Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: The reports of my death

Dear Denizens of Dave's,
I just finished reading the eponymous thread that - Aw shucks - made me blush. Such kind words from so many of you - I truly appreciate them.
Yes, any reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated (thanks, Mr. Twain.) I'm alive, disgustingly healthy, gainfully employed (well, as gainfully as one can be if one is a teacher) though at present only part-time (20 hours a week, ESL Grammar and Critical Reading, at Santa Fe Community College & some private tutoring), very happily married and enjoying life in the city of Holy Faith with my lovely wife, 2 dogs and 1 cat. I'm progressing gracefully (so far, anyway) into geezerhood; in fact, next month I'll be getting my first Social Security check.
Life, in short, is good - actually, it's better than good. But having been absent from these pages for so long, I found that I missed your company.
And so, I'm back.
Warmest regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Welcome back John!!

We have all missed you. Glad to hear that all is well with you and your charming wife and furry friends. I expect that a bit of ESL at a CC is a lot less work than elementary school teaching.

VS

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

Wasn't it Mark Twain who said that reports of his death were exaggarated? Mr. Slattery will also be delighted that news of his demise were also overdone.

johnslat

Dear sheikh radlinrol,
It was indeed Mr. Twain who coined the statement:

Mark Twain quotation, made after hearing that his obituary had been published in the New York Journal.

Yup, I'm still alive, though I'm definitely living now in Geezerville. And to borrow another quote, this time from Bette Davis:

"Growing old ain't for sissies"

However, it certainly beats the only other alternative.

I hope all is well with you, the poster who has shown himself an exception to that old saying, "No Great Sheikhs."

Regards,
John

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

Ahlan e sahlan, John! (or something along those lines...)

EFLUndercover · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 82

You were very close Cleopatra.

It's Ahlan wa Sahlan.

eha · Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 355 Location: ME

Nice to know there's life after the Tefling years.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

johnslat · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject: Family easy

Dear sheikh,

"Ahlan" literally means "family, kinfolk."
"Sahlan" literally means "easy."

Loosely translated, it means, "May you arrive as part of the family, and tread an easy path (as you enter)."

"Ahleen" is just the dual of "ahlan." Sometimes words are dualized in colloquial Arabic to intensify them."

Lest you think, however, that I'm fluent in Arabic, let me confess that I simply Googled to get a detailed answer.

If I recall correctly, it's also the title of the in-flight magazine on Saudia.
Regards,
John

007 · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject: 1000 times welcome

Dear 007,

Recepci�n de mil veces, maybe.

Regards,
John
P.S. I cheated again - used babelfish.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

Takahiwai · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 93 Location: Libya

It would sound much less odd if you said 'mil veces bienvenido'.

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

Muy bienvenido.

Est� en su casa.

Pase adelante.

lall · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358

Welcome back, JS!

I'm a newcomer here and wasn't around during your tenure in the ME.

Did a search on your posts and have found them, as many posters have pointed out earlier, very mature. Great lucid style of prose and more importantly, error-free posts.

I was impressed by the good wishes and genuine farewells from a number of posters on Dave's, when you last said that you were leaving for NM. I'd like to be remembered like that!

Kullu Aim (San'aa) wa Intha. I hope I've got that right in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic.