Happy belated Veteran’s Day to all those who bravely serve our country! The very fact that others died so I could live in the best country in the world is sobering to me and rightly so, but perhaps even our courageous men and women who serve in this way might be perturbed by a few of the following:

1. Apathy – I can forgive just about anyone if they passionately believe something, even if I don’t really get their passion. But in a world full of starvation, dehydration, prostitution, enslavement, addiction, war and disease, shouldn’t we all be passionate about working to lessen the effects of at least one of these? Of course, I’m rather apathetic about helping people become more passionate. Hmmm…

2. Marketing calls on the phone I listed at the Do Not Call site: I list my numbers every year with this service as requested and they still call. When I say I’m not interested, they continue to try and sell me aluminum siding for my brick home. When my children did things like this, I usually sent them to their rooms.

3. Kids who swear: I still sometimes swear, so I understand how children can pick up such language. But, there is something inherently wrong with a 2 year old saying the F word. There is even more wrong when the parent hears it and doesn’t scold their child for using it. It makes me want to scold the parent for being a child.

4. Mice: Actually, I’m okay with mice…as long as they don’t insist on running under my bed at night. I’ll even let them live here as long as I never have to see them. I have no earthly reason for this loathing or my very stupid reaction upon seeing one, but let’s just say my stress level can go from 0 to 100 in less than 3.5 seconds. Maybe mice are the newest way to eliminate the need for fossil fuel???

5. Allergies: I’ve yet to see the value of an allergy for anyone. How about you? Okay…maybe one has value….an allergy to allergies.

Friday’s Post: Yes, there are even more things that irritate me…

You might also like: Things I’m Not Thankful For: Part 2, Things I’m Not Thankful For: Part I, and The Odd Days of November

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Book Club Lovers: Isn’t Christine Caine’s story fascinating? Hope you are enjoying reading about her as much as I am!

Last week’s Word of the Week (WOW) was frisson. Merriam-Webster Online defines frisson as: a brief moment of emotional excitement. So, it’s a “cheap thrill”??? 😉 But frisson sounds better, hunh? I apparently have lots of frissons while shopping online. I don’t think this is a good thing. Hmmm…

This week’s WOW is ephebic. I don’t know what it means, but it sure makes me sound intelligent when I say it! Unfortunately, saying it (so far) has not helped me come up with intelligent-sounding definition guesses. Read on to see what I mean:

ephebic: (i-ˈfē-bik) 1. the description of a person  who has an online phobia 2. something that lasts for a very short period of time 3. the newest version of a ballpoint pen

What’s your definition for ephebic?

Wednesday’s Post: Things I”m Not Thankful For…Part III

You might also like: Word of the Week: frisson; Word of the Week: jape; Word of the Week: rowel; Word of the Week: redound; and Word of the Week: miscible

On Wednesday I pointed out that, while I’m blessed to have a lot of good things in my life, I do have a few things that regularly twitch my taters. (And no, I have no idea how taters would twitch, nor where “my” taters would be located, if they did twitch.) So, here’s what I can do without just fine today:

1. Bad grammar and misspellings: While my very own writing usually contains both, my daily reading is hampered when I see a typo or people using words that do not exist. It actually stops the train of thought I was trying to follow in the article, posting or book. I’m even more irritated when I know that a book’s proofreader didn’t catch such errata. Why? Because I used to be a proofreader. And yes, I just used bad grammar.
2. Wet towels on the floor: In every other part of my home I can be a total slob, but if the towels are wet and on carpeting, I’m incensed. And they had better be folded neatly on the towel rack the proper way. I have no idea why this just grinds my gears, but I prefer to think it’s a disorder caused by my neatnik mother. That’s much more sensible than blaming myself. 
3. Long receipts: Since the hubby has an expense account and I am his unofficial Senior Executive Administrative Assistant, unfolding and sorting receipts takes up a fair amount of my time. Even though we are supposed to be going green, receipts seem to get longer and longer. This probably means we’re killing even more trees than when I was a kid, when we thought “going green” was being the Hulk for Halloween. And the usual reason for their added length? To remind you five times to do their ONLINE survey so that you can get emails from them until you die and never, ever win their astonishingly-large jackpot that you are eligible for only if you complete said survey. Here’s a thought: Don’t even have the survey or the jackpot. Save some money from using less paper and not giving some rich millionaire your jackpot and lower your prices. That way we will ALL feel like we won. If you can’t do that, give the extra to your hard-working employees who are tired of rolling up your long receipts for their customers.
4. Long books that could have been written with 1/2 the verbiage: This one makes absolutely no sense because I adore my lengthy verbiage, but if the point was made five pages ago and you’re still prattling on about the same point, I’m not only bored; I’m re-writing and editing said verbiage. See # 1. Of course, these thoughts will be completely forgotten while editing my own book. *sigh*
5. Poorly researched writing or speaking that sounds definitive: An awful lot of reporters, commentators, politicians and scientists write or speak as if what they are saying is actual fact when it is really an opinion. If it’s your opinion, just say so. If we like you enough, we’ll probably believe you anyway. Of course, I NEVER do this myself. *cough* *sputter* I feel my nose getting longer and it was plenty long to begin with.  And yes, I just used bad grammar again.

