Here's the much anticipated answers for last week's after school pop quiz. How did you do? Will the scores be high? Or will the teacher have to grade on a curve? I am anxious to see how everyone did!
So here they are...
1) The sport is boxing. (I'll admit that I didn't get it correct. But then again, I'm not into sports that much!)
2) The American landmark is Niagara Falls. (A nameless someone should have gotten that one right!)
3) The two perennial vegetables are asparagus and rhubarb. (I get a half a point for this one.)
4) The seeds-on-the-outside fruit is a strawberry. (Uncommonly common answer, huh?)
5) The pear grew inside the bottle. They place the pear blossom in the bottle and tie it securely to the branch. The pear develops and matures inside the bottle. (Not too difficult to figure out.)
6) The dwarfs used to dwell by the river, but their population has dwindled lately. (I only came up with one.)
7) List of English punctuation: period, comma, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, hyphen, apostrophe, semicolon, colon, parentheses, brackets, dash, ellipsis, and braces.
8) The never processed, always served raw vegetable or fruit is: lettuce. (I guessed banana. I totally forgot about Bananas Foster!)
9) And last but not least, the "S" footwear: shoes, socks, skis, skates, snowshoes, stilts, sneakers, sandals, slippers, and stockings.
My score was about a 5. So much for common knowledge, huh?
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Seven
Today's easy entry is dedicated to my sister. She just "knew" that I would copy it for my own blog. Hey! It's free and I don't have to ponder for too long on it! haha
Seven Things To Do Before I Die (and in no particular order!)
1) See the Great Wall of China.
2) Go on a safari.
3) See all 15 species of cranes in the wild.
4) Win Best in Show ;)
5) Climb the Eiffel Tower
6) See the Scottish moors full of blooming heather
7) Take the Copper Canyon Train
Seven Things I Cannot Do
1) Use outside tools...pitiful, absolutely pitiful
2) Back smoothly into a parking space
3) Back up with a trailer
4) Run the 100-yd dash in under 5 minutes
5) Swim like a fish
6) Decorate
7) Design anything
Seven Things That Attract Me To...Traveling
1) Seeing new places
2) Meeting new people
3) Trying new foods
4) Experiencing different cultures
5) Broadening my mind
6) Making friends
7) Hearing different languages
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1) Have a blessed day.
2) Girrrrrrlll.
3) Oh, gooood night!
4) I-D-10-T
5) Don't make me...
6) What do you want? A twinkie?
7) What's for dessert?
Seven Books That I Love
1) Bible
2) The Zion Chronicles
3) The Zion Covenant
4) Twilight of Courage
5) Secret of the Rose
6) A.D. Chronicles
7) Secret of Heathersleigh Hall
Seven Movies That I Watch Over and Over Again
1) Dances With Wolves
2) Lord Of The Rings 1-3
3) Steel Magnolias
4) Slumdog Millionaire
5) Sound of Music
6) Phantom of the Opera
7) Hairspray
Seven Things To Do Before I Die (and in no particular order!)
1) See the Great Wall of China.
2) Go on a safari.
3) See all 15 species of cranes in the wild.
4) Win Best in Show ;)
5) Climb the Eiffel Tower
6) See the Scottish moors full of blooming heather
7) Take the Copper Canyon Train
Seven Things I Cannot Do
1) Use outside tools...pitiful, absolutely pitiful
2) Back smoothly into a parking space
3) Back up with a trailer
4) Run the 100-yd dash in under 5 minutes
5) Swim like a fish
6) Decorate
7) Design anything
Seven Things That Attract Me To...Traveling
1) Seeing new places
2) Meeting new people
3) Trying new foods
4) Experiencing different cultures
5) Broadening my mind
6) Making friends
7) Hearing different languages
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1) Have a blessed day.
2) Girrrrrrlll.
3) Oh, gooood night!
4) I-D-10-T
5) Don't make me...
6) What do you want? A twinkie?
7) What's for dessert?
Seven Books That I Love
1) Bible
2) The Zion Chronicles
3) The Zion Covenant
4) Twilight of Courage
5) Secret of the Rose
6) A.D. Chronicles
7) Secret of Heathersleigh Hall
Seven Movies That I Watch Over and Over Again
1) Dances With Wolves
2) Lord Of The Rings 1-3
3) Steel Magnolias
4) Slumdog Millionaire
5) Sound of Music
6) Phantom of the Opera
7) Hairspray
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Questions
Since this is the last day of school for some people (namely my sister), I thought it fitting to have one more pop quiz for the year. These 9 questions should be common knowledge, but you might be surprised!
See how many you can get.
1) Name the one sport where neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
2) What famous American landmark is constantly moving backwards?
3) Of all the vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be planted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4) What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5) In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe. The bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6) Only three words in standard English begin with the letters "dw". They are common words. Name two of them.
