Portents. They just keep getting funnier.

[featherynscale]

Somehow, the commentary on my post about visiting the Church of Math and Science morphed into an offer to bring adammaker and jackjob a portent when next we visited. And somehow, again, we were in the grocery store last night trying to work out what a portent looked like, so that we would recognize one if we saw it...

Me: "So we're bringing them a portent. What does a portent look like?"
triadruid: "Um. I'm not sure. I don't think I've ever seen one."
Me: "So why did you tell them we'd bring them one, if you didn't know what it was?"
T: "Actually, I think you said that."
kittenpants: "See. You started it."
Me: "Oh."
*beat*
Me: "Well, from the etymology, it must logically have something to do with a door, right?"
K: **boggle**
Me: "Port-tent. It must have something to do with a door. Or left. The left of the door."
K: "Or boats. As in, 'He looked up Moor in the dictionary and learned that it was a place where they tied up boats'."
T: "Or wine."
Me: "So, it's a boat-shaped object full of wine, at the left of the door."
K: "But you have to carry it over land."
Me: "No, that's portage. It's different. I think we're good on the port part. Now I'm moving on to the 'ent' part."
K: "Well, that's a large angry tree that talks to you."
Me: "So if we put it in a large tree to the left of the do-- Wait. They don't have a large tree to the left of their door."
T: "Dammit."

So this morning, I thought, well, if I hit Google Image Search, surely that will be enlightening on the subject of what a portent might look like. And it might have, too, had I not typo'ed and left out the R. *headdesk*

Comments

[celticwhistlin.livejournal.com]

It's conversations like this that make me want to carry a tape recorder in my pocket, just to document such *funny* things.

But then, last time I carried a tape recorder in my pocket it was to record how stupid my Chief at RPD was and to cover my ass incase he said something *really* stupid.

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

I'm all for it, as long as we avoid the "inescapably bad omen" aspect.
-=-
How about...
"The portent was ripped to shreds in the campground orgy."

Something like that...

[niveus-tigris.livejournal.com]

But I really think they meant Poor Tent in that case.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Well, if it's the loss of the tent, or missing such fine entertainment, I know which way I jump. Our tent isn't quite big enough for us, anyway :)

Not where my mind went...

[niveus-tigris.livejournal.com]

Really, the first thing I thought of was a 'Bottle of Port'. The Ent thing is funny though. Does anyone make Port with a picture of a tree on it? Or, can you get a small potted tree and put the Port in it and then leave it just to the left of the porch for them?

I'll go and insult the Oracle about this...

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

The most logical answer to me would be Port Ent, a seaside trading facility for gigantic animate treespirits.

[zylch.livejournal.com]

Oh, it wasn't that bad -- at least I didn't hit porn until page two when iGoogling "potent." When I did find it, however, it was dog/monkey porn from Operation Enduring Freedom, and that was disturbing.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Was a bit rough at the office, though ;)