And why exactly can’t a person have his cake and eat it too? That expression bothered me for years, and I think I have the hang of it now.

As I alluded to in a column earlier this month, it’s difficult for people to agree on the meanings of terms we toss around, sometimes cavalierly.

For example, my friend and co-writer Lupita Gonzales says “having an ax to grind” refers to a person seeking a favor. That person carries a dull ax in hopes of getting it sharpened, free of charge.

As plausible as that rendition appears, a group of friends and relatives I visited during a recent occasion, insisted that the ax handler wants to settle a score and carries the tool for protection, or to inflict some damage.

The safest thing to do is to look in reference works. But guess what: The sources I checked posit both interpretations, so we’re no farther ahead.

The trouble is compounded in the belief that if I try to elucidate, I’ll obfuscate. Yes, in explaining, I’ll probably confuse readers even more.

That was one of the expressions, old-time sayings, that I came across from a Games Magazine two weeks ago and invited readers to explain that they mean.

When I retired from Highlands back in the Dark Ages, a colleague, Bruce Papier, gave me a going-away card that featured a voluptuous and skimpily clad woman named Edith. Alongside her image was that of a tempting three-layer cake. The card gave me a choice. But rather than confuse you — again — I’ll ask readers to explain what exactly Bruce’s card meant. Please email me your answers.

Most of last week’s entrants scored 90 percent, some struggling with the 20th item in the second batch and declaring “No Clue.” My disclosure is that, lacking an answer sheet, I too, had no clue for some of them and let the majority rule.

It was great to receive emails from so many readers, some of whom live in other states.

The entrants were Michael Sweeney, who wants even more challenges; Randy Domingues, from Rociada; Gene Leger, from a Washington suburb named Springfield, Va., and who added, “If you know a Leger, you know a relative,” and who’s been away from Las Vegas for 43 years; Sonya Berg, a Las Vegan since 2006, and who’s active in the AAUW, Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge and Amnesty International; and of course, my perennial sister, Dorothy Maestas, who never lets a typo go unnoticed nor unpunished and who insists these puzzles are “too easy!”

Others who submitted emails based on the first batch of expressions included Phil Brown, a retired insurance broker from the Rociada area; and Geri Herrera, a former alumni director at Highlands University.

These were the renderings of the expressions, disguised somewhat to represent the traditional meanings:

  1. Simultaneous possession and consumption of layered pastry is denied. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
  2. Diversity flavors existence. Variety is the spice of life.
  3. The benefit of a solitary captured avian subject is tantamount to a brace of secured quarry. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  4. Launching of geologic materials is not recommended for inhabitants of silica-based domiciles. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. And, if they’ve robbed a museum, they shouldn’t stow thrones.
  5. Maintain your dactyls in an entwined configuration.
    Cross your fingers.
  6. Planetary rotation can be directly attributed to amorous human sentiment. Love makes the world go ‘round.
  7. Unavailability triggers intensification of attachment.
    Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
  8. Weighed against rhetoric, behavior articulates at a higher decibel level. Actions speak louder than words.
  9. Do not fail to flip a single pebble. Leave no stone unturned.
  10. Forgo a fit of rage; however, hesitate not to exact revenge. Don’t get mad; get even.
    The final rendering, “Don’t get mad; get even,” seems to have stumped a number of readers.

• • •

It hurts to lose someone close. Dorothy Maestas (my sister mentioned above) and I (and two other siblings) lost our brother, Severino, last week.

He died of complications from prostate cancer, a condition, he said, he ignored for too long.

He grew up in Las Vegas and went — as we all did — to Immaculate Conception School for most of his education. Then he moved to Santa Fe and later to Albuquerque.

As you might imagine, recent trips to see him and his family in Albuquerque, were frequent. Severino left us on the first day of winter, Dec. 21. Then came visits to his family, a rosary, funeral mass, reception and burial.

And twice the threat of excessive snow almost forced us to return to Las Vegas.

Because his death complicated our lives, I found it necessary to make a few changes regarding Work of Art. I wrote a reminiscing column that appeared in last week’s Optic but was unable to fulfill my promise to provide answers to the expressions that appear in today’s issue.

I’m hoping to return to the regular schedule at least by the New Year.

And because of the outpouring of good wishes following our death in the family, I close with a traditional Gaelic blessing, one that has never failed to bring tears when I recite or sing it:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind blow at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rain fall softly on your field,
and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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