Discussing Semantics

Kristos Anesti!

2010-04-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Or, in English, Christ is Risen!

The correct response is Alitos Anesti! Or, Truly He has risen!

I wish you and you family a fabulous, blessed, Pascha day!

I’ll be back with regular posts starting tomorrow…oh, and one more surprise tomorrow as well…no, it’s not at ALL what you think.

Thursday Thesaurus-Frustrated

2010-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

That’s what I am with our representatives so I thought that it would be a great word to look at the many different ways to express today:

balked, crabbed, cramped, crimped, defeated, discontented, discouraged, disheartened, embittered, foiled, fouled up, hung up on, irked, resentful, stonewalled, stymied, through the mill, ungratified, unsated, unslaked, up the wall

My favorite is that last one, up the wall! Yeah, that explains it right about now. I only want them to listen to the voters, is that too much to ask?

Word Count Wednesday-32410

2010-03-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again! This week’s word of the day is really making me laugh my a** off right now.

Why?

Glad you asked!

See, I am NOT a Sci-Fi fan by any means…as a matter of fact I steer AWAY from these things. I really don’t get it.

My husband, however, is a HUGE Sci-Fi fan…as is his family. It’s seriously a bit scary at times.

A little while back we got my MIL her first Blue Tooth ear piece. BEFORE she got one she hated the things…drove her batty! Now that she has her very own…well, let’s just say that she rarely takes it off, even when she isn’t using it.

Why? She says it makes her feel like a

borg is a fictional hostile alien hive-race in the "Star Trek" series, noted for "assimilating" defeated rivals, fist introduced in "The Next Generation" TV series (debut fall 1987). Their catchphrase is "resistance is futile

I always figured that it had to do with something geeky like that but I never really knew for sure until today when I typed in the number for the day and this word turned up…yep, I married into a particularly geeky family!

So, anyone want to try using the word in a sentence?

Phobia Monday-Court Cases

2010-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

I really hope that no one in congress have:

Liticaphobia is a phobia that means fear of lawsuits

The lawsuits are flying after last nights vote. Someday the people we elect into office will actually do what they are supposed to do: represent those who elected them into office; not do what they think they should do.

We aren’t stupid people and we have a constitutional right to be heard, not have our decisions made for us.

God Bless this country.

Friday Phrases-Noses

2010-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Years ago when I was just out of college and was working as a teacher in a toddler classroom, I worked with a woman who really had something against me. I’m not sure exactly why, but she really looked down her nose at me…LITERALLY!

The funny things was that I am 5’7” barefoot and she had to be around 5’2” at most. When I talked to my supervisor about it she almost laughed for a second because of the image of someone so much shorter than me looking down her nose at me.

She had a way of lifting her chin just so that it was very demeaning. My supervisor talked to her about it but it never really got superbly better…it got more manageable, but not better.

look down your nose at is a phrase that means to think that someone is less important than you or that something is not good enough for you

Have you ever had anyone look down their nose at you? Literally or figuratively…or both!

Thursday Thesaurus-Tiny Meal

2010-03-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

I only picked this word because I am currently having one as I type this. I was trying to think of a good word to use, looked at my bowl of popcorn (tried popcorn and found there were no matches) and decided on snack.

Other words for snack are:

bite, bite to eat, break, eats, goodies, grub, light meal, lunch, luncheon, midnight snack, morsel, munch, nibble, nosh, pickings, piece, refreshment, tea, tidbit

Now, I’m off to finish my nosh of chipotle popcorn (yes I said chipotle popcorn and it is better than I could have dreamed).

What’s your favorite tidbit?

Word Count Wednesday-31710

2010-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! I hope you have a lucky day!

Now that we got that out of the way, how about we look at the word for today:

sills is a noun that means a horizontal timber, block, or the like serving as a foundation of a wall, house, etc.; OR the horizontal piece or member beneath a window, door, or other opening; OR a tabular body of intrusive igneous rock, ordinarily between beds of sedimentary rocks or layers of volcanic ejecta

It is also a mountain range in the Sierra Nevada range and is an American operatic soprano and manager who joined the New York City Opera in 1955 and was its general director from 1979 to 1989.

So do you remember what to do now? Leave a comment using the word in a sentence…go on, I’m waiting!

Phobia Monday-Time Change

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am going to be like a zombie today...I can barely keep my eyes open and I just woke up. I hate changing the clocks. It's amazing how one measly little hour can throw me completely off.

That being said, if I were to develop a phobia, I would develop something like the fear of changing clocks in the spring for fear of losing sleep and sanity! I couldn't find one like that. I must be a completely unique case. I'll donate myself to phobia science and make millions! What do you think? No?

Alright, then just for that I'm going to pick two very appropriate phobias for today:

Chronophobia is a phobia that means fear of time

Chronomentrophobia is a phobia that means fear of clocks

Since we know that the fear of change is tropophobia maybe I can make up my name for my phobia of changing time twice a year...how about chronotropophobia!

Hey, why is Jenni in her room with the blanket over her head begging the world to JUST....LET....ME....SLEEP...CRUEL...TIME....MASTERS!?

Why didn't you here? She has chronotropophobia!

It works, doesn't it?

Thursday Thesaurus-STOP

2010-03-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it’s Saturday but, remember that hiatus I took? I must have forgotten what I was supposed to do. To be honest, I LOVE Thursday Thesaurus; almost as much as Word Count Wednesday…that one is fun, too.

I picked the word stop for today. Let’s look shall we?

bar, barricade, blank wall, block, blockade, break, break off, brick wall, cease, cessation, check, close, closing, conclusion, control, cutoff, desistance, discontinuation, ending, fence, finish, freeze*, grinding halt, hindrance, layoff, letup, lull, pause, plug, roadblock, screeching halt, standstill, stay, stoppage, termination, wall

Just thought that might be helpful in expanding your vocabulary. Did it help?

Friday Phrases-Quack, quack!

2010-03-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I hear the phrase all the time. I know what it means. But really, who ever came up with this phrase in the first place:

get your ducks in a row is a phrase that means to get one's affairs in order or organized

There really isn’t anything concise or consistent anywhere that I’ve researched to say where it first began or what it really relates to. Is it ducks following a mama duck? Hm, they don’t travel in the straightest of lines, so I’m not sure if that’s accurate.

Is it the ducks in a shooting game? Really? Get your ducks lines up so you can knock them all down and OUT of order? I’m inclined to think not.

Is it duck pins from lawn bowling? This seems to be the most popular idea, but I’m still not sure.

What do you think is the origin? You could make up your own as well!

Fat, Lazy, Glutton

2010-03-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you go over here today you will find a post that I wrote that inspired today’s word:

sedentary is an adjective that means characterized by or requiring a sitting posture; OR accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to take little exercise; OR abiding in one place; not migratory; OR pertaining to animals that move about little or are permanently attached to something, as a barnacle

Yes, that was the lifestyle I lived before…I’m done being sedentary; although every once in a while (VERY RARELY) it’s nice to take one sedentary day…helps a person to refocus on the important things in life!

What about you? Have you ever been sedentary?

Wednesday Word Count-31010

2010-03-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

It’s always fun for me when I type in those magic numbers for the word count posts. I never know what is going to pop up. It’s like playing the slots. You know something is going to pop up, but will it be worth nothing, worth a little, or will it be a jackpot?

It’s really a lot of fun! This week I got a jackpot, I think.

bulkhead is a noun that means Nautical. any of various wall-like constructions inside a vessel, as for forming watertight compartments, subdividing space, or strengthening the structure; OR Aeronautics. a transverse partition or reinforcing frame in the body of an airplane; OR Civil Engineering a partition built in a subterranean passage to prevent the passage of air, water, or mud; a retaining structure of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete, used for shore protection and in harbor works; OR Building Trades a horizontal or inclined outside door over a stairway leading to a cellar; a boxlike structure, as on a roof, covering a stairwell or other opening

I like this word. It’s fun, isn’t it? There are so many different form for it; it’s not a word that you see often, but you know it exists. So, since the majority of you out there probably rarely get the opportunity to use this word, why don’t you use it today in a sentence!

