Posted by Sylvia_FL on 7/22/04 6:39pm
Msg #4824

For His Esteemed Hughness:) (and Brenda)

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN. . .

..the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
..the trees are whistling for the dogs.
..the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
..hot water now comes out of both taps.
..you can make sun tea instantly.
..you learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
..the temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
..you discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.
..you discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
..you actually burn your hand opening the car door.
..you break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
..your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and
end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
..you realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
..the potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one
out and add butter, salt and pepper.
..farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from
laying boiled eggs.
..the cows are giving evaporated milk.

Reply by HisHughness on 7/22/04 8:26pm
Msg #4840

Sylvia_Fl chortled:

"YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN. . .

..the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
..the trees are whistling for the dogs.
..the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
..hot water now comes out of both taps.
..you can make sun tea instantly.
..you learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
..the temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
..you discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.
..you discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
..you actually burn your hand opening the car door.
..you break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
..your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and
end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
..you realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
..the potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one
out and add butter, salt and pepper.
..farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from
laying boiled eggs.
..the cows are giving evaporated milk."

Sylvia, you just described a Texas cold front. When it's really hot here, you'll see the rattlesnakes at Terlingua drinking molten lead cocktails to cool off.

Reply by Becca_FL on 7/22/04 9:27pm
Msg #4844

Thank you His Hughness, my word for the day...

chor·tle ( P ) Pronunciation Key (chôrtl)
n.
A snorting, joyful laugh or chuckle.

intr. & tr.v. chor·tled, chor·tling, chor·tles
To utter a chortle or express with a chortle.


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[Blend of chuckle, and snort.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
chortler n.
Word History: “‘O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’ He chortled in his joy.” Perhaps Lewis Carroll would chortle a bit himself to find that people are still using the word chortle, which he coined in Through the Looking-Glass, published in 1872. In any case, Carroll had constructed his word well, combining the words chuckle and snort. This type of word is called a blend or a portmanteau word. In Through the Looking-Glass Humpty Dumpty uses portmanteau to describe the word slithy, saying, “It's like a portmanteauthere are two meanings packed up into one word” (the meanings being “lithe” and “slimy”).

Reply by HisHughness on 7/22/04 11:01pm
Msg #4849

Re: Thank you His Hughness, my word for the day...

Becca_Fl gleefully elucidated:

chor·tle ( P ) Pronunciation Key (chôrtl)
n.
A snorting, joyful laugh or chuckle.

intr. & tr.v. chor·tled, chor·tling, chor·tles
To utter a chortle or express with a chortle.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Blend of chuckle, and snort.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
chortler n.
Word History: “‘O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’ He chortled in his joy.” Perhaps Lewis Carroll would chortle a bit himself to find that people are still using the word chortle, which he coined in Through the Looking-Glass, published in 1872. In any case, Carroll had constructed his word well, combining the words chuckle and snort. This type of word is called a blend or a portmanteau word. In Through the Looking-Glass Humpty Dumpty uses portmanteau to describe the word slithy, saying, “It's like a portmanteauthere are two meanings packed up into one word” (the meanings being “lithe” and “slimy”).

The things I learn on this forum. And some of them are even true. Another well-known portmanteau word is "bitch," combining "beautiful" and "itch." My favorite, though, is "tush," a union of "tuber, a fleshy swelling," and "Sheesh!" as in "Sheesh! Did you get a load of that?"