Nov 9 2021 - Poop and the Poop Deck

 

I send Millie 'outside.' I tell her to poop.  Also to make an M-N-O-Pee. She likes to pee 'on the deck' and often to 'poop on the deck.'  Ok, it is really a patio.  But it made me think about the terms poop and poop deck.  Poop's meaning started as the "stern or aftermost deck of a ship," c. 1400, from Old French poupe "stern of a ship" (14c.), from Old Provençal or Italian poppa, from Latin puppis "poop, stern," a word of uncertain origin. Also "a deck above the ordinary deck on the aftermost part of a ship." As a verb, "to break heavily over the stern of a ship" (of waves, etc.). Poop deck is attested by 1779." "excrement," 1744, a children's euphemism, probably of imitative origin. The verb in this sense is from 1903, but the same word in the sense "to break wind softly" is attested from 1721; earlier "to make a short blast on a horn" (poupen, late 14c.). Meaning "stupid or dull person" is from 1915, but this is perhaps short for nincompoop. Pooper-scooper is attested from 1970. And what about Pooh the bear?  Is that name related to poop and poo? According to the NY Public Library, where the original stuffed animals reside (In the Donnell branch, on West 53rd: "The curious name of Winnie-the-Pooh came from Christopher Robin, from a combination of the names of a real bear and a pet swan. During the 1920s there was a black bear (from Canada) named "Winnie" (after Winnipeg) in the London Zoo who had been the mascot for the Winnipeg regiment of the Canadian army. "Pooh" was the name of a swan in When We Were Very Young." This picture is from the Marie Selby Gardens in Florida.  This statue of a thinker is sitting in a field of wildflowers - orchids.  I realize this angle makes him appear to be sitting on a toilet.  A perfect match for today's word.

Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Heady Headlines

These are tropical ferns at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota Florida.  The colours are startling right now with our dominant landscape of grey and brown. Each day a headline accompanies the pictures, and I wondered about the headline today so put 'headline' into google.  First, I'm instructed that  "A headline's purpose is to quickly and briefly draw attention to the story". Then a famous newspaper headline by Vincent Musetto shows up.  He was celebrated as the writer of the greatest New York newspaper headline in history in 1983. Here it is and its 'story': "Headless body in topless bar" “Headless Body” soon became the stuff of pop-culture legend. “Saturday Night Live” worked it into routines and David Letterman invited Musetto onto his late-night show to talk about it. It even became the title of a 1990s crime movie. But Musetto, a managing editor, had to fight to get “Headless Body” into the paper. He pleaded with then-executive editor Roger Wood, who was equally appalled by the crime. A psycho had invaded a Queens after-hours joint, shot the owner to death and then — on learning a female customer was a mortician — ordered her to cut off the victim’s head, which cops later found in the madman’s car. Musetto stuck to his guns, and “Headless Body in Topless Bar” ran on Page 1 the next day. It prompted witless snarking in egghead circles. The Post’s legendary metropolitan editor, Steve Dunleavy, countered, “What should we have said? ‘Decapitated cerebellum in tavern of ill repute’?” (The New York Times came close with, “Owner of a Bar Shot to Death; Suspect is Held.”) But a few learned types fell for its dark humor. Literary scholar Peter Shaw, writing in The National Review, cited its compelling “trochaic rhythm . . . the juxtaposition of two apparently unrelated kinds of toplessness conjoined sex and death even as they are conjoined in reality.” You can see the Letterman clip here

The Colours of Koi

A little more on Koi today with information from the site: http://feng-shui.lovetoknow.com/What_Do_Koi_Fish_Symbolize Many of the attributes of the koi symbolize several lessons and even trials individuals often encounter in life. The koi fish has a powerful and energetic life force, demonstrated by its ability to swim against currents and even travel upstream. Some of the characteristics associated with the koi include: Good fortune Success Prosperity Longevity Courage Ambition Perseverance The fish's coloring also has something to do with its symbolism. Certain colors represent certain aspects or outcomes in life. Kohaku - This koi has a white body with red spots and symbolizes success in your career. Kumonryu - There are two main variations of this koi. One variation is a koi with a white body and black spots and the other is an all black body. This Kumonryu koi symbolizes life changes and transformations. Ogon - This solid, silver colored koi symbolically represents success in business and wealth. Kuchibeni - This white and red patterned koi is often referred to as the "lipstick" fish, because the red coloring around its mouth makes it appear as though the fish is wearing lipstick. Kuchibeni koi represents love and long lasting relationships. Yamabuki - The Yamabuki koi is gold in coloring and symbolizes riches and wealth.

lying Koi

Flying Koi    The pond at Marie Selby Garden has a happy population of Koi.  They are very tame as they are fed by visitors each day.  The bottom picture shows their enthusiasm whenever people come to the edge and look over. I used a polarizer lens to remove the reflections on the water.  One sees through the water as though it isn't there.  When the bottom is clear of litter, it appears that the fish are flying. It takes a lot of pictures to get a few of these. But then, it is wonderful to watch the Koi swimming the pool, coming around for another look at me and then back around to the front where some more visitors have arrived.

Koi, The Living Art

Koi, The Living Art  The Marie Selby Botanical Garden is located in Sarasota.  The Selby fortune was made in oil, and became part of Texaco.  This garden is located overlooking the water, so has extensive water views and is a wonderful walking garden.  It is well-known for its significant collections of gesnariads, cycads, and orchids.  It is a research facility and has preserved plants in its collections as well. My interest during this trip is to gather as many Koi images as I can. I've been to the garden each day, and am lucky to be able to sit on a bench at the water pond and pool to take pictures.  This is a large collection of Koi and they are large in size - about a foot long each of them.  There is a waterfall that flows into the pool.  The Chinese tradition says that if a Koi can make the final leap up the waterfall, it will be transformed into a Dragon. It is likely that you can see the fascination with Koi.  Their movements in the water make beautiful displays of their tails and fins and are ever-changing.

Bonsai, A Garden in the Palm of My Hand

Marilyn's Photo of the Day  Bonsai, A Garden in My Palm

Bonsai Today's image is a tree trunk close-up of a bonsai in the Marie Selby Garden in Florida.  I am always on the look-out for bonsai. They are such works of art.  With the small size, one can see details that aren't apparent in the full-size specimen, and the details on the bark demonstrate this wonderfully. This bonsai is fulfilling its purpose:  for the viewer it is contemplation and the grower it is the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity. The Beauty of Bonsai Gallery, on redbubble, is the second set of images.