Hi, James!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

AH>  Nibs (n.)  Facetiously respectful title applied to a
AH>  person who is, or who considers himself or herself to
AH>  be, of importance.  In this example I'm using the term
AH>  as a nickname for Dallas's & my biological offspring...

JB>  Hell... I never knew *I* was "nib".


         Sure, why not??  Dallas is the male head of the household & I
refer to him as "His Nibs" on occasion.  You are also the male
head of a household.  :-)



JB>  All this time, I only equated it to a calligraphy tool, or
JB>  a pointy stick - as might be utilized in a Monty Python skit.


         The business end of a pen used with liquid ink, or a tool with a
point on it... yes!  Dallas & I often enjoyed watching Monty Python on
TV before Nora came into our lives.  I should have guessed you might be a
fan as well....  :-)



JB>  ...And how our vocabulary expounds to fit them big words
JB>  in, and what in the hills they mean.


         I think you mean "expands".  Our vocabulary expands, we
expound... for example, I learn a new word such as
"rhabdomyosarcoma" & then explain to others that it's a type
of cancer.  When I was a teenager I thought it would be fun to learn Greek,
but medical terms were not quite what I had in mind... [wry grin].



JB>  I was diagnosed with bursitis lately,


         Ah.  My father & various other relatives have had it too.



JB>  and while the malady was likely explained to me in passing,


         Same with me.  For example... it's caused by repetitive motion
such as sorting letters into pigeonholes, or (in your case) maybe hammering
nails.  The bursae are little sacs which provide lubricating fluid for the
joints, and when they become inflamed they hurt.  But I've never
experienced it personally.  :-)



JB>  when I started carting the damned thing around in my bag
JB>  of tricks, the importance to understanding it devoted a
JB>  little more grey matter to the topic.


         Uh-huh.  You are more motivated to understand this ailment than
others who aren't wearing it might be.  And you needn't worry about being
disqualified from practising your profession if you try out some
alternative therapies.  :-)



JB>  In a seminar, a woman popo-ed the notion of meditation
JB>  techniques.


         I think you mean "pooh-poohed".  ;-)



JB>  "If you approach it convinced it won't work, it surely
JB>  will not, but if you give it a chance, it just might
JB>  be useful." I deemed an appropriate reply.



         Yes, my response would be much the same....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+