Afternoon

2010-03-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I did a training on a Saturday morning. The training was from 8am to 12pm. The session was split into two 2 hour time frames so I understand the mistake.

What mistake?

On several of the evaluations that I collected in the comment section they said something to the effect: "The morning was great, the afternoon was a bit long."

afternoon is a noun that means the time from noon until evening; OR the latter part

Okay, I give, "the latter part" would mean that they might be correct. However, I would bet anything that they really didn't mean "the latter part". I'm just saying.

What do you think?

Phobia Monday-Forgotten or Forgetting

2010-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have the WORST memory in the world. I’m serious! Have you not heard the stories?

Well, let just say that I’m lucky to not have today’s phobia

Athazagoraphobia is a phobia that means fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting

Okay, I’m not afraid of being forgotten, I’m really not. Sure, I am a blogger who only has SIX blogs that I keep up with writing, a twitter, and facebook page ; but I’m not afraid of being forgotten. I know that everyone’s lives will go on if I were to disappear.

However, the forgetting thing? Well, I’m not afraid of forgetting, probably because I have so much practice at it. If I did, though, I might be rocking back and forth with a dazed look on my face right about now.

So, how’s your memory?

Get your mind out of the gutter

2010-03-07T13:42:00.001-08:00

Today’s word:

masticate is a verb that means to grind or crush with or as if with the teeth in preparation for swallowing and digestion; to chew; OR to crush or knead (rubber, for example) into a pulp

An interesting word, don’t you think? So, let’s play a bit today. Leave me a comment below using the word masticate in a sentence!

Did it again

2010-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

There has been a word that I have heard repeated several times recently. It is used in a way that I have no problem knowing what it means, but I have only heard it be used regularly over about the last 5 years or so.

The word? Recidivism. As in, the recidivism rate of sex offenders is more than 88 percent.

recidivism is a noun that means repeated or habitual relapse, as into crime; OR the chronic tendency toward repetition of criminal or antisocial behavior patterns

The problem with that statistic stated above is that it isn’t accurate…it may be MORE. The problem is that all repeat crimes don’t get reported.

It’s a sad statistic and one that the courts need to look at very carefully. These are the people that need to be put away for life…not 5 years. These are the people that get out and repeat crimes and kill innocent people; and those innocent people tend to be young women.

So, what do you think of recidivism?

The Hiatus Ends!

2010-03-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

I'm back! Did you miss me? I have missed blogging but it was a necessary hiatus. What? I should define that word? OKAY!

hiatus is a noun that means a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc; OR missing part; gap or lacuna; OR any gap or opening; OR the coming together, with or without break or slight pause, and without contraction, of two vowels in successive words or syllables, as in see easily; OR a natural fissure, cleft, or foramen in a bone or other structure

Phew! That felt good! Oh, and if you want to know, the plural of hiatus is hiatuses...sounds funny to me, but I like it!

Either way, I'm glad this hiatus has ended! I am back on track! Almost...now I have to go unpack boxes!

See you all tomorrow! Oh, you are MORE than welcome to leave me some comment love! I've missed it SO much!

Is this thing on?

2010-02-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, apparently it still is! I'm here just checking in making sure you are all around. It's been crazy busy and I promise to get back to daily posting in March...once we're all moved into our new place...once I'm done running back and forth between two places every night...once I'm done with multitude of projects at work...March 1st is the light at the end of my tunnel...THAT is the day that I am looking forward to...now, off to get more things done...I'll check in again soon, promise!

Blunder Answer

2010-02-14T20:20:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned before, I just had to laugh when I read this:

“As a thank you for allowing us to photograph your center, a complimentary framed composite will be given to you free of charge.”

The sad part? Someone in the room with me as I was laughing asked what was funny, I read it to her, and she gave me a blank stare…she couldn’t figure out what was funny about it.

So, did you figure it out? I know you did! Some of you commented on it. A complimentary framed composite is free…don’t need to say a complimentary is free of charge; it kind of is explained in complimentary!

(on the moving front, I made a dent today…as small one, but a dent!)

On the move

2010-02-13T12:30:00.001-08:00

We are counting down to our move. Posts will get spotty for the next couple of weeks. I promise to do my best, but this move has to take the majority of my time.

I will do my best to check in occasionally, but starting March I will be up and running again!

Weekly Blunder-2.12.10

2010-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

This was in a brochure (very nice and fancy brochure) that was delivered to one of our centers the other day. I had to laugh when I read it:

“As a thank you for allowing us to photograph your center, a complimentary framed composite will be given to you free of charge.”

So, tell me, what’s wrong with that statement?

Thursday Thesaurus-Time

2010-02-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Call it what you will, it is FLYING by me way too fast right now. I seriously can’t slow it down and have way too much to do.

Other words for time:

age, allotment, bit, bout, chronology, clock, continuance, date, day, duration, epoch, era, eternity, extent, future, generation, go*, hour, infinity, instance, instant, interval, juncture, lastingness, life, life span, lifetime, many a moon, moment, month, occasion, pace, past, point, present, season, second, shift, space, span, spell, stage, stint, stretch, tempo, term, tide, tour, turn, week, while, year

Word Count Wednesday- 2101

2010-02-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Too good to pass up! This is the PERFECT word for this blog. Are you ready for it?

definition is a noun that means to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid; OR the formal statement of the meaning or significance of a word, phrase, etc; OR the condition of being definite, distinct, or clearly outlined; OR sharpness of the image formed by an optical system; OR the accuracy of sound or picture reproduction

Ignore the fact that I dropped the zero in 10. It was a mistake to begin with but then the word popped up and I was giddy about it so this is the word you get.

Definition is the definition of this blog!

HA! I love this! Okay, your turn to use the word in a sentence. Use the comments below!

Don’t avoid this post…

2010-02-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

…it’s not a sneeze, but it sounds like it:

eschew is a verb that means to shun, to avoid; OR to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid

This is another word that I just like the sound. Say it five times fast and it sounds like you’re sneezing. Go ahead, try it, I’ll wait!

Bless you! Oh, you were just saying eschew 5 times…hee, hee! This is so much fun!

Phobia Monday-Sing with me!

2010-02-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well, if you’re melophobic you probably won’t. Actually, if you have melophobia then you most likely are no longer reading this post for fear that I am going to break out into song.

melophobia is a phobia that means fear or hatred of music

Really? Someone can actually have a HATRED of music? I can’t imagine. I can’t even imagine the fear of music either; although it must be true or else they wouldn’t have made a word up for it.

So tell me, do you know anyone who has a fear or hatred of music? Want to sing a song with me? What’s your favorite little ditty?

Answer 2.6.10

2010-02-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

Did you see it?

Now do you see it?

I don’t know what survelliance is; but I think they meant surveillance…yeah, I didn’t purchase it. I wasn’t going to anyway, but if I were? I wouldn’t have. If you can’t spell check your packages, you can’t get my business!

Weekly Blunder-2.6.10

2010-02-06T12:02:00.001-08:00

How about this one? As seen on a TOY SHELF at a local store!

What’s wrong with it? You tell me!

Thursday Thesaurus- Tired

2010-02-04T20:30:00.001-08:00

What? I already did tired? And it was last week? Oh, sorry, guess I’ll have to come up with another one, right? Sorry this is coming at the end of the day but I completely blame my husband.

You’ll have to hear the story tomorrow over here, until then…let’s look at all the names I can call my dear husband:

bridegroom, companion, consort, groom, helpmate, hubby, mate, monogamist, monogynist, other half, partner, spouse

What? You thought they’d be bad names? No, he’s still the best husband around…just making me very tired!

Word Count Wednesday- 20310

2010-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

I had a choice between 2310 and 20310…I chose 20310 for one reason:

I LOVE the way it sounds and the way it feels when I am saying it. I really love the way it rolls on my tongue…yes, I am THAT strange. Are you ready for the word? Come on, say it aloud with me:

gleaned is a verb that means to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit; OR to gather (grain or the like) after the reapers or regular gatherers; OR to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly

I do use this word. I think people look at me funny when I do, but I love this word.