Monday’s Post: Have you ever had a frisson? Are you sure you want to have one?

You might also like: Things I’m Not Thankful For…Part I, The Odd Days of November, and The Weirdest Diet on Earth: The Coumadin Diet

Cloudy Day

It has become a recent trend on FB to post 30 things/people/conditions/situations that one is thankful to have…one for each day of November. I have participated in this trend in years past. Indeed, if one lives in America (even if you can’t afford Obamacare), there is much reason to give thanks. We are still one of the wealthiest countries in the world with the most freedoms. We can worship the deity we wish to worship. We can choose our own profession. We get at least a basic education unlike the majority of the world.

But, there ARE some things I honestly have difficulty perceiving as a blessing. So, in November I elect (since it’s also a month that usually features an election) to share the things that are not at the top of my thankful list:

1. IV needles – These rather large nasty objects always hurt, no matter how much I pray, visualize, breathe or otherwise try to deal with them being attached to my body. Can we just ship these to D.C. every time politicians want to shut down the government?

2. Self-inflicted pain – I can tolerate other people torturing me; I just don’t seem to enjoy torturing myself. This particularly applies to stomach injections that produce quarter-sized multi-colored bruises. But, I have managed to bruise myself merely by walking forward…into an obvious wall. And I seem to make a habit of this. Does this mean I’m subconsciously sado-masochistic?

3. Dust – Why is it that when I can’t see dust in the air, I can see it all too well on my furniture??? And since my home is pretty loaded with horizontal surfaces, I loathe having to dust every single one of them. If they make affordable dusting robots, I will be first in line for one. Would you call a dusting robot a robust??? You can stop groaning now.

4. Arthritis – At the exact time in my life when I probably need to be more active, my body vehemently protests this with pain that will wake the dead each time I move one centimeter. Unfortunately, the only thing that really works on lessening this pain is 2 centimeters of moving…every second of every day.

5. Cloudy days with no rain – About the only good thing a cloudy day yields is less need for SPF 100 sunscreen. Either rain or get sunny again. I think this is the “fish or cut bait” advice. Can you give advice to the weather??? Hmmm….

Friday’s Post: Not thankful for this stuff, either…

You might also like: The Odd Days of November, Lessons Learned from 7 Years on Facebook, and Lessons Learned from Heart Attacks 3 & 4

Book Club Readers: I’m a little bit behind on my Undaunted reading. You, too? Guess we need to create a little more room for reading this week, hunh?

Last week’s WOW (Word of the Week) was jape. Merriam-Webster Online says that jape means: to say or do something jokingly or mockingly. If that is the case, then I jape a lot. In fact we could probably say I’m a jape-aholic. Is there a Japers Anonymous group? And yes, I just japed. 😀

Today’s WOW is frisson. I usually offer up 3 possibilities, but today 4 popped to mind pretty quickly, so you’re getting a bonus guess today. (I know…this just made your Monday, right?) Here are my definition attempts for frisson:

frisson: (frē-ˈsōⁿ) 1. freezing with a French accent 2. an area where you can do whatever you want 3. frizzy fission 4. the unruly hair of a son when it’s humid outside

What do you think frisson means? Submit your definition guess below!

Wednesday’s Post: 

You might also like: Word of the Week: jape; Word of the Week: rowel; Word of the Week: redound; and Word of the Week: miscible

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turkey

Book Club Readers: Today we are starting to read Undaunted today! It’s not too late to jump in with us and read! Go here for more details.

