On Breaking a Promise For the Sake of Trivia

In which the hidden mysteries of a common expression are revealed, and minds may be blown.

So I know I promised to write about Capri Sun this week, unfortunately it is going to have to wait for a least another two weeks.  Sorry.

Yesterday, at work, I was out on the football field with one of the gym teachers.  We were watching our students run a half mile because they were being obnoxious.  During the course of our conversation he used a common idiom and we talked about where it found its origins.  I remember finding it a fascinating bit of history, however I can no longer remember what the phrase was, or what the history of said phrase was.  The experience was almost entirely stripped from my memory by the what followed.

The teacher asked me if I knew the meaning behind the saying, “Near but it ain’t aplomb¹.”

I told him that I could guess given that I knew what aplomb meant².

He asked me if I knew how you measured to see if something was aplomb.  I told him with a plomb-bob.  He then asked me if I knew why they were called plomb-bobs.  I told him I didn’t.

Traditionally, plomb-bobs were made by hanging pieces of lead from a string.  You let it hang straight down and you can tell if whatever you are making is straight up and down.  Now if you remember back to your last chemistry class the atomic symbol of lead is Pb.  The reason for this?  In Latin lead is called “plumbum.”  Thus the plumb-bob.  During the height of the Roman empire plumbum was all the rage.  It was very malleable, relatively easy to extract and refine from ore³, and most importantly it didn’t rust.  So when the Romans went about creating a system of pipes with which to deliver water to their cities lead was an obvious choice.

Unfortunately, for the Romans, they were unaware of a little thing called lead poisoning.  Some scholars theorize that the fall of the Roman Empire may have been hastened, if not caused, by lead poisoning.

But none of this was really all that mind blowing.  Here is what got me.  The original sewage pipes were created out of plumbum, and what do we call people who work on our pipes today? 

Plummers.  Ka-boom.
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¹ This isn’t the exact phrase he said, but I know I had never heard it before.
² It traditionally means that something is straight up and down.
³ Plus, add some sheep and wheat and you got your self a D-card.

On the Great Columbus Trip Day Three

In which we find: food, vindication and a special guest star.

Slept in later than I thought. Which I mean in the most literal way possible. I moved the clock in the guest room ahead an hour due to last week's time change. At some point last night it jumped back in time an hour. So I woke up thinking it was 8:30 when in actuality it was 9:30. I was alright with it.

For breakfast we whipped up some toast, bacon and scrambled eggs¹.

The Settlers losing streak finally came to a crashing halt with three wins in a row (over the last two days).

Seth and I played disc golf at the course near OSU's campus. There were four high points. Firstly, I dominated Seth, it wasn't even close. Secondly, there was a cricket game going on when we arrived, which is always a scene. Thirdly, there was a family of three that we got stuck behind not once but twice. We played through on a hole² and they skipped a couple of holes so we got stuck behind them again. Lastly, I got a Young Life camp hole in one³.

We watched Up In the Air, which was a phenomenal movie. I would say that it is right up there with Up for my favorite movie of the year. Also, this guy was there.

See you back in Bloomington!
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¹ First meal that I didn't help make, it was exciting.
² Playing though is when slower people let you pass by. The mom didn't know this, apparently, and seemed very put off when we asked.
³ That is when you hit the post under the basket.

On the Great Columbus Trip Day One

In which we chronicle events from the first day in Columbus.

So I finally made the trip to Ohio that I promised Seth for his birthday so instead of one post talking about the whole trip there will be a post for each day I am here highlighting the peak moments.  This is day one:

Got to Columbus at 3 pm, Seth suggested that I meet him and Julie at Kroger.  He showed up at 4.  Then his debit card didn't work so I bought their groceries...what a dead beat¹.

When we got the their house (which is pretty sweet) Seth and Julie both got on their computers.

Then we made dinner, which is to say that I made dinner, Seth sat on the couch.  Then my Settlers losing streak continued for two games².

So far this trip has lived up to expectations³.
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¹ They owe me $61.
² Even though a won a game earlier in the week it was against Colby and Huck so I'm not counting it.  I don't know what I did to anger the Setters gods, but they are pissed.
³ All joking aside I'm glad to be here...as long as I get my money back.

On Scramping

In which we make an indelible mark on the English language.

