if this many fairly well-read people all had the same wrong definition of "bemused," doesn't this kind of become a prescriptivist vs. descriptivist thing?

By "this many" we're up to, what, five? Who knows--maybe less well people (and they do have numbers) know what it means justs fine.

OK. Merriam-Webster has "to cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement" as its third definition. I feel less crazy now.

I knew what bemused meant (and the shades of meaning around it), but I don't think it's a big deal to have confused it a little. Lots of times we learn words through context in books, and if we never actually look up the word it's easy to get ideas about their meanings that are slightly off the actual definition. I've discovered plenty of words that I didn't have quite right once I looked them up.

Families are so weird. I'm staying with my Dad's sister and she does not get along with either of her sister-in-laws who are also out here (one lives here and one is visiting).

I feel kinda stuck in between everyone. Playing peacemaker. Not that there is open warfare - it is much more subtle than that - but I'm still in the middle.

Tomorrow we are going to Wet N Wild...not that I brought my swim suit or would be seen in public in it even if I had...but hey, more time with the cousins.

I think we need Erinaceous in here for a consult. Stat.

Whoa! meara, representin'. Very cool.

Where did you have it done and did you like the service?

I'd like to get my existing tattoo embellished. Every time I approach someone who has ink I like for a referral, their work was done somewhere not here.

I'm listening to The Pogues. This was possibly not the best music choice for a night when I was already a little depressed. Now I'm more depressed and I want to go to Ireland. (Specifically Galway. Was there a few years ago, and had an immediate "Yeah, this could be me" reaction to the place. I loved all of Ireland, but Galway in particular was the place where I felt like I didn't want to leave.)

Hello, talky peoples.

Can anyone recommend a good gluten-free bread? The loaves I bought from Wild Oats taste like compressed sawdust.

Health~ma for L, Suzi. Cancer is terrifying, chemo only slightly less so. Rest~ma to Hil's mom. Good news from Karen.

Nice tat, meara! You are brave, it looks painful.

Is it too late to chime in on the name thing, since you all got me thinking about it?

I started going by my middle name when I went to college, and though I like my first name more now than I did, I doubt I'll go back to it. I tried on lots of different first names, only to find that my own middle name felt more like me than any other. If I ever did change my name, I'd drop my father's name and use my first name as my last name and maybe my mother's maiden name as my middle. If I got married, well, I'd change to his name if it were really cool. Better if he were willing for both of us to take the same new name, an idea I like a lot.

I hate it when people responding to an email from me misspell my name, even though it's right there in my signature. Yes, I understand that you're from Europe and you spell it with an "s" not a "z". Regardless, I spell it with a "z" and it's RIGHT THERE. I also hate it when people I don't know call me by a diminutive. I'm Elizabeth, all four syllables. I am the anti-Sparky in that nobody calls me Beth, ever. Liz is all right, as long as I know you. The only ones who get to call me Lizzie are people I've slept with and still like. I usually refer to myself in my head by the special pet name "Dummy".

Randomly, does anyone know how the name Vashti is pronounced? I always said "vahsh tee" but my cousin says "vahsh tye". (It's from the Bible, Book of Esther.)

Zen I assume you mean a yeasted-style bread? I've found gluten-free flour works well for quick breads but I haven't tried it for real bread. Which I guess means I'm still looking for one.

It's vahsh-tee.