This post was inspired by Anand (the blabberwockying blogging-guru) and has far-reaching implications for us bloggers.
On his insistence, I searched my dusty mental attic for some Indian sayings. I came out coughing but smiling. I did find something of value!
I discovered some old gold that still shines bright and has a lot of relevance to blogging-shlogging. In fact, these sayings and proverbs could’ve been put into circulation by some crystal-gazing creative Indians of the yore, who must’ve seen that our very existence one day will become entirely virtual, and that our blogs would become our second homes.
Here are three precious gems from my collection:
- “Thotha chana baaje ghana.”
It translates to, “Chickpeas that are hollow inside, make a lot of noise.”
What it really means in blogspeak is:
People who don’t have real substance, talk (blog) a lot. I believe that this was coined as a futuristic slight on bloggers like me, who indulge in dishing out malarkey at every possible occasion.
Such bloggers try to promote their blogs, go to the extent of adding the maximum allowed tags and categories (please read my pathetic attempt at justifying my use of a high number of tags, when pulled up by my blogging-guru Anand, in the comments of this post,) and add links where none is needed (please refer to the previous sentence.)
Tchah!
Now a Punjabi “Sher” da Puttar.
2. “Thookan nal papad nai tale jande.”
It translates to, “you can’t use your saliva to fry…well, french-fries.”(You wouldn’t know what a papad is and my English vocabulary squeaked when I demanded a translation…so french-fries will have to do.) I admit that this particular saying sounds yucky, but it’s actually steeped in Punjabi culinary wisdom.
What it really means for the blogger is:
You can’t create anything of value by just talking (blogging) about it.
I have a feeling that a future-viewing seer of Punjabi origin must’ve foreseen blogs full of malarkey crowding the blogging horizon. I won’t be surprised if they had seen me in their crystal ball. There’ve been times when Mom and even wifey have been critical of my blogging endeavors. And trust me, Mom has actually said these exact words to me!
“Puttar, Thookan nal papad nai tale jande!”
We bloggers, we are merchants of words, and yes, at times we try to make french-fries in a pan full of … (deleted so that you don’t puke on this post,) but there are others who do the same, and they make pots of money doing just this – talking, selling people french-fries of a certain kind – they are the politicians, the motivational speakers, and even the hate-mongers.
By comparison a blogger, honestly, is a pure soul. A trader of words, feelings, and emotions; a blogger doesn’t manipulate, you see.
And finally, the wisest of them all is:
3. Tete paanv pasariye, jeti laambi saur!
It can be translated to: Don’t spread your legs (literal translations can really change the meaning. No. I didn’t mean what you just visualized,) beyond the sheet that covers you.
Mom tells me that in the days of the yore, when people didn’t have mosquito-repellants and they slept outdoors, allowing their feet to pop out of the sheet that covered them, would have subjected themselves to mosquito-bites, and hence the saying.
I think otherwise. I think it was directed toward the blogger of today.
What it actually means for the blogger of today is:
Don’t live (blog) beyond your means (energy-levels) – don’t create more blogs than you can handle, don’t start yourself on a schedule of three posts a day, or you’ll be bitten by the bug of anxiety.
I think that our ancestors were wise people. They could look into the future. They could see their future generations slumped in their chairs, their fingers tracing random patterns on an odd contraption, and their eyes anchored to a light-board in front of them.
You see? They actually said it all for the bloggers of today. Now it’s up to us to pay heed.
The Three Learnings:
- Don’t be verbose, write real pithy stuff. (Anand’s Malarkey is an excellent non-example of it.)
- Don’t just blog, do something useful too. (For instance, Anand could stop writing this post, prepare some tea for wifey, and wipe that dour expression off her face.)
- Don’t plan to blog more than you really can. (And so I must stop now!)
Translations for the Non-Indian/Non-Hindi speaking visitor:
Sher da puttar translates to Son of a Lion (and for Punjabis, it further translates to Son of a Punjabi, because they believe that all Punjabis are Lions and not humans.) However, I’ve used the other (Urdu) meaning of Sher in this post, which is: a couplet or a short verse that rhymes.
What I am left wondering is – whether in your country or state too, you had such wise crystal gazers? Share your favorite saying/proverb in the comments. I’ll look forward to more wisdom 😀
Find more of my Quirky, Snarky, Malarkey in The QSM Magazine and discover why I want to be these ten things in Issue #1 of Magazine. | Issue #1 | Issue #0 | |
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Hahaha….good one! So now along with Punjabi, I got to learn some hard core Hindi too!
