The Dust Collector.....

I have probably mentioned this a time or two…….or ten, but we (or maybe it’s just me) are trying to move back to the southland. Knowing the Bovine Hunter was on call this weekend and nothing would get done in the “major projects” department, I decided some packing would ease my driving need to get out of Dodge. It’s not that this is a horrible place, I am just one of those people that once I decide to do something, I just want to do it, not take forever. And this is taking forever. However, that’s a whole ‘nother story, so back to my point.

I was in the loft packing some books and by some I mean that thousands we seem to own. Okay hundreds, but still it’s a heck of a lot, when I came across a “College Edition Dictionary”. And the following conversation ensued:

Me: “Do we really need to keep this?”

Doug: “The dictionary???”

Me: “Yeah, we don’t really need it do we?” (I have been throwing out as much as possible)

Doug: “Yeah we need it, it’s a dictionary!” (Like I hadn’t figured out what it was already) “Especially with a kid around!”

Me: “What’s wrong with Webster.com?”

Doug: “Keep the dictionary”

So, here's the thing, well two things really;

A) When is the last time this book had even been touched? Based on the amount of dust on it, I am going to go with 3 years ago (yes that's how often I dust) when we moved in and someone put it on the self. Needless to say, I am not one for things that just collect dust.

B) I always hated when a teacher would say “look it up in the dictionary”, well lady, if I had a clue how to spell it I wouldn’t need the dictionary now would I. And since I don’t know how to spell it, how I am supposed to look it up? I mean really, I could look all day long in the “na” “ne” “ni” “no” “nu” but I am not going to find the word pneumonia. Not going to find “phalanges” looking in the F’s. Even “phonetically” doesn’t start with the phonetic letter. You know what you get when you type “fenetic” in Webster.com? Phonetic, along with a few other options, just in case that’s not what you were going for. Clearly there is a logical choice here between "Mr. Dictionary" and "Mr. Webster.com".

But I guess some people are old school. Although I have very valid points, the dictionary once again had been packed up and ready to move. On the bright side, maybe it will be like my mom’s records were to me when I was little; they were so fascinating that how they used to listen to music. I am sure Aida will find it one day and talk about how old that book is and how we used to do it in the old days!

When's the last time you looked in an actual dictionary?