Archive for the ‘Words’ tag
Life in Los Angeles
There’s no such thing as a good nard
We’re talking place names here. Of course.
6 September 2009
On Saturday, I had took a delightful drive through the San Fernando Valley, those northern reaches of the endless city of Los Angeles. The drive was delightful because of my companion. I should start there, yes, indeed I should. Anyway, we crossed a prominent street in the Valley called Oxnard Street. Also, there is a town here in southern California called Oxnard. The word Oxnard is not a good word.
In a previous life, when I lived in San Diego and worked for Hewlett-Packard in the northern reaches of that endless city, my work address was Rancho Bernardo Road. Again with the n-a-r-d. Some people, as I understand it, are fond of the name Bernardo for various literary reasons. “Pshaw!” I say. It’s hideous, absolutely hid-jus, at least when you are introduced to it by the street namers of San Diego. An horrifying proliferation of Bernardo’s exists there. Look it up on Google maps: West Bernardo Drive, Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo Road, Bernardo Court, Bernardo Heights Parkway, and on and on. Enough with the nards!
Thanks for listening. May your Labor Day be nard-free.