One Big Happy by Rick Detorie for August 23, 2013

Just a shade off…

I remember making similar erroneous extrapolations from my limited knowledge, at about that same age.

But I have Phoenician Blinds in all my windows!!!

I thought they were invented in Venice.

And their deaf and their dumb…

I notice the teacher’s smile changes when she calls on Ruthie. Is that a tense grimace of anticipation?

Venetian blinds.

Librarian knows Ruthie is predicable.

I wonder what answer the library lady had in mind. I can’t tell you what made Phoenicians stand out.

First one squiggle equals one phoneme alphabet. Ancestor of ours.

Susan: the reason for the library lady’s fake grimace is that she feels uneasy because of what Ruthie might say; she already knows that the girl is quite a character. And I’m sorry to say this, but your violent reaction is rather disturbing.

Ironically, Venetian blinds are not from Venice at all. They originated in Persia (now Iran), but were shipped through Venice to the “western world”. In France and Italy, they’re known as Persian Blinds, it is only the ignorant English speaking countries that refer to them as Venetian blinds.

That’s the PC version of the correct response to that question!

Yikes! A cuppa tea or warm milk might help some of those anger management issues.

When I was little, our class went to a museum in an old house with a dumbwaiter. The guide asked if anyone knew what a dumbwaiter was. I proudly answered, “A waiter who can’t talk.” When she explained, I was as embarrassed as Pee Wee Herman at the Alamo.

Our son came home from school one day and told me:The teacher knows I’m smart, but she keeps forgetting my name. She thinks its Alec.

Because of the book she is holding, I imaging she would like an answer regarding fishing – although I would also have thought of their alphabet (phonetics) and ancient trade. I only study the portions of history that interlace with my imaginary persona and extended backstory. I have also thought of doing some recreations in a more modern vein also (for wild west occaisions).

I thought of trade and seafaring—the Phoenicians were the first to develop sea trading in the ancient world, plus the alphabet. Then the products they were known for: purple dye, and glass.

As for the Cyprus forests, they are not quite extinct—but I’ll bet that goats had plenty to do with the limited remnants that still exist.

Venusian blinds.

Be honest: isn’t there someone (real or fictional) that you’d want to smack??? Probably. I’ll have to think about it. Certainly not a polite woman just because I didn’t find her smile genuine enough.