person who gives unwanted advice. I cannot, for the life of me, remember that word! Do you know? If so, I would like it back, please. — Randy

I feel your pain. There really ought to be an Office of Lost Words one could call in predicaments such as yours, those times when we know the perfect word exists and have even used it in the past, but, upon summoning it again, find that the little scamp has skittered down one of the rabbit holes of the mind, leaving us in the lurch. Perversely, the very aptness of the word often seems to make it especially elusive, and, while the lost word is rarely exotic, pawing through a dictionary or thesaurus almost never produces the fugitive. The upshot is intense frustration tinged with the suspicion that one’s brain is going mushy. Speaking of neurology, I know a person who claims that looking down and slightly to the left helps her remember such things. I’d give her method a try, but I’m afraid that if it worked it would mean that my head is not properly attached, which would be far more depressing than misplacing one little word.

I think I’m in love. Yes, again. It is positively criminal to be able to write like that. Such talent should be outlawed.

Back to Poor Randy and the Lost Word: According to treasure hunter Evan Morris, the lost word was kibitz, which, he helpfully adds, “rhymes with lib hits”.

Wonderful site - random people talking about their favourite word and why it is their favourite. Reminds me why I love words so much. How could I ever pick a favourite?

However, there are at least three words I hate, simply because they are so difficult to spell: manoeuvre, diarrhoea, and mischievous.

…is when you take an hour to arrive at the office and think, “That’s not bad.”

Yesterday I was ill, and when I am ill I have a tendency to be whiny. I pitied myself because I had no one to accompany me to the doctor’s - no boyfriend, in particular.

My thoughts flew to a certain someone I know who is soon to be married. She is the most negative person I know and loves to complain about anything and everything; she is demanding and self-centred; she is manipulative and skilled at using emotional blackmail to make others do what she wants.

And yet, someone wants to marry her, while I am still single and available. What is wrong with the world?!

No, I am not very charitable when I am ill. And of course she has other sterling qualities - she is frugal, more organised than I ever will be, a splendid cook, and fiercely loyal to those she considers her friends.

Frankly, though, I resent her loyalty to me because it cages me and places me under obligation to her. I cannot very well be nasty to her or ignore her when she is killing me with kindness. Unfortunately, the rest of the time she is also driving me crazy with unreasonable demands and constant complaints.

I just can’t win.