I love end of the year lists and reflecting on another year gone by.  This (and Christmas) is what makes December one of my very favorite months.  I was recently reviewing the words that were added to the Merriam Webster Dictionary for 2009 and a few of them stuck out to me:

Sock puppet: “a puppet made with a sock.”  Interesting.  Maybe this could have been inducted back in the 1950′s.  I’m pretty sure everyone knows what a sock puppet is these days.  Perhaps “Wii” would have been a more apt entry, but I presume Merriam will get that in sometime around 2032.

Waterboarding: “an interrogation technique in which water is forced into a detainee’s mouth and nose so as to induce the sensation of drowning.”  This makes sense to add it in 2009 because I hear a lot about it.  However I had no clue what it actually meant so this one was really more of a learning experience for me.  I thought it had to do with some white collar crimes or something.  Oops…

Reggaeton: “popular music of Puerto Rican origin that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms.”  I freakin love reggaeton!  Daddy Yankee?  Yes please!

Locavore: “one who eats food grown locally whenever possible.”  This one is just cool; I had never heard of it before.  I like it.

Shwarma: “a sandwich especially of sliced lamb or chicken, vegetables, and often tahini wrapped in pita bread.”  WTF?  This is like putting chimichanga in the dictionary.  But I looked, and it is too.  I guess the dictionary is a food guide too.  Howevere, I searched grilled cheese, but it was not in there.

So as we look ahead to what exciting words will come to define 2010, please join me in lobbying to have “grilled cheese” inducted into the dictionary!

For more information on 2009 words, or if you’re just nerdy like me and enjoy dictionaries and such, see Merriam-Webster online. 

Pet Peeve of the Day: People who turn right in front of busses.  It is highly dangerous, and ILLEGAL.

Quote of the Day: “You have to pay to get out of going through all these things twice.” –Bob Dylan