Anand from blabberwockying gave up trying to teach me Hindi! 😛
Let’s hope your posts help me learn, Mr. Caricaturer (Yes – I know its Caricaturist, No – I do not plan to address you with that and Yes – I plan to continue using caricaturer!) 😀
On a more serious note, loved your post!
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You can’t play a serious note when you say you love my post 😀 seriously. The wisdom of the sayings is what we must understand. By the way, those sayings are in dialects of Hindi, and one of them is in Punjabi…so don’t learn any of them – and for you, Ma’am, I am a caricaturer.
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Ok….unlearn unlearn unlearn, now refocus to understand the wisdom of the sayings!
True that, no serious note on your blog 😛
Thank you Mr. Caricaturer
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Mind, life, and laughter matters 😀
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Not fair Ms. Menon 😛
When did that happen? I am more than ready and willing to discuss Hindi with you 🙂
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Mr. Shukla, remember you promised to teach me Hindi and then gave me some Hindi movie names and then forgot about it? 😀
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Meh! What did I forget…I suggested and now you are supposed to watch them right? You can ask me what you don’t understand…I can translate them scene by scene for you. In fact you can get subtitles online 🙂
P. S. Working too hard? I guess you didn’t sleep tonight? I was amazed by your technical expertise 🙂 Thanks
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Haha…if I watch with subtitles then how will I learn, Mr. Shukla! 😀
P.S: Slept a little late, but still slept well. I am like a zombie if I dont sleep!!
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Hahaha Zombie lol!!
No, actually subtitles help a lot. Just listen and read. Takes more time though. You can watch films in installments. Do you want me to help you in some other way? Please don’t hesitate. 🙂
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oh no no, Im ok with the little bit that I know and I can always build up on it slowly. Maybe when I send my son for Hindi classes?
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Yes it’s alright. I hope you are using Vocabulary.com too 🙂
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Yup used it yesterday with my son!
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Glad to know that. Say my hello to Aditya 🙂
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Aha! Now I know…the reason. Master Aditya is the Thor who has brewed up this language-storm in your teacup. An excellent reason, Ms. Menon.
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Finally the mystery has been resolved! 😀
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Yes. As my mom says, “a mother goes to school twice. Once when she was a child, then when she has a child.”
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Absolutely! Very well said!
That compliment is for your mother, not you Mr. Caricaturer!
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Understood. Will convey without fail, Ms. Menon.
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Rashmi, Please excuse my curiosity but why do you want to learn Hindi. Unlike English, it makes you got nuts trying to figure out the genders, the nasalities, and even the multiple usage of its words. So, unless you want to learn it to decode Bollywood movies, why?!!
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It’s a beautiful language. And I thought it’s important to know the language given my indian roots. I have never lived in India so never got an opportunity to learn. Above all, I would like my son to know his culture and learn at least one indian language. That way I can decode more bollywood movies with him! 😀
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It doesn’t have the most beautiful script though. I think that the beauty crown would be worn by Telugu or Kannada, Bengali and Tamil, IMHO, have beautiful scripts too. Hindi script looks like a string of election-pamphlets tied to two poles on the opposite sides of a road. But I’m glad you want to learn Hindi – I love it too.
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Ms. Menon, Mr. Shukla is a busy man, you know 😀
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Haha, yea a very busy man!
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My blog is honored to be the stage where the Hindi drama plays out between Ms. Menon and Mr. Shukla. Raising the curtain now…
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Hahahah lol. I am sorry dear Anand to have hijacked your comments section. We would take this up elsewhere. Thanks a lot 🙂 🙂
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Oh, you are welcome to. I am enjoying the conversation.
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Hmm, though it’s indecent and I initiated it. Thanks 🙂
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What’s a comment section for – if not for friendly banter?
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Ok boss. Now I am free to go index-out-of-bounds 😀
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If you didn’t notice, “friendly banter” establishes the bounds 😀
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Yes, my banter is mostly harmless, you can edit the rest 😛
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Way to go, Gurudev.
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Thanks Gurudev 🙂 🙂
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Interesting Indian sayings, with appropriate applications to our uncontrolled blogging, most kindly and tactfully suggested. Now what is the origin of the word Wifey? What does it mean? Does it come from British colonial days? Inquiring minds want to know….I did say “Enquiring” at first but WordPress insists on Inquiring.
One of the things the Brits are renowned for discussing at length is the weather, whether it be England’s rain or India’s heat. But do you know why we say we are “under the weather” when we are feeling sick? Like many English sayings it is a nautical one which arose because if sailors were sick they were allowed to go below decks, where they would be “under the weather”, to recover.