Warning: Get your favorite beverage first.

In October 2013 I focused a lot of my posts on the very serious topic of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This got me to wondering what would be the official focus of the month of November. According to holidayinsights.com, here’s some of what we’re celebrating other than Veterans Day and Thanksgiving:

• International Drum Month (Two guys at my house will be happy. That’s how dull we are.)
• Peanut Butter Lovers Month (I can eat Reese’s all month, right?)
• Real Jewelry Month (As opposed to “Imaginary Jewelry Month”?)
• National Sleep Comfort Month (I smell a Communist plot here.)

But, it doesn’t stop there. There are some very odd things to celebrate on several of the days in November:

• November 2nd – Deviled Egg Day (An adopted and my daughter probably honor this day.)
• November 2nd – Look for Circles Day (I can probably find some under my eyes.)
• November 4th – King Tut Day (I feel a Steve Martin song coming on.)
• November 6th – Marooned without a Compass Day (Forgot to get the free compass app?)
• November 8th – Dunce Day (I thought this was Election Day.)
• November 9th – Chaos Never Dies Day (Probably because we continue to elect dunces.)
• November 15th – Clean Your Refrigerator Day (For turkey leftovers later in the month?)
• November 16th – Button Day (I wonder when Zipper Day is.)
• November 16th – Have a Party with Your Bear Day (as opposed to partying with your lion)
• November 19th – Have a Bad Day Day (Because we elected dunces and wore their buttons.)
• November 20th – Absurdity Day (Did we need this after November 19th?)
• November 21st – False Confession Day (Mob bosses are cross-examinied on this day, right?)
• November 26th – Shopping Reminder Day (We need a reminder in America in November?)
• November 28th – Make Your Own Head Day (Two heads are always better than one.)
• November 28th – Red Planet Day (Lose your head in a Martian Invasion? You have a spare now?)
• November 29th – Buy Nothing Day (I doubt this day was conceived by Wal-mart.)

Now, there are some really useful “holidays” in November, so may I suggest that you actually do something to honor the following:

• November 1st (today) – All Saints Day (Remember those who went to Heaven this past year.)
• November 2nd – Book Lovers Day (Read a book you love or read the MIP November Book!)
• November 3rd – Sandwich Day (Fix yourself a really awesome sandwich this Sunday.)
• November 7th – Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day (An excuse to pig out, right?)
• November 8th – Cook Something Bold Day (In Texas this usually involves jalapenos.)
• November 12th – Young Readers Day (Read to a young reader or donate a children’s book.)
• November 13th – World Kindness Day (Do something kind in “stealth mode.”)
• November 14th – Operating Room Nurse Day (Honor your favorite nurses on this day!)
• November 15th – America Recycles Day (Recycle what you found in your refrigerator on 11/15?)
• November 17th – Electronic Greeting Card Day (Wish a Happy Thanksgiving electronically!)
• November 17th – Homemade Bread Day (Any questions?)
• November 17th – Take a Hike Day (Use halftime to take an actual walk outside.)
• November 20th – Children’s Day (Spend the day with kids or give to a children’s charity.)
• November 21st – Hello Day (Say “hello” to a stranger today and smile.)
• November 22nd – Go for a Ride Day (Dust off the bike and pedal.)
• November 23rd – National Adoption Day (Do something nice for adoptive parents today.)
• November 29th – You’re Welcome Day (Do something that gives you an opportunity to say this.)

November also celebrates:

• Child Safety Protection Month (What can you do to ensure the safety of children?)
• National Adoption Awareness Month (Share adoption links on your favorite social site.)
• National Novel Writing Month (I’ll be writing at least 2 pages of my novel each day this month.)
• Native American Heritage Month (Celebrate the group that welcomed the pilgrims to America!)

In addition, a friend and my daughter are all doing the 30 Day Plank Challenge (as in the exercise…not a piece of wood.) Care to join us? Click here.

Got enough to work on, celebrate or honor yet? Let’s put some “good” out into the world this month as we celebrate how blessed we are as a people. Happy November!

Monday’s Post: Jumpin’ Japin’…

You might also like: Lessons Learned from 7 Years on Facebook and Lessons Learned from the 2009 Dallas Breast Cancer 3 Day