2011-04-26

Canadian, Eh? - A Nerd for Words

I have a thing for words and phrases.  I love to learn a word's history and discover the story behind its origin.  Words fascinate me.  Yes...I'm really that nerdy.  I even keep a growing list of favorite words like shenanigans and nincompoop.  But come on!  Who doesn't love shenanigans?   My real fondness though, is for Canadian words.  Okay, I'll admit it's a very short list, but I love 'em just the same - words like tuque, toboggan, portage and two-four.
.  
tuque

toboggan



portaging 
two-four

(I've just about re-enforced every Canadian stereotype, haven't I?)


Well, I might as well go all the way then.  The word two-four means a case of 24 beers, which is significant because each year's first long weekend of camping weather celebrates Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24th, or as it's more commonly called:  May two-four.  And yes, it often involves a case of beer, a canoe, and sometimes even a tuque.  Now you know.   

15 comments:

  1. I feel I know Canada much better now (!) thanks!

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  2. LOL. I can laugh...I'm Canadian. great post.

    Still camp, but I portage 3 kids now, which means the tradition of the 2-4 has now given way to juice boxes. It's kind of sad - love a cold beer by the campfire -- but really, the kids just ruin the buzz anyway. I mean, they're like tiny drunks themselves: they shout everything, wet themselves, fall down a lot, tend to burst into off-key singing, then tell you they love you while perfecting the sleeper hold. LOL

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  3. Clare: I hope I straightened out a few misconceptions about Canada ;)

    RoryBore: Who needs beer when you have 3 kids to keep you entertained?

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  4. so true.

    On another note...Your blog title inspired me to scatter a bit of joy around the net today. I received the Versatile Blogger Award and am paying it forward to some of my favourite blogs -- of which you are one! Thanks for bringing a daily dose of joy to me! here's the post:

    http://amothersluv.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-first-award.html

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  5. Well, now I know so much more than I ever did about Canada, eh? LOL

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  6. Oh I loved the word shenanigan too...I first heard it one "Two and a Half Men" and got so obsessed with it that I found excuses to use that word!

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  7. Some words are just plain fun to say. Floozy is another good one. Oh, and I loved RoryBore's comment about kids behaving like tiny drunks. Too funny! We just spend the weekend with three of our grandchildren, and there's a LOT of truth in what she says!

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  8. I KNEW there was a good reason I liked Canada.

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  9. Love that you love words. I must say I'm not surprised. So how is it said "two to four"?

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  10. NIcki: It's just "two four", as in "I'm going to the Beer Store to pick up a two four of Canadian." (We actually have government run stores that sell only beer, and Canadian is a popular brand. We also have government run liquor stores that sell only liquor which - note the theme of a lack of originality - we call the Liquor Store.

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  11. The word shenanigans is marvellous! Thanks for the insight into Canadians by the way ya loon!

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  12. Hahahahahaha!!!! What a delightful post! So funny and witty and informative all at the same time.

    We have a saying here in Tennessee. 24 beers in a case and 24 hours in a day... coincidence?

    I love Canada and Canadian's!

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  13. The word shenanigans is marvellous! Thanks for the insight into Canadians by the way ya loon!

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  14. Clare: I hope I straightened out a few misconceptions about Canada ;)

    RoryBore: Who needs beer when you have 3 kids to keep you entertained?

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  15. Love that you love words. I must say I'm not surprised. So how is it said "two to four"?

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