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Glossary

This is taken from Bill's "Angela's World".


204 Miles
The distance between Harrisburg, PA and Pittsburgh. The distance Tony Poul would have driven to "stop by" to see Patty.

3
The number on Brian's jersey, Katimski's apartment number, symbolic that it is where Rickie belongs.

A
The apartment where Rayanne and Amber live. See Hawthorne, Nathaniel, "The Scarlet Letter."

ABANDONED HOUSE
Located on Cloverdale, reputed to have eight bedrooms, actually has just three. Jordan takes Angela there to have sex in "Pressure." Angela lies her way out of it.

ABYSSINIA
Geometry whiz who hides her scholastic bent from her boyfriend and tutors Angela for the mid-term.

AMBER VALLONE
Rayanne Graf's mother. X-ray technician. Once served a BLT to Bob Dylan, who stiffed her for the tip.

AMERICAN GAL
The ubiquitous fashion magazine in "The Zit."

ANGELLA
How Jordan Catalano spells Angela.

ANNE FRANK: DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL
The first book Angela's class is assigned at the beginning of the school year. Appears in the Pilot Episode. Angela likes it.

BALLROOM DANCING
A grouping of several styles dance which contain prescribed steps and are identified by the beat of the music to which the steps are performed. An experiment by Patty and Graham to rekindle the romance in their lives which has been lost because at the time they are working together at Wood & Jones.

BASEMENT
"We don't even have a basement"
"I can't do braids in a basement."

BED & BREAKFAST
The lodge where Patty, Graham, Neal and Cheryl spend "The Weekend."

BETWEEN NAMES
Interim name of Jordan's band -- sort of, after Tino walks out, taking with him the name "Frozen Embryos."

BICYCLE THIEF, THE
A movie. There is some controversy over whether Angela understands the movie only because Brian explained it to her. More controversy over whether Jordan Catalano would understand one word of it.

BIG GUY BURGER
The local fast food restaurant. Where Delia Fisher works, and the place where Cynthia Hargrove wondered if Angela had worked.

BILL AND HILLARY
President and First Lady. Popular Halloween costumes.

BLISTER IN THE SUN
The only song we know for sure Angela can dance to.

BOILER ROOM
Where Angela and Jordan go to make out. Likely where Sharon and Kyle go, "like constantly," as well.

BRAD
Hallie Lowenthal's erstwhile fiancee. Broke up with her at New Year's.

BRAIN
Brian, to a rudimentary reader with low literacy skills.

BRIAN
Angela's neighbor. Loves Angela. Straight-A student. Clueless. Heartless. The most self-centered low-down dog of all time.

BUFFALO TOM
Musicians. Played at Pike Street unannounced in "Self-Esteem."

CAT
The Chases purport to have one. Graham gives it better food than does Patty.

CHERSKI, ANDY
Sharon's father. Suffered a heart attack in "Strangers in the House," which Camille speculates may have been caused by a backless black nightgown.

CHERSKI, CAMILLE
Sharon's mother. Patty's lifelong best friend. Forgave Patty for a "Betrayal"-like transgression in college. In high school, spread false rumors about Patty making out with Mitchell Moscarelli behind the duck pond. (She did, but not behind the duck pond.)

CHERYL FLECK
Neal's girlfriend in "The Weekend." Idolizes Patty.

CLUB VERTIGO
Coffee house which held an "open mike" night where Jordan's band auditioned, and Rayanne's singing debut failed miserably.

COFFEE
"The old temptress." Jordan takes it "black with three or four sugars." So does Angela. Mr. Katimski couldn't give it up.

COLD CUTS
A favorite food of Jordan's. He takes some when he drops in on Angela in "Pressure," and eats a sandwich with Patty in "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities."

COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM
Comfort food, offered to Angela by Patty in "Why Jordan Can't Read," eaten by Rayanne and Amber after Rayanne's failure at Club Vertigo in "On the Wagon."

CRIMSON GLOW
A bright red hair dye which Angela uses in the Pilot episode. Makes one easy to spot in a crowd. Axl Rose.

CURRY SAUCE
A sauce made with curry. Does not include oregano.

CYNTHIA HARGROVE
A girl with a nose stud whom Jordan "ummed" prior to his relationship with Angela.

DELIA FISHER
A transfer to Liberty High in time for the "World Happiness" dance, craved Brian, but no longer.

DIETER, STEFAN
A chef who is to teach Graham's intermediate cooking class. Has a drinking problem. Once had a television show.

DOOBIE
A hand-rolled, marijuana cigarette. A joint.

DR. ALLEN'S GINGER-FLAVORED BRANDY
See "Hooch"

DR. LINDA SHIELDS
Narrator of "Guide to Better Loving" video in "Pressure."

