NTMP #10: Truly, Dick

Shake your woodchuck

New-to-me Phrases, April 3, 2022

Aquafaba * Woodchuck booty * Jim Kitchen * Full melony goodness * Theenie Cleanie * Dick Truly * Menocore * Magnetic slime robots

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The Phrases, With Context

This week we have more amusing names, parrot utterances, slimy things, and pandemic-meets-midlife fashion.

Baby Yoshi the budgie, May 2021

1. Aquafaba

This phrase reveals what a culinary rube I am; I’d never heard this phrase that essentially means “bean juice” (eww!). Anyway, these chicky chickpea burgers by J. Kenji López Alt look really good, and in this video, he describes some of the uses for aquafaba. Also, I love his ordinary-looking kitchen.

2. Woodchuck booty

This phrase requires some backstory. If you weren’t aware that some parakeets can talk, well, they can. Americans tend to call them parakeets but actually they’re budgies, which is short for “budgerigar.” The etymology behind that word remains unclear but one theory is that it’s derived from an Aboriginal term for the native Australian bird.

We adopted Yoshi the budgie early in 2021 and he’s turned out to be the best mimic and talker I’ve ever known—on par with Disco the Parakeet. He also perfectly mimics my oldest son’s sun conure, Athena, and does a can pop-top opening sound when any of us come in from the garage with a can of seltzer.

Yoshi is also a cutthroat Uno player

I’ve always taught our budgies to say things like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” and “Shake your booty!” Yoshi learned all three very quickly, like the rock star that he is.

And so we come to this week’s phrase. Budgies will create mashups of words they know, properly placing nouns and verbs when they do.

Other phrases Yoshi shared this week:

• Jackson biscuit bird

• Shake your woodchuck

• Peter Piper picked a pickled treat (He LOVES saying “Yoshi treat?”)

Basically, a parrot is likely to pick up on anything you regularly say or do. They can even understand the vocal intonations of a joke and laugh appropriately.

3. Jim Kitchen

I just like this name, okay? It’s got a real “frontman of a Zydeco band” vibe to it. Maybe also “beleaguered Minnesota small town hockey coach quoted in the local weekly.” What do you think? (You’ll have to create a Substack account to leave a comment.)

Oh yeah, and this dude is also fulfilling a lifelong dream of traveling to outer space.

4. Full melony goodness

Whilst texting with my friend Tonya, I shared that for months I’ve felt depleted, like a hollowed-out melon. She said she hopes I’m able to return to my full melony goodness soon, and what a great thought.

May you also return to your full melony goodness soon if you’re feeling this way. 🍉

5. Theenie Cleanie

Another bird-related phrase - this one from my oldest son, Jackson. Our nickname for his sun conure, Athena is “Teenie Theenie.” We have all sorts of other nicknames for her, including:

• Teenie Beanie

• Funny orange bird

• Teenie Theenie Fettucine/Tortellini

• Teenie Theenie Jelly Beanie

• Theen Burrito

After a particularly vigorous kitchen sink bath this week, Jackson pronounced her “Theenie cleanie.”

Our little Athena

By the way, Yoshi also says “C’mon, Teenie! Good girl!”

If you’re inclined to leave a comment and start a discussion thread, tell me your pet’s names and nicknames! (You’ll have to create a Substack account to leave a comment.)

6. Dick Truly

This epic superhero/supervillain name came up on the ‘80s News Screens Instagram; I think it as in their Stories because I can’t find the original link.

Upon googling Mr. Truly, it turns out he’s 1) still alive and 2) kind of a big NASA deal as an . . . astrospy. What a great word! I did not know astrospies were a thing! Truly also served as head administrator of NASA for three years. Truly a dick for making the rest of us feel like slouches with our pathetic-by-comparison careers!

‘80s News Screens also has a Stories highlight devoted to cool names. One could do a year’s worth of newsletters just from that highlight, were one so inclined.

Also: LOL at Sandy Dix; hi I’m 12.

7. Menocore

I first encountered this word in a reply to a Twitter thread started by Helen Rosner:

As a menopausal hagbabe, to answer the original question the tweet poses: Yes, every generation thinks they’re the first to figure out that once the hot flashes and hormonal rage start in, we’re done with dressing or doing much of anything to please others. Comfort becomes paramount, along with a heapin’ helpin’ of IDGAF. Aging and menopause take a lot away from us, to be sure, but at least there’s this not-insignificant perk.

The replies to this tweet are a goldmine. Someone used the word “menocore” - presumably a play on normcore - and then I found this 2018 piece about it.

Other great descriptors in the Twitter thread include:

• Kooky Santa Fe aunt

• Coastal grandmother

• Wine and scarf lady

• Culture auntie

I need to track down a humorous take on menocore not written by youngs unironically co-opting this trend like they’re the first to discover it. Send it my way if you find one!

8. Magnetic slime robots

It’s great when a phrase precisely describes its meaning while also being as cool as it is gross and unnerving. A magnetic slime robot would make a great movie sidekick.