I invented a word

Asked a co-worker how she was doing; she said “Oh... OK.”  And she wasn't her usual cheerful self when she said it.

I said that was too bad -- she deserves better than that: she deserves to be extrabulous.


“Extrabulous” = “Extraordinary” + “Fabulous”


I enjoy portmanteaus.  :)


--GG

Going under

For the last week or two, when I'm about to get really focused on something, I tell my coworkers I'm about to "go underwater".

Basically, I put on my headphones, put a CD in the CD-ROM drive, and -- well, go underwater. Into my own little zone, basically.


--GG

Swag

Discovered another Aussie-ism last week:

Because the govt. department I work for is fairly new -- we were legislated into existence last October, I believe -- we've only recently received an official logo (and etcetera). We just got business cards two weeks ago.

So, I asked the P.R. person in my department if we're going to be giving away any swag at the upcoming focus groups we're hosting. To me, "swag" is free stuff that you give away to promote your organization: pens, t-shirts, baseball caps with your logo on them...

But to an Aussie, "swag" is your cowboy-style bedroll: e.g., "Once a jolly swagman..."


--GG

Awkward branding

There's a clothing store in the local mall that caters to middle-aged women. The store is called ''Wombat''.

A wombat is pictured (to left): they're a bit rolly-polly.

Somehow, I don't think that's the look to which middle-aged women aspire.

They **have** stayed in business at least since when I moved here, seven years ago.

But still: awkward branding.


--GG