As far as I know, I will be writing for KTK this Saturday and oxt Saturday. Don't know what I'm talking about? Behold: oxt.
I don't know about you, but I've always been confused by the phrase "next weekend." "This weekend" is simple enough--it either means the weekend we are currently in or the immediately following weekend. But "next weekend" can mean different things. Literally, the next weekend is this weekend. It can also mean the weekend after this weekend. I've sometimes had plans foiled because I thought we were planning for the weekend after next, when others were planning for this (or next) weekend. See? I'm confused just writing this paragraph.
To combat this confusion, we have adopted the practice of saying "not this weekend but the weekend after." Okay, that clears up any confusion, but it's a mouthful and seemingly unnecessary in a rich and varied language. Why is there not a word for "not this weekend but the weekend after"? Well, there is, and there has been for some time now: oxt.
The word does exist, but it just hasn't exactly taken off yet. I didn't even know about it until I read an article
on Vox today about "the new word that will make your life slightly simpler, forever." Yes, it's a completely random and made-up word created by people on the Internet. But who cares? If "srsly" can be added
to the Oxford Online Dictionaries, why can't "oxt" enter our lexicon? And as the Vox writer points out, it could potentially save you literally tens of seconds every week. Tens of seconds! Who can argue with the necessity of "oxt" now?
This isn't just about planning our weekends, either. "Oxt" can be used for a myriad other purposes. Vox offers a few ideas:
Hilary Clinton is currently prepping to run for president oxt year (that is, 2016). Take the oxt left to get to my house. Qatar is hosting the oxt World Cup. I think we should spend oxt Flag Day in Montana!
Oh, the possibilities!
Of course, the only way for the word to take off is to just start using it and stop using "next weekend." Some may think it silly, and it will have to come with an explanation at first, but I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to start using "oxt" in my everyday language. If you like the idea of the word, consider doing the same. Or, you know, keep saying "not this weekend but the weekend after." Meanwhile, I'll be rolling in my extra tens of seconds! What to do with all of that free time...
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Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community series for those who wish to share part of the evening around a virtual kitchen table with kossacks who are caring and supportive of one another. So bring your stories, jokes, photos, funny pics, music, and interesting videos, as well as links—including quotations—to diaries, news stories, and books that you think this community would appreciate. Readers may notice that most who post diaries and comments in this series already know one another to some degree, but newcomers should not feel excluded. We welcome guests at our kitchen table, and hope to make some new friends as well.
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