Do you like this word? Want to use it in a sentence? Go ahead and give it a shot! Leave a comment!

Cold?

2010-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am a bit strange, I find random words through various word-of-the-day things. You know: calendars, websites, books, etc...

This word popped up somewhere and at first I was thinking, "Huh, never saw or heard that one before."

Then I looked at the pronunciations and thought, "Huh, maybe I have. It makes sense now."

gelid (pronounced JEL-id) is an adjective that means extremely cold; icy

For example, "The lake in the winter is gelid, only people out of their minds would go in there."

It's one of those words that I probably (well, aside from today) will never write; however, I might use it when talking...I'm not sure to who, but I might use it!

Phobia Monday-moving

2010-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Tropophobia is a phobia that means fear of moving or making changes

I am quite the OPPOSITE to tropophobia. I haven’t found the term for that. I have no fear of moving or making changes. Heck, I almost have a fear of NOT making changes!

Well, those of us in our home who have a fear of moving can just stay put next month when we do just that…it’s getting closer and I just can’t contain my excitement!

So, anyone here have a tropophobia?

I shall never not tell you the blunder answer

2010-01-31T14:03:00.001-08:00

I cannot answer this and none of us may never know.

Should, as Ida correctly discerned, read:

I cannot answer this and none of us may ever know.

Got to love those double negatives, right? They just don’t make sense!

Weekly Blunder

2010-01-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

See this:

I cannot answer this and none of us may never know.

It is surely a blunder, isn’t it? Want to rewrite it?

Friday Phrases-It doesn’t mean repeat

2010-01-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard:

you can say that again is a phrase that means I completely agree with you

it should NOT be confused with someone saying, “Can you say that again?”

See, the phrase defined above means that someone thinks you are spot-on in what you said. They heard you very clearly. Don’t repeat it!

The question in the quote above means that the person did not hear you. They may or may not agree with you, but they would like to hear it again.

Got it? Need an example?

Person A: It’s so cold in here that my milk has turned into ice cream!

Person B: What? Can you say that again?

A: I said, it’s so cold in here that my milk has turned into ice cream!

B: Oh, yeah! You could say that again!

Go ahead, leave you’re own conversation in the comments…this should be fun!

Tired

2010-01-28T06:28:00.001-08:00

I was tired last night. How tired? Well, the reason this post is coming at 6:25 this morning is that I was in bed by 7 last night. I slept all the way through.

I’m not sure why I was so tired, but I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open.

So, I thought I would list the synonyms to tired, how about it?

annoy, bore, burn out, bush, collapse, crawl, debilitate, deject, depress, disgust, dishearten, dispirit, displease, distress, drain, droop, drop, enervate, ennui, exasperate, fag, fail, faint, fatigue, flag, fold, give out, go stale, grow weary, harass, irk, irritate, jade, nauseate, overburden, overstrain, overtax, overwork, pain, pall, peter out, poop out, prostrate, put to sleep, sap, sicken, sink, strain, tax, vex, weaken, wear, wear down, wear out, wilt, worry, yawn

Word Count Wednesday- 12710

2010-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for this week’s word?

supervisory is an adjective that means of, pertaining to, or having supervision

I don’t like that definition but, seeing as I didn’t find another one, that’s what I got. I don’t like it for a reason that you may not think. I mean, sure they used the word in the definition.

However, the real reason I don’t like it is that is is a bit unclear. I mean, I have supervision. I supervise others AND I am supervised by another. So, which one is supervisory?

I think it’s important to note that the other place I found supervisory is under supervision

supervision is a noun that means one who supervises; OR one who is in charge of a particular department or unit, as in a governmental agency or school system; OR one who is an elected administrative officer in certain U.S. counties and townships

Then it states as another form of the word it lists supervisory, adjective.

I know, I really kind of OVER analyzed it, but that’s what I do!

Want to use this week’s word in a sentence?

I’m a poet and didn’t know it…

2010-01-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, not really, but it leads into today’s definition:

poetic license is a noun that means license or liberty taken by a poet, prose writer, or other artist in deviating from rule, conventional form, logic, or fact, in order to produce a desired effect

I don’t know why it popped into my head, but it did and you all get to benefit from it!

Oh, I did make up a rhyme today as I was driving:

Don’t be an a$$ put your foot on the gas!

Maybe that’s why I was thinking of poetic license? I don’t think so, but I was.

Phobia Monday-Rain, rain, go away…

2010-01-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

…come again some other day…

I’m sure people with the following phobia sing this quite often; no, they probably sing, “never ever come at all!”

Amazingly, there are two completely different words:

Ombrophobia OR Pluviophobia are phobias that mean fear of rain or being rained on

If anyone in San Diego has this phobia they are probably in a rubber-room right about now after last week…oh, and we’re expecting more this week. Hope they stay in with their windows closed!

Blunder Fixed

2010-01-24T20:48:00.001-08:00

Okay, so here was the, admittedly mine, blunder for the week:

It’s been a while…okay a WEEK…since the airing of the Where are the know episode of The Biggest Loser.

Here’s how I SHOULD have originally wrote it:

It’s been a while…okay a WEEK…since the airing of the Where are the Now episode of The Biggest Loser.

Saturday Symbol- Pilcrow

2010-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

I never knew that there was actually a name for this symbol. Well, I figured there was a name for it, I just always called it the paragraph symbol. It’s actually called a pilcrow.

This symbol is used in writing to indicate a new paragraph.

It is also used in proof reading to indicate that a paragraph break should be inserted.

That, is pretty much it. This isn’t one of those symbols that has a lot of different uses. Paragraphs, paragraphs, and more paragraphs…that’s about it!

Random weekly blunders-1.21.10

2010-01-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Random only because I have not been very good about posting blunders regularly.

What is wrong with this sentence:

It’s been a while…okay a WEEK…since the airing of the Where are the know episode of The Biggest Loser.

Oh, I’d also like to point out that this is completely MY blunder from over here.

Rude

2010-01-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

It’s COLD in these parts right now. Rain is POURING in and they say that it’s not even close to being done and that it’s going to actually get WORSE! I can’t believe it will be worse considering that after only a few hours it was already above my ankles when I went out to my car earlier.

However, that’s not what is rude. My husband had a drink, with ice, that, on the way to the kitchen, he decided it was funny to put on my cheek. I jumped and, in a knee-jerk response, said, “that was rude.”

Let me say now that he did it to be funny and, after the fact, I saw the humor. I was just too absorbed in what I was doing to fully appreciate the humor. Heck, had the tables been reversed, I would have done the same thing.

Okay, now that I clarified that…

When he came back out from the kitchen he commented that rude was an odd choice of words since it is supposed to be used when someone you don’t know does something to you.

I argued that, no, anyone can be rude. They don’t have to be someone you don’t know. (often, the people who are the rudest to you are those closest to you, right?)

Anyway, I was just in the midst of figuring out what to post for today and this landed in my lap:

rude is an adjective that means discourteous or impolite, esp. in a deliberate way; OR without culture, learning, or refinement; OR rough in manners or behavior; unmannerly; uncouth; OR rough, harsh, or ungentle: rude hands; OR roughly wrought, built, or formed; of a crude construction or kind; OR not properly or fully developed; raw; unevolved; OR harsh to the ea; OR without artistic elegance; of a primitive simplicity; OR violent or tempestuous, as the waves; OR robust, sturdy, or vigorous; OR approximate or tentative

I’m sticking by my use of the word; although I was able to find the humor in it, I still think it was rude at the time.

What do you think?

Word Count Wednesday- 12010

2010-01-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

An odd one today, but got to go with comes up, right?

gcse is a noun that means the basic level of a subject taken in school [syn: General Certificate of Secondary Education]

I have NEVER heard of this one!

Bonus for anyone who uses it in a sentence! Or, for anyone who can come up with a different way to define this acronym!

