I love to write and therefore, I love to know about the origins of words and phrases. In other words, I like to know the etymology of words and phrases. Where did they come from? Why do we use them? Does anybody know these things?
There are a few that don't seem to have an exact origin. However, many phrases do have an origin whether they be from sports or from literature. Many phrases are also older than we think they are.
There is a guy that has done some research into phrases, but I like to try to do more research and see if more information can be found. Sometimes, though, the only information that can be found is the information that he provided.
I am glad that Gary Martin does this. I just think it would be nice if others provided some information about these phrases, too. My best articles are written when I can find at least one or two other sources that tell me something in the past about the phrase or how it is currently used.
I have so many phrase origin articles that it is not possible to have time to link to all of them. Therefore, here are a few of my favorites.
Knock Into a Cocked Hat
Know Your Onions
Sound Bite
Many A Little Makes a Mickle
The Proof Is in the Pudding
If you want to see other phrase origin articles that I have written, go to http://www.bridgetilenedelaney.tk and then scroll down to where it says "Search Bridget Ilene Delaney's Content." In the text input box under that, type "phrase origins" and then push the search button next to the text input box.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
O is for Octopus
O can be a difficult blog post, but today, O is for octopus. I've never had a close encounter with an octopus. It wouldn't seem like choosing octopus as the topic for O would be logical. However, octopus is the topic because, what I think was a year or so ago now, I had a dream where there was a big friendly octopus in a pond by my friend's house. I've called her Jade, even though that's not her real name. It's easier to call her Jade in these journals, especially. She and I have had some people that are weird and want to make it so we are not friends and that does not make sense because we are quite different from each other by now. Yet, she and I do enjoy each other's company when we are around each other.
Anyway, the octopus was in a large lake by her house. This octopus was very big. Jade would go out to the pond or lake and she couldn't see the octopus when she saw the lake However, it could rise and it was just about as big as the lake. It just fit underneath the surface.
Jade would come out and visit it. The octopus would give her rides on its tentacles under the water and up above it again. It would also turn her around in the pond so she had different views of her garden and the neighborhood.
I wrote about this is another journal of mine and her only response was "Weee!" or something like that. I found it funny and she told me that it sounded like fun.
I don't have any articles about dreams, but here are some that may interest you if you enjoyed this blog post.
Never-never land
Pipe dream
What is Lucid Dreaming and How Do I Do It?
Anyway, the octopus was in a large lake by her house. This octopus was very big. Jade would go out to the pond or lake and she couldn't see the octopus when she saw the lake However, it could rise and it was just about as big as the lake. It just fit underneath the surface.
Jade would come out and visit it. The octopus would give her rides on its tentacles under the water and up above it again. It would also turn her around in the pond so she had different views of her garden and the neighborhood.
I wrote about this is another journal of mine and her only response was "Weee!" or something like that. I found it funny and she told me that it sounded like fun.
I don't have any articles about dreams, but here are some that may interest you if you enjoyed this blog post.
Never-never land
Pipe dream
What is Lucid Dreaming and How Do I Do It?
Saturday, April 28, 2012
N is for Networking
Even before I had graduated from college, the importance of networking was something that was being talked about all throughout the Mass Communications department. It wasn't as widespread as the importance of networking is for a freelance writer, but the importance was already there. At that time, Facebook wasn't open to the public and Twitter hadn't been created. Blogs weren't as popular as they are now. Internet networking was only beginning.
I can remember sitting with one of my classmates and we talked about networking. She explained to somebody how it would be like getting to know a janitor. That janitor might be married to a newspaper editor. Because the janitor knows you and might read your writings as a janitor in the Mass Communications building, she may tell her husband about your writing if he needed somebody to hire for his newspaper. This was all a made up situation, but it got the point across. It is an easy way to describe networking.
Basically, it goes back to "I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy." However, instead of you needing to hire that guy, that guy might need to hire you. Of course, you might need the guy, too, but that's another story.
As a freelance writer, it is important for me to network not only because I need people to read and like my writings so I get paid, but also to learn about new places to write. I need to know about new opportunities. I do research writing jobs online, but I can't take up all my time doing that. When other writers happen to see what I write, they sometimes tell me about other outlets and I can take a look and apply if I feel I could write for that outlet.
I've had a few gigs come and go this way. It's usually because the writing gigs start out good but go downhill quickly. This was the case with ghostwriting. They were all things that I could write, and then when I wrote exactly what people wanted, they still complained. How many different ways can the benefits of chocolate be written for the same person? How can there be many benefits of fried chicken?
I didn't want to write promotional items for things I didn't believe. Writing about saunas and health benefits were okay because it was true. However, I wasn't going to sell myself out writing about fad diets.
I have to network. Not only do I network on the Internet, but I network in real life as well. I don't think about it when I do it now, either. It has become a part of my life. I get to know a person. I get to know what he or she does. It helps that even though I am an introvert, I like to know people and I like to know about people. It's just that once I know about them, I'm pretty good. I'll just want to get out every now and then. I'll want to talk to people that I know and I'll want to relax and talk about things that are happening.
I enjoy writing,so when they mention anything that might have to do with writing or something I've written, it's easy to say, "Oh, I wrote about that," or "I can write about that if you want."
Related Articles:
Which is the Better Social Networking Site: MySpace or Facebook?
How to Use Google's Social Media
Basically, it goes back to "I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy." However, instead of you needing to hire that guy, that guy might need to hire you. Of course, you might need the guy, too, but that's another story.
As a freelance writer, it is important for me to network not only because I need people to read and like my writings so I get paid, but also to learn about new places to write. I need to know about new opportunities. I do research writing jobs online, but I can't take up all my time doing that. When other writers happen to see what I write, they sometimes tell me about other outlets and I can take a look and apply if I feel I could write for that outlet.
I've had a few gigs come and go this way. It's usually because the writing gigs start out good but go downhill quickly. This was the case with ghostwriting. They were all things that I could write, and then when I wrote exactly what people wanted, they still complained. How many different ways can the benefits of chocolate be written for the same person? How can there be many benefits of fried chicken?
I didn't want to write promotional items for things I didn't believe. Writing about saunas and health benefits were okay because it was true. However, I wasn't going to sell myself out writing about fad diets.
I have to network. Not only do I network on the Internet, but I network in real life as well. I don't think about it when I do it now, either. It has become a part of my life. I get to know a person. I get to know what he or she does. It helps that even though I am an introvert, I like to know people and I like to know about people. It's just that once I know about them, I'm pretty good. I'll just want to get out every now and then. I'll want to talk to people that I know and I'll want to relax and talk about things that are happening.
I enjoy writing,so when they mention anything that might have to do with writing or something I've written, it's easy to say, "Oh, I wrote about that," or "I can write about that if you want."
Related Articles:
Which is the Better Social Networking Site: MySpace or Facebook?
How to Use Google's Social Media
Friday, April 27, 2012
M is for Mom, Mother, Mama . . .
I do love my Mama. However, she is very stressful lately. Some of it is definitely just her health. She has always had low blood pressure and being that it is really low, she is supposed to take Fludrocortizone (the brand name is Florinef). She doesn't take this all the time like she should. That makes it really bad because she is so dizzy that she falls.
She also takes Paxil (or whatever the generic brand is). One of the side effects is dizziness. This doesn't help.
Then, she also takes some type of medicine like Detrol L.A.
She is not very neat or nice with her, um, bodily functions, these days. We make sure she wears the store brand depends. She calls them her "unders," but honestly, when she kept having problems that made it so we constantly had to clean the floors, I knew she needed "diapers."
She raised me, or for those who are so picky and say that you raise farm animals and rear human children, she reared me. Obviously, I turned out as a good person. However, I don't think I would have been as neat as I am (and I'm not great at being neat, but I'm not as messy as my mom - or my sister) if it weren't for my Daddy.
Right now, my Mama is in her room. However, we want to get that room switched with what is currently my room. This is difficult for three girls to do on their own. I also need money to get direct connections to electricity, the internet, and the phone where I need them. That room is not set up well.
This room, however, is easily set up for her. We just need to switch a couple of beds and a my desk with her dresser. Of course, the rooms also need to be clean. I haven't forgotten this.
However, it seems like my mom and sister have forgotten this fact.
If you love your mother and want to celebrate a unique mother's day, why won't you do that by giving her the day off?
She also takes Paxil (or whatever the generic brand is). One of the side effects is dizziness. This doesn't help.
Then, she also takes some type of medicine like Detrol L.A.
She is not very neat or nice with her, um, bodily functions, these days. We make sure she wears the store brand depends. She calls them her "unders," but honestly, when she kept having problems that made it so we constantly had to clean the floors, I knew she needed "diapers."
She raised me, or for those who are so picky and say that you raise farm animals and rear human children, she reared me. Obviously, I turned out as a good person. However, I don't think I would have been as neat as I am (and I'm not great at being neat, but I'm not as messy as my mom - or my sister) if it weren't for my Daddy.
Right now, my Mama is in her room. However, we want to get that room switched with what is currently my room. This is difficult for three girls to do on their own. I also need money to get direct connections to electricity, the internet, and the phone where I need them. That room is not set up well.
This room, however, is easily set up for her. We just need to switch a couple of beds and a my desk with her dresser. Of course, the rooms also need to be clean. I haven't forgotten this.
However, it seems like my mom and sister have forgotten this fact.
If you love your mother and want to celebrate a unique mother's day, why won't you do that by giving her the day off?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
L is for Lutheran
I grew up as a Lutheran. I was raised in an Evangelical Lutheran Chuch in America (ELCA) church. Even when I was born, I was baptized in an ELCA church up in Midland, MI. I went to Vacation Bible School there when I was small. When we moved to Lake Charles, there was only a small ELCA congregation. It was awesome when I was little and it also had an awesome pastor. Sadly, he had AIDS that he got from a blood transfusion in the 1970s. They didn't know about checking for AIDS at the time that he got the blood transfusion. The next pastor was not so great, but the youth ministry was still under a strong and caring leader.
I can't say much about after he left. I can't say much about the people who ran the music program. I stayed in handbells and choirs because I loved music. However, the people weren't very caring and encouraged competition between members and also bullied me and my sister. They encouraged the people that bullied us.
Anyway, the next pastor we had was awesome, though. I had also started going to a Seventh Day Adventist Church while going to the Lutheran church. I picked up some of my beliefs at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, but found that I was mainly Lutheran due to most of my beliefs.
However, I had also been reading books about Christianity and I had gone to a few different denomination's worship services. I learned about different things from these and from Christian friends.
I grew even more when I was in college. It seems odd, but a couple of the classes where I definitely grew spiritually were my Honors English class and my Stage Combat class.
Was I still Lutheran? Maybe not according to everything said. However, I read the basic beliefs of the ELCA and they are the closest to mine. I still have beliefs from all over. I love other congregations, too.
In fact, there was a huge to-do at the local ELCA church that made it so I am not comfortable going there any longer. It was bad. They blamed me for things I never did.
However, I still love being affiliated with the Lutheran church. However, I go to an Episcopal church in the morning and a Disciples of Christ church in the evenings. If I can't get to the Episcopal church in the mornings, I watch a Methodist worship service on television.
I'm still growing spiritually - which is also a point that made me not like the local Lutheran Church. They seemed to think that once you are confirmed (eighth grade!) that you don't need to continue growing spiritually - that's it! They said, "you're an adult in the eyes of the church." Then, they didn't treat me like one at all. I had graduated college and they treated me like a child!
It's a mess because even though this happened months prior to writing the article, I was still very emotional about it. It is difficult to not get emotional about it.
Read Review and Story of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lake Charles, LA.
I can't say much about after he left. I can't say much about the people who ran the music program. I stayed in handbells and choirs because I loved music. However, the people weren't very caring and encouraged competition between members and also bullied me and my sister. They encouraged the people that bullied us.
Anyway, the next pastor we had was awesome, though. I had also started going to a Seventh Day Adventist Church while going to the Lutheran church. I picked up some of my beliefs at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, but found that I was mainly Lutheran due to most of my beliefs.
However, I had also been reading books about Christianity and I had gone to a few different denomination's worship services. I learned about different things from these and from Christian friends.
I grew even more when I was in college. It seems odd, but a couple of the classes where I definitely grew spiritually were my Honors English class and my Stage Combat class.