DR. SKOLNIK
The Chase's family doctor. Advises Angela to use a condom and a sponge in "Pressure."

DRISCOLL, NICKY
A rebel without a cause, died on Halloween night, 1963; his picture "in memoriam" appears in the 1963 Liberty High Yearbook, published the previous spring.

DUH
An expression used to denote derisive acknowledgment of a statement of the painfully obvious.

DUH SQUARED
An expression used to denote derisive acknowledgment of a restatement of the painfully obvious. Also a term of endearment.

ECSTASY
A drug which Rayanne overdoses on.

EROGENOUS ZONE
Naughty bits. To Sharon, these include hands.

FABLE, THE
Angela's contribution to the Liberty Lit:


"Once upon a time there lived a girl. She slept in a lovely little cottage made of gingerbread and candy. She was always asleep. One morning she woke up, and the candy had mold on it. Her father blew her a kiss and the house fell down. She realized she was lost. She found herself walking down a crowded street, but the people were made of paper, like paper dolls. She blew everyone a kiss goodbye, and watched as they blew away."


FASHION SHOW
An event sponsored by Camille's church to benefit the battered women's shelter. Patty, and ultimately Danielle, participate, as well as other strange and complicated people.

FETOOTSED
An adjective used to describe someone who is overly concerned about details that will ultimately make no difference, like whether the fiancee you're about to dump will have an ivory or bisque bridal gown.

FISHING
Something Brian does not understand. Lots of great television shows about it and plenty of time to watch, now that MSCL has been canceled.

FLAPPER DRESS
A sleeveless dress with a low neckline, usually made of sheer material cut on the bias of the weave so as to conform to the shape of one's body. Popular for all occasions in the 1920's, less so for Halloween in the 1990's.

FLUTE
One of two instruments Brian plays, in hopes that it will make him more attractive to colleges. If only he had an instrument that would make him more attractive to Angela...

FROZEN EMBERS
See Frozen Embryos.

FROZEN EMBRYOS
The name of Jordan Catalano's band until Tino left the band and took the name with him.

GEOMETRY
The only thing that put the fear of God into Angela.

GEORGE
A "really cute" museum guard with whom we are given to believe Rayanne has a dalliance in "Why Jordan Can't Read."

GIRLS' BATHROOM
You need a definition for this? Okay, a meeting place for letting one's hair down, literally and metaphorically. No men allowed -- except Rickie.

GUNTHER
The male half of the couple who learned that no human desire was shameful or abnormal in the "Guide to Better Loving" video in "Pressure." Graham's favorite. See Liz.

HAIKU FOR HIM
Sharon's contribution to the Liberty Lit. Patty is so afraid it's Angela's, she denies the very existence of their basement:


"He peels off my clothes like a starving man
Would peel an orange.
His lips taste my juicy sweetness.
My legs tangle with his;
We become one being,
A burning furnace
In the cold dark basement of love."


HANDCUFFS
Appliances... that are... just for fun. Now I suppose you're Interested.

HELFRICH, CORY
A boy whom Rickie has a crush on, and whom Angela dreams of in a Saltine bath towel. Painted Rayanne's shoes in "The Life of Brian," hit on by Angela in "Betrayal."

HOOCH
See Dr. Allen's Ginger Flavored Brandy. Patty uses "hooch" in a sentence, and drinks more than her share of it, in "The Weekend."

HUNKBURGER
What you'll get at Big Guy Burger -- if you don't behave.

I WANNA BE SEDATED
A song from some band in the dark ages of music history. The song Rayanne bombed with at Club Vertigo, and which Jordan filled in on.

I LOVE YOU BEARY MUCH
What the tag said on the little white teddy bear Kyle gave to Sharon in "Resolutions."

I CALL HER RED
The name of a song Jordan Catalano composed. It's about his car, 'nuff said.

ICE SKATING
An activity that Patty equates with fun and togetherness and who knows what else. She can't get anyone else to do it with her.

IN MY HUMBLE OPINION
A phrase used at the end of the expression of a personal opinion, when one needs a gentle way of saying, "I'm right, so there."

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
A movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, set in fictitious Bedford Falls. The Chase television apparently picks up a channel that shows the movie constantly.

JADE AND STEVE
Alter-egos used by Rayanne and Brian while talking on the Teen Helpline.

KARASS
A group of people whose lives are thrown together to accomplish God's will. First identified in "Cat's Cradle," by Kurt Vonnegut. In "On the Wagon," Amber opines that she, Patty, Rayanne, Angela and Rickie are part of the same karass.

KATIMSKI, RICHARD
Replacement English teacher. Takes Rickie in when he has no other place to go in "Resolutions." Gay. Played by Jeff Perry, who also directed some episodes.