Voyeurs

2010-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

The other day Lucy gave me the word for the day in her post over here. I think she, as was I, will be shocked at the additional definitions:

voyeur is a noun that means an obsessive observer of sordid or sensational subject; OR A person who derives sexual gratification from observing the naked bodies or sexual acts of others, especially from a secret vantage point

Her post was about the fact that we, herself included, seem to, by nature, have a desire to watch people; hence all the reality television shows that have bombarded us. I liken it to driving by an accident and you just can’t help but to look, can you?

We are curious by nature and just have a desire to look and watch.

I did, however, find interesting information. Voyeur comes from “voir” to view and “videre” to see. So, broken down like that, it isn’t too bad is it?

Phobia Monday-Hair

2010-01-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Call it Chaetophobia or Trichopathophobia or Trichophobia they all mean the same thing:

Chaetophobia/Trichopathophobia/Trichophobia are phobias that mean fear of hair

Why did I pick it? Because I seriously think my husband has this fear. He will seriously gag if, as I get into bed, my hair happens to brush his cheek! I’m not kidding!

Oh, I’ve offered to shave my head, but he is not willing to do that. It really is quite funny…when it’s not so sad.

No, he really doesn’t have a fear of hair; just a fear of hair going in his mouth. He gets it from both his parents.

Do you have a fear of hair? Do you know anyone who does? Does this make you take a second look at those people who shave their heads? Maybe they have a fear of hair?

Sunday Set-1

2010-01-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

I was hitting random links the other day and found that the word set has the MOST definitions in the English dictionary…464 to be exact. So, I thought we might take a few weeks to look at some of these definitions.

Will we look at all 464? Eh, depends on how dedicated I am to this in 464 weeks :). Here we go:

set as a verb means to put (something or someone) in a particular place

As in, “She set the book on the table.”

Symbol Saturday-Daggers

2010-01-16T10:18:00.001-08:00

Before we get into today’s post, make sure you make it over here to take a gander at the close-up picture…this is the big one! The prize will be announced!

Now onto today’s symbol: daggers

Sounds dangerous, doesn’t it? But they aren’t.

Daggers are used to indicate footnotes; however, they are ONLY used AFTER an asterisk has already been used.

The dagger was first used in Roman Catholic mass books in order to mark minor pauses in the chanting of Psalms.

It can also be called the obelus. It comes from the Greek word that means roasting spit or needle.

The double dagger, or dieses, is a dagger that has two handles.

The dagger can also be used in:

mathematics or physics as a Hermitian Adjoint

biology to indicate extinction

chess to indicate a move caused a check, the double dagger indicates a checkmate

chemistry to indicate a transition state species

military history placed next to a name to indicate a commander who was killed in action

What other ways have you seen it used?

Friday Phrases-Getting the Job Done

2010-01-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes there are people that I feel a little sorry for. They get themselves into a position that they just can’t accomplish the duties. We have a phrase for that:

can’t hack it is a phrase that means unable to do the job

It’s that simple. I respect the person who comes in and says that they can’t hack it and offer to step down. It’s good to know your limits.

What do you think?

Adult school for a Lobotomy

2010-01-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

The other day I was perusing some of the applications that had come into the agency. We were looking for a teacher.

On of the applicants showed on her resume that she had gone to adult school and graduated (her words, not mine) with a certificate in Phlebotomy.

I wasn’t paying real close attention as I was flipping through so my first thought was, “wait, WHAT? She went to ADULT night school for a LOBOTOMY certificate? Is that even possible?”

Then, of course, I had to stop and flip back and reread what my brain had translated. Phew, it was lobotomy, but

phlebotomy is a noun that means the act or practice of opening a vein for letting blood as a therapeutic measure; venesection; bleeding

I felt only MILDLY better as this was a person who had gone to adult night school to learn the art of phlebotomy, had taken a couple of child development classes, and wanted to RUN a preschool classroom! Yeah, I skipped right over that application…sheesh, is it any wonder that in my field we don’t get the respect we deserve?

Have you ever gotten strange applications?

Word Count Wednesday-11310

2010-01-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

formulate is a verb that means to express in precise form; state definitely or systematically; OR to devise or develop, as a method, system, etc; OR to reduce to or express in a formula

I am constantly formulating; I actually think that part of my job just might be formulating plans.

What about you? Do you formulate?

Just because I used it today…

2010-01-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

…er, yesterday. I forgot, you always read this a day later. It’s the only way I can make sure to stay on top of things; to right the post the night before.

Okay, now that that’s explained, how about today’s definition?

facade is a noun that means a superficial appearance or illusion of something; OR the front of a building, esp. an imposing or decorative one; OR any side of a building facing a public way or space and finished accordingly

Just so you know, I used it correctly. Sadly, I was using it in reference to me; but it was still correctly. Oh, and I used it about me in a totally joking manner, so does that make it less sad?

Do you ever put on a facade?

Phobia Monday-Not to be confused

2010-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Angrophobia is not to be confused with Agoraphobia. When I first was looking down the list today of which phobia would be features, my eyes first settled on

angrophobia is a phobia that means fear of anger or becoming angry

I had to do a double take because, well my thoughts were, “huh, I thought that meant fear of outside or something like that…wait a minute, look at the spelling…oh, yeah, heh, can’t just look at the first and last letters.”

For those of you who want to know:

agoraphobia is a phobia that means fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places like markets; fear of leaving a safe place

I did know that one…didn’t know about the angrophobia; but I have a feeling there is a somewhat simple solution to this one…control your anger!

I know, for some people it’s not that easy; but I have a feeling those are extreme cases. Sometimes we just have to take responsibility for our actions. Someone with this fear must have a real challenge with his/her emotions, don’t you think?

Let me explain

2010-01-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Remember this word yesterday?

gesticulate

My mind was in the completely wrong place (aka the gutter) when I saw it at first. I mean, I had seen the word before. It’s not one that I use very often, but I knew it wasn’t what someone’s who mind was in the gutter really thought it meant. Want to know?

gesticulate is a verb that means to make gestures or motions, especially while speaking or instead of speaking

Did you guess correctly?

What do you think?

2010-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

I opened up one of my favorite websites today and the word of the day was:

gesticulate

Okay, without looking it up, come on, be honest with us here and don’t go looking it up, I’ll let you know tomorrow, take a guess at what this word means?

Friday Phrases-Good job!

2010-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I’d bring back the Friday Phrases, what do you think?

atta boy is a phrase that means this phrase is used to congratulate a man or boy when they have done something well or achieved a goal or level that they desired

Sometimes, there are people I work with, who give much better performances when we give them atta boys.

Have you ever earned an atta boy? OR, what would you like an atta boy for that you maybe didn’t get? We’ll give it to you!

How do you solve a problem like Maria…

2010-01-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

(come on, sing with me)…how do you catch a wave upon the sand. How do you find a word that means Mariaaaaaaaa a

flibbertigibbet is a noun that means A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities

I love that song! I love that movie! It’s one of my favorites. How about you?

Word Count Wednesday-1.6.2010

2010-01-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

I like to put many different forms of the date for the day into the Word Count site to see which words come out best. It becomes a problem at the end of the year because the numbers really limit it to just one possibility. Today I got something very interesting.

First, I tried 10610 and got:

mortgages is a noun that means a conveyance of an interest in property as security for the repayment of money borrowed; OR the deed by which such a transaction is effected; OR the rights conferred by it, or the state of the property conveyed

Then I put 1610 and got:

concept is a noun that means a general notion or idea; conception; OR an idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars; a construct; OR a directly conceived or intuited object of thought

Finally, I put 161 and laughed because I got:

home is a noun that means a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household; OR… (okay, there are a lot more definitions, too many to list, but I think you all get the idea, right?)

Does anyone else see the humor in this? Actually, I only accidentally put in 161 because it doesn’t represent the 10 very well, but I had already hit enter. I’m glad I did!

What a concept that people should be responsible for paying the mortgages on their homes and not rely on the tax payers!

