photocredit: www.dzbreaking.com
BY: RACHEL SMITH
**Warning – Random Rachel-babble ahead**
As I’m currently on the tail-end of a basement remodel, I have yet to move into my new office. At the moment, all my furniture and paperwork, my printer, bookshelves and gigantic safe are piled into the center of the room. It makes attempting to work and write in peace a tad tricky, so for now I’ve taken up refuge at my kitchen island.
Not that I’m complaining, really. You see, my backyard overlooks Fieldstone Pond on the Northeast end of town, so my view is spectacular.
Except today. Today… not so much, because it’s raining cats and dogs.
And as I stared aimlessly out the window, wondering what I should write about this morning I thought, “What does that even mean? Raining cats and dogs?”
And no, I have not had any wine today. Yet.
I mean, I figured it was just an expression, something someone said that happened to catch on but was complete nonsense.
When in fact… it’s a real thing. Sort of.
The meaning of the phrase is that it’s raining very heavily. However, the origin of the phrase is a little more complex. Apparently, the actual origin is inconclusive, so here is some random speculation. It is thought, according to www.worldwidewords.org, that in olden times, homes had thatched roofs in which domestic animals such as cats and dogs would like to hide. In heavy rain, the animals would either be washed out of the thatch, or rapidly abandon it for better shelter, so it would seem to be raining cats and dogs.
Now… this seems a bit implausible, unless back then everyone had tiny dogs, because a thatched roof is basically just thick straw piled high. There’s not even wood to support it. So really, how would the cats and dogs (or other small animal creatures) get up there and be supported?
Odd.
Another version says the term came from the word ‘catadoupe’ which means waterfall. But then, that can’t be right, because how did the dogs get added in? In case you’re wondering… there’s no such word in any language as ‘dogadoupe.’
Thus… my journey to find the answer to this peculiar little phrase has reached a stand-still.
Wow… I can waste time better than anyone, right?
As I finish this, it seems the darn rain is going to continue throughout the entire day, putting a great big damper on the incredible Thursdays on Main we had planned for tonight.
Boo. The event tonight is cancelled, but Nick Hickman will perform at Rookies from 7-9pm. He is AMAZING, and I highly suggest you get in there to see him tonight! Or stop out to the Surf Ballroom and check out their Summer Showcase with The Time Burners and Moonrise Blue.
But if live music is not your thing… I encourage you to still enjoy a night out on the town! Visit one of our FANTASTIC restaurants, or stop in to one of the many local bars or Lake Time brewery for a drink. For a complete listing of all sorts of food and fun, go to www.clearlakeiowa.com