09.16.08
Ho, ho; ho.
The economy being what it is, retailers across the country are breaking out the holiday-themed merchandise ever earlier. Halloween displays went up around St. Patrick’s Day, Back-to-School displays went up three weeks before graduation day, and I believe I just saw the first display for Christmas of 2009. Or so it seems.
But, alas, you’re probably behind on your shopping for National Punctuation Day, right around the corner on Sept. 24th. Not me. I’ve already erected my punctuation tree. I have to admit to using a dollar sign ($) instead of the traditional whatchamacallit-A (Å) for my tree. Yes, the tree I use is artificial, but it’s so much easier to erect and store than the natural trees, and either way, the most important moment is topping the tree with that little star (which all you Punctuation Day carolers know from “O Aster Isk of Bethlehem”). I’ve decorated the front of the house with strings of comma lights (my wife claims that they are actually BBQ-themed lights in the shape of red peppers, but I think she has an overactive imagination). Oh, and the ampersands are hung o’er the fireplace with care in hopes that Santubordinate Clause soon will be there.
This National Punctuation Day, I’m hoping to find a special T-shirt under the punctuation tree. It says “Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?”, and unlike my silliness above, that very T-shirt exists. It’s one of several fun products from the official National Punctuation Day web site. Such slogans are available on greeting cards, posters and “latte mugs” in addition to T-shirts. Delight your beloved anal-retentive persnickitors with such a goodie on Punctuation Day morning or Punctuation Day eve, depending on your individual traditions.
However, beware that Punctuation Day celebrants sometimes have vastly different belief systems. More on that anon, as we approach the big day, baking our period-shaped Punctuation Day cookies and popping popcorn for the tree’s ellipses garlands….
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JohnnyB said,
September 16, 2008 at 9:48 am
“Oh, , , all ye faithful………”
” – ing through the snow….”
“… a merry <>, … a merry <>, ……”
(I’ve never heard of “guillemets” before, but I hope that’s what those are)
JohnnyB said,
September 16, 2008 at 9:48 am
the guillemets are supposed to have double brackets by hypertext takes them out!
Susan said,
September 16, 2008 at 11:19 am
The meatloaf on the NPD website looks nasty!!!!!! Icky even.
Bill Brohaugh said,
September 17, 2008 at 6:42 am
JB: I tried, but I just couldn’t find any Christmas carols with “colon” or “slash” in it. Perhaps “round yon / mother and child,” but even if you know that the slash is technically known as a “virgule,” it’s a pretty sad attempt at a pun. So, once more, I must bow to your carol-making prowess.
JohnnyB said,
September 18, 2008 at 8:27 am
Bill, “virgule” for “virgin” is at least as good, no, far better than “guillements” for Christmas (though a nice set of guillements is a lovely Hannukah gift).
National! “Punctuation” Day… « Soupaddict’s Weblog said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:46 pm
[...] Punctuation Day | To help my friend and English language-meister, Bill Brohaugh, celebrate National Punctuation Day on Wednesday, Sept 24, my tomatoes and I have started a punctuation scrapbook to the mark (ahem) [...]