What do you call…

2010-01-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

…an animal that eats insects?

insectivore is a noun that means an organism that feeds mainly on insects; OR any of various small, principally nocturnal mammals of the order Insectivora, characteristically feeding chiefly on insects and including the shrews, moles, and hedgehogs

Why do I care? Go check it out over here for the story.

Lastly, did you know that there was more than just herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore? There’s a whole bunch more! From the San Diego Zoo web site, you can find a full list:

Piscivores: animals that eat fish.
Sanguinivores: animals that drink blood.
Frugivores: animals that eat fruit.
Mucivores: insects that feed on plant juices.
Humivores: organisms that feed on the dark brown part of soil that consists of decomposed plants and animals.
Mycovore: organisms that eat fungi.
Saprovores: animals that feed on dead or decaying matter.
Detritovores: organisms (like bacteria or earthworms) that eat decomposing or nonliving material

Very interesting, don’t you think?

Phobia Monday

2010-01-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

I thought we might have a new feature this year. I have always been interested in phobias. Not because I HAVE any phobias, but because some of them just have the strangest names and some of them I can’t imagine actually having as even a small fear.

Plus, I thought it would be fun. First, let’s look at what it means:

phobia is a noun that means a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it

I think it’s important to note that phobias are irrational fears. I didn’t realize that before. I just figured it as a fear, but not necessarily an irrational fear.

So, what is today’s phobia? I figured since I was doing a new kind of post, it would be appropriate to use

Neophobia is a phobia that means fear of anything new

If any of you have neophobia, I am sorry to cause you any distress. The good news is that I hear the best way to get over a fear is to face it head on! Think of this as your therapy!

So, what do you think? Do you have a fear of anything new? What do you think of this as a weekly edition here?

Does anyone have a creative title for this new series of posts? Phobia Monday is just a working title. I am definitely open to suggestions!

Answer 1.2.2010

2010-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

My grandmother is computer savvy.

Did you know that? Well, not the part about my grandmother being computer savvy because, really, do you care about that? I think it’s awesome, but not relevant to this week’s blunder.

What I never knew was that savvy is written with TWO count them 1, 2, v’s! I was totally shocked! And yes, Ida, you would think that I was savvy enough to know that, but I guess I just don’t use it enough to realize. Good thing Windows puts that little red squiggly line underneath misspelled words to let us know we are wrong!

Weekly Blunder 1.2.2010

2010-01-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, time for another blunder. The first of the year! Tell me, what is wrong with this sentence:

My grandmother is computer savy.

Goodness knows I was surprised to find out what was wrong here. Make your guesses in the comment section!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Did you watch the ball drop? We did…well, I did. What others of us in this house did was a bit of sleeping, a bit of yeah-yeah-happy-new-year-kiss-kiss-zzzz. I wouldn’t ask for it to be any other way! I LOVE him for it…not really, not in spite of it, FOR it; it’s who he is!

Hope you had a great celebration!

My Favorite Post

2009-12-31T03:00:00.000-08:00

I was looking back over my posts from 2009 and realized that this post here was probably my favorite this year.

It isn’t that this post is so much of a great word (vocation if you didn’t go check it out). It’s more that the post really was a point of insight to myself for myself and really made me consciously look at my intentions at work.

It is something that I knew, but writing those words down really made an impact. It made an impact of how I interact with others at work as well.

So, what was your favorite post this year? What new word did you learn this year? Anything really make an impact on how you think about things?

Word Count Wednesday-12309

2009-12-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

The last counted word of the year. Aw, I’m a bit sentimental about it. Okay, I’m over it. It’s not as if we aren’t going to continue the Word Count Wednesday in 2010 because we are! We SO are! I have been enjoying this, haven’t you?

Today’s word is:

axes is the plural of axis

Did you know that? I totally didn’t know it at all. Although, I don’t know what I thought the plural of axis was before I looked up the word. Interesting.

Okay, it also means all that over stuff about the plural of ax or axe, but I thought the more interesting one was the plural of axis.

So, go ahead, use it in a sentence however you see fit! Don’t get too teary-eyed about your last Wednesday Word, there will be more in your future!

Are you ready for the new year?

2009-12-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

You know, have you done that “making resolutions” thing that so many people do this time of year. I kind of have a problem with making resolutions (if you didn’t catch my sarcasm in the first sentence, that would be sarcasm written in those quotes…imagine me saying those words using air quotes and a look at humor on my face). See, for me, I don’t make a resolution for the new year.

Actually, barring my new blog that more of you can still join, I typically don’t give myself a start date for things I would like to accomplish. I may set an end date, but the start date is the minute I decide to accomplish something.

What do I have against resolutions?

resolution is a noun that means a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group; OR a resolve or determination; OR the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc; OR the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose

Do you see? Everything in the definition is about making intentions to complete something, but not actually completing something.

I can easily say, “I resolve that I am going to become a millionaire.” That doesn’t make it happen. What REALLY makes it happen is

goal is a noun that means the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end; OR the terminal point in a race; OR pole, line, or other marker by which such a point is indicated; OR an area, basket, cage, or other object or structure toward or into which players of various games attempt to throw, carry, kick, hit, or drive a ball, puck, etc., to score a point or points; OR the act of throwing, carrying, kicking, driving, etc., a ball or puck into such an area or object; OR the score made by this act

Setting a goal for the New Year? Now that is something I can get behind. THERE is something intentional and something that you will absolutely 100% obtain.

When you break a resolution, nothing is really broken, is it? I mean it just means you didn’t follow through with your word..albeit, that is just as bad, I think, to not keep your word.

However, when you break a goal…well that is another story, isn’t it?

What are your GOALS for 2010? You all know mine, here and here.

2010 Goals

2009-12-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

I was crazy enough to start just one…more…blog! Yes, I am that crazy. I started it for one reason

dedicated is an adjective that means wholly committed to something, as to an ideal, political cause, or personal goal; OR set apart or reserved for a specific use or purpose; OR made or designed to interconnect exclusively with one model or a limited range of models in a manufacturer's line

I am dedicated to reading the Bible cover to cover. Want to join me? Come over here and join in the fun!

Really? That’s a word?

2009-12-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

While playing Scrabble Blast the other day we were shockingly surprised at several words that people tried to sneak into play. MOST were not really words.

Have you ever played any form of Scrabble and tried to get a word through and was hoping you wouldn’t get called on it and, when you did get called on it, you found out that it actually WAS a word? I know you have!

Well, the real surprising word we came up with was

kame is a noun that means a ridge or mound of stratified drift left by a retreating ice sheet

There’s a new one for me! I NEVER would have thought this was a real word, would you? Did you know about this word? Be honest!

Scrabble Slam

2009-12-26T18:15:00.001-08:00

This is a blog about words. One game I got for Christmas this year is a game about words. Scrabble Slam is an awesome game that is so much fun and is ALL ABOUT WORDS!

Scrabble Slam! Have you seen the commercials for this game? I had been seeing the commercials for a long while. I kind of flip-flopped on the idea of the game. Yeah, it looks fun but could it get old real fast?

The answer? NO! It doesn’t get old very fast at all.

What I LOVE about this game is that anyone at any level can play. You only have to have a knowledge of 4 letter words…and NO, not THOSE four letter words, geesh, get you minds out of the gutters, would you?

It is VERY simple to play. The hardest part is coming up with the first word:

See you have to come up with a four letter word to start with. It’s not as easy as it seems. So, come up with your word, pull out the four cards with those letters on them, and put out the word.

Then, split the deck amongst the players. Mostly, we played with just two people, but you can play with more. The game says up to 4 players, but I don’t see why it couldn’t be played with more except that you wouldn’t have as many cards.

Once someone begins the play, GAME ON! Everyone races against each other to get rid of all their cards changing the words one letter at a time and EVERY word MUST be a real word. Fast thinking, fast playing, and lots of fun! If you want to challenge a word, call a time out and look it up.

It really is THAT simple!

My only gripe about this game is that the cards are printed double sided. At least both letters are shown on each side of the card so you know what’s on the other side, but it does make it a challenge when putting down words you might mean to put down T and end up putting Y and then someone else has put down a letter as you try and correct it.

