Why are these little rows of period punctuation so useful to me? Critics have opined that ellipsis is often used when the writer cannot think of anything interesting to add to an already useless bit of prose. However, as you can see, I like to use this handy little technique at the beginning of a sentence. I suppose it's possible that I employ ellipsis when I can't think what I want to say. Yes, that could be it! Now that I think about the matter, I believe that a nice downhill push from four little dots can really set me rolling – as you can see herewith.
.... However, all digression aside, I do want to update you, reader (and I'm sure there is only one of you – in fact, it may be that I have met the Reader, and it is me, to paraphrase the immortal Walt Kelly).
It's been over a week since I wrote here last; the election of Barack Obama took our collective breaths away, so perhaps that is why I've been derelict in my duty? On the night of November 4, youngest son Jim set up a fantastic chat room for the family, easily accessible and highly amusing and exciting for all of us. It was a joy to share the historic event with my liberal gang.
After that night was over, we've just been getting back on keel here at the Woodland Cottage. We've done some shopping, some reorganizing of the house, some financial work connected with all that. And I've been reading voraciously – and writing small commentaries on what I've read, sort of mini book reports. I've been thinking of posting these here, from time to time, just for fun – and maybe to encourage any readers to check out the oldies but goodies on my "great books project" list.
Life is settling into a more organized pattern now, as we ride through this lull between the move-in, the summer and autumn visitors, etc., and the coming holiday season. It's nice to have a log fire going in the parlor on cool evenings, as we listen to all our beloved music CDs that have been packed away for so long. (John found a wonderful wall-mounted display case for the little disks, assembled and mounted it on the wall above our stereo cabinet, and filed all the music in good order.)
November was set aside as our quiet month, and so it has been; we thank God. We also look forward to Thanksgiving "down south" and to the beautiful season of Advent and Christmas ahead.
2 comments:
You have at least TWO readers. I always think Rowan's blog can only have me as a reader, as well, but Foley and several of our friends who have opted not to have kids have told me Rowan is their browser homepage. There's at least one parent out there that reads the blog as well.
Good stuff to read makes people's days better. I just count myself lucky that so many people in our family are writing good bloggy stuff so I don't need to go looking for the work of strangers. Although, I have found those blogs as well.
As for ... To me, they are textual pauses, and a way of leaving the reader to have their own thoughts for a moment. I've rarely been at a loss for words, so that can't be it :-)
Per the word elision, I thought that was the dropping of sounds/syllables in words, like the way we say laboratory ("labratory") vs the British way of saying every syllable.
eek, Souffle, you got me! the .... is "ellipsis"
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