Dr. Metablog

Dr. Metablog is the nom de blague of Vivian de St. Vrain, the pen name of a resident of the mountain west who writes about language, books, politics, or whatever else comes to mind. Under the name Otto Onions (Oh NIGH uns), Vivian de St. Vrain is the author of “The Big Book of False Etymologies” (Oxford, 1978) and, writing as Amber Feldhammer, is editor of the classic anthology of confessional poetry, “My Underwear” (Virago, 1997).

August 2011

  • Reposted from January, 2007, and just as pertinent now as it was then: High on the list of The New York Times' "most e-mailed articles" is one that's catchily titled "What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage," by a writer named Amy Sutherland. Apparently it's a well-regarded, influential essay. I think it's misleading and wrong-headed,…

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  • When we arrived in Bradford, Vermont in 1967 (during the troubled waning years of the LBJ presidency), I remarked to Mrs. Dr. M., "this "downtown" looks like it hasn't changed a bit since the 1920s." The downtown was one block long then; it's no more extensive now, forty-four years later. And not much different. We…

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  • The number of Republicans who are waiting for a signal from God about whether or not to run for president  of the USA continues to grow. They're waiting and waiting and waiting. And meanwhile, surprising is it may seem, God the Father revealed himself to me — me! –just last night. He woke me out of a sound sleep…

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  • I'm reconciled to the idea that death comes to all, but nevertheless, there are a few earthly things that I'm genuinely going to miss. Is there anything more wonderful, when you've been out early in the morning in the rain or in a heavy dew, and your feet are wet and cold, than returning home…

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  • Lola and I brought some windfall apples to the horses. The horses are Morgans, very friendly, but intimidatingly large to a 22-month-old child. We stood on one side of the gate, the horses trotted up to the other side as soon as we announced our presence. They like to lean over the fence and look in our pockets…

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  • Dr. M.:  "The John Deere guy was over here the other day and he told us a story about a fellow who had a 450 just like ours. He had the forks on the tractor, the kind you use for picking up the round bales. He was working in his woods, trying to bring down…

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