Was I still Lutheran? Maybe not according to everything said. However, I read the basic beliefs of the ELCA and they are the closest to mine. I still have beliefs from all over. I love other congregations, too.
In fact, there was a huge to-do at the local ELCA church that made it so I am not comfortable going there any longer. It was bad. They blamed me for things I never did.
However, I still love being affiliated with the Lutheran church. However, I go to an Episcopal church in the morning and a Disciples of Christ church in the evenings. If I can't get to the Episcopal church in the mornings, I watch a Methodist worship service on television.
I'm still growing spiritually - which is also a point that made me not like the local Lutheran Church. They seemed to think that once you are confirmed (eighth grade!) that you don't need to continue growing spiritually - that's it! They said, "you're an adult in the eyes of the church." Then, they didn't treat me like one at all. I had graduated college and they treated me like a child!
It's a mess because even though this happened months prior to writing the article, I was still very emotional about it. It is difficult to not get emotional about it.
Read Review and Story of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lake Charles, LA.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
K is for Kris Kristofferson
I've never been a huge fan of Kris Kristofferson. What I have known is that he wrote songs. I really didn't know that he was an actor and writer as well as musician until I read more about him before writing this. I wasn't sure what to pick for K. I decided on Kris Kristofferson because he is in "The Lutherans Song" by Lost And Found.
You can hear that here:
(Google may be taking over the earth, but sometimes it is nice being able to put everything in a blog post so easily!)
I also had no idea what he was born about nine hours away from Lake Charles, LA in Brownsville, TX and then for awhile hat he worked only an hour away on helicopters in Lafayette, LA. In a way, he is kind of local.
I also learned that he was in the movie, Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia. Sometimes I play at a place called MC5 (sometimes called the Morningverse), and they have movie puns. That movie is one of the favorites that people like to use for puns. It's worth visiting MC5 for a lot of fun and laughter. You can join in the games or just read. Either way, it's lots of fun.
I don't have many links that relate to this, but I do have this video:
How to Book Lost And Found for a Concert - sorry, it's not a YouTube video, so you have to click the link to go watch it. Edit: It looks like there is code to put the video in the blog post!
You can hear that here:
I also had no idea what he was born about nine hours away from Lake Charles, LA in Brownsville, TX and then for awhile hat he worked only an hour away on helicopters in Lafayette, LA. In a way, he is kind of local.
I also learned that he was in the movie, Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia. Sometimes I play at a place called MC5 (sometimes called the Morningverse), and they have movie puns. That movie is one of the favorites that people like to use for puns. It's worth visiting MC5 for a lot of fun and laughter. You can join in the games or just read. Either way, it's lots of fun.
I don't have many links that relate to this, but I do have this video:
How to Book Lost And Found for a Concert - sorry, it's not a YouTube video, so you have to click the link to go watch it. Edit: It looks like there is code to put the video in the blog post!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
J is for Jock
You would think that it would be odd for a girl who loves literature and learning to be writing about jocks. You'd think that jocks and these subjects have nothing to do with each other. That's not exactly true. Sure, eventually jocks seem to go their separate ways from the academic crowd. However, in high school, they usually have to keep at least a C average in all their classes.
Now, it would seem that jocks would be taking the easy subjects in order to keep a C average. However, when I went to high school, my high school was awesome. I can't say much for the state of it these days, but it was awesome when I was there. I'd love for it to become awesome again.
I was in Advanced Physics class with football players! When I was a Freshman, in the SPARK (it's the program for gifted students in Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana - even higher than the advanced classes [known as Phase 3 classes]), the quarterback was a sophomore and he was in SPARK and took his English and Math classes that were available in SPARK!
He also used to eat any food he had in sight, but that's another story.
So, I'm not adverse to interacting with jocks. It's something I did when I was younger and I'm not adverse to interacting with them these days, either. I don't understand a ton about sports, but I understand enough to get that there is a point to playing, getting exercise, and having good sportsmanship.
Now that I am helping to get tax deductible charitable donations for an event called Woofstock in October, I am e-mailing and contacting many sports teams and sports organizations. I'm pretty sure I contacted all the NFL teams or sent the forms to the main organizer, contacted NASCAR, and have been contacting NBA. I need to still contact some of the MBA, I think (though I may have some of that done) and the NHL. I'm not on my computer at home because currently the Internet there is not working. It seems something has gone screwy with the cable's phone line and that is what is needed for our Internet, phone, and alarm system.
My sister can check the plug she knows once we get home. However, I needed to be able to work, e-mail, and volunteer today.
I guess it is back to being a "smart one" and also interacting with jocks! Things sometimes come full circle.
Now, it would seem that jocks would be taking the easy subjects in order to keep a C average. However, when I went to high school, my high school was awesome. I can't say much for the state of it these days, but it was awesome when I was there. I'd love for it to become awesome again.
I was in Advanced Physics class with football players! When I was a Freshman, in the SPARK (it's the program for gifted students in Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana - even higher than the advanced classes [known as Phase 3 classes]), the quarterback was a sophomore and he was in SPARK and took his English and Math classes that were available in SPARK!
He also used to eat any food he had in sight, but that's another story.
So, I'm not adverse to interacting with jocks. It's something I did when I was younger and I'm not adverse to interacting with them these days, either. I don't understand a ton about sports, but I understand enough to get that there is a point to playing, getting exercise, and having good sportsmanship.
Now that I am helping to get tax deductible charitable donations for an event called Woofstock in October, I am e-mailing and contacting many sports teams and sports organizations. I'm pretty sure I contacted all the NFL teams or sent the forms to the main organizer, contacted NASCAR, and have been contacting NBA. I need to still contact some of the MBA, I think (though I may have some of that done) and the NHL. I'm not on my computer at home because currently the Internet there is not working. It seems something has gone screwy with the cable's phone line and that is what is needed for our Internet, phone, and alarm system.
My sister can check the plug she knows once we get home. However, I needed to be able to work, e-mail, and volunteer today.
I guess it is back to being a "smart one" and also interacting with jocks! Things sometimes come full circle.
Monday, April 23, 2012
I is for Ill
I don't know of anybody who likes being ill. There's probably some strange person who likes it, but I'm not going to look for that person.
Anyway, on Saturday afternoon, I started feeling bad and felt bad all day Sunday. At least I feel better this morning, so I think it was just a bug that I caught over the weekend.
