Author Archives: Verla Viera

Though I left the regular work world about five years ago, in a way I’ve not really started feeling like I’m self-employed until recently. As an interpreter, I had total choice over which assignments I accepted, as well as where … Continue reading →

As anyone who lives in this country knows, we’re in the middle of football season. I’m not much of a football fan. That “Proud to be a Badger” bumper sticker I have on my car really refers to a different … Continue reading →

Because I’m writing a lot of reports as an investigator, I’ve invested in the Dragon speech recognition software. I have had trouble with tendinitis ever since I was a young adult. As an interpreter, I did very little keyboarding. Now, … Continue reading →

I had a Facebook chat today with a high school classmate of mine that included this exchange:Her: I chopped wood all day and my back is killing me. Getting old is for shit.Me: Word.Her: What? I usually talk about words, … Continue reading →

I learned a new word this morning–callipygian, “having well-shaped buttocks.” From the Greek kalli– (beautiful) + pyge (buttocks). A statue of Aphrodite in Syracuse was thus named, and the word sprang from there.¹ You’ll recognize the “beautiful” root in calligraphy … Continue reading →