Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Hi Martha and Grant, I am a native Southern Californian and have lived in the path of the Santa Ana's all my life (other than most of my military time). If I heard correctly today one of you said that the Santa Ana winds are called that because they come through the Santa Ana Mountains. Actually they are called Santa Ana winds because they come down the Santa Ana Canyon and river bed. The Santa Ana Mountains are located near the coast stretching from Orange County into San Diego through Santa Margarita and through Camp Pendleton. Obviously the winds cannot originate there as the winds blow off the desert, down through the Banning, Beaumont pass into Yucaipa then into the Santa Ana Canyon and on down the river bed into the coastal areas. I was born in San Bernardino in the early 40's and have lived in Southern California all these years except for five years during my military tours in Washington state, Aleutian Islands and Viet Nam. I also spent three years stationed in San Bernardino at Norton Air Force Base ('65-'68).

My wife and I listen to your programs whenever we are traveling between home and Church on Saturdays and Sundays. We have a thrift store in Escondido which is located at the church we attend. We operate the Thrift Store in support of our ministry to men with developmental challenges. We leave there at noon and catch you on the way home. We also listen to you on the way to Church on Sunday mornings. It is about a thirty minute drive and we so enjoy listening in and we learn so much from your program. I especially enjoy the colloquialisms and their roots.

I am somewhat a literalist and make a game of possible double meanings through questioning or answering the person speaking with other than the intended interpretation. Needless to say, they are sometimes annoyed, or better put, I can be annoying. As an example my wife might ask me, referring to dinner, “Did you like this honey?” and I might reply “I didn't taste the honey.” Questions I stay away from are questions like “Would you like to help me ‘do' the dishes?” Not a time to be funny.

Other than being a Pastor, for the past 45 years I have been also an occupational health and safety professional. In that profession I have to investigate incidents that produce property loss or injury to someone or something. In the questioning of witnesses and/or the injured party, I have to make sure that I understand what they mean as contrasted from what they say. I have learned that many words are understood and interpreted in variety of ways based upon cultural and educational backgrounds. I have to keep my mind open to the possibility of the interpretive variations. Word clarification is also useful when being questioned in a deposition by attorneys as I can ask for clarification of words they use to better frame my answer. This is extremely important when you are getting paid by the hour.

Our ministry is to men with developmental challenges and we are building a residential program for them here in Valley Center. You can learn more about our ministry at the web address below and if you like avocados or want to send some California Hass avocados to friends or relatives you can go to our avocado store. All proceeds go directly to the ministry.

Fred Gillett, Pastor
The Timothy Circle
760-742-3636 cell 714-423-1034
Ministry info. http://www.thetimothycircle.org
Order Avocados http://www.theavocadostore.com