I had been really cold Saturday afternoon and by Sunday afternoon, I was hot. I still need to wash my hair and get myself all pulled together and neat again, but I'll do that before I really need to go anywhere. It's just good to be feeling better.
It's not exactly akin to being ill, but it was interesting to read that scientists think they have figured out what causes "brain freeze." I had already read somewhere that it isn't technically "brain freeze," but is actually "brain warmth" due to an increase in blood flow.
Their research confirms this. You can read about scientists figuring out why brain freeze happens by reading this article from Live Science.
I wonder if this research will help with finding out and possibly having a cure for migraines. My Daddy always had bad migraines. I rarely have them, but have had one or two, for certain, because my body wanted no noise and no light - just total darkness and silence.
Here's a Fun Kind of Related Article (but not really):
How My Sister Literally Gave Me Stomach Ache
Anyway, on Saturday afternoon, I started feeling bad and felt bad all day Sunday. At least I feel better this morning, so I think it was just a bug that I caught over the weekend.
I had been really cold Saturday afternoon and by Sunday afternoon, I was hot. I still need to wash my hair and get myself all pulled together and neat again, but I'll do that before I really need to go anywhere. It's just good to be feeling better.
It's not exactly akin to being ill, but it was interesting to read that scientists think they have figured out what causes "brain freeze." I had already read somewhere that it isn't technically "brain freeze," but is actually "brain warmth" due to an increase in blood flow.
Their research confirms this. You can read about scientists figuring out why brain freeze happens by reading this article from Live Science.
I wonder if this research will help with finding out and possibly having a cure for migraines. My Daddy always had bad migraines. I rarely have them, but have had one or two, for certain, because my body wanted no noise and no light - just total darkness and silence.
Here's a Fun Kind of Related Article (but not really):
How My Sister Literally Gave Me Stomach Ache
Sunday, April 22, 2012
H is for Heart - additions
Easy enough is that I went to McNeese from 2000-2004. Stage Combat was a theater class that I took. It sounds like what it is. It is learning to fight for the stage. It is learning that the fighting and sword fighting in movies is not real, but choreographed. However, the teacher in that glass was a really high up person in the Martial Arts fields. He was known as a grand dragon.
I'm not completely sure how to explain chakra, so I'll post from Wikipedia. It says, "The concept of chakra originates in Hindu texts and features in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning"
I'm not completely sure how to explain chakra, so I'll post from Wikipedia. It says, "The concept of chakra originates in Hindu texts and features in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning"
The chakras are believed to be a number of wheel-like vortices which, according to traditional Indian medicine, exist in the surface of the subtle body of living beings. The chakras are said to be "force centers" or whorls of energy permeating, from a point on the physical body, the layers of the subtle bodies in an ever-increasing fan-shaped formation. Rotating vortices of subtle matter, they are considered focal points for the reception and transmission of energies. Different belief systems posit a varying number of chakras; the best-known system in the West has seven chakras.
It is typical for chakras to be depicted as either flower-like or wheel-like. In the former case, "petals" are shown around the perimeter of a circle. In the latter, spokes divide the circle into segments making the chakra resemble a wheel (or "chakra"). Each chakra possesses a specific number of segments or petals.
Texts describing the chakras go back as far as the later Upanishads, for example the Yoga Kundalini Upanishad."
The image from Wikipedia is
We also did aura sight and that is the colors around the human body that are supposed to tell about a person. This was featured in an episode of "Boy Meets World," I think.
H is for Heart
I am mostly controlled by my emotions., my heart. If you believe in chakras, people will fell around and find that my heart chakra is the strongest. Am I saying I believe in chakras? I believe in something spiritual. I think God has more going on than we know. Part of my spiritual beliefs also come from my stage combat class that I took at McNeese. Most of them are very Christian and very ELCA (most Liberal Lutheran denomination), but they come from all kinds of denominations and places, too.
People, not surprisingly, think that I am led by my mind. Ever since at least the second grade, I was known as smart. It probably had to be before second grade. My elementary school tried putting the top students in a class together when I was in second grade. They were not supposed to continue this practice in the other grades, but they didn't completely abandon it. It seems that then they used two teachers and mixed in some of the lower scoring students who went to tutors during the day.
Disney has a song "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes." Sometimes, these dreams seem good and would say they are also good wishes. However, I know that not everything I dream are things I would want to happen. Strange dreams are ones that I probably wouldn't want to happen, but sometimes would not be big deal if they did.
However, I've had some disturbing dreams where people I know and care about have bad relationships. I would never truly want that to happen.
I think part of the reason is that I get very excited simply catching up with old friends and classmates. I love to reconnect and talk. I especially love doing this with classmates that are smart. I don't believe there's anything wrong with being attracted to people and not wanting to act on that attraction.
Related Articles:
If you are dreaming, you are often said to be in Never Never Land.
An unrealistic dream of fantasy is said to be a Pipe Dream.
Controlling your dreams while partially awake is Lucid Dreaming.
People, not surprisingly, think that I am led by my mind. Ever since at least the second grade, I was known as smart. It probably had to be before second grade. My elementary school tried putting the top students in a class together when I was in second grade. They were not supposed to continue this practice in the other grades, but they didn't completely abandon it. It seems that then they used two teachers and mixed in some of the lower scoring students who went to tutors during the day.
Disney has a song "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes." Sometimes, these dreams seem good and would say they are also good wishes. However, I know that not everything I dream are things I would want to happen. Strange dreams are ones that I probably wouldn't want to happen, but sometimes would not be big deal if they did.
However, I've had some disturbing dreams where people I know and care about have bad relationships. I would never truly want that to happen.
I think part of the reason is that I get very excited simply catching up with old friends and classmates. I love to reconnect and talk. I especially love doing this with classmates that are smart. I don't believe there's anything wrong with being attracted to people and not wanting to act on that attraction.
Related Articles:
If you are dreaming, you are often said to be in Never Never Land.
An unrealistic dream of fantasy is said to be a Pipe Dream.
Controlling your dreams while partially awake is Lucid Dreaming.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
G is for Grammar
If you know me at all, it is probably not a surprise that I chose "grammar" as what I'd write for the letter G. After all, I completely admit to being a grammar nazi and I also admit to being terrible at editing my own work. It does drive me crazy if I write something for anybody to read, then I go back and I catch spelling and grammar mistakes that I made for any reason.