This is a minor gripe and does NOT make me NOT want to play. I very much enjoy this game and look forward to playing it many times!

Have you played this game? What did you think of it?

Note: I just want to reiterate that this was given to me by my MOTHER and I am not getting anything for this review…just lots of fun and laughs!

Warm wishes

2009-12-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

Words can be used for so many things. Words can hurt and heal. Words can tear down or build up. Today, I want my words to bless:

I wish you and your family the most blessed Christmas Day. May you and your family remember with love each other and what this day is truly about.

What do you want?

2009-12-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

So, I’m fishing here a bit, but I am making plans for the New Year. Inquiring minds want to know:

As a regular reader of this blog, what do you want to see more of?

What do you want to see less of?

What do you want to see changed?

Or, just tell me everything is perfect :)

Just kidding, I’m curious to know what keeps you coming back and what you would like to see me add. I’m not making any promises, but I AM saying I will take your comments into consideration as I plan for the upcoming year.

Wednesday Word Count-12239

2009-12-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s word:

widows as a noun means a woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried; OR an additional hand or part of a hand, as one dealt to the table; OR a short last line of a paragraph, esp. one less than half of the full measure or one consisting of only a single word; OR the last line of a paragraph when it is carried over to the top of the following page away from the rest of the paragraph; OR a woman often left alone because her husband devotes his free time to a hobby or sport (used in combination)
widow as a verb means to make (someone) a widow; OR to deprive of anything cherished or needed; OR Obsolete

WOW! Where do I start with this one? I knew about the wife thing, but I don’t think I knew anything about ANY of those other definitions. What about you? Did you learn something today?

Righteousness

2009-12-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I don’t know how I pick the words for this blog.

Sometimes I open up Windows Live Writer to begin writing my posts and, when I get to Discussing Semantics, I think to myself, “okay, what word are we going to talk about today? What conversations have I had today that brought up a good word? Have a read anything in a book that would be good for this post?”

Then I make decision. Sometimes that decision comes from my backlog of posts and words to write about.

Today, however, the strangest thing happened. I opened up Windows Live Writer. I got to Discussing Semantics. And immediatly this word popped inot my mind. None of my usual thoughts even had a chance to come into my head.

I thought to myself, “Why is this word coming up? Have I heard it today? No. Did I read it? No. Why does it keep coming up and I can’t get it out of my head. Guess I need to write about it.”

So, here you go. Today’s word brought to you from the voices in my head:

sanctimonious is an adjective that means making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc; OR Feigning piety or righteousness

Yes, I know some sanctimonious people. Do you?

I work very hard at NOT being sanctimonious. I work VERY HARD not to be hypocritical and actually do what I say I do, believe what I say I believe. How about you?

Thoughts? Could be on the word or on my odd thoughts above. Just let me know your thoughts!

Answer to 12.20.09

2009-12-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Did you not see it?

“Not that we don’t love Asheville (we do), but because we had some break issues, that apparently, because of the GM bailout and the little guy and antifreeze in the break fluid and The South and a few other uncontrollable things, we added 2 extra weeks to our stay.”

Did you all miss it? BREAK should be BRAKE!

Okay, forget the whole run on sentence aspect. What I was really looking for was the break/brake thing.

BREAK is what the BRAKES probably did with the wrong fluid in there. get it?

Weekly Blunder 12.19.09

2009-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, this actually comes from a blog that I highly respect; but it just goes to show that even the great can falter in blunders. See if you can find it in here:

Saturday Symbol-didn’t pull it off

2009-12-19T20:57:00.001-08:00

Okay, so typically on Saturday I do a post about a particular symbol that we use in writing; however, you will notice, that it didn’t happen this week. Why? Well, look over here to find out the truth.

Friday Phrases Heave-ho!

2009-12-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Did you ever hear the phrase

give the old’ heave ho is a phrase that means to make someone leave a job, or to end your relationship with someone (usually passive)

Have you ever given any one the heave ho?

Obliged vs Obligated

2009-12-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

While at a meeting the other day, someone was talking about a particular entity being required to complete a task. He started to say “obligated” then corrected himself and said “obliged”. That got me thinking.

Do these two words mean the same thing? Or is there really a case where one is more appropriate than another. Let’s look, shall we?

Obliged is a verb that means to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity; OR to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract; OR to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service; OR to put (one) in a debt of gratitude, as by a favor or accommodation; OR to make (an action, policy, etc.) necessary or obligatory
Obligated is a verb that means to bind or oblige morally or legally; OR to pledge, commit, or bind (funds, property, etc.) to meet an obligation

Other than the fact that obliged has a longer definition list, it seems to me that they basically mean the same thing and could be used interchangeably. Do you see it that way, too?

Wednesday Word Count 12169

2009-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s word is an interesting one. I can honestly say that I don’t think I have every heard this word before; and let’s be honest, how many of you had heard this word before?

gateshead is a noun that means a borough of northeast England on the Tyne River opposite Newcastle. Dating probably to Saxon times, it has an iron and steel industry that developed in the 19th century

Okay, maybe those of you who are more worldly than I am. I will be one of the first to admit that I have a hard enough time keeping track of all the areas of my state and where various cities are here. There is NO WAY I am ever going to keep track of cities and locations OUTSIDE of my state…no less my country.

I just don’t have that kind of memory or thought process. Yes, it’s a bit self-centered; but I’m a bit okay with that.

So, did you know what gateshead was? Or, like me, were you expecting the definition that followed to be something about a lion’s head at the opening of a gate?

Answer to the Blunder

2009-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Did you all get it? Here was the blunder:

He wears Khaki's and a golf shirt, or colored shirt and dress shoes.

Here is what it SHOULD have read (and thanks again goes to Lucy for keeping that blunder on her page for all of us to see :) ):

He wears Khaki's and a golf shirt, or collard shirt and dress shoes.

Although, I think colored works just as well here, but I know what she was getting at!

I also know that I would have totally made the same mistake because, let's face it, collard just looks funny, doesn't it? And sounds funny too when you say it, don't you think?

Weekly Blunder

2009-12-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Alright so I’m a little late on the weekly blunder around here, but it still works.

Lucy was kind enough to submit this one and admit to her mistakes. You have to admire a person who is willing to admit their mistakes, don’t you? So, what’s wrong with this sentence:

He wears Khaki's and a golf shirt, or colored shirt and dress shoes.

So, leave your comments with your guesses! Answers to be announced at a later date!

Where we live

2009-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

I don’t know why, but I have never been able to tell you the difference between these three words. It’s not that I didn’t know the different between them, I just have never known which meant which.

Enough with the roundabout talk. Let’s move onto the words, are you ready?

urban is an adjective that means of, pertaining to, or designating a city or town; OR living in a city; OR characteristic of or accustomed to cities; citified
suburb is an adjective that means a district lying immediately outside a city or town, esp. a smaller residential community; OR an outlying part
rural is an adjective that means of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; rustic; OR living in the country; OR of or pertaining to agriculture

Did I set everyone straight now? Or are all of you wondering why in the world I ever had to look these three words up?

Confession time, I DO know what they mean, but not without some logical thinking EVERY TIME these words come up in conversation. See, I have to go through this thought process:

What did they say? An urban area? Is that the city or the country? Okay, I know that the suburb means the outskirts of the city so it must mean the city. Oh yeah, that’s right. And since urban means city then rural means country. Phew, glad I figured that out before anyone else figures out that I’m a complete moron when it comes to three simple words.

You think I’m kidding? Those are ACTUALLY the words that go through my mind EVERY SINGLE TIME! I’d invite you into my mind but it’s a bit scary in there and you might never look at me the same again.

So, where do you live? I guess where I live would be considered a rural area.

Saturday Symbol-Asterisk

2009-12-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

Are you, like me, one of the many people who miss pronounce the name of this symbol? It’s not as-trix. Nor is it as-ter-ick.

