Ode to Gizmo

Here he is... my cutie pie!

I dedicate today’s post to a very close friend – you know who you are – and her Hugo. 

If you know me personally, you know I’m totally and utterly obsessed with Mister Gizmo (a.k.a. Giz, Fiz, amore and some other twenty nicknames). Mister Gizmo is a black labrador that came into my life four years ago and showed me the meaning of true love, but also hard work and commitment. Gizmo is my everything – there’s no way I can put into words what he means to me. Even when he drives me insane with his non-stop barking and begging for food, when he destroyed two mobile phones, my favourite shoes, a passport and a chair because he was teething, and the dozens of times he peed all over the house after a two-hour walk… Gizmo has that something that makes your heart melt. Maybe it’s his droopy eyes. Or the way he knocks over glasses and vases on the coffee table every time he wags his huge tail. I’m sure everyone says that about his dog; still, Gizmo is special.

Our black beauty has epilepsy and is on barbiturates to keep his seizures under control. In theory his medication has a sedating effect, but the little rascal actually surprised several vets with his lively – make that hyperactive – attitude. We can take him out for three hours and he’ll still find the energy to play catch.

A dog can bring so much joy into your life, but it’s also a huge commitment. When you’re out having dinner, you know you have to be home by a certain time to take him for his walk. When you go on holiday, you have to beg your family to house and dog sit. Then there’s vet visits, expensive diet food, toys and accessories. But none of that is a sacrifice, because the unconditional love and loyal companionship you get in return is without a doubt the best gift ever. So take everything into consideration before adopting a dog, because a dog is for life.

I recommend the book Life with Beau, A tale of a dog and his family by Anna Quindlen. It’s short and sweet. And it perfectly describes the way I feel about my Gizzie.

Words I love

Today’s post is a little different. Since I work with languages all day, every day, I thought I’d share my favourite words with you – and explain why I love them so much. I’m not going to include the translations, because that would turn you into a lazy reader. I like a challenge, and therefore I challenge you to find out the meaning of the words you don’t know. Not by using Google Translate, but by finding a native speaker who can help you out. I said this in an earlier post: I like personal contact more than I like computers, so make this your task of the day. Communicate. Discover. And look at language from a totally different perspective. Pronounce these words, try to give them your very own meaning. Use them in a sentence. Find synonyms and antonyms. Have fun!

By the way, the languages are in no particular order.

Dutch

Sowieso: a tricky one – many native speakers can’t even spell this word. I think it’s trendy. It makes me feel young and dynamic.

Genieten: it doesn’t sound as peaceful and relaxing as it should, yet it conveys a certain calmness.

English

Gizmo: the name of my adorable dog and such a unique word. A tad aggressive and buzzing.

Odd: I use this one a lot (you’ve probably noticed). It’s short and powerful. And a little quirky.

Italian

Affascinante: passion, beauty, Italy at its best. Sexy, but not vulgar. Blissful. Reminds me of romantic restaurants in the Trastevere district of Rome.

Cucciolo: cuteness overload. Perfectly rounded pronunciation, I always say this with a baby voice. It reminds me of years gone by, green fields, blue skies and daisies.

Maltese

Ejja: when I moved here, I vowed never to include this in my repertoire. Alas, I have failed. It’s so typically Maltese. It perfectly reflects the local lifestyle, a little laissez-faire and a little rushed, but always cheerful.

Hanini: another word I thought (and hoped) I would never use. Adorable.

French

Bonjour: this word makes me smile. In fact, my first e-mail of the day always starts with “bonjour” regardless of the recipient. It’s French but international. It’s elegant and sweet.

Bonbon: how cute is this? Playful, delicious and a teeny-weeny bit childish, but in a good way.

Why not make a list of your favourite words? If you had to define a language using only two words, which ones would you opt for and why? What do you associate your favourite words with?