I love all those grammar things that are critical or funny about there, their, and they're. I also like the its an dit's things even though I have caught myself accidentally typing the wrong one at times. It is pretty easy to remember, though. Its is the possessive and "it's" means "it is."
I am picky about the rules of grammar, unless, of course, it's poetry and definitely poetic license or vernacular is being quoted. Of course, I think that in order to break the rules, you need to know the rules first. So, if you want to break the rules of grammar, know the rules of grammar first. Then the breaking of the rules will be effective.
Check out the following links!
Writers' Best Friends - Free Writing Tools: Free Online Grammar Checker - PaperRater
Five Diacritical Marks with Fun Names
Top 5 Online Writing Tools
Writers' Best Friends - Free Writing Tools: Text Analysis and Keyword Density Analyzer - Textalyser
How to Write for Newspapers and the Internet
I love all those grammar things that are critical or funny about there, their, and they're. I also like the its an dit's things even though I have caught myself accidentally typing the wrong one at times. It is pretty easy to remember, though. Its is the possessive and "it's" means "it is."
I am picky about the rules of grammar, unless, of course, it's poetry and definitely poetic license or vernacular is being quoted. Of course, I think that in order to break the rules, you need to know the rules first. So, if you want to break the rules of grammar, know the rules of grammar first. Then the breaking of the rules will be effective.
Check out the following links!
Writers' Best Friends - Free Writing Tools: Free Online Grammar Checker - PaperRater
Five Diacritical Marks with Fun Names
Top 5 Online Writing Tools
Writers' Best Friends - Free Writing Tools: Text Analysis and Keyword Density Analyzer - Textalyser
How to Write for Newspapers and the Internet
Friday, April 20, 2012
Book Review: The McNeese Review Volume 49 (2011)
First, I'll start by saying that I for some of this book, I'd probably be partially biased because it contains writings by my former English professor for Honors College, Dr. John Wood, and a former classmate, his son, Dafydd Wood. Of course, there are writings by both of them that I love and writings that I don't care for, too. However, in general, those writings would make me a little biased.
Still, there are plenty of other writings in the book. Some of them are very strange and some are relatable. Stories I can easily remember are "Feeding Instructions" by Lisa Graley which when first reading the title, seems like it might have been about taking care of a dog or a cat. Once you get into it, you realize it is about taking care of an elderly woman. However, there's a bit more to that.
I also remember "Scalping." That was written by Sean Ennis. I never thought that I would enjoy reading anything having to do with scalping, but I felt myself oddly drawn to reading the story (though not like scalping anybody!)
"Average Secrets and Problems" by George Hovis also stands out once the end of the story is reached. However, to write about it would give away the secret.
One of the best set of poems that I read was by Julie Kane. It was called, "Five Things I Hate that Other People Seem to Love."
All of the other writings were good, too, but these stood out to me. The entire McNeese review is worth buying and reading. You will find you are expanding your literary tastes from the normal because these stories and poems are different from the traditional novels and short stories that you had to read in school. However, that is a great thing! Everything is enjoyable.
Still, there are plenty of other writings in the book. Some of them are very strange and some are relatable. Stories I can easily remember are "Feeding Instructions" by Lisa Graley which when first reading the title, seems like it might have been about taking care of a dog or a cat. Once you get into it, you realize it is about taking care of an elderly woman. However, there's a bit more to that.
I also remember "Scalping." That was written by Sean Ennis. I never thought that I would enjoy reading anything having to do with scalping, but I felt myself oddly drawn to reading the story (though not like scalping anybody!)
"Average Secrets and Problems" by George Hovis also stands out once the end of the story is reached. However, to write about it would give away the secret.
One of the best set of poems that I read was by Julie Kane. It was called, "Five Things I Hate that Other People Seem to Love."
All of the other writings were good, too, but these stood out to me. The entire McNeese review is worth buying and reading. You will find you are expanding your literary tastes from the normal because these stories and poems are different from the traditional novels and short stories that you had to read in school. However, that is a great thing! Everything is enjoyable.
F is for Fillings
Since yesterday, I was sitting trying to think of what I would write for F. This morning, I was eating some ice (I know, it's not really good for your teeth, but I like to eat ice), and as I was eating it, I had no idea why, but my front teeth felt funny. My front two teeth seemed normal, but it seemed like the one to the right of them (my right) felt like it was partially tucked behind my right front tooth. I looked in a mirror and it looked normal. I have long nails at the moment, so I put my nail between my teeth. It still felt funny. I did this until my teeth felt normal.
By now my teeth felt normal. I tried to remember if the one that felt like it was behind my front tooth had a filling. I have a lot of fillings. This may be partially due to how I only kind of took care of my teeth during high school, but I was pretty good with my dental routine. I always make sure to brush my teeth at least before bedtime now.
However, I apparently have "soft" teeth. It was also always difficult for me to floss because I couldn't get the floss and my fingers into my small mouth. (I am so thankful for those reach flossers they make now!)
Anyway, because of this, the cavities were not on the surfaces of my teeth. They were always BETWEEN them. I'd tell the dentist that I would try to floss, but it was difficult. This led to getting lots of fillings.
I couldn't tell you how many fillings are in my mouth. I can tell you that I got so used to going to the dentist that now the only thing I really hate is the novocaine shot to numb my mouth. It's is definitely the worst part of going to the dentist.
Of course, I've never had any procedure worse than getting fillings. Even the dentists I've seen have not been concerned about my wisdom teeth. Despite having a small mouth, my wisdom teeth seem to be fine and I've never needed them removed.
Here are some phrases (and articles about their origins) that have to do with teeth.
Phrase Origins: Sans Teeth, Sans Eyes, Sans Taste, Sans Everything
Phrase Origins: By the Skin of Your Teeth
By now my teeth felt normal. I tried to remember if the one that felt like it was behind my front tooth had a filling. I have a lot of fillings. This may be partially due to how I only kind of took care of my teeth during high school, but I was pretty good with my dental routine. I always make sure to brush my teeth at least before bedtime now.