No, it is pronounced: as-ter-isk

Got it? Okay, now what do we use this little symbol for? Well math and computers, of course, but it’s also used for several other purposes:

* It’s used to show there is a footnote at the end of the page.

* It’s used to cross out letters so as not to offend. For example, if I want to tell you that you are acting like a b****…see how I did that?

* It can also be used to show emphasis on a word when italics might not be available. I can say, “I am not a b****.” Or I can say, “I am *not* a b****.” Although, when I see it that way, doesn’t it make it look more sarcastic in tone?

* Some people will use them as the bullet for bullet point lists.

* Want to know if a movie is worth seeing? Check out how many it gets. For example, The Blind Side? I give it *****

* Oh, and you can’t forget the all important use of noting when a person has illegally made a record in history by being souped up on steroids. This way everyone in history will know that he got this huge accomplishments…but he had a lot of help.

What other purposes do you use and asterisk for?

Checking your titles

2009-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

I got this in an email the other day and found it hilarious! I just had to share it with all of you!

So, which was your favorite one? Have you ever seen a headline that made you do a double take?

Magnificence

2009-12-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Don’t ask why I chose this word today, I have just been hearing it a lot lately…okay, maybe it’s because I’ve been saying it a lot lately, but it’s still a good word:

pompous is an adjective that means characterized by an ostentatious display of dignity or importance; OR ostentatiously lofty or high-flown; OR characterized by pomp, stately splendor, or magnificence; OR Characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity; pretentious; OR Full of high-sounding phrases; bombastic

Yes, as in “You are such a pompous a**” Oh wait, I would never say anything like that…would I? Well, maybe…do you know anyone that is pompous?

Wednesday Word Count-12909

2009-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well, it was a toss up today with word number 1299 or word number 12909. If it was word 1299, I would have begun this post by singing you a little song:

“I feel pretty. Oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and GAY and I pity and girl who isn’t me today!”

That’s right, word number 1299 is pretty. However, you all know what pretty means, right?

So I decided to go with word number 12909. I’m sure you all know this word as well, but it’s a fun word to say:

trickle is a verb that means to flow or fall by drops, or in a small, gentle stream; OR to come, go, or pass bit by bit, slowly, or irregularly
trickle can also be a noun that means a small, slow, or irregular quantity of anything coming, going, or proceeding

Isn’t that just one of those words that just sounds like what it is? I mean you can be someone who has NEVER heard the word trickle and you would know what it was immediately.

Okay, so two tasks today. First, as usual, use the word trickle in a sentence. Second? Leave me another word that sounds like what it means.

It’s NOT goat skin

2009-12-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I was on my way home last night when I asked my husband if he turned on the heater because it was FREEZING here (well, as freezing as we pretty much ever get with rain, wind, and snow in the local mountain areas).

He said, “no, we don’t need the heat on, you have your shammy”

Uh, honey? It’s SNUGGIE, not a chamois (pronounced shammy and it’s the closest I could come to finding a definition so work with me here people):

chamois is a noun that means an agile, goat like antelope, Rupicapra rupicapra, of high mountains of Europe: now rare in some areas; OR a soft, pliable leather from any of various skins dressed with oil, esp. fish oil, originally prepared from the skin of the chamois; OR a piece of this leather; OR a cotton cloth finished to simulate this leather; OR a medium to grayish yellow color

I have always known what a chamois is; I remember my dad showing me how to use these when washing cars. We always had them around. My snuggie? Far from a chamois.

My snuggie, while warm, does NOT block out the freezing cold that is our place in this weather; unless of course we have the heater on, which my husband did make sure to turn on before I got home so it was nice and toasty warm when I got there…he’s so sweet!

Decorating

2009-12-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

There is only ONE explanation for me picking this word today: while writing this post I was watching an episode of Two and a Half Men and when I was thinking, “what word should I post today” one of the characters said the word. Lucky for you I wasn’t watching something else…okay, maybe not. Either way the scene was very funny.

decor is a noun that means style or mode of decoration, as of a room, building, or the like; OR decoration in general; ornamentation; OR scenic decoration; scenery

I know, pathetic right? That I would get a word from a show that I happen to be watching while I am writing a post?

Okay, so what kind of shows do you watch while you are blogging (if you blog)? What shows do you watch while you do anything else?

Weekly Blunder 12.6.09

2009-12-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know that it’s a bit late, but here is this week’s blunder:

I went into my KODAK Gallery to find a video I had posted there a couple of months ago and found VERY SINGLE video, picture and album GONE.

So tell me, what’s wrong with this sentence?

Morals and Ethics

2009-12-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I made a comment this week about morals and ethics. I said, “Sometimes doing the morally RIGHT thing when others are doing the morally WRONG thing is really, really hard...but I'm glad I did it. It only proves my strength of character, right?”

I do believe that. I also do believe that it’s important to stick by your morals and ethics. I say as much over here today. So I thought it might be fun to look at the definitions today:

morals as a noun means the moral teaching or practical lesson contained in a fable, tale, experience, etc; OR the embodiment or type of something; OR principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct; OR rules or habits of conduct, especially of sexual conduct, with reference to standards of right and wrong
morals as an adjective means of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical; OR expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work; moralizing; OR founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom; OR capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct; OR conforming to the rules of right conduct; OR virtuous in sexual matters; chaste; OR of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character; OR resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual
ethics is a noun that means a system of moral principles; OR the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc; OR moral principles, as of an individual; OR that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions

I am working really hard at being moral and ethical. I have always had a strong conviction of what I know is right and wrong both morally and ethically. I tend to shy away from conflict, therefore I have, in the past, kept my mouth shut when I know that others are not acting morally or ethically right. In the recent past, however, I have stood by my convictions.

It has rocked the boat and made really big waves. Some waves that haven’t even begun to settle yet and will in fact get bigger in time. However, I am really proud of myself and like this new me. I will definitely continue standing by my morals and values.

How strong are you when it comes to standing UP for your morals and ethics?

Camaraderie

2009-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

Over here I have talked about a group that I really enjoy. I used this word to explain how I feel and I think it is very fitting; plus I really enjoy the word…it’s just fun to say, isn’t it?

camaraderie is a noun that means goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship; OR comradeship; good-fellowship

How’s that? Now, I wouldn’t necessarily call these people friends, but I would definitely say there is good fellowship!

Where do you have camaraderie?

Infomercials

2009-12-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a word that is fairly new in the English vocabulary…but it is a real word that has been added to our fine dictionary.

infomercials is a noun that means A relatively long commercial in the format of a television program; OR a long commercial that informs or instructs, esp. in an original and entertaining manner

I’m really strange, I actually like infomercials. I really do. I will stop at each one even when I have seen it a hundred times before. I don’t know why, but those just drag me in to their insanity.

How about you? Do you stop at them too? Or am I all alone in this?

Wednesday Word Count- 12209

2009-12-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

I’m looking forward to next year when we get some more random words…okay, I’m hoping for that. I really don’t know WHAT kind of words will come up. But here we go today with word number 12,209

riverside as a noun that means The bank or area alongside a river; OR (with a capital R) a city of southern California northeast of Santa Ana. The navel orange was introduced here in 1873, and the city still has an important citrus industry
riverside as an adjective means on or near a bank of a river

Go ahead, humor me with some comments using this word in a sentence!

Seven Deadly Sins

2009-12-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be fun to look at the seven deadly sins today. Don’t ask why, sometimes there is no reason to what goes on in my little head…so let’s look, shall we?

Covetousness (better known as greed) is an adjective that means inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy; OR eagerly desirous; OR a strong desire after the possession of worldly things

Gluttony is a noun that means excessive eating and drinking.