7) There are 14 punctuation marks in the English language. Can you name at least half of them?
8) Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or is found in any other form other than fresh.
9) Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S".
Answers are forthcoming.
See how many you can get.
1) Name the one sport where neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
2) What famous American landmark is constantly moving backwards?
3) Of all the vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be planted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4) What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5) In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe. The bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6) Only three words in standard English begin with the letters "dw". They are common words. Name two of them.
7) There are 14 punctuation marks in the English language. Can you name at least half of them?
8) Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or is found in any other form other than fresh.
9) Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S".
Answers are forthcoming.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Spelling
Around the year 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. With that marvelous invention came the standardization of spelling in a written language. Prior to the press, each person would write as he spoke. People from another region of the country would not be able to understand the written form from another area because they didn't know the local script. With books now being able to be widely distributed, spelling in a particular language because standard and people from all different dialects were able to read a book or article, no matter the origin of the author.
With that bit of history in mind, it seems that, today, we are regressing to the days before the printing press. It absolutely drives me insane. People spell anyway they want. Schools teach "whole word" spelling. How about teaching and expecting the proper way to spell? I know that English spelling can be crazy at times. Partly because of the original standardization when words were pronounced differently and partly because of the propensity of the English language to borrow words from another language without changing to a more English-like spelling, spelling can be a challenge.
But all in all, spelling should be a priority in today's world, especially when there is a "spell check" at every turn. No one should have to scratch their head over a word or get some other meaning to a sentence because the writer failed to spell properly. Language is a form of communication. If the written form is not spelled correctly, then the idea trying to be communicated is lost and the exercise was for naught.
I will leave you with several recent, personal encounters with misspelled words from my work. These are not just one time occurrences, but an everyday repeat of the same misspelling. The intended word will appear beside each one. Now mind you, the words used in my line of work are nothing like sphygmomanometer or syzygy...
Toyoda (Toyota)
dudy (duty)
Jinna (Gina)
Hoza' (José)
Detoisa (Desoto)
Crig (Craig)
Jammie (Jamie)
Carrbarrow (Carrboro, NC)
Tory (Troy)
angle (angel)
Jone (Joan)
Susiki (Suzuki)
Darwin (Darren)
Cala' (Carla)
litter (liter)
Earnie (Ernie)
With that bit of history in mind, it seems that, today, we are regressing to the days before the printing press. It absolutely drives me insane. People spell anyway they want. Schools teach "whole word" spelling. How about teaching and expecting the proper way to spell? I know that English spelling can be crazy at times. Partly because of the original standardization when words were pronounced differently and partly because of the propensity of the English language to borrow words from another language without changing to a more English-like spelling, spelling can be a challenge.
But all in all, spelling should be a priority in today's world, especially when there is a "spell check" at every turn. No one should have to scratch their head over a word or get some other meaning to a sentence because the writer failed to spell properly. Language is a form of communication. If the written form is not spelled correctly, then the idea trying to be communicated is lost and the exercise was for naught.
I will leave you with several recent, personal encounters with misspelled words from my work. These are not just one time occurrences, but an everyday repeat of the same misspelling. The intended word will appear beside each one. Now mind you, the words used in my line of work are nothing like sphygmomanometer or syzygy...
Toyoda (Toyota)
dudy (duty)
Jinna (Gina)
Hoza' (José)
Detoisa (Desoto)
Crig (Craig)
Jammie (Jamie)
Carrbarrow (Carrboro, NC)
Tory (Troy)
angle (angel)
Jone (Joan)
Susiki (Suzuki)
Darwin (Darren)
Cala' (Carla)
litter (liter)
Earnie (Ernie)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Proofread!!
Today, I found this little message on the Raleigh Parks and Recreation page, a very public page representing part of our city government. It is copied verbatim...
Tuesday, May 25th
Fields are being assed at this time and the playing status is uncertain, please check back for further updatesfor today.
Isn't that the most professional message you've ever seen? Come on! This note is from a government website! Does anyone proofread anymore? I do realize that one can make mistakes while typing and some errors are hard to see even after proofreading, but this one looks to me like a total lack of trying.
The same goes for emails. Run-on sentences are rampant; commas are used for periods; capitalization is hit-and-miss. As far as I'm concerned, just because something can be sent instantaneously doesn't mean that one shouldn't take the time to make sure that all grammar, spelling, and spacing are correct. After all, aren't we supposed to be a well-educated people?
Or is that a myth?
Tuesday, May 25th
Fields are being assed at this time and the playing status is uncertain, please check back for further updatesfor today.
Isn't that the most professional message you've ever seen? Come on! This note is from a government website! Does anyone proofread anymore? I do realize that one can make mistakes while typing and some errors are hard to see even after proofreading, but this one looks to me like a total lack of trying.
