A Pandemic of Pangrams

My darling wife gave me my Christmas present yesterday, Schott’s Original Miscellany, a delightful amphigory compiled in a small tome of a mere 160 pages. Amongst its treasured leaves I found the following pangrams:

First, there's the fact that "Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz!"
This leads one to muse over the wisdom of exhibiting one's quartz sphinx's in full view of Jackdaws. The ethics of this may be investigated in a later post.

Second, we get athletic and "Jump by vow of quick, lazy strength in Oxford." I'm sure Cambridge grads everywhere heave a huge sigh of relief upon receipt of this intelligence.

Third, “Sixty zippers were quickly picked from the woven jute bag.”
I can’t think of anything to add…

Fourth, “We promptly judged antique ivory buckles for the next prize.”
This is a pickle. What are the criteria for judging antique ivory buckles? How would you award a prize and what would be awarded? What experience did the judges have and most importantly… how can Pat Robertson spin this to sound like God will strike down people who disagree with him (Rev. Robertson, that is)? Careful, response to this post may single you out for an attack of halitosis.

Fifth, “How piqued gymnasts can level six jumping razorback frogs.”
Evidently, piqued gymnasts can also engage in mass idiocy.

Sixth, we have “Waltz, bad nymph, for quick jigs vex.”
Vexing as it may be, it’s also extremely interesting to watch.

Lastly, of course, our beloved “quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.” The fox, of course represents … something deep and esoteric. I am the dog. Jumping is a metaphor for eating and brown is a blatant advertising attempt by UPS to usurp this post.
Bold.
Striking
Poignant.
My work here is done. Thank you, Ben Schott, for giving us Schott's Original Mischellany

Christmas With Family

Classic Langner Portrait

Cute Nices & Nephlets

The Wonderful Hubby (who actually sat for the camera! Thank you, Hubby!)

We hit both families for Christmas. With a little unique wrangling that landed us in the airport on Christmas day, we set up Christmas for my parents at their new home in Forest, Virginia, and brought Pete's mom a happy Christmas surprise in Vernon, Connecticut.

All in all, it was a crazy first married Christmas, but we did enjoy the time we spent with our families. OUR Christmas cards won't be going out until June, however, so please don't be offended that you haven't received anything from us as yet. Those of you who sent us gifts, thank you so much! We really appreciated it!

In other random news, we get a five-day weekend for New Year's. *grin* Anything could happen...

Here's hoping you enjoyed your holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Well, folks, we're dropping out for our Christmas weekend--not as early as we wanted to, but what can we say?

Here's to a White Christmas!

Out of the bosom of the Air.
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent and soft and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession,
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

Approaching a Year

Just thought it'd be fun to compile some favorite pictures from this year. Enjoy!

Fun on a Silver Morning

It frosted beautifully last night, and we woke this morning to a rose-gold sunrise through the ice etchings on our windowpanes. In a rare event, we arrived at work a few minutes *early* and had time for a few random items.

Today's "Pearls Before Swine" strip: what happens when you get too little sleep (or when you're just plain not paying attention...)

Ever have to put your cat in a carrier before? Check out this morning's uncaged "Get Fuzzy" strip.

Oh, and if you're thinking about dying in Biritiba Miram, Brazil, don't. You might find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Today's verse of the day, taken out of context with the after-effects of my rather bad day yesterday, was also one of those randomly humorous items that tickled our funny bones:

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth everyday alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
~Romans 14:5

I am fully persuaded that today is better than yesterday.

Lastly, but definitely not leastly, Pete's coffee run was only to *pay* for yesterday's coffee, but on his trip, he "met Cindy Cha who was eating a veggie sausage and drinking de-fac -- de-caf. Told her I'd circulate a prayer petition in legal for our dear sister who was joining a vegan cult. I also said her hemp coat looked lovely. I'm afraid she laughed so hard she was nigh on tears."

There are times when I think it's just better not to inquire...