Category Archives: SAYINGS

OKAY I LIED ABOUT THE HERMIT THING

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Kit Troyer

There’s an old Buddhist story about monks raking up leaves at their monastery before a visit from a revered guru. When the guru arrives, he looks out at the beautiful grounds with an appreciative smile, then raises his hand as … Continue reading →

Posted in SAYINGS, SELF HELP, SPIRIT | 16 Comments

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A GHOST

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Kit Troyer

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is considered one of the greatest plays ever written. But it’s also a ghost story. The king is killed by his brother, who then marries the widow and takes the crown. The dead king re-appears as a ghost, … Continue reading →

Posted in COURAGE, HEROES, LITERATURE, SAYINGS, UNIQUELY AMERICAN BULLSHIT | 5 Comments

BUTCH AND SUNDANCE

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Kit Troyer

Even though I watched The Spy Who Loved Me nine times as a child, that was a drop in the bucket compared to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The 1969 western with Paul Newman and Robert Redford was basically on … Continue reading →

Posted in MOVIES, SAYINGS | 5 Comments

THANK YOU, MISS KOPP

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Kit Troyer

Yesterday I wrote about a bad teacher. Today I write about a good one — Janice Kopp. Miss Kopp was my 6th-grade teacher. She was strict, scary, a grammar fanatic, and … utterly heroic. She remains one of the two … Continue reading →

Posted in CHILD REARING, COURAGE, HEROES, MY CHILDHOOD, POLITICS, SAYINGS, UNIQUELY AMERICAN BULLSHIT | 31 Comments

PAVEL’S MOUSE

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Kit Troyer

A couple months ago, I clipped a news item for my wife. It was about an alleged rape at her old high school in New Hampshire. To me, the story was of passing interest, mainly because it occurred at her … Continue reading →

Posted in SAYINGS, THE ARMENIAN IN-LAWS | Leave a comment

BOLSHY, DOUGHTY SWEDES

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Kit Troyer

The grandparents were in town last weekend. They always inject some unpredictability into proceedings. For instance, I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of my 79-year-old mother’s attention to the NFL Draft Combine. For those unfamiliar with the Combine, it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in CHILD REARING, ICE HOCKEY, SAYINGS | 4 Comments

IF IT WAS A SNAKE, IT WOULD’VE BIT ME

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Kit Troyer

My wife is up to her old tricks again, mangling idioms at an alarming rate. Here are three recent mix-ups from my Beirut-born beloved. They threw you under the river Aleen was aiming for, “They sold you down the river,” or … Continue reading →

Posted in SAYINGS, THE ARMENIAN IN-LAWS | 7 Comments

BIG NOTHING

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Kit Troyer

My friend Dora Kuhn has a good saying for an item or event which fails to live up to the hype. Big Nothing. I thought of this when I saw the movie Hugo.  What a steaming pile of crap. An extremely beautiful piece … Continue reading →

Posted in SAYINGS | 8 Comments

THIS LYING-AROUND SHIT

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Kit Troyer

What’s the recipe for a good pep talk? To me, it’s Anger plus Encouragement plus a Little Bit of Crazy. A widely acknowledged classic was given by coach Herb Brooks to the US hockey team before their upset victory against the … Continue reading →

Posted in COURAGE, ICE HOCKEY, SAYINGS | Leave a comment

I SMELL A RAT

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Kit Troyer

Back in the saddle after long break in Montana. I know most of you come here looking for the mixed-up idioms of my Beirut-born, Armenian wife.  However, I am going to play against type today and write about NASCAR, guns, … Continue reading →

Posted in CHILD REARING, SAYINGS, THE ARMENIAN IN-LAWS | 7 Comments