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She called me hubby, and I retaliated by calling her wifey. I liked the sound of it – and so it stuck. Thanks for telling me about the origin of “under the weather.” Now on, whenever I use this phrase, I’ll imagine myself in the belly of a ship rocking and rolling on the high seas. I always wanted to travel by ship – I still do, but wifey thinks planes are better. Between enquire and inquire…I think inquire sounds more familiar to my ears. I trust the British would use the verb enquire (and the noun(?) inquiry.) Americans are into simplification – so they probably are the ones who’ve popularized “inquired.” Honestly, I am not sure…
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I guess wifey must have to do something with Wi-Fi. I have seen it floating around me on FB and elsewhere quite some time now 😛
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I guess my addiction to Sci-fi may have contributed. “Can’t get over Sci-fi, even when I am with Wifey!” See? It rhymes!
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Hahaha Wi-Fi, Sci-Fi and Wifey. Which are your favorites, by the way? I am a buff myself!
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Can’t compete with you – but I love Star Wars (watched all the movies many times over,) the Terminator series, and the Matrix Trilogy the best.
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Hmmm, no they are best films, no competition. I had a lot of free time so killed it with many films lol 😀
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It’s such an amusing addition to my knowledge of sayings which is tiny 🙂
Thanks Maddy 🙂
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Ha ha good post Anand…. I m fairly sure most of the crystal gazers in our country have borrowed from you own ancestry . As to inquire and enquire… I think I wrote something about that somewhere as a response a few days go. Apparently, both are acceptable … just as well I controlled by irresistible urge to go and rewrite a local sign I saw a few days ago 😉
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Really entertaining and insightful Anand. Two of your Indian sayings have reminded me of almost the same sayings in our country. One is “Ang latang walang laman ay maingay” translated as – A can with nothing in it is noisy – especially when thrown. Which means someone talks too much (in this case -blog) with no real value to offer. Another one is “pag maikli ang kumot matutong mamaluktot” translated as when the sheet is small you should adjust your body to be covered by it – same with don’t live beyond your means or in this case don’t create more blog or posts than what you can manage. 🙂
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That’s great, Shine. In fact, they could actually be the same – except that they are in different languages. (Which language is it?) I was also wondering if Maikli translates to sheet? Thanks for sharing…it’s lovely to share about our cultures.
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It’s a Filipino language (official language in the Philippines can also be called Tagalog). Maikli = small/short/little depending on use it’s an adjective. Kumot = sheet 🙂
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Kumot: sheet. Maikli: small. I got it. How would you say, “Thank you”?
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Thank you – Salamat ; My answer for you – Welcome – Walang anuman and Thank you very much to you too! – Maraming salamat din sa iyo! 🙂
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Salamat and Walang anuman. I can remember these 😀 Salamat.
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Walang Anuman Anand 🙂 Magandang Araw Sa Iyo = Good Day To You. You can tell your wifey = Mahal Kita = I love you and Maganda ka sa aking paningin = You are beautiful in my eyes 😛
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The second part might be a little more difficult to say. I just tried Mahal Kita, and she responded with main ki kita? (What did I do? in Punjabi.) main = I, ki = what, kita = did. I think I must try it with a single red rose…Salamat so much.
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Hahaha lol 🙂 I think she will definitely appreciate that single red rose 🙂
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She’s understand, by association. And yet, if mom sees me with the rose…
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Hahaha lol 🙂 It seems you don’t usually gives rose…give them both roses lol 😛
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They might’ve…or it could’ve been the other way round. Aryans brought to India a language that evolved into Sanskrit. If we were to travel 5000 years ago, we did share a common ancestry.
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About Inquire and Enquire, I personally can inquire and enquire with equal ease.
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Now that I am no longer about being incorrect …. so can I 🙂
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Twu deffirant vuwals – whet defferanc dus et mek?
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None at all my friend
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Here’s my two cents: first, very funny post. :D. Second, enquire and inquire: check this page- http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/enquire-or-inquire .
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First cent pocketed with gratitude. Second…off to check….OK. Checked. So Inquisition has its roots in inquiry. Inquiry is formal, enquiry is informal. Isn’t English a tad separatist?
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Nah, just a case of ’empire’ (English) vs ‘rebels’ (us!) After all, we use a ‘closet’ for clothes, the Brits use it for, a-hm, other thing. BTW sent you message thru your ‘contact me’ page about the knitting pattern.
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Hello Malarkey-Snarky-Quirky-Anarchy Guru Anand 🙂
This post is wonderful in many senses. I enjoyed reading it. It’s not just humor but a lot of wisdom. I was doing some soul-searching as I kept reading and I was thinking–oh I am also doing this blabberwockying-index-out-of-bounds exception 😀 😀
I was not familiar with Punjabi saying. Thanks for sharing.
