Penchant for Penning: September 2016

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Wordplay Wednesday™ September 28, 2016 – Whiffet

Quick-Wit Whiff of Words

Sometimes you just have to squeeze the necessities into a pint-sized pinch of time. This Wordplay Wednesday, I found the perfect word—or set of words—to squish into a maddening if-anything-could-go-wrong-it-did week. Take a whiff of this …

WHIFFET (hwif'it) n. – 1) a little whiff, or puff; 2) (Informal) an insignificant, esp. young, person. [WW #79]

If you try to follow logic that a whiffet is a little whiff, so puff must have a puffet offspring, you would be wrong. Is nothing logical* in this world?!

But—if you and your whiffet play Wiffle Ball** at the park, that makes him or her a whiffler. Now wasn’t that fun?

If your whiffet is still in diapers, you’ll know when the whiffet needs a change—the pungent whiffet will wrinkle your nose. OK, I’m all whiffeted out … and out of whiffet time …

Word Challenge: WHIFFET. Speaking of time … is it past time to spend some time with your whiffet, whatever age the young whippersnapper may be? Have fun fitting whiffet into your week of writings!

'Til next time ... cheers to a wonderful "wordful" week …

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

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*Are you a logical person in an illogical world? Easy tips to weather the erratic storm of dementia—or anyone who believes the unrealistic is real!
**Made in USA—yea!

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Wordplay Wednesday™ September 21, 2016 – Johnny

Big Bad John – Uncommon Commonalities

Are you Johnny on the spot, a Johnny-come-lately, or loves you some johnnycake?

It’s no surprise that “John” is a very common boys’ name, not only in the US, but worldwide, largely due to its revered Bible references. It still holds court at number forty-two in a list of 100 popular baby boys’ names (Nameberry’s 2016-so-far).

With all its popularity though, we can’t escape the dubious double-entendres that plague poor John. Like escaping a less-than-desirable moment for a trip to the John, and a misguided John with less than upright morals, looking for lusty love in all the wrong places.

Let’s strip the façade from “John” and have some fun!

JOHNNY (jänʹē) n. – a short muslin gown with short sleeves and a back opening that is closed with ties, worn as by hospital patients. [WW #78]

Wow – and all this time, I’ve just called it that f*$%&g hospital gown. See, even a wordsmith can learn a new word every day. To think the infernal, shapeless flowered contraption that defies covering your body at your most vulnerable moments, has a real name.

Everyone knows a John. Some are common, some, like the word and its adaptations, not so much. What John do you know who defies the definition of common?

Let’s remember that the popularized version of John is derived from a couple of saints: John the Baptist and the apostle John. And let’s not forget millennia of kings, popes, and emperors who glorified John. Give the guy a break!

From johnboat to Johnny-jump-up (various African violets, but more importantly, an Irish drinking song!) to John Q. Public, and John Dory (a fish), John runs the gamut from saintly to serious and funny to fishy.

I admit, one of my greatest friends is a John – of the best kind. But don’t call him johnny – or late for dinner. I know he’ll appreciate my tongue-in-cheek fun with his name – and you should feel free to appreciate his ample list of Amazon eBooks, for your reading pleasure.

And share this with the John or Johnny in your life to show you were thinking about him today! It's dedicated to all of the "Johns" in the world. :-)

Word Challenge: JOHNNY. Go ahead, get that johnny to stay closed and not bare your backside – I dare you! While your hands are tied in knots behind your back, have fun fitting johnny into your week of writings!