Friday, May 8, 2015

And The Winner Is ~ Rick's Column



“AND THE WINNER IS”
by Rick Jones, Husband of the Minister's Wife 

The winner of our “Name Rick's Column” contest is Jessica Cassidy. Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy those classic Spider-Man stories and the dessert bowls. For those of you who may worry about how giving up those items may be a hardship to me, be of good cheer. I have another copy of the book, so I can still read the Spidey stories, and I made very sure that I could eat desserts in other bowls before we made them part of the prize package.

Jessica's name was randomly picked, because while there were several fine suggestions made, I decided to go with an idea of my own: “Incessant Divagation.”

I like big words. Not always, because I think we should try to communicate clearly. But sometimes it's fun to use “prevaricate” instead of “lie”; “perambulate” instead of “walk”; “trepidation” instead of “fear.” Obscurities attract me as well, because it's fun to occasionally express common ideas in uncommon ways. I enjoy using terms like “divagation” that offend spell check programs even when spelled correctly.

Some pastors greet their congregations with “God is good, all the time,” and receive the unified response, “All the time, God is good.” I like it. But I also enjoyed using my best Yoda voice to greet one minister, who is a Star Wars fan, with “God all the time good is.” I surprised the leader of a Christian blues band with “God is perpetually omnibeneficent.” He blinked twice, thought a few seconds, and said, “Amen.” Then, the first chance he got, he left the room. Either he was searching for a dictionary or calling to tell Lois I'd skipped my medication.

I'm cognizant of pleonastic redundancies and terminological obscurantism frequently contributing to obfuscation rather than advancing elucidation. And using big words doesn't mean I'm smarter than the average bipolar bear. There are worse habits. Like calling local businesses to correct the spelling on their sign messages. Yes, I've done that. Yes, I know that's weird.

The good news: I don't intend to be habitually garrulous in this column. It's supposed to be fun, not a weekly edition of “Increase Your Word Power”. Which, by the way, was one of my favorite features in Reader's Digest when I was a kid. Yes, I know that's weird.

Quick note to Dave McDougle, a friend from days when I weighed much less and had more hair, who commented on my first articles: thanks for your support. I came very close to naming this column “Incessant Divagation . . . With Cheese.” Even though I don't really know what it means. Yes, Dave, you know I'm weird.

43 comments:

  1. Congrats on the new name for the column!

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  2. Congrats on the new name. This is a wonderful column.

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  3. In defense of my suggestion for title, "Ideation...With Cheese”.

    I pondered for quite some time, ( time spent trying to decide if I want my macaroni salad Amish Style OR Amish Style with little cheese cubes counts as pondering right? ), on this and believed I had found the perfect appellation for your new missives.

    Ideation is from the field of psychology and it is defined as the formation of ideas or concepts. Right on the mark.
    With Cheese, having survived multiple conversations and discussions with Rick I know that sometimes “cheesy” is the order of the day in humor and most times that humor is the perfect topping, like a dusting of Parmigiano-Reggiano.

    As to weird, nawh…curious, eccentric, funky, magical, outlandish, peculiar, strange, oddball, flaky, inscrutable definitely, but rarely weird; your quests to be in the Guinness Book of Records notwithstanding.

    Please keep the posts coming my friend, they are being enjoyed and shared.

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    1. Thanks Dave! he's really enjoying writing again. He has missed it!

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  4. Congrats on your new column name! And I find it great you actually have called up businesses to correct the spelling on their sign :)

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    1. He really has! he even changed routes coming home since one he called changed the word and spelled the same word wrong again! LOL!!

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  5. I am with you on the clear communication idea. It makes a lot of sense to me.

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    1. He often teases me that he is clearly communicating since, after all, he has a degree in communication. LOL!

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  6. Glad you found a name. Keep on writing!

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  7. Very unique name! Congrats to the winner!

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  8. I'm always impressed with people who can use the words "pleonastic redundancies" in a sentence and get away with it ;)

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    1. Careful, he may toss in a few more interesting ones if people like them. LOL!

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  9. That's a great name! ... I think. What does it mean? I probably should have asked that before saying it was a great name. Oh well, I'm sure it's nothing terrible. Anyway, I look forward to reading more of your "Incessant Divagations" soon!

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    1. I'd tell you myself, but I think he has plans on explaining the title and he wouldn't want me to give it away!

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  10. Super cool, congrats to the winner and what a great way to find the name!! lovely!

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  11. Congrats on picking a name. I like it "Rick's Column"

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    1. Well actually the name of the column is Incessant Divagation. he didn't want me to give away the real name in the title.

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  12. I never would have thought of that title, lol. I guess it's perfect for you though since you thought of it!

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  13. Congratulations on the new column. I love the name too. :)

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  14. I like it! It's not common and people will instantly know it's you!

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  15. I like to use uncommon words as well. Happy to read your column.

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  16. Replies
    1. I'm having trouble remembering it sometimes. LOL! But it fits him.

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  17. Congrats on the new column name. Congrats to Jessica, too.

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  18. Congratulations to Jessica Cassidy! That is a great name for the column!

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  19. Congratulations on finding a name and to the winner!!

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  20. Looking forward to the column! And, OMGoodness…I've never called a business to tell them that their sign is spelled wrong, but I have wanted to do that sooooooooooo many times – especially when they are misspelled in huge letters.

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    1. He's pretty brave about doing it too. Kinda cracks me up!

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  21. The name is perfect! Great choice!

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