Busy
Last week or maybe it was the week before (who knows anymore), I’d read one of Jenny Lawson’s posts, which you can go to if you click here. At first I thought she’d accidentally misspelled the word “busy.” But then it became evident that, no, she didn’t misspell anything.
Needless to say, I Googled — actually, I Urban Dictionaried these new-to-me slang terms The Bloggess used in her post.
And once you know what a word means, the best way to actually learn the word so you can recall it later is to use it.
So, the first thing I did was ask Lauren if she’d ever heard the term “bussy,” because I’d never heard it before. She is thirty-three years old and I figured that she might know; but then again, she might not either because it’s not like she’s in high school or even fresh out of college. Be that as it may, I completely freaked her out when I asked. So, I guess she did know. But then her reaction kind of freaked me out because she made such a big deal out of it.
The next day she was working from home and I overheard her talking to two of her co-workers on speaker phone. She told them that I asked her if she’d ever heard the word “bussy.”
“Can you believe she asked me that?” she said to her co-workers.
“She’s my mother! I’m her daughter!”
No one said anything. Dead silence.
So then she asked, “Y’all know what that word means, don’t you?”
And they didn’t. And they were young-ish, too. But, apparently, not hip enough. But now they know. So there’s that.
Also, it’s probably a good thing they don’t have an HR department at the company where Lauren works.
Speaking of hip,
Lauren once told me years ago that I couldn’t be “hipster” when I first heard that word. I told her I could be a hipster if I wanted. It sounded “groovy.”
She said, “I don’t know what you think that means, but no. Trust me, you can’t.”
I told her, “Oh yes I can. I have hips. Lots of hips. And people used to think I looked like a hippie a long time ago. Isn’t that what it means, to be an older–ish hippie living in the 21st Century — with just wider hips than before?”
She kept shaking her head and saying, “No. That’s not what it means, Mom! Not even a little.”
I finally said, “Well, okay. So why don’t you think I can, then?”
Lauren said, “First of all, hipsters have a certain look. They wear stuff and don’t care what anyone thinks.”
Then she looked at me. I was wearing a stained, blue flannel shirt that barely covered my underwear. My hair wasn’t brushed either. Oh, and of course, the only other thing I was wearing were my glasses.
“I think this qualifies,” I said.
“Okay, first of all,” she argued, “you don’t dress like this all of the time. Plus, you’re not going out of the house looking even remotely like this because if you did I’d disown you. Plus, you care too much about what other people think, that’s why! It’s as much an attitude and lifestyle as a look.”
So then I folded my arms and rolled my eyes. “Whatevs. You can’t put limits on my potential, Lauren!” I said this as I dished up a bowl of antioxidant blueberries and probiotic yogurt with the local honey I’d purchased at the farmer’s market.
After a few seconds I said, “See, I’m a hipster!” Then I started singing a made up song about having wide hips and feeling groovy all in a very ironic way. “I think Alanis Morrissette would appreciate my song,” I said.
That’s when she sighed and walked away saying, “I can’t even…”
******
New Words
Anyway, in the spirit of introducing new words into my vocabulary, I added these new words/ phrases: “bussy,” “bussin'” and “no cap” into my book because why the hell not?
Also, David and I were watching an older Law & Order episode and one of the perps said, “…no cap.” I just about wet myself because I’d never heard it used before and then, there it was! It’s as though the Universe wants me to know these things and use them!
So then I was going to give y’all a sneak preview of what I wrote in my book about the above. Except David nixed that idea because it’s kind of graphic. He doesn’t think I should put that kind of content on my blog. Or that I should even say those things out loud. That’s probably for the best because we’re trying to keep things classy-ish on Wayward Sparkles these days, which, in part, is why I’m writing my book. Now I have a place to write the things that some might object to on this blog. Because I’ve listened to what many of you have said over the years!
So, if you want to find out what I wrote that I’m not publishing here … it will be in the book — even if David objects.
Because of all of this, though, I’ve made up a new word. Unfortunately, once again, I can’t get into what it is on this blog because it’s pejorative. My hope is that one day it will be nurtured along and actually grow into a full-fledged expletive!
Then I’ll hear my made up word from someone I don’t even know; and it will be like, “Aww, baby’s all grown up and out in the world!”
Anyway, Lauren and a friend of hers helped me out with this on Saturday. Now they’re just as excited to try this new word out. “As long as y’all don’t get into trouble,” was all I said. But “Coraline,” as she will now affectionately be known henceforth is excited she’s in my book because she came up with the exact phrasing — because it’s not just a word, it’s a word with phrasing; a backronym to be exact. And I do love a good backronym.
Also, I met with a friend the other day and she asked me what I did for fun. Do I go places? Do I watch movies? And other than bum me out because I couldn’t think of anything, the next time we meet (she thinks I need to get out of the house more often), I’ll ask her to ask me again. “I make up naughty words for fun” is what I’m going to tell her! But then she’ll probably want explanations and so … maybe not. We will be in a public place after all.
That’s okay. It’s all bussin’!
*************
So last week, I asked what was going on in the world and I looked up for a minute and WHOA! Blogger friend Tanya was right — nothing good!