KRACKOW, BERNICE
Brian's mother. Clinical Psychologist.

KRACKOW, BOB
Brian's father. Freudian Psychiatrist.

KRYZYNOWSKI, CATHY
School guidance counselor. Played by Winnie Holzman.

KWANT, MARY
Fashion designer of the 1960's. The look Patty was trying to achieve in "The Zit."

KYLE
Sharon's on again-off again boyfriend. Popular jock.

LATE AT NIGHT
A song. The time when Jordan visits, Amber gets home and Patty and Graham have sex.

LERNER, RENE
Geometry teacher, substituted for English. Had a short-lived crush on Mr. Katimski. Dressed up as Obi-wan Kenobi at Halloween. To her, the most important thing is to stay with the group.

LET'S BOLT
Hip club that Angela, Rayanne and Rickie plan to get into with Tino's help in the pilot episode. Tino is a no-show and the trio ends up in the parking lot.

LIBERTY HIGH
The high school that Angela and her friends attend. Mascot: A Pirate. Colors: Orange and Black.

LIZ
The female half of the couple who learned that no human desire was shameful or abnormal in the "Guide to Better Loving" video in "Pressure." Graham's favorite. See Gunther.

LOFT
Rehearsal spot for Frozen Embryos.

LOUIE'S
Popular teen hangout where Brian is sent to shoot scenes for a year-end video in "Betrayal." Rayanne and Jordan "do it" in Louie's parking lot -- well, they weren't in the parking lot, they were in a car, but you get the idea.

LOWENTHAL, HALLIE
Jewish Girl from Texas. Graham's worst nightmare. Graham's partner in the restaurant.

MALCOLM X
Civil rights activist of the 1960's, murdered by FBI operatives. Brian loaned his Autobiography of Malcolm X to Angela, came to retrieve it in "Why Jordan Can't Read."

MARLA
Neal's on again-off again girlfriend of six years, never seen, often talked about.

MAYHEW, MS.
English teacher and Yearbook advisor in the Pilot episode, mysteriously quit.

METAMORPHOSIS
Book by Franz Kafka, in which Gregor Samsa turns into a cockroach. Referred to in "Guns and Gossip." Yes, it's make-believe.

MITCH
The male half of the couple whose sex life has become routine and mechanical in the video in "Pressure." See Shelly.

NEAL
Graham's younger brother. Gives the lamest presents. Thinks Hilary Clinton should wear more red. Suffers from the delusion that the '71 Pirates were one of the great baseball teams of all time.

NO-FAT TURKEY
Prepared for Chuck and Vivian's 45th wedding anniversary in "Other People's Daughters." Means nothing to Graham. Tastes almost Italian.

NOTE
Contained every feeling Angela ever had about Jordan Catalano. Lost in the museum in "Why Jordan Can't Read" by Rayanne, found by Jordan. But it didn't hold his interest.

OAK TREE POEM
Flawless grammar and punctuation, excellent example of creative writing (to some), easier to read without the footprint.

ODYSSEY, THE
Epic poem by Homer recounting Odysseus' journey home after the Trojan war. Begins "in medius res." Symbolic of MSCL characters' struggle to find their place of belonging in the world, especially Rickie.

OREGANO
The near-universal seasoning, as it does not belong in a curry sauce. You can't go wrong with oregano.

OUR TOWN
Play by Thornton Wilder in which naive young heroine dies in childbirth. Produced by Liberty High Drama Club, with Rayanne in lead role.

PEER TUTORING
Program in which students help other students improve their love life.

BILL
Phil, actually, but Rayanne never sweats the small details like her lovers' names.

PIKE STREET
Club where Buffalo Tom played unannounced in "Self-Esteem," and where Jordan dissed Angela so bad we wanted to reach through the TV tube and slap him silly. Fortunately, Rayanne was there to do it for us.

PIRATE
Member of Pittsburgh baseball team. Liberty High mascot. Graham's Halloween costume.

PITT, BRAD
Movie Star whose films include "A River Runs Through It" and "Thelma and Louise." Makes Sharon wet.

POOL
Male bonding ritual employed by Graham and Neal when Neal has broken up with Marla -- again.

PRINCESS DI
Recurring figure in Patty's dreams, someone whom she tacitly admires. Referred to by Patty in "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities," and "Pressure."

PRINCIPAL FOSTER
Principal of Liberty High. Articulate martinet. Probably wears clip-on bow ties.

RACINE, VIC
The Substitute. Has domestic troubles. Shares his toothpicks. Wears one black, one white sock -- has a pair just like it at home. Tells Angela to "Wake Up!"

RAPUNZEL
Storybook character, archetypal damsel in distress. Held prisoner, escaped by growing her hair so her hero could climb up the tower to reach her. Patty's Halloween costume.

