Friday, February 28, 2014

Mamihlapinatapai

 
Yesterday, I learned many new words.  One of them was mamihlapinatapai (noun), which is "a look shared by two people,  each wishing that the other would initiate something they both desire but which neither wants to begin."
 
In an attempt to use my newly discovered word in a sentence, I came up with this: 
 
Maria has been  in mamihlapinatapai with Jose for the last 5 hours during which nothing momentous has happened except that she has become cross-eyed.
 
I don't think I like mamihlapinatapai after all.
 
 
 
 
 Link to new words:
 
 
 
- ARIEL MURPHY

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Odors


There are smells that one just cannot forget. They may not be particularly fragrant. But neither can they be said to be very odious. 
They are simply odors. Interesting ones! 
One of my favorites is Asparagus Eau de Toilet. 
No misspelling there. 
Like  Dr. Juvenal Urbino in Gabriel Garcia Marquiez’ Love in the Time of Cholera, I take  secret pleasure in the smell of my own urine laced with asparagus.
 
I usually like them grilled. Photo credit: seriouseats.com
 
- ARIEL MURPHY