Nomnomnomnom*

Ann Parker here, surfacing after a few days (? how many ?) of intense technical editing. It was one of those projects I had to dive into headfirst and push everything else out of my mind—things such as fixing meals, doing laundry, taking showers (!), and foregoing some sleep as well. I surfaced on Wednesday to relax a bit, then plunged back in, full speed ahead.

The good news: As of Friday night, the edit is done and off to the client for review, and the cleanup is well underway. As is the adjustment to my diet...

You see, it's all due to the face that I needed a lot more working space than what was available in my home office, so I moved to a large table conveniently located next to the kitchen (and all the convenience foods in the cupboards).

In the photo, you'll see my printer, laptop, a nice big monitor... everything I needed for those intense sprints through highly technical terrain. You'll also spot a few nom*-able items on the table that were orbiting around me during the last critical hours of the edit: coffee (see the cup back there and the coffeemaker?), potato chips, chocolate goodies (supplied by a dear friend at a quick noontime break today), and chocolate biscotti. What can I say? They were there, just a few steps away, and didn't require cooking (well, except for the coffee, I suppose).

The photo is actually halfway through my "after project cleanup" process, so things are a little neater than they were fifteen minutes before.

Now that THAT's done, I was hungry for something different to munch on while I created this post. I headed to the refrigerator to what was up.

I'll tell you, it was a scary expedition through the vegetable drawer.

An expired bag of shredded carrots that has started to turn a little... grey (yuck!). A celery bunch that had no more backbone (you know the type). A head of romaine lettuce that had almost "melted" into the bottom of the veggie compartment. And is that maybe parseley in that bag? I really don't want to look any further. It's a scene of death and destruction, a sort of vegan body farm.

I tried the next drawer down and... SCORE! A relatively recent head of celery and a unscathed red pepper. I found some hummus (amazingly still post-expiration date). Voila! Food for thought!

Or at least, food for this post. :-)

* Wondering what nomnom means? I swear, it is related to the post and the theme of the week. Check out InternetSlang right here for the answer. And happy noming to you!

-

Late-breaking nomnomnom addition! Liz's comment (below) reminded me that when I first heard this expression (must've been 2009 or 2010, from one of my kids), they showed me this YouTube below as the "start of it all." WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE CUTE LITTLE FUZZY POCKET PETS (you know who you are...), DO NOT VIEW THIS VIDEO.

Can't say I didn't warn you... ;-)

Comments

[Liz]

Thank you for the addition to my slang language reserve. I save these tidbits to impress my greatnieces etc. that I'm current with the 20th century (although they're wont to point out it's the 21st.)

[Susan Shea]

"A vegan body farm." Very good! I'll look up the new word but first want to tell you I'm impressed that you take on seriously deep research in your tech writing. I did lots of freelance writing over the years, but most of it was interview-based. As long as I didn't misquote my subjects, I was safe!

[camille minichino]

I'm nomnoming right now. Oh wait, I just turned it into a verb. That's a first; no one ever does that.

You're braver than I am on where you've set up. I wouldn't trust the passersby!

[Priscilla]

The kitchen is where I write! Note to self: keep no cheese in refrigerator... Glad you are a bit out from under, Ann! You didn't miss much: an asteroid hit Russia; the usual bombings...

[Ann]

Hello Liz!
Having two kids, one just leaving the teens, exposes me to all sorts of fun slang. And, oh my gosh, I just found the video I think my daughter showed me waaaay back in 2009 to explain nomnom. In fact, I'd bet this started the craze. Heck, I'm going to add it to my post! Here's the YouTube link, Liz, just for you! :-) http://youtu.be/SMWi7CLoZ2Q

[Ann]

Hi Susan! It's actually technical editing, or more precisely, copyediting... But in doing the copyedits, I always need to immerse myself in the applicable style guides and document requirements (which are constantly shifting sands beneath my feet), the document formatting and styles (which must be applied throughout), and a little about the topic, so I'm not inadvertently changing modal to model, for instance. If there are equations involved, it just ratchets up the intensity of the whole (my old Word versin doesn't handle these well). Editing projects really bring out the OCD in me... which is probably good for the project, but makes temporary "crazy times" for me. :-)

[Ann]

Of course I meant VERSION in the comment above. Already the focus is slipping... ;-)

[Ann]

Hi Camille!
You're right with the times. I've seen heard "nomnom," "nomming" and "nommed" (I'm assuming a double m here), and "noms" as a noun ("I'm going to go get some noms, I'm hungry...")
More words for Mattie, right? ;-)

[Ann]

Hi Priscilla!
Yes, I like this location--It works well, when the house is relatively unoccupied. It's smack in the "main living space" of hearth and home, so when the family has returned from afar, I shall move back to my little den where I can close a door as need be. :-)

[rita lakin]

nom nom LOL Doesn't everybody work in or near the kitchen? I wouldn't be anywhere else.

[Ann]

Hi Rita!
The kitchen was the heart of the household in frontier days... why should now be any different, right? The food's just a whole lot easier to obtain... :-)

[Liz]

Belatedly I realize what my dogs have been murmuring (nomming) to me. Thanks for the link.

[Pat Morin]

Very, very funny. Life must have been crazy for you lately. Nomnoming to taxes, then work. May I recommend chocolate ice cream to lessen the deafening sound during work?

[Mysti Berry]

I just realized my office is at the other end of the house from the kitchen--the only thing that saves me on the days I work from home :)

You're nom-tastic, Ann!!!! Thanks for a fun post!

[Ann]

Hi Liz!
Yes, I'm sure that pets the world over are saying "FINALLY... our owners are speaking our language!" ;-)

[Ann]

Hi Pat!
Crazy doesn't begin to describe it. O_o And another project due end of this coming week, plus three or four due end of March. Mustn't slow down now...

[Ann]

Hi Mysti!
Ah, that's very wise to have an office a bit further from the noms. ;-) I do better when I'm in my office behind closed doors. Well, except for my secret stash of chocolate and jellybeans...

[Michael A. Black]

Ann, your kitchen reminds me of Star Trek with all the bright monitors. And you seem to be moving at warp speed, too. Pass the choloclate and don't forget those veggies.