Holy J_____s!

Those who know me well know that I rarely swear, but the first words out of my mouth this morning were 'Holy Jumpins'! It was a rude awakening to see snow. I'll apologize to my tender readers for using such profanity, but be it known that I occasionally say sh_t under my breath too. There....it's out. I suppose my political career is over with this revelation. Alas, I was never cut out for public office, like 51% of the people we elect.

Snow. We had snow overnight and it's only November 3. Sigh...drat/dang/shucks (a veritable barrage of profanity as Ian 'loses it'). I desperately need to rake my lawn this week, and my father's lawn too, so this snow better depart soon.

Stress. All of this PLUS it's garbage day today. I haven't even looked out my snowshoes yet. I'm wholly unprepared for this morning. Holy jumpins.

Holy jumpins. That's an odd expression, and it makes me wonder where it came from. So far as I know I first heard it coming from the mouths of Robbie and Peter Allaby, likely given to them by their older brothers. I doubt that speaks to its origin. I'll do a little internet sleuthing to see what I can find, even though most of what you read on the internet (this blog included) is full of shit stuff.

Here's some copy that I stole from someone else's blog:

Most folks tend to agree that the phrase is one of many used as  alliterative euphemisms – phrases to replace profane swearing or cussing.  Instead of crying out, “Jesus!” or “Jesus Christ!” different words were substituted that had the same initial consonants.  So for “Jesus!” folks might shout out “Jeepers!” or, for “Jesus Christ”, “Jiminy Cricket! and Jeepers Creepers!” are common substitutes.  The list is endless.  One of my favorites I first heard when we lived in the northwest corner of Vermont, in St. Albans.  The favorite JC phrase there is “Jeesum Crow!”

As far as the name, “Jehosaphat” (also spelled Jehoshaphat, Jehosephat, and about as many different ways as you can think of) goes, he was a prominent King of Judah, the son of Asa.  There are a number of stories concerning this mostly righteous and God-fearing king that can be found in scripture.  Possibly the best known of the stories is found in 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20. It is a rather fun read – especially using “The Message” translation.  What you won’t find there, or anywhere else in scripture is a reference to Jehosaphat doing any jumping.  So, go figure.

And therein ends today's lesson because I've got to go outside. Someone pass me my gosh darned shovel.