Lust is a noun that means intense sexual desire or appetite; OR uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness; OR a passionate or overmastering desire or craving; OR ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish; OR desire; inclination; wish; OR An overwhelming desire or craving

Despair (this deadly sin is also sometimes referred to as sloth) is a noun that means loss of hope; hopelessness; OR someone or something that causes hopelessness; OR To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat

Sloth (despair and sloth are interchangeable, but it’s a bit easier to look at each separately to better understand this deadly sin) is a noun that means habitual disinclination to exertion; indolence; laziness; OR aversion to work or exertion; laziness; indolence

Envy is a noun that means a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc; OR an object of envious feeling; OR ill will

Wrath (also known as anger) is a noun that means strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire; OR vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger; OR Forceful, often vindictive anger

Pride (sometimes referred to as vain or glory) is a noun that means a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc; OR becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem; OR pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself

Many of you, who follow me over here, know that I used to struggle with gluttony; and, looking at these definitions, I have now learned that my previous lifestyle was also a struggle with despair as well. Here I thought I just struggled with gluttony!

I KNOW I struggle with pride; I mean you all know about my snobbish ways of thinking in pronunciations and misspellings and all that. However, I do think I do a pretty good job at not DISPLAYING those thoughts, but it still is a struggle I have.

Covetousness and lust are two that I really don’t think I have a problem with. I think I have a pretty good control over these two. Wrath is one I definitely do NOT struggle with as I tend to shy away from conflict.

Envy? Well, I would say that there are times I struggle with this, but only in specific areas and the more I think about it, I don’t have ill will towards other, it’s just that certain things in LIFE that I want as well. It’s not that I don’t want others to enjoy it as well, just that I want to enjoy it just as much. Yeah, I guess I struggle with those.

So, Envy and Pride! Those are my two struggles with the seven deadly sins.

Which of the deadly sins is most tempting to you?

On another note, does anyone else find it odd that Covetousness is the only adjective in the bunch?

Pronunciations

2009-11-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, no words today, just a small rant on my part…but not really a rant; more of a confession:

I am a pronunciation snob.

It drives me INSANE when people around me say words incorrectly. There are two people who are very close to me that do this all the time and I seriously have to stop myself from correcting them.

When I do correct them, I just sound like an annoying word snob. I don’t like to sound like that. It almost sounds like I think I know more than they do and that I am more intelligent than them.

I don’t want to sound like that, so I usually hold my tongue…until a bed PMS day or something; but I’m usually good at holding my tongue.

However, I am not above thinking in my head, “Arg! I just wish he/she would just say that word correctly.”

It’s not even hard words that are mispronounced. Some of it I know is just accents from growing up in different places; but some of it is just NOT knowing how to say a word.

It drives me INSANE even more when a person is reading a word and says it wrong. Especially when you can tell that they REALLY think that they are saying it correctly.

I blame my parents for this. They always seemed to push speaking properly and reading well and all that. I mean, they sent me to CATHOLIC school! We had one nun who would come in one day every week and teach us how to speak correctly. We always had to recite poetry in front of the entire class and she would correct us at every wrong pronunciation.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved that nun, she really was a sweetheart. It’s because of her and my parents that people mispronouncing words drives me insane.

What’s even worse is that I think to myself, “See, this is why I don’t want to send my children to public school, look at how they will end up talking!”

Or, I think to myself, “Oh, how will I raise my kids speaking well without making these people who I am close to and love dearly feel bad because, so help me, I will correct the way my child talks so that they will speak correctly.”

Please, tell me I’m not alone out there. Please tell me that you are a pronunciation snob, too. Anyone? No? It’s just me? Really? No one else is bothered by poor speaking habits?

The Moon

2009-11-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have to confess, I get confused with the moon. Well, not the moon itself, just two specific terms that we use with it. I always forget which means that moon is getting fuller and which means it’s getting smaller.

I know I’m not the only one out here with that question, so I bring you the definitions:

wane is a verb that means to decrease in strength, intensity, etc; OR to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc; OR to draw to a close; approach an end; OR (of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon
wax is a verb that means (for the purposes of the moon) to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc; OR (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon; OR to grow or become

It didn’t help that one of the first definitions I read under wane was “the waning of the moon”. I mean, seriously? I’m trying to figure out what that means? Is this the ULTIMATE using the word as a definition or what?

Okay, make me feel better, tell me that I’m not the only one who ~~doesn’t~~ didn’t know this.

Saturday Symbols-Guillemets

2009-11-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

Ever seen these: << >>

They have a name: guillemets

Yeah, say that word, go ahead, I’ll wait. In the mean time, you can also call them angle quotes. I like SAYING that better, but I like the look of the work guillemets.

Okay, really, they play a part in computer language and, in many other languages that are NOT English, they are used as quotation marks in writing speech.

In English? Well, they pretty much are the symbols we use for rewind and fast forward.

Did you ever know what these were called before? I think the next time I want to rewind a part in a movie I will just tell my husband, “Honey, hit the guillemet, I want to see that again.”

Think he’ll know what I mean?

Only slightly inappropriate

2009-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

I know, I usually only talk about real words, word that can be found in the dictionary. However, I learned of a definition from urban dictionary yesterday that had me ROLLING on the floor laughing (hey at least I didn’t pee on myself ;)…then shouting it out after the appropriate occasion:

turkey bark means Farting after eating turkey

Okay, in my defense, both the word turkey and the word bark ARE in the dictionary…but this is hilarious!

And yes, I’m not ashamed to admit, that I had occasion to use it yesterday as well. Admit it, if you had known about this phrase you would have used it as well…you know you would!

Now, I know you all have leftover turkey to much on; go eat some and use this phrase!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

No words today, just a reminder to use your words very carefully as you sit around the table with your family that you may not have seen for years, months, or hours. You know how heated things get around the table, right?

Well, as I have taught you over the history of this blog, choose your words carefully and feelings won’t get unintentionally hurt…

The INTENTIONAL hurt…well, I can’t do much about that, but maybe you can look through my history and find some big words to use on them.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and, if you shop tomorrow, a safe and prosperous shopping trip!

Wednesday Word Count- 11259

2009-11-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s word:

glamour as a noun means the quality of fascinating, alluring, or attracting, esp. by a combination of charm and good looks; OR excitement, adventure, and unusual activity; OR magic or enchantment; spell; witchery
glamour as and adjective means suggestive or full of glamour; glamorous

Now, I don’t know about you, but I do know this word. Maybe because I grew up just a few hours away from Hollywood and all it’s perceived glamour; although, I think it’s not as glamorous as it used to be back in the day of Doris Day and Lauren Bacall….I think they are probably rolling in the graves at the spectacle that it has become, don’t you?

Anyway, glamour is lost a bit in ALL parts, not just Hollywood, but you could still use it in a sentence in the comments, right?

Horton Hear a Who

2009-11-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

I don’t know why I remember it, but I do. Once back in seventh grade our teacher gave us a long lecture about the difference between to listen and to hear. Basically, she explained it to mean that one is there are sounds going in but no processing of information; the other was that the sound was taken in and actually mulled over those sounds.

Now, what I remember about that lecture was that it came about because we, as junior high students, were of the former type in the class for that week and she was kind of sick of it. I think she thought that it would pull us back in line…I don’t know if it worked or not.

What I DON’T remember about it is which was which. Which was the meaningful kind and which was the sounds-go-in-sounds-go-out kind. So, after years and years of remembering this lecture and wondering which is which, I FINALLY looked it up!

listen is a verb that means to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear; OR to pay attention; heed; obey; OR to wait attentively for a sound; OR to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound; OR to give ear to; hear
hear is a verb that means to perceive by the ear; OR to learn by the ear or by being told; be informed of; OR to listen to; give or pay attention to; OR to be among the audience at or of; OR to give a formal, official, or judicial hearing to (something); consider officially, as a judge, sovereign, teacher, or assembly; OR to take or listen to the evidence or testimony of (someone); OR to listen to with favor, assent, or compliance; OR to receive information by the ear or otherwise

Okay, so, listening is passive, hearing is active. Do you get that, too? She wanted us to HEAR her, not just listen.

It makes sense to me, how about you?

I make an effort to really hear people when they talk to me. It drives me insane when a person is merely “listening” and not actually hearing. There is a supervisor at work that does this ALL the time and I almost want to hang up on her…I actually think that she wouldn’t know if I did just that.

So, how good are you at hearing?