Too soon, too soon. I wrote late last night after a day in Hamilton celebrating a friend's birthday. I haven't even had my swim yet. Slow start. I'll check in later....don't hold your breath.

Here I am, end of another day. Today is Sunday New York Times Day. Every week we are urged to read the most gripping novel(s) of the year, a book you can't put down, a revelation, something you never knew. One has to read between the lines to decide. I think I have to wait a little longer before I order things. Well, some things I know I don't need or want, but then, you never can tell. All my life I have always thought there was something else I must know, must learn before I put it all together. I have learned a little, but not enough, never enough.

Oh, now, how about the fashion? T-magazine came this week, too, "Revisiting Spirit," with reports on cutting edge (?) arts, décor, fashion, and so on. Well, the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) has helped me to a deeper understanding for and indifference to Fashion. I look at most of the creations and I wonder how one could get on the subway wearing any of them. I do, however, admire much of the fashion I see on my fellow passengers. I like the long black skirts that some of the women wear. I bought one for myself, actually, but I have never worn it on the subway. I'm afraid of tripping. I have enough trouble with escalators as it is. I worry about young women's feet. They wear flip-flops and I'm afraid they will stub their toes and ruin their arches.

Ah, well, I do run on. And so does my battery. Time to re-charge. Anon, anon.

I'm tossing words around a lot lately as I write, choosing, shaping, alliterating, trying to be accurate as well as entertaining and informative. There are some words I don't tend to use that I notice other people do and I admire them for it. I have a friend who says "task". That is so cool. I say "job". Think of Melanie Griffith in the movie WORKING GIRL who made herself say t.a.s.k. very clearly, emphasizing the k. Canadian writer June Callwood (1924-2007 ) used to say "splendid". I love that word and I don't use it. I say great or lovely, not nearly as...splendid. There was a fad thirty or forty years ago - I'll check it soon- oh, it was 60 years ago!! - A discussion arose in academic circles about the differences between U and non-U words. U stood for Upper Class, non-U was not lower class, but Middle. English author Nancy Mitford (1904-1973) published an essay, "The English Aristocracy" in 1954, and the debate went on. If you look it up online you can find a whole list of U and non-U words. I can remember some of them. Curtains were U; drapes were non-U; writing paper was U; note-paper was non-U. Looking glass was U; mirror was non-U. Rich was U; wealthy was non-U; die was U; pass on was non-U. I have my own preferences along those lines. I prefer to say tuxedo, not tux, invitation, not invite. I hate the word "tasty" because of a commercial I heard on radio long ago:

"Ladies! Want to give your hubbies a tasty treat?" No! I turned it off.

The American poet John Ciardi (1916-1986 ) had a column in Saturday Review/World mainly about words ("Manner of Speaking"). He was classified as an etymologist and later published two books, devoted to etymology, "The Browser's Dictionary"(1980) and The Second Browser's Dictionary"(1983). These are still available online for too much money, more than I can spend. Fun, though. I loved the way the poet played with words but held them in such respect and emphasized the need for accuracy in their use.

We should all be so respectful.