Venti

I recently learned that the Italian word for "20" is "Venti." My first thought upon learning it was "I wonder why in the world Starbucks uses the Italian word for "20" for their large drinks. The question has bugged me for the last month or so. Why?

Finally, last Saturday, as I drove to Jordan and Erin's wedding, I learned the answer! I had driven two hours on my journey and was in one of Houston's suburbs on I-10 when I realized that I had better take a bathroom break and get a latte. Finally, I found a Starbucks and ordered a "tall" latte with sugar free hazelnut flavoring (by the way, that particular Starbucks makes a very bitter latte with hazelnut). I looked up at the menu, hoping to learn a clue as to their usage of "20" in place of "large" when I noticed 5 tiny little figures immediately below the word "Venti."

They were the following:

2 0 o z.

"Aha!" I said, maybe even aloud. "Venti is so named because the beverage is held in a 20 ounce cup! Thus, Venti!"

Mystery solved.

As a quick wrap-up, I gotta say, "Bevo il latte."

gotta go. I'm learning some Italian while Pop takes a nap.

Love,

Lolly Fabulous

Wordology # 2

I love words. I guess as a writer, I kinda have to love 'em, yeah? They are the tools of my trade. I have a large number of books--that I have bought at Half Price Books over the years--that deal with language and words. Even the gardening book I'm reading--whilst I've been setting up my garden--discusses etymology at times. I've found myself fascinated lately by little tidbits I've learned here and there. Well, y'all--Dear Readers--are gonna have to deal with my fascination, I suppose.

Have ya heard the word "passel"? Its meaning is basically "an unknown large amount." For example: "Then cookies that ma o' yorn is a'bakin' shore smell purty good. I shore 'nuff could eat me a passel of 'em."

'Passel' comes from this odd quirkiness of spoken English. If there was an 'r' before another consonant in the middle of a word, it was the tendency of English speakers to drop the 'r.' Several of our words have stemmed from this bent of ours: cuss from curse, bust from burst and of course, passel from parcel. The word originated in the 15th century, but didn't become popular 'til the 19th century.

Anyway, there is some wordology for ya!

Hope you enjoy.

Love,

Lolly Fabulous