To coin a phrase…

In college I took a Shakespeare course taught by Wilfred Brimley’s evil twin. My nickname for him was “Pompous Windbag.” One of my favorite pastimes in his class was to work on the rough draft of my review of the course. One can only imagine what he thought when, as an afterthought to the final exam, he handed out the review form and I took out six pages of notes with which to respond. I really should have kept a copy of that review; given the amount of time I devoted to writing and revising it, it was probably the best thing I’ve ever written.

I wax nostalgic because I recently watched the Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons. It reminded me of arguments we had in class of Shylock as a sympathetic Jewish character in Shakespeare’s anti-Semitic times. The essay in the following link expresses my views better than I do-- www.novelguide.com/merchantofvenice/themeanalysis.html.

As a linguistics buff, I’m ashamed to say I had forgotten how many words and phrases Shakespeare coined. Here are a couple expressions out of MOV: All that glitters is not gold…; if you prick us, do we not bleed?; love is blind; a pound of flesh; bated breath; truth will out; the devil can site scripture for his purpose.

There’s some debate on whether Shakespeare invented all of these or was just the first to popularize phases already being spoken. He did change the usage of many existing words by changing nouns to verbs (torture, blushing, laced) ; he changed meanings by adding prefixes and suffixes or combining words (bedazzle, sanctimonious, birthplace, well-bred)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/04/0419_040419_shakespeare.html
(Note to any siblings or husbands reading this-- any of the books mentioned in the National Geographic article would make a good birthday present...)

To give my review of Prof. Windbag’s course a couple more minutes of consideration, I wish I had incorporated some phrases that Shakespeare created. My review would have then served the dual purpose of criticizing our university’s Polonius while praising the real instructor of the course.

Catherine had a girl!!!

Hannah Catherine 7 1/2lbs, 19 inches. August 16th around* 8:30am. (*Quote from John, "we weren't watching the clock; we we're a little busy!)

Need a job?

How about working for the White House? Check out the link below under "careers." Be sure to check out "The Department of Faith" and "Just for Kids," too.

http://www.whitehouse.org/index.asp

Oh Baby!

Babies! I had a couple and now everybody’s doing it! This year friends and family have brought 7 new people into the world. Tuesday there will be one more.

March: Twins Gwinneth and Cooper
April: Joyanna
May: Christopher
June: Lauren
July: Emma
August: Chloe and player to be named later

I thought it appropriate that my sister would send me this article about what babies are really thinking. She was sure to include a disclaimer that she read the article for the science and not for the adorable babies. She does not want to be mistaken for someone who hosts anything other than a scientific interest in human offspring. Needless to say she did not produce any of the cherubs named above.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8852928/site/newsweek/?nav=slate

I, on the other hand, really dig the science and the cute babies! Watch the comments for the name and stats on baby #8!

P.S. Parents of the babies listed above-- I would love for you to comment and attach a picture (preferably including the baby).