However, I apparently have "soft" teeth. It was also always difficult for me to floss because I couldn't get the floss and my fingers into my small mouth. (I am so thankful for those reach flossers they make now!)
Anyway, because of this, the cavities were not on the surfaces of my teeth. They were always BETWEEN them. I'd tell the dentist that I would try to floss, but it was difficult. This led to getting lots of fillings.
I couldn't tell you how many fillings are in my mouth. I can tell you that I got so used to going to the dentist that now the only thing I really hate is the novocaine shot to numb my mouth. It's is definitely the worst part of going to the dentist.
Of course, I've never had any procedure worse than getting fillings. Even the dentists I've seen have not been concerned about my wisdom teeth. Despite having a small mouth, my wisdom teeth seem to be fine and I've never needed them removed.
Here are some phrases (and articles about their origins) that have to do with teeth.
Phrase Origins: Sans Teeth, Sans Eyes, Sans Taste, Sans Everything
Phrase Origins: By the Skin of Your Teeth
Thursday, April 19, 2012
E is for Early
E is for early because today, although I didn't get up any earlier than I normally would on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, I did get up early for a Thursday. My sister doesn't have school until 9:10 in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I usually don't get up until 8am. However, today, I got up at 7am. This is because we needed to take her dog, Toggle, into the vet. He is going through heartworm treatment.
He's supposed to rest, but that dog never rests. Briana decided to give up on trying to make him rest and if he hurt himself with the treatment, figure that she couldn't do anything about it. However, he seems to have been fine.
Anyway, because we were early for getting her to school, I went to get my extra car key from the lady for whom I doggysit. She left it for me so I knew where to find it. Her very large dog (for which I do not dogsit) was inside the house, so thankfully I did not have to knock for the key.
However, nothing is early about when I go to bed. If I had to go to bed early, I would, but I tend to go to bed before midnight on nights where I have to get up at 7am and usually 12:30am, but sometimes 1am on nights when I need to get up at 8am.
However, my body is still acting like I was up early when it's not all that different.
He's supposed to rest, but that dog never rests. Briana decided to give up on trying to make him rest and if he hurt himself with the treatment, figure that she couldn't do anything about it. However, he seems to have been fine.
Anyway, because we were early for getting her to school, I went to get my extra car key from the lady for whom I doggysit. She left it for me so I knew where to find it. Her very large dog (for which I do not dogsit) was inside the house, so thankfully I did not have to knock for the key.
However, nothing is early about when I go to bed. If I had to go to bed early, I would, but I tend to go to bed before midnight on nights where I have to get up at 7am and usually 12:30am, but sometimes 1am on nights when I need to get up at 8am.
However, my body is still acting like I was up early when it's not all that different.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
D is for Drinking
I could write about literal drinking, as the imbibing of any liquid, but that's not what I'm writing about in this blog post. Instead, I am writing about drinking alcohol. I have never been against responsible drinking. Responsible drinking encompasses a lot. It means not drinking anything or much if you are going to be driving. It means that you shouldn't drive if you are going to get drunk. It means deciding to stay inside if you are going to get drunk.
I take Briana with me to trivia on Tuesday nights (and now, I know, if she can't go, I'll even play as a single person instead of having to join a team. It's fun, and I'll be a "Pubby Dog!") Anyway, the trivia is a round of trivia question and then a game. One of the games last night was identifying an alcohol from one of the 16 new taps at the bar.
I have never liked alcohol. I have drank some of it, but mainly it's been to try to get to sleep since it makes me fall asleep. The first time I was drunk was in eighth grade and it was because I was at a seder where they asked you to take a drink of wine after taking a bite of a certain food and after a prayer and at all kinds of times. I didn't really care for the white zinfandel, but that is what they used. I remember how odd I felt and how the parking lot looked wavy.
Anyway, this time when I tasted the alcohol, I could actually drink a little bit and enjoy it! If I left it in my mouth for too long, it still had that "alcohol" taste to me. However, I could sip it gently and then take a sip of my Dr. Pepper when needed.
I take Briana with me to trivia on Tuesday nights (and now, I know, if she can't go, I'll even play as a single person instead of having to join a team. It's fun, and I'll be a "Pubby Dog!") Anyway, the trivia is a round of trivia question and then a game. One of the games last night was identifying an alcohol from one of the 16 new taps at the bar.
I have never liked alcohol. I have drank some of it, but mainly it's been to try to get to sleep since it makes me fall asleep. The first time I was drunk was in eighth grade and it was because I was at a seder where they asked you to take a drink of wine after taking a bite of a certain food and after a prayer and at all kinds of times. I didn't really care for the white zinfandel, but that is what they used. I remember how odd I felt and how the parking lot looked wavy.
Anyway, this time when I tasted the alcohol, I could actually drink a little bit and enjoy it! If I left it in my mouth for too long, it still had that "alcohol" taste to me. However, I could sip it gently and then take a sip of my Dr. Pepper when needed.
I second guessed myself with answering and we put that it was Unibroue Éphémère Apple. (I can't figure out how to get the word before Apple to be in the normal font). Anyway, I should've gone with my first instinct and put Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale. I like orange flavored things, the the orange was not strong. The sweetness must have come from the honey. It seemed kind of like a cider, too, at times. However, I now know what I should have put and if people have that to drink, I know I can enjoy it.
It's not something I'd drink lots, but I know I can enjoy the product. I like that!
I was easily falling asleep before 11pm and I think I drank it somewhere around 8pm.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Need for Makeup?
Many women think there is a need for makeup. I'm writing this post because of the story of the Reddit user, "munner83." If you haven't read the story and want to read it, you can find it from Yahoo! at Before and After Makeup: Reddit User's Startling Photo.
Honestly, if you look at it, you can see that all she has done is outlined her one eye in a bunch of black so at first glance, it makes it look like her eye is bigger than it is. I understand that some people find this look attractive. I don't think it's "not attractive." However, the photo would look normal if it wasn't one half of her face done and the other half not done. If it were a before and after, then it would seem normal.
Now, I don't wear makeup often. I don't like it. It feels really horrible on my face. I have to have hypoallergenic makeup. However, even after that has been on my face for a significant amount of time, I want it off.
