A Pound of Thoughts

One of my hobbies is learning not only about new (or old) languages, but learning how to read, speak, and listen to them.  I started Icelandic a while back, but stopped for a few months.  Now I’m starting over, trying to really be diligent at it and learn it thoroughly….Here’s a couple of sentences in Icelandic, with the translation:

 Ég heiti Eiríkur.  Ég er frá Bandaríkjunum.  Tala ensku og svolitla íslensku og spænsku.

My name is Eric.  I am from the United States.  I speak English and a little Icelandic and Spanish.

I will post more later as I learn more.   Right now I’m learning how to describe people and about full names in Icelandic!

chortle \CHOR-tl\, transitive and intransitive verb:
1. To utter, or express with, a snorting, exultant laugh or chuckle.

noun:
1. A snorting, exultant laugh or chuckle.

Origin:

Chortle a combination of chuckle and snort. It was coined by Lewis Carroll (Charles L. Dodgson), in Through the Looking-Glass, published in 1872.

Example Sentence:

A nation that was used to chortling over Charlie Chaplin or rejoicing with the high-stepping Ziegfeld girls found itself drawn to this more refined, decidedly European entertainment.
– Larry Tye, The Father of Spin

Source:  Dictionary.com

Some day, in the years to come, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real struggle is here, now . . . Now it is being decided whether, in the day of your supreme sorrow or temptation, you shall miserably fail or gloriously conquer. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long continued process.

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), American Episcopal clergyman, renowned as a preacher.

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?

George Eliot (1819-1880), novelist

1. Pessimistic or optimistic person? Explain.  Well, I consider myself leaning more towards the optimistic side, but I do find myself every once in a while being pessimistic.  There are some things, I’ve found, that you can’t help but be pessimistic about, like the latest Amnes-er, “Immigration Reform” bill.
2. Stubborn or docile person? Explain.  Most of the time, I’m docile.  But if you get me mad or if there’s something I truly believe in, I become really, really stubborn.  I used to be more of a stubborn person, but my wife is straightening me out (it’s slowly taking, but all the more surely).
3. Annoying or agreeable person? Explain.  I think I’m pretty agreeable.  I hope I’m not annoying!  (Although I do have a tendency to get on my wife’s nerves sometimes by being stupid!)
4. Cautious or impetuous person? Explain.  This one’s easy.  I’m a cautious person.  I never really do anything impetuous.
5. Generous or stingy person? Explain.  I prefer the word “frugal”. :)  J/K  I’m pretty generous - most of the time - except when we’re in a “bill crunch”.  Then I get stingy. 

delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\, noun:
Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.

Origin:  Delectation derives from Latin delectatio, from the past participle of delectare, “to please.”

Example Sentence:  At other times she’ll get so worked up by some pet poeticism that she forgets she’s not writing just for her own delectation.
– David Klinghoffer, “Black madonna”, National Review, February 9, 1998

Source: Dictionary.com

Have patience awhile; slanders are not long-lived. Truth is the child of time; erelong she shall appear to vindicate thee.

Immanuel Kant
German philosopher (1724 - 1804)

Okay…Newscoma has tagged me for a food meme.  Now she says she lives in Hooterville, but, I don’t think any place could resemble Hooterville any more than LuceVegas!  Okay, here it is…

1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country you’re in.

Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)
miss kendra (los angeles, california, u.s.a)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA! USA! USA!)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Joe (NE Tennessee, USA)
10K Monkeys (Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA)
Big Stupid Tommy (Athens, Tennessee, USA)
Newscoma (Weakley County, Tennessee, USA)

And me!

Eric (George County, Mississippi, USA)

2. List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location.

Okay…Here’s my favorite grub-pubs:

 1.  Rocky Creek Catfish Cottage:  Dubbed “The Catfish House” by locals, it’s the best place within a 50-mile radius to get all-you-can eat catfish.  (You do know that Mississippi is the catfish capital of the world, don’t ya?)  You can choose either whole or fillet, and there are plenty of other things on the menu if you’re not feeling up to eating catfish - like shrimp, grilled fish, salads, hamburger steak, just to name a few.  It’s only open on Thursdays-Saturdays, and between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. there’s at least an hour-and-a-half wait.  But no matter!  Once you get in, you get stuffed!

2.  Catfish Point:  Now this restaurant isn’t in George County, but it’s only a ten-minute drive from my house.  And yes, they serve catfish too!  But they also have gumbo, a blooming onion for an appetizer, and a catfish platter that will make you wanna slap yo’ mamma!  Oh, and they have a live bluegrass band every Friday night!

3.  Aunt Jenny’s Country Buffet:  This restaurant serves southern cookin’ like you’ve never had it before - on a buffet!  Fried chicken, grilled chicken, turkey and dressin’, mashed taters, mac and cheese, turnip greens, salads, and bread pudding and/or peach cobbler for dessert!  You’ll never leave here less than stuffed…In fact, they’ll have to roll you out you’ll get so full!  It’d be my no. 1 if I didn’t like seafood so much!

4.  Hokie’s BBQ and Grill: Some of the best beef brisket you’ll ever put in your mouth.  I absolutely love their baked beans, too…a very unique recipe.  And they’re fast!  You’ll get your food within 5-10 minutes after ordering.  They already have everything prepared for you, and it’s always fresh!   Wonderful, wonderful BBQ!

5.  Ranchos Los Fuentes:  Wonderful Mexican food…Big portions, and excellent chimichangas and quesadillas!  Reasonably priced as well.  I think it’s around $20 for me and the wife, including drinks and all.  Of course, we always get the queso to go with our chips!

Oh well, there ya go!  Wow, I was able to keep it local!

For my tag, I guess I’ll choose Kat over at Just Another Pretty Farce, Jo at Jo’s Cafe, Basil, and Slarti at Shoot the Moose.  As Newscoma said, to meme or not to meme is strictly up to y’all!  Have fun!

Ooh….This is a tough one.  But, I’ll give it a go:

1.  Hotel California - The Eagles

2.  El Paso - Marty Robbins

3.  Watch the Lamb - Ray Boltz

4.  Jesus Has Risen - The Cathedrals

5.  I’m Movin’ On - Rascal Flatts

6.  I Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley

7.  One More Day - Diamond Rio

There are numerous, numerous runners-up.  In fact, way too many to name here!  These are the ones, though, that have made an impression on me.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Dr. Seuss
US author & illustrator (1904 - 1991)