Twenty-three skiddoo!
October 13, 2006When Maggie first told me about her book, No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog, I thought, that’s going to be a great resource--for someone else. For the lame-o who can’t come up with a single topic to post about. Not to put those losers down! But such a book—wonderful as it would undoubtedly be—would nonetheless not be of use to myself, the greatest creative mind of the 21st century.
As in most things, I have been proven wrong. It’s a goldmine of inspiration even for the veteran blogger who thinks she knows her way around these parts. In fact it may be even more useful for such a person, who might be feeling a tad blocked these days, who may be thinking, “I’ve been writing this damn thing for two and a half years and I’ve covered every topic under the sun. I DESERVE TO TELL THEM ABOUT MY LUNCH.”
(Leftover shepherd’s pie and a Fun-Sized Twix bar. See? Haven’t you gained something from knowing that?)
The topic I’ve chosen from Maggie’s book is #14, “Watch Your Language,” in which I am to list some archaic words or phrases I wish would come back into popular use. I have many of these, as I find living in the present highly distasteful. Here are a few:
Vo- dee-oh-do. Sometimes “Vo-dee-oh-do-do.” Either way, it’s a winner. This was used to great effect in the Little Rascals to describe some colorful and suspicious individuals. “They were a couple of vo-dee-oh-dos.” According to Google it was also used in "Laverne and Shirley" as a euphemism for sex, but no one wants to imagine either Laverne or Shirley in that way, so let’s go with the former useage.
Jackanapes and cock of the walk. Preferably used together. “He thinks he’s a real cock of the walk, but I say he’s nothing but a jackanapes.”
Conniptions. No one talks about anyone having conniptions anymore. That’s a shame. I myself make it a habit of having a conniption at least once a day, just to give someone the opportunity to use this glorious word.
…see? I believe everyone should end every statement with “see?” It’ll make you sound like a character in Double Indemnity. At the very least, you’ll sound like my Grandpa. Either way I will love you.
What olde-timey words or phrases would you like to come back? Place your requests here!
Reader Comments (178)
High fives!
Mine is "Swell." But only if used without irony.
Swell!
And I say, "Just dandy!"(without irony as per kyran, above) when responding to questions about my state of being. i.e., "How are you, Jon?" "Just dandy, thanks!"
And I have conniptions ALL THE TIME.
Apparently I was born in the wrong century.
Oh, how I'd love to hear my 4-year-old daughter say these words: "Pee in the toilet?--that's cinchy!"
Instead, there's been a lot of lollygagging in that department.
"Zounds!" is just silly, though.
But my favorite of late is "For cryin' in a milk bucket!"
Except that in the interview regarding said book, Maggie pimped your blog! (Alas, it was an answer to the question, "What's the best blog that nobody reads?")