RAT IT, SPRAY IT, FREEZE IT, TEASE IT, SPIKE IT, SHAVE IT OR SHOVE IT
Rayanne's in-school hair styling options. Presumably more when she is at home.

RAYANNE'S DAD
Angela chases Jordan, and there are certain parallels between Jordan and Graham. Rayanne runs around with Tino. Get the picture?

RESTAURANT
Has a fountain with mermaids. Possibly the low-fat, low-cholesterol restaurant Patty mentioned in "Father Figures." If so, Graham will fix all that.

RISOTTO
Boiled rice, with complexities. One popular variation is made with saffron, which gives the dish a yellow-orange color. This is why Graham remembered the Wood & Jones customer had ordered saffron paper when Patty was eating rice.

ROSENFELD
Important account for Wood & Jones, which Graham landed in "Strangers in the House," and which led to Patty firing Graham for his own good.

RUSTY
Earth tone. Amber's sex maniac boyfriend. Hostile to Rayanne and Rickie.

RYAN
Danielle's former boyfriend, now they are just keeping things loose. Rhymes with Brian.

SAXOPHONE
One of two instruments Brian plays. See Flute.

SESAME STREET
Popular children's show. Rayanne loves it, but needs to be told how to get there.

SHANE
Movie starring Alan Ladd. (Sorry.) One of Jordan's friends who consistently pulls Jordan away from Angela.

SHELLY
The female half of the couple whose sex life has become routine and mechanical in the video in "Pressure." See Mitch.

SO-CALLED ANGEL
Appears in the form of a homeless girl who is a dead ringer for Juliana Hatfield, although the angel doesn't spit on the people she plays her guitar for. Watches over Rickie and shows Patty the way to Angela and Rickie on Christmas Eve.

SODA BOTTLE
Tragically shot in "Guns and Gossip."

SOPHOMORE GIRLS: THE TOP 40
A poll written by a group of hormonally challenged boys in "Guns and Gossip." Names Sharon as best hooters. Names Rayanne as Most Slut Potential. Angela is not on the list.

TAROT CARDS
Cards used for telling fortunes. Each card has a dual meaning for good and bad. Given to Angela by Amber in "Other People's Daughters."

TEEN HELPLINE
A phone line staffed by teenagers to help other teenagers over the rough spots. 655-8900. Ask for Jade.

THE LIT
Liberty High's subversive literary publication. See Fable, Haiku for Him.

THE PLEASURE CENTER
A place to by fun appliances. See Handcuffs.

THREE RIVERS
Fictitious suburb of Pittsburgh where MSCL takes place.

TINO
[Definition was supposed to be here, but didn't show up.]

TONY POOLE
Patty's high school sweetheart and dream lover. Ran a bar and grill. Owns a Jeep dealership in Harrisburg. See 204 miles.

UMM
A syllable used to hold one's space in the conversation when actual words are not readily flowing, as in:

"What does Odysseus want?"
"Umm..."

But be careful, because it can become inadvertent euphemism for You Know What, as in

"they obviously haven't 'ummed' yet."


VEGETABLE GARDEN
Where Delia Fisher and Rickie dance in Delia's dream in "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities."

VOLUMETER
An apparatus which measures pressure. It proves -- it's a system that's been devised, and there are certain scientific principles -- it's for extra credit.

WALLPAPER
Paper you put on walls. There are two kinds: The kind you really want and the kind you can afford.

WAREHOUSE
There house, there wolf. (Sorry.) An abandoned warehouse on Tennessee Avenue where homeless kids go for refuge. Jordan "brings" Rickie there on Christmas Eve.

WATER BALLET
A charity event that Sharon and Rayanne swim in Sharon's dream in "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities."

WE HAD A TIME
An self-explanatory expression which describes the MSCL experience.

WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS
A philosophy espoused by Jordan and Graham in "The Life of Brian." Angela thinks its profound when she hears it from Jordan, but when Brian expresses the philosophy, she thinks it's the stupidest thing she's ever heard.

WOOD, CHUCK
Patty's father. Founded Wood & Jones. Diabetic. Tax evader. Unreconstructed Chauvinist. Thinks banana creme pie is health food.

WOOD, VIVIAN
Patty's mother. The Empress.

WOOD & JONES
The family printing business run by Patty.

WORLD HAPPINESS DANCE
Dance held at Liberty High in "The Life of Brian."

YEAR 2000, THE
How long MSCL would have stayed on the air if it had been a half-hour sitcom where Sharon went braless and Tino was Rayanne's pet chimp. The Liberty High yearbook theme.



Copyright 1997 William E. Blais.
All Rights Reserved.

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“Ignore her. She got up on the wrong side of the coffin this morning.”

Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez, Episode 9: "Halloween"