Friday, January 15, 2010

the phrase du jour

I love Dick Cavett's Opinionator pieces in the Times. The one on January 8 is no exception.

My new favorite phrase "I seem to have come without my gunbelt."

Expect to see it as often as I can work it in to the conversation.

19 comments:

laughingwolf said...

lol...

like 'showing up at a gunfight armed with a knife' ;)

Josin L. McQuein said...

"I seem to have come without my gunbelt."

Appropriate ice breaker for an awkward silence in Texas. :-P

Kara Parlin said...

I forgot where I heard it, but my favorite phrase is, "Yes, but is it wizardy enough?"

_*rachel*_ said...

Dunno, I think I prefer the rug part.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Love that! I told everyone in my office that I am going to say the wors "awkward" every day of 2010. So far - not a problem.... and it is funny as they even help me fulfill the need for an "awkward" - and there always is one :)

C S said...

Thank you for reminding me I used to love Dick Cavett and thanks for giving me the biggest laugh I've had in a while!

I looooove 'I seem to have come without my gunbelt.'

Cheers,
Carolyn
www.mysydneyparislife.wordpress.com

McKoala said...

Always humiliating to forget your gunbelt.

Kitty said...

Don’t most people, maybe especially men, hate to be seen as pitiable? I did, then, but seemed to have come without my gun belt.

Which is why he felt like he was shooting blanks.
...

Jaycee Adams said...

A unique word every day for a year sounds interesting, but I think I'd try for something with a more positive connotation. I use fantabulous a lot, but I don't work it in every day. Maybe I should. I've found that spreading a little positivity works wonders for keeping the morale of the people around me high, which in turn means my morale stays high.

Les Edgerton said...

I love Dick Cavett! I miss his show so much. One show I distinctly remember is when he had Ann Margret on and he said something like, "Well, Ann you don't consider yourself an actress mainly, do you? Wouldn't you say you're more of an 'entertainer'?" To which she replied, angrily, "Well, I've never seen you act, Cavett!" He paused to think for a moment, then said, "Well, come to think of it, I've never seen you act either, Margret." She got up and walked off the set, which was kind of bad as she was his only guest and they weren't even half through the interview, leaving him with a lot of time...

Ey Wade said...

My forever phrase-"You're fine. Shake it off & get over it." I do mean forever, nearly 30 years now. Perfect fit for whatever ails you. I think my kids thought I was the meanest person....phffst, the entire family has started using it.

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

Ohhh man, was that good. I enjoyed the article as i read it, but when I got to the "rug" comment, I burst out laughing. Aside from the great advice, I follow this blog because it is so damn funny at times.

I have to cop to being fascinated with "rugs" and trying to spot them. Back in the day, when Remote Control used to be on MTV, My favorite questions were the "toupe or not toupe?' ones.

Patience-please said...

My favorite phrase of the week was from Woody Allen's piece in the New Yorker, in which he described himself as a "fatuous little suppository".
And then later, he was a "nattering little carbuncle".

Lauren said...

*sigh*

I love blueberries. But now I am afraid I'll never be able to look a blueberry pie in the face again without laughing hysterically.

astrologymemphis.blogspot.com said...

Gotta love Cavett. I'm sooooooo envious of those (Janet included) blessed with a quick, sharp wit. One slice, and the victim bleeds out. Why can't I do that?

The Voice, in my family, after examining the missing finger, cracked skull, etc. we say, "Aw, poor baby! Shut the fuck up." For some reason, it always helps.

Pamela Hammonds said...

Thanks for the link to Cavett. Didn't realize how much I missed the man. His smart wit stands heads and shoulders above others in the business today. This piece proves that.

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

@ Southern Writer: My old football and lacrosse coach's reply to any injury was "tape and aspirin to it, and get the hell back in hell back in there".

Lydia Smith said...

I came to say I loved Dick Cavett on TV and find a comment from Les Edgerton, author of "Finding Your Voice", one of my favorite books. I love this blog, Janet.

Julie Weathers said...

Well, you know how I love the idea of gun belts. Give me a gun belt and two bandoliers and we're good to go.