5:00 Fridays

I like words. I’ve been having fun with words ever since I had my first little ditty published in the Mini Pages back in grade school. This tidbit just boosted my cool factor significantly in my 6-year old’s eyes. I have even been known to keep an Excel spreadsheet of homonyms. My friend Will gives me endless grief for this, which is clearly a sign that he doesn’t have The Gift (never mind that “gift” means “poison” in German. We’re sticking with English here. And never mind that if you add an “s” to “poison” you get “poisson,” which is “fish” in French…see I told you I like words.). Anyway, I haven’t a clue how to use a spreadsheet for numbers, but it turns out to be a fine tool for alphabetizing my homonym list. I’ve been teaching Bird and Deal about homonyms ever since they could talk. I crack up when they discover one on their own.

“But/butt” was a recent example.

As was “booty.”

This is why I don’t home school.

Since entertaining season is almost upon us, I wanted to share a recipe for a refreshing, wait for it…punch.

Homonym Punch

In a large punch bowl (I totally looted one from my friend Christy’s yard sale pile. I bet your mom or your friends have an equally kitschy one in their attic that you can snag. By the way, that’s her up there drinking with me. One look and you can totally tell that she is awesome beyond words, right?), mix one liter (or litre for my British readers) bottle of ginger ale, 1 large can of pineapple juice, about 5 cups of mango juice, a small can of cream of coconut (not to be confused with coconut milk) and gently stir. Add a handful of fresh raspberries, chopped fresh pineapple, and sliced lemons and limes. Add Malibu coconut rum for the grown ups. Keep it virgin for the kiddies or your knocked up friends. But add a paper umbrella to give your drink that hanging-out-barefoot-in-a-hammock-tied-between-two-coconut-trees-on-the-beach feel. Even if it is Thanksgiving or Christmas. This is one way to give yourself a winter vacation on the cheap.

Cheers!

And if you have a favorite homonym, let me know in the comments. I could always use some new material in my spreadsheet.

By/Bi-/Bye!