Did that just say what I thought it said?

I don't know whether it's because I read very quickly, or because I'm an editor, and used to looking for certain words or word patterns, or maybe I drink too much wine I'm just tired, but lately I find that I'm reading things that aren't there.

It usually happens when I'm reading online in that split second after I've hit the back button on the browser -- or clicked on a new link -- and my eye will pick up a phrase or sentence from the disappearing web page that registers on my brain *after* the new page is already loading, and I can't re-check to see if I really saw what I saw. Which can be some really weird stuff.

Such as the following:



The Princess Royal is handed a posy during a visit to open the new premises of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers' Renfrewshire Carers Centre in Paisley, 26 January 2011. The centre supports more than 3,000 carers in the Renfrewshire area.

'A posy'! That makes so much more sense. I read 'a pony':


I think she'll need a bigger vase.

Or this one, last week:

Top Headlines

Calgary pathologist's reports probed

A former Calgary medical examiner whose expert reports are being reviewed by Alberta Justice officials has been identified as Dr. Michael Belenky, CBC News has learned.

'Calgary pathologist'! *slaps forehead* I read 'Culinary pathologist':

Which is kind of gross, really. Ewwww.

Or this, which showed up in an ad at the side of my Facebook page:




NY Ski Deals starting $15

'Ski deals'! Well that sounds so much better than 'ski deaths', which is what I read.

Not exactly a great marketing campaign.

But the best one was this:

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA—Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is lashing out at the judicial system, accusing judges and lawyers of undermining Canada’s immigration process by indulging spurious refugee cases.

I bet you can figure out what I thought I read:

Yikes!