WORD

I keep seeing the term "woot" used on internet postings, and although I thought I could probably tell what it means just from the context in which it was used, I decided to explore further.

I've always love tracking word derivations. When I was young I spent many satisfying hours deep in the basement of the Pomona Public Library, absorbed in a world of enormous reference books and potential answers to my questions. The Pomona Public Library was one of the original Carnegie Libraries, complete with stone lions guarding the entrance. It was my favorite place to be and a major influence in my life. Thanks to the internet I can do my research from home now, although my laptop doesn't have the satisfying heft an old book or the odor of ancient wisdom.

Here's what I found in the Urban Dictionary:
1. WOOT
Woot originated as a hacker term for root (or administrative) access to a computer. However, with the term as coincides with the gamer term, "w00t". "w00t" was originally an trunicated expression common among players of Dungeons and Dragons tabletop role-playing game for "Wow, loot!" Thus the term passed into the net-culture where it thrived in video game communities and lost its original meaning and is used simply as a term of excitement.
Examples: "I defeated the dark sorcerer! Woot!" "woot! i r teh flagmastar!" (Think Tribes)

Cool, huh? Another word is coined. Ya gotta love English. It's a convoluted, confusing, mongrel of a language, but it is constantly growing and changing. It's alive! WOOT!

A Matter of Taste

Tastings are the subject of the day at Word for Word Books & Espresso - tasted so much coffee this afternoon (trying to find a new source) that I may be permanently buzzed. Settled on a locally roasted (St. Johns), organic, fair trade Sumatran coffee. I'll give that a try for a few weeks and see how my customers respond. Stop in after Thursday and register your opinion. No food so far today, just caffeine. Hmmmmm, maybe I'd better think about a little late lunch.

Speaking of food (and tastings), my oldest daughter pointed out earlier today on Facebook that she hasn't yet been invited to sample the fare at the new culinary enterprise,Crossroad Chicken, opened recently by my two oldest sons. Located in Napa, California, Crossroad Chicken offers great food made from quality ingredients, which in Napa are available pretty much year-round. This is the only catering truck I've ever seen with an imported Italian wood-fired pizza oven. Not only does a wood-fired oven produce moist chicken with a crisp skin, it turns out superior pizza. And in Napa you know there will be fresh ingredients and great cheese involved. My next visit is scheduled in two weeks, so I'll be doing some sampling myself, I hope. At least that's the plan.

Meanwhile, I'm off to find something to balance all of the caffeine in my system. Enjoy the last days of August and I'll do the same - til next time.

Hot - Hot - Hot

It's 5:30pm, and the outside temperature reads 97 degrees. Luckily for me I'm inside. No, I'm not a hot weather person, which is why I live in Oregon now, not Southern or Central California. I had enough hot, dry weather growing up to last me a lifetime. Hot is hot, regardless of the humidity. I'm a true Pacific North-Westerner now, preferring cooler temperatures & lots of rain to keep those beautiful forests GREEN. Green trees, blue rivers and lakes,and a plenty of books & coffee (keep 'em coming).

What? You don't live in Oregon? Well here are some sites that may at least make you think about visiting:
*http://www.el.com/to/oregon/ This site is full of fascinating information about the state that might be of interest to residents as well as visitors.
*If it's Oregon's state resources you're interested in, perhaps http://oregon.gov/ would be helpful. This is the official state site, offering information and links for information about Oregon business, education, employment, human services, natural resources, public safety, recreation and transportation.
*There's a site for Oregon facts and trivia, as well: http://www.50states.com/facts/oregon.htm . Did you know that Oregon is the only state that has a state nut? Yup, the hazelnut (also known as a filbert); or that the coastal town of Florence boasts the largest sea cave in the world (a cool place to be on a hot day)? Maybe you already knew that Bend has a volcano within its city limits, a cinder cone named Pilot Butte, but it was news to me. In my defense I DID already know that Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, so give me points for that at least.

Well, now you know how I spent this extra warm day (besides huddling inside the store with my air-conditioner and an iced mocha). I was busy checking out online resources for you and learning about the state I call my home. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.