Hope all the wars come to an end and that light, love and healing takes place!
and
and
Keep it real and stay chill,
Mona
OMG I can finally find your blog posts. You know I don’t know what the hell is going on with WP, but it’s been a shit show since they converted and made everyone start using the JetPack app. Ugh, but I can see that you post from other links but I don’t get a notice when there’s a new post of yours. I followed your blog name here. But, I’m with you on the new words, I love Jenny Lawson, my son gave me her latest book for Christmas last year, and she signed it!!! Anyway, I can relate on the “What do you do for fun” thing, I believe someone asked me that the other day and I said, “I cyberstalk people, that’s what I do for fun.” Obviously they didn’t have a sense of humor, but that’s another story.
Hey Huntress,
I don’t know what’s going on either! The only way I’ve found I can get to you (and that’s just been recently) is through Word Press Reader. Even then I have to use search. And I know that I follow your blog. Such are the mysteries of life, though. Anyway, I’m glad that you’ve found me and I can find you again! I have a friend that turned her penchant for stalking people into a career. She became a Private Investigator. She carries a gun and everything. She loves it. And I haven’t talked to her in a few years now. I need to give her a call one of these days. Anyway, I love your sense of humor! Mona
I love The Bloggess. She’d know what words were what. I like being aware of slang, knowing its meaning, but I do think that a certain age using current slang is like “mutton dressed like lamb.” Just don’t do it.
Ally,
So, you’re like the anti-Nike slogan for slang! Personally, I think it’s fun as long as you don’t get too serious about any of it. Also, Lauren informs me that Alanis Morissette’s song is in the wrong century for it to be “hipster.” Hehehe. 🙂
This has certainly been an education. I thought I was pretty hip–hey, I was recommending Lil Nas X to people when he was just starting out–and yet I was unfamiliar with the word “bussy”. At least I know it now so I’ll be able to avoid embarrassing anyone by misusing it, although I’m not sure when I’d use it or who’d overhear me. Also I still sometimes say “I’m so hip I can’t see over my pelvis,” which is a line from one of the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy books. Decades ago when I first started saying it I knew that being able to quote any of those books made me, by the standards of the time, very un-cool, but so much has changed since then.
Anyway I do believe you’re hip. Why not? You’re inventing sweary backronyms and if that’s not hip I don’t know what is.
Christopher,
I’ve been meaning to read that book. Maybe I’ll dig it out of my closet and start that tonight. I know very little about it, except that 42 (it is 42, isn’t it) is always the answer, maybe? And thank you for thinking of me as hip, Chris! Likewise, I’m sure! And you’re cool, too! And you know, all of that is kinda groovy, my friend! No cap. 🙂
Oh great, now “bussy” is in my search history. I’m not sure if that’s “bussin'”. LOL!
lol! Rest assured you’re not the only one 🙃 And some of us had “no cap” next 😁 You know where I thought that one was heading… Instead, I learned about its etymology!
It’s fascinating how words impact us. Given your insightful comment about truths, Mona, this made me think of “No word matters. But man forgets reality and remembers words.” (Roger Zelazny) Words … define us in more ways than one? You have me thinking now!
EW,
Thanks for introducing me to Roger Zelazny. Can’t wait to check him out. What immediately came to mind when I read this was what Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Given the two sayings, I wonder is it the words or is it the feeling that one remembers? I think we can all agree that over time, reality gets distorted. As to truths, I’ll tackle a bit of that on your site, my friend!
Also, I’m so pleased that you can now comment on my posts. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this continues! Have a great rest of your week! Mona
Roger, I apologize ahead of time if you become offended. Hopefully, you won’t. Not everything is bussin.’ Whether that is or not, I really couldn’t say! Ha!😆🤣😆
Hahaha once I told my boys that I learned the term “thirst trap” and I thought they were going to die. My younger son just put his head in his hands, totally psychologically pained, and my older son wanted to know which one of my friends was doing thirst traps. The way he spoke about it was just pure horror. But I had heard it on a podcast and then googled it, and had to reassure them I myself would never make a thirst trap!
Nicole, I know, right? It’s great being able to turn the tables from when they were young and we became aware that they knew things we didn’t want them to know and then we had to have talks and the embarrassment of all of that. And now they find out that we know things that they only wish we didn’t! Mona
They said, “No cap”, as in the slang (vs “No, Captain”), on LAO??? That’s the show I laugh at for using words incorrectly!! To date, my fave is when people were being “injected with euthanasia.” It still makes me giggle.
LeendaDLL,
Yes they did. I don’t remember what the episode was, but I think it was an older one with Lennie in it. Since the actor who played Lennie (Jerry Orbach) hasn’t been on L&O for several years, I guess that phrase has been around for a lot longer than I realized. I’d just never heard it before. At least I think Lennie was in that episode. I’m not 100 percent sure about that, now. Once I heard the “no cap” line, I kind of freaked out and stopped paying attention. Ha!
My husband likes to call attention to when something has changed (that shouldn’t have) from one scene to the next on TV shows. “How come that guy’s wearing his coat differently than from the scene right before it,” he’ll say. Then we’ll go back and check and sure enough, someone screwed up. My husband David is definitely an eagle eye. Mona