Whether or not you wear makeup is purely your own decision. With my seborrheic dermatitis, makeup could easily make my face look better. Of course, I have to wash off the makeup and make sure to take care of my face by washing it and using the acne prevention pads with aloe and then aloe lotion with vitamin E. My face can still look somewhat red, but if I remember to take care of it every night (every morning or day would work, too, but I'm finding nights to be the easiest time as I'm not rushed to do things), then it stays looking pretty good. I can't forget to do make care routine, though, because if I forget, then my face starts turning red again.
This got off on a tangent. What I was going to write about was the part that really upset me about that story. At the end, there's a statement and it says, "Another user lamented that right or wrong, men often do not have the same cosmetic tools at their disposal as women:
Honestly, if you look at it, you can see that all she has done is outlined her one eye in a bunch of black so at first glance, it makes it look like her eye is bigger than it is. I understand that some people find this look attractive. I don't think it's "not attractive." However, the photo would look normal if it wasn't one half of her face done and the other half not done. If it were a before and after, then it would seem normal.
Now, I don't wear makeup often. I don't like it. It feels really horrible on my face. I have to have hypoallergenic makeup. However, even after that has been on my face for a significant amount of time, I want it off.
Whether or not you wear makeup is purely your own decision. With my seborrheic dermatitis, makeup could easily make my face look better. Of course, I have to wash off the makeup and make sure to take care of my face by washing it and using the acne prevention pads with aloe and then aloe lotion with vitamin E. My face can still look somewhat red, but if I remember to take care of it every night (every morning or day would work, too, but I'm finding nights to be the easiest time as I'm not rushed to do things), then it stays looking pretty good. I can't forget to do make care routine, though, because if I forget, then my face starts turning red again.
This got off on a tangent. What I was going to write about was the part that really upset me about that story. At the end, there's a statement and it says, "Another user lamented that right or wrong, men often do not have the same cosmetic tools at their disposal as women:
'Now imagine you're a guy and you don't have that option.'"
Yes, beauty products are traditionally for women. However, what guys don't have the option to buy the beauty products that are traditionally for women and use them? Nobody but that guy has to know about it. It's not like it's taboo now for guys to wear cosmetics. These men, no boys, need to grow up and quit whining. They have everything available to them that is available to women. There's no reason they should be "lamenting" about these things.
C is for Cougar
In recent years, people have started calling older women who like younger men "cougars." Usually, if there was a relationship where one partner was older, it was traditionally the "male." However, I'm pretty sure that there had been relationships between older women and younger men. I never really thought age was much of anything except a number as long as people were legal.
At one point, I started wondering if people would call me a cougar. However, I'm not exclusively looking for a guy that is younger than I am. I just have ended up liking guys that happen to be younger. Yet, it's probably not all that odd to have a 30 year old (I'll be 30 next month) and a 21 year old. An 18 year old may be a bit odder,but it's still not terrible.
As I thought about this while driving home from taking my sister to school, I realized that I'm not a cougar. I like men of all ages if they are attractive to me. I have standards, of course, and my personal boundaries tell me that a guy or a man is only a friend when they are married or have girlfriends. I'm not going to pursue any relationship with that person.
I thought about some of the men that I find attractive. These men are creative, intelligent, and faithful. Sometimes they do not have the same faith that I have, but I can respect and admire the faith that they do have. I am definitely attracted to intelligence.
I don't have much in the way of articles about cougars. However, I do have a couple articles from my "dating" experiences. Okay, one is a very creepy "stalking" experience by a guy I never even dated!
Read more:
The Story of My First Kiss
Stalking: My True Story
At one point, I started wondering if people would call me a cougar. However, I'm not exclusively looking for a guy that is younger than I am. I just have ended up liking guys that happen to be younger. Yet, it's probably not all that odd to have a 30 year old (I'll be 30 next month) and a 21 year old. An 18 year old may be a bit odder,but it's still not terrible.
As I thought about this while driving home from taking my sister to school, I realized that I'm not a cougar. I like men of all ages if they are attractive to me. I have standards, of course, and my personal boundaries tell me that a guy or a man is only a friend when they are married or have girlfriends. I'm not going to pursue any relationship with that person.
I thought about some of the men that I find attractive. These men are creative, intelligent, and faithful. Sometimes they do not have the same faith that I have, but I can respect and admire the faith that they do have. I am definitely attracted to intelligence.
I don't have much in the way of articles about cougars. However, I do have a couple articles from my "dating" experiences. Okay, one is a very creepy "stalking" experience by a guy I never even dated!
Read more:
The Story of My First Kiss
Stalking: My True Story
Monday, April 16, 2012
Book Review: The Bastard Year by Richard Lee Zuras
I finished reading "The Bastard Year" by Richard Lee Zuras. I bought it on Friday night at a Banners Series poetry reading by John Wood. (Dr. Wood was my English professor for my English 105 and 106 classes - the freshman Honors College English classes at McNeese State University).
I thought, if anything, I would buy the book and read it because I bought it. However, I started on it that night and I couldn't put it down. I can't say exactly why I couldn't put it down.
I'd say that the text is very much how a main male character would describe things. Most of the things are very matter-of-fact without details about how things look. There are a few details about clothes and physical attributes and some of the buildings, but not much.
At times, I had no idea where the book was going. I wondered why I was reading the book.
"The Bastard Year" is divided into both seasons and chapters. It goes from one winter to the next. By the time I got to Fall, I had an idea of the reasons everything had been mentioned. I had an idea of why the author used the main character to tell the stories he did.
However, while the very end of the book somewhat went where I expected, it wasn't quite what I expected. It was nice to read a book and have somewhat of an idea, but still be able to be surprised by the end of it because it didn't conform to the typical outline of how things are going to happen to have that sudden, "I knew it!" moment.
I thought, if anything, I would buy the book and read it because I bought it. However, I started on it that night and I couldn't put it down. I can't say exactly why I couldn't put it down.
I'd say that the text is very much how a main male character would describe things. Most of the things are very matter-of-fact without details about how things look. There are a few details about clothes and physical attributes and some of the buildings, but not much.
At times, I had no idea where the book was going. I wondered why I was reading the book.
"The Bastard Year" is divided into both seasons and chapters. It goes from one winter to the next. By the time I got to Fall, I had an idea of the reasons everything had been mentioned. I had an idea of why the author used the main character to tell the stories he did.
