A stone's throw away

Do you recognize the idiom in this cover headline? It's a play on words. A STONE'S THROW AWAY means something is not far, or it's very close. For example, you can say "The beach is just A STONE'S THROW AWAY from my house." This story is about the city's plans to replace the old, hand-cut cobblestones in one section of Brooklyn and replace them with machine-produced look-alikes. The reconstruction is basically to update the road surface, as well as the sewage, utilities, and water pipes underneath and bring them to today's standards. 

This PUN (play on words) is used because the stones are being thrown away, of course. In addition, some of the original cobblestones will be reused along with the new ones, which goes along with the meaning of the idiom--they're not going far. Many of the original cobblestones will be laid probably not too far from where they lie now. We can also say that they will be laid just A STONE'S THROW AWAY from where they are now.

Not knowing WHAT TO MAKE OF this allergy season

Trees are in full bloom everywhere, but where are my allergies? Just wondering. 

I'm completely AT A LOSS trying to figure out and explain what happened to my allergies this year. My hay fever never really KICKED IN, and I don't quite know WHAT TO MAKE OF IT. Don't get me wrong; I'm definitely not complaining. In fact, I'm grateful. Winter HUNG AROUND longer than we expected in the Northeastern U.S., so that may have kept the pollen AT BAY. I'm allergic to tree pollen. However, trees are now either in full bloom or sprouting their BUDS, and tree pollen is ON ITS WAY DOWN. Basically, my allergy season is pretty much over, and I only POPPED one single allergy medication back in early March. I'm definitely curious as to what will happen next year.

Have any of you LUCKED OUT this year, as well, and somehow EVADED seasonal allergies? 

vocabulary:

AT A LOSS (for words) - don't know what to say or do

KICK IN - activate; start working

WHAT TO MAKE OF IT - what to think of it

HANG AROUND - stay; linger

AT BAY - at a distance; in control

BUDS - young leaves, shoots

ON ITS WAY DOWN - going down 
POP medication - take medication (slang)

LUCK OUT - be lucky

EVADE - not be hurt or captured

Inspiring lines with a potent message

A nod,/ a bow,/ and a tip of the lid/ to the person/ who coulda/ and shoulda/ and did. Robert Brault
— I Tweet Wisdom (@iTweet_Wisdom) March 30, 2013

I CAME ACROSS this poem by Robert Brault on Twitter and was STRUCK by its inspiring message. It's like a short story with a somewhat unexpected ending and a POTENT reminder for all of us to FOLLOW THROUGH on our goals and dreams. It's called "A Poem Missing the Word Woulda."

In English, coulda, shoulda, and woulda (could've, should've, & would've) often go together when we talk about regrets about the past. It's true, isn't it? We do TIP OUR HATS to those who actually do something and act on their dreams instead of just making excuses later. (I would've done that if ...)

Robert Brault is a writer from Connecticut. His blog, A Robert Brault Reader, has lots of inspirational and insightful poems and quotes. You should check it out, especially if you like the poem above. He is also The Quote Guy on Twitter @RobertBrault1 

COME ACROSS - encounter; see
STRUCK (strike) - hit; impressed
POTENT - powerful
FOLLOW THROUGH on something - finish what you start; pursue completely
TIP OUR HAT to someone - recognize; acknowledge / tip of the LID (cover, as in a cover for the head) 

Btw, I'm also on Twitter @joeyu2nd and on Facebook as the small guide site. FOLLOW and LIKE! :-)