Scramp
\ˈskramp\
Function: verb
Etymology: Modern English; originated by the Guff
Date: 21st Century
1: To purposely foil someone's plans or schemes.
2: To place someone in an untenable position (as it related to the Settlers of Catan).
3: To screw someone over.
- scramper \ˈskram-pər\

Synonyms: scrimp, shrimp, scrimp-scramp, shramp, shrimp-shramp
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It is impossible to spend any time with Will, Colleen, Kevin, Carrie, Tim or I and not here the word 'scramp.' It is our own personal addition to the English language, and we use it, a lot. I think the greatest thing about the word is it's versatility. You can scramp, and thus be a scramper. You can be scramped, and thus be scramped upon. You can be scramped by a person or a situtation. You can scramp a person or an object. It's quite fun. Check this out:

"That scrimp-scramper shramped the last shrimp, I've been scramped upon."

The terminology is seeping into the lexicon of our settlers games, even to those who don't normally join us in shrimping have a tendency to deride any shramping that occurs.. Hopefully the use of scrimps will continue to proliferate throughout the ages. Don't be surprised if one day your kid has to spell "shramp-nar" on a spelling test.

Feel free to try it out in your daily life. Next time you feel like you've been scramped let those shrimp-shramps know it. It will make you feel better, I promise.

Shrimp'in ain't easy.

On My Jams

In which more is learned about the illustrious author, a phrase is appropriated, and a sister is most likely infuriated.

A few weeks ago, while on vacation with my family, my sister and I were talking about something. I don't remember what it was, but during the course of the conversation I remarked that something "was my jam." My sister said, "what, you can't use that phrase like that." To which I responded that I could use it how I wanted, she remained intransigent claiming that it was clearly in reference liking a song, or "jam."

This conversation was echoing in my head as I planned out what I was going write about next (yes I do think about what I'm going to write before I write it, usually) and I decided that I could kill two birds with one stone. I have neglected to talk much about myself in this blog, so I figured I could educate you all, as well as make my mark on the meaning of the phrase "that's my jam." As an added bonus I just might enrage my sister.

So without further ado, here are my jams.

1. I will not deny that the phrase "my jam" was originally meant for songs, so lets start there. My musical taste is...odd, to say the least. I go in waves as far as what I enjoy listening to. Recently I have been listening Mos Def's latest CD The Ecstatic. Most people know Mos Def as an actor however, he is also quite the accomplished musician. This is the first time that I have listen to much of his stuff, over all I enjoyed all of the tracks, some I feel are better than others. However, of the 16 tracks on the album I would have to say that number 6, "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" is my jam.

2. When I'm driving around town I usually listen to music, whether on the radio or on CD's. When I am going a longer distance (3 hours or more) I find music to be more annoying than anything. So as an alternative I like to get books on CD's. They seem to make the time go a little faster, maybe its because with 6 discs in my player I can get six hours continuous hours of listening in. I've listened to fiction, non-fiction, short stories, classics and new favorites. Rarely, have I been disappointed. It is to the point now where I look forward to long drives now, audio books are definitely my jam.

3. On my way to Nashville this last weekend I listened to Elmore Leonard's newest novel Road Dogs. It is a sequel to his book Out of Sight which was made into a movie staring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. I love Elmore Leonard's books, he is a master at telling a good crime story. Books like The Hot Kid, Cuba Libre, Out of Sight, and Get Shorty are all fantastic books (the last two were even transitioned in to great movies).
Leonard's characters seem to come alive on the pages, and any action becomes visible in the minds eye. And for those who read multiple stories you will find familiar names popping up throughout his tales as he weaves one giant tapestry. Few people are as gifted at making a thief relatable. The stories of Elmore Leonard, regardless of their medium, are my jam.

4. Thievery is a large part of the game The Settlers of Catan, a game that I have been known to enjoy from time to time with my friends. To explain the game would take too long, the important thing to know is that during the game you collect resources based on a dice roll, so from game to game some resource will be more available than others. At the start of the game each player chooses a starting position, their decision incorporates varying resources, numbers and strategies. If I'm playing and an 8-9-5, ore-sheep-wheat pops up, you'd better believe that's my jam.

5. When I am in the mood to make myself a nice home cooked breakfast there is usually one direction that I head in. I scramble myself some eggs (from the Corey's farm if I have some), throw some shredded cheese and black bean and corn salsa on top, and pop some wheat bread in the toaster. That's my breakfast jam.

6. When I need to put something on top of that toast?

Strawberry, it's my jam.