However, while the very end of the book somewhat went where I expected, it wasn't quite what I expected. It was nice to read a book and have somewhat of an idea, but still be able to be surprised by the end of it because it didn't conform to the typical outline of how things are going to happen to have that sudden, "I knew it!" moment.
B is for Blog
I'm not entirely new to the concept of blogging. I read blogs. I have a LiveJournal. I have written religious reflections and somewhat kept a blog just for them. However, I figured it was finally time to get serious about blogging in a good blog format. I like LiveJournal because of how the comments are threaded. It's honestly my favorite commenting system. However, most people use blogger. I can see that it is popular because it is owned by Google and can easily have AdSense integrated. So, yeah, I'm using Blogger for this blog. Besides, "Poetry, Prose, and Popcorn" is a good alliterative blog name.
If you want to know more about blogs, here are some articles you should read:
Interview with Jen Yates, Blogger Behind the Humor Blog, CakeWrecks
Five Blogs You Should Be Reading, But Probably Aren't
Blog Records Prisoners' Last Meal Requests
If you want to know more about blogs, here are some articles you should read:
Interview with Jen Yates, Blogger Behind the Humor Blog, CakeWrecks
Five Blogs You Should Be Reading, But Probably Aren't
Blog Records Prisoners' Last Meal Requests
Sunday, April 15, 2012
A is for Autism
A is for Autism. It is now said that 1 out of 150 children will be diagnosed with autism. I often wonder how broad they are defining autism in this case. I am not making light of having autism. I only wonder because I don't know if more people are actually getting autism. I have a feeling that doctors are just better at diagnosing both autism and Asperger's. Some people have Asperger's and are extremely high functioning. Just like Asperger's is a high functioning form of autism (over what they even call high functioning autism), there's a scale for Asperger's. Some people have everything together other than the social interaction.
However, I live with two people diagnosed with Asperger's. My mom and my sister. My sister was diagnosed when my Daddy was still alive. We pushed to get her diagnosed before the age of 22 because if she wasn't, she wouldn't have been eligible for SSI (which is now "Survivor's Benefits" - all I can figure is that it changed names once my Daddy passed away).
My mom is sometimes capable of functioning at a higher level. However, in general, the two of them are no more mature than 15 and sometimes they only act mature as 2. My mom does the whole, "because I'm the mom" thing at times, but really, I'm "the adult" in the house.
It's stressful, but I love my mom and my sister.
If you want to find out more about autism and Asperger's, here are few articles to read:
Movie Predictions: Martian Child: Child Who May Have Autism or Aspgerger's
Jenny McCarthy, Holly Robinson Peete and My Experience with Asperger's Syndrome
Interview with Derek Bartholomaus, Creater of Jenny McCarthy Body Count
A Mind like a ViewMaster: Understanding How People with Asperger's Think
However, I live with two people diagnosed with Asperger's. My mom and my sister. My sister was diagnosed when my Daddy was still alive. We pushed to get her diagnosed before the age of 22 because if she wasn't, she wouldn't have been eligible for SSI (which is now "Survivor's Benefits" - all I can figure is that it changed names once my Daddy passed away).
My mom is sometimes capable of functioning at a higher level. However, in general, the two of them are no more mature than 15 and sometimes they only act mature as 2. My mom does the whole, "because I'm the mom" thing at times, but really, I'm "the adult" in the house.
It's stressful, but I love my mom and my sister.
If you want to find out more about autism and Asperger's, here are few articles to read:
Movie Predictions: Martian Child: Child Who May Have Autism or Aspgerger's
Jenny McCarthy, Holly Robinson Peete and My Experience with Asperger's Syndrome
Interview with Derek Bartholomaus, Creater of Jenny McCarthy Body Count
A Mind like a ViewMaster: Understanding How People with Asperger's Think
Saturday, April 14, 2012
It's Time to Be Serious About Blogging, I Think
I'm going to try to be serious about blogging and not just keeping a LiveJournal (which I love, but I'm going to try to keep a traditional blog).
Tonight, I got to escape the stresses of home by attending a poetry reading by Dr. John Wood. He was my Honors College English teacher at McNeese. People in the Honors College don't take English 101 and English 102. They take English 105 and English 106. I remember Dr. Wood telling us that he had to go to the president of the college because, while it is ideal that all students get As, it is not common, and there is usually a variety of grades in a class and this is normal. However, everybody in those classes received As.
The reading was great. Dr. Wood's poems are always interesting, although, he is correct that some are dark. However, as a writer, there is something fascinating about dark topics and death. I don't do well with death at all, and I find it is fascinating for writing.
Other things in the poems were imagining an electron as a bird. It was about if the place in pinpointed, the velocity changes and if the velocity is found, the place changes. I have to say, this is the case for anything if the velocity is more than 0.
Afterwards, I talked to people there. I got to talk to Dafydd, Dr. Wood's son. We were in the first Honors College class together. Mr. LeGros was also there, which was fun, as he wasn't my French teacher, but he was always across the hall and coming into Mr. Hurley's room, so he knows me from middle school.
I think I may actually do that blogging Alphabet challenge so I have content for this blog.
Tonight, I got to escape the stresses of home by attending a poetry reading by Dr. John Wood. He was my Honors College English teacher at McNeese. People in the Honors College don't take English 101 and English 102. They take English 105 and English 106. I remember Dr. Wood telling us that he had to go to the president of the college because, while it is ideal that all students get As, it is not common, and there is usually a variety of grades in a class and this is normal. However, everybody in those classes received As.
The reading was great. Dr. Wood's poems are always interesting, although, he is correct that some are dark. However, as a writer, there is something fascinating about dark topics and death. I don't do well with death at all, and I find it is fascinating for writing.
Other things in the poems were imagining an electron as a bird. It was about if the place in pinpointed, the velocity changes and if the velocity is found, the place changes. I have to say, this is the case for anything if the velocity is more than 0.
Afterwards, I talked to people there. I got to talk to Dafydd, Dr. Wood's son. We were in the first Honors College class together. Mr. LeGros was also there, which was fun, as he wasn't my French teacher, but he was always across the hall and coming into Mr. Hurley's room, so he knows me from middle school.
I think I may actually do that blogging Alphabet challenge so I have content for this blog.
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