As I was reading Shine’s comment : Mahal Kita
I thought it might go well in Punjabi as Mahal Kitta! ?
Such beautiful discussion. This is what makes blogging a nice experience for some of us with a lot of time to spare. Keep them coming!
Finally thanks for so many kind words, I am feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and other positive emotions 🙂 🙂 ❤
Cheers!
Anand
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Anarchy? Anand’s Anarchy?! Can’t take away the crown from wifey’s Keju bhai, can I? (Ref: The QSM Magazine.)
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Ohoh, still waiting to go through treasure-house of QSM. My apologies. Would surely check before your next edition comes out. When would that be due? 😛
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I understand. Don’t worry. Haven’t decided about the next issue yet – monthly or bimonthly. I think I’ll toss a coin.
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Glad. I don’t want to miss it for the world 🙂
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Vibrant, don’t push yourself. It’s a fun magazine and there’s no deadline. It’s going to be there for all eternity 😀
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Thank you so much. Though I would love to read it soon. Your articles are fresh breeze of air in my blogging walks 🙂
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Oye Paaji… paanv translates to feet and not legs! I can think of a hundred Punjabi sayings right now but none applicable to blogging… you must have a special talent for decoding it!
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Naaji. In my Hindi-to-English Shabdkosh (dictionary for the lost-in-translation non-hindi speakers who may end up reading this comment,) translates to both feet and legs and the original lines are spoken with “payr” and paanv” used interchangeably. My Punjabi is only a little better than my Bengali, and wifey’s vocabulary starts and ends at Pairi-pona. Mom’s my only anchor in the gloriously violent waters of Punjabi and she visits us twice a year, so I am now thrilled to have you here. Just one Punjabi saying that comes to your mind – just say it – blogging connect or no blogging connect.
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Dayum. I ramble and I’m deeply shallow. Well, two out of the three ain’t bad! LOL! I love those sayings!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXO!!!
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Thanks Catherine. Two out of three is great. In India, you pass a class if you get one out of three correct. So you’ve passed with flying colors. Read your post on your dad. An awesome post for an awesome dad.
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Chanced upon your blog via another one and I am floored by your way with words 🙂 Well done on equating sayings with blogging. So damn true, every last bit of it 😀
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Welcome to my menagerie. I just visited your blog and realized that your skill with words far exceeds mine. Glad you enjoyed the sayings about blogging 😀
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Hey Anand, great post 🙂 it was good to read Punjabi after so long, I have grown up in delhi so have been very VERY tuned to Punjabi 🙂
And here’s one for the non bloggers of the world…. Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad :p
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I am having to resort to replying to my own comment, it’s a bit of a low but I’m doing this anyway 😀
And one for people who can put across their message succinctly and powerfully: sau sonaar ki, ek lohaar ki.
🙂
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No. Not at all. It’s called adding value to some already dazzling content. What you said makes perfect sense. Sau Sonaar ki, ek Anita ki. (Sorry for the earlier typo. At this time of the day, I’ve just begun to crawl out of my shell.)
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How appropriate. From blog-addicts to non-bloggers who don’t appreciate bloggers and blogging. The next time she raises an eyebrow on my blogging-mania, she’ll hear this. Thank you for arming me, Anita.
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I just found this post and I am very impressed by your mastery. A really interesting, amusing and enlightening blog full of wisdom. Don’t take on too much is good advice and I’m taking heed. Thanks Anand and keep em coming 😀
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I just found this post and I am very impressed by your mastery of cut and thrust blogging techniques. A really interesting, amusing and enlightening blog full of wisdom. Don’t take on too much is good advice and I’m taking heed. Thanks Anand – fabulous! 😀
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Thanks Garth. Your sword-fight metaphor took me off guard. I am still not sure if it’s cut and thrust or just parrying away the blows of Writing101 assignments…but if you enjoyed my malarkey, its purpose is solved.
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I was referring to your prose, not the content. Slicing your way into the real message behind the saying with the cut and thrust of a true jabberwocky on his way to the office
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That sounds even better 😀 You are right. I do write on any idea that presents itself…this is why I call this blog quirky, snarky, malarkey! Thanks for the compliment.
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Glad to be the one to give it
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Thanks Garth.
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Congratulations! Your blog post was selected for Tangy Tuesday Picks edition on September 8, 2015 at BlogAdda.
Please find it here : http://blog.blogadda.com/2015/09/08/tangy-tuesday-picks-september-08-2015
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Thanks, Team Blogadda 😀
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I learned so much from this post and it was hysterically funny and insightful. thanks for the laugh, Anand.
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