Friday, February 13, 2015

No bit of trivia is too trivial for this here blogger

Today’s word is friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Actually, it isn’t, but I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

For today’s post I am indebted to our old pal friend nemesis Wikipedia and also to Ms. Patricia Schado of Jacksonville, Arkansas, who wrote the following comment on my previous post:

I was born in Texas (I don’t know a word or the melody of the Texas state song.) I have lived in Arkansas since 1950 and have absorbed the melody and a few words of our state song and, sorry to say, they mean nought. My home was in New Mexico from 1940-1950. I will spare you the recounting of the beautiful state song of New Mexico, the melody and all the words of which are forever etched into my brain and soul.

I know a passive-aggressive challenge when I see one, and if the melody and all the words of the beautiful state song of New Mexico are forever etched into Ms. Schado’s brain and soul, they need to be etched into ours as well, n’est-ce pas? No bit of trivia is too trivial for this here blogger, no ma’am, no sir, no way, Ho-zay (as they also probably say in the great and sovereign state of New Mexico).

With that having been said, let us proceed.

Before we get to New Mexico, however, we must pause in Ms. Schado’s honor and consider her current state of residence, Arkansas, which boasts not merely one but four state songs. I kid you not. They include a state anthem (“Arkansas”) , the lyrics of which I find charming; two state songs written for the 150th anniversary of Arkansas statehood (“Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)” and “Oh, Arkansas” , both of which were also named official state songs by the Arkansas General Assembly in 1987) ; and a state historical song (“The Arkansas Traveler” , which has at least five different sets of words, one set of which begins "I’m bringin’ home a baby bumblebee, Won’t my mommy be so proud of me!") .

Everything in the preceding paragraph is true, and I urge you to check out the highlighted links for yourself to get the full effect.

As the head of the parole board said to Nicholas Cage in Raising Arizona on more than one occasion, “Well, okay then.”

Moving right along, let us hasten on to our stated topic, New Mexico’s state song.

Oops, I see by the old clock on the wall that we have run out of time for today and we will have to wait until next time for New Mexico. Stay tuned.

8 comments:

  1. I have no fear of Friday the 13th. Neither am I cowed by the information that Arkansas has four state songs (of which fact I would have in ignorance remained had I not read your post).

    Just because I happened to be enamored of the New Mexico state song does not mean that others would share my enthusiasm (unless, of course, they are New Mexicans with an exceptionally tender soul).

    Thank you for your efforts in spreading my eccentricities.

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  2. Cruel Bob! That's like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey and then pulling it away just as the donkey's teeth are about to chow down. In the meantime I am composing a new state song for Georgia...

    Oh we don't want to bore-ya
    But it's gorgeous in Georgia
    We got peaches and beaches
    And Stone Mountain too!
    Georgia! Georgia!
    We's a-coming home to you!

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  3. Pat (in Arkansas), I'm sure your eccentricities are as nothing compared to mine.

    Yorkshire Pudding, never fear, the tribute to New Mexico will soon be here! I love your state song for Georgia, by the way. You covered all the bases except the Big Chicken in Marietta and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Boyhood Home in Plains.

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  4. Happy Valentines Day to you and your wify.

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  5. A Lady's Life, thank you! And to you as well (not "and your wify" but you know what I'm saying). We went out for Greek food last night and again for Chinese food at lunch today (both very good) to avoid the crowds tonight.

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  6. I'm busy enjoying friggatriskaidekaphobia, its too good a word not to savour. I'm glad you had a nice time with Mrs rhymes out too.

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  7. Michelle, I'm hoping you and hubby and Spatz and Claude had a very nice Valentine's Day too!

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  8. Mississippi is also working on having a state book. It's filled with sex and violence, but I won't tell you the title. Here's "Oregon, My Oregon." I don't know who the martyrs are supposed to be, but 90% or more of the Indians ended up dead, so they would be a good guess.

    Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West;
    Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the best.
    On-ward and upward ever, Forward and on, and on;
    Hail to thee, Land of the Heroes, My Oregon.

    Land of the rose and sunshine, Land of the summer's breeze;
    Laden with health and vigor, Fresh from the western seas.
    Blest by the blood of martyrs, Land of the setting sun;
    Hail to thee, Land of Promise, My Oregon.

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<b>Always true to you, darlin’, in my fashion</b>

We are bombarded daily by abbreviations in everyday life, abbreviations that are never explained, only assumed to be understood by everyone...