Wednesday October 29th, 2014
Miss Melanie at Waverly mansion as part of her historical dissertation told us about a dining table wine cart. Said cart held two bottles of wine and she reported that these wine carts were the origin of the phrase ‘on the wagon’ or ‘off the wagon’. I could have just locked that away for future reference. I decided to use the Googlizer and explore further.
I don’t want to put Miss Melanie’s historical presentation under scrutiny…but. Consensus is that it is a phrase based on a water cart used to water down dusty roads. There are references in literature; “I wanted to git him some whisky, but he shuck his head. ‘I’m on the water-cart,’ sez he.” 1901 temperance reference and “Thank you, but; – er – I’m on the wagon, you know,” declined the youth. — Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Oakdale Affair. Well, that about busts the wine cart story. Unless I’m wrong?
Those who know me, know that perhaps only Cliff Clavin knows more useless information than I do. I’m proud of the fact that I can burst out with something totally off topic that induces almost funeral home silence and catatonia.
One of my favourite favorite Cliff Clavin’s is
It’s a little known fact that smartest animal is a pig. Scientists say if pigs had thumbs and a language, they could be trained to do simple manual labor. They give you 20-30 years of loyal service and then at their retirement dinner you can eat them.
Where was I?
We are in true retirement mode. It is raining and gray and we have decided to wait until tomorrow until the sun shines again. No plan, no schedule and no problem. The laundry can get finished and I will tackle a project. More importantly get out and walk a few miles. I simply have to report to T, the manager that we are planning to stay another day. We are booked into Demopolis for Saturday night. That means that we will have Halloween on the river at anchor. Trick or Treating will be a bitch. I will dress up just the same. Mary Lynn is likely to guess who I am or spray me with bear spray.
You may recall that i engaged the infamous Pet Detective to make subtle inquiries regarding the Christmas lady. I just received several images from the P.D. asking if he is getting close. We need to have a meeting.