The same goes for emails. Run-on sentences are rampant; commas are used for periods; capitalization is hit-and-miss. As far as I'm concerned, just because something can be sent instantaneously doesn't mean that one shouldn't take the time to make sure that all grammar, spelling, and spacing are correct. After all, aren't we supposed to be a well-educated people?
Or is that a myth?
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Free!!!
Today was another adventure in grocery shopping with mom. I love to go there to look for new items (Smucker's has maple syrup now!) Mom and I could spend hours going up and down the isles.
To give you a bit of a background on why we were there today, our next-door neighbor allowed us to pick some cherries from his tree this week. Last night after work, we went there to get a mess to eat, make pies, etc. Well, when we left with our booty, I began to think about what to do with them. I have tried to make cherry jam and it didn't turn out well because the fruit floated. I didn't want to try it again for now, so I thought about jelly. I came across a recipe for cherry-plum jelly. I told mom about it and since cherries are kind of perishable once removed from their loving home, she suggested that we go get the plums today. So off the the store we went.
First stop was Food Lion. I will go ahead and admit that I don't care for this place. But they had Propel for $3/pack. Savings beat preferences in this case. There were no plums there (I knew they wouldn't have them!) so we cruised on down the hill to the Harris Teeter (My insides were absolutely bursting with excitement.) Once inside and after tasting the bread samples of the day, we made our way to the produce. Lo and behold, Harris Teeter was out of plums too! The disappointment ravished my body. Then Mom happened to notice the apricots and voila, there was a plumcot (A cross between a plum and apricot)! Well, not one to be picky, we quickly grabbed the little jewels and stuffed them into a plastic bag. Mom found the scales and discovered that we didn't get but a pound of the 3.5 pounds we needed. So we stuffed more and more and more and more and finally reached the 3.5-pound mark on the scale.
We sauntered to the self-checkout line and began the process of paying for the fruit. We only had this one item. But there were no stickers on the fruit to give the code. And on the roll around produce code bar, no such thing as a plumcot was listed. So we asked for help. The lady didn't know so she called for some help and sent a guy to look. He never returned. Then she asked another lady and she brought back a code. When we entered it into the machine, it was for black plums, not plumcots. The first lady wanted to send someone else, but I volunteered to go and take a look. When I arrived at the stand again, there was no code on the container and I noticed that the price was 40 cents higher than what had rung up for the black plums. Upon returning to the checkout, I looked at the screen again and suddenly realized that we had 7 pounds of plumcots!!! The scales in the produce department were a bit off!!
All this time, people were standing in line waiting for an empty checkout. I am sure they were wondering what we were doing using a checkout with nothing there! When I told mom that we really had 7 pounds of fruit, she told me to bring the fruit. We went back to the first lady, and she did a wonderful thing...
She took a plastic bag, enclosed our fruit with it, and told us "Merry Christmas!" Mom, looking incredulous, said "What?" The lady apologized for all the trouble and said again, "Merry Christmas. Have a nice day. And enjoy the fruit!" Mom: "Are you sure I don't owe you anything? I feel funny walking out of here without paying." Lady: "No, ma'am. It's Harris Teeter's policy to give it to the person when no one can find an answer." Promising her a jar of the jelly, we headed out the door. Mom said she felt like she was stealing! I, on the other hand, felt joyous! We received double what we wanted and didn't have to pay a dime for it! WOW!
Cue the music...
(I at least owe them a small ad in exchange for the fruit!)
To give you a bit of a background on why we were there today, our next-door neighbor allowed us to pick some cherries from his tree this week. Last night after work, we went there to get a mess to eat, make pies, etc. Well, when we left with our booty, I began to think about what to do with them. I have tried to make cherry jam and it didn't turn out well because the fruit floated. I didn't want to try it again for now, so I thought about jelly. I came across a recipe for cherry-plum jelly. I told mom about it and since cherries are kind of perishable once removed from their loving home, she suggested that we go get the plums today. So off the the store we went.
First stop was Food Lion. I will go ahead and admit that I don't care for this place. But they had Propel for $3/pack. Savings beat preferences in this case. There were no plums there (I knew they wouldn't have them!) so we cruised on down the hill to the Harris Teeter (My insides were absolutely bursting with excitement.) Once inside and after tasting the bread samples of the day, we made our way to the produce. Lo and behold, Harris Teeter was out of plums too! The disappointment ravished my body. Then Mom happened to notice the apricots and voila, there was a plumcot (A cross between a plum and apricot)! Well, not one to be picky, we quickly grabbed the little jewels and stuffed them into a plastic bag. Mom found the scales and discovered that we didn't get but a pound of the 3.5 pounds we needed. So we stuffed more and more and more and more and finally reached the 3.5-pound mark on the scale.
We sauntered to the self-checkout line and began the process of paying for the fruit. We only had this one item. But there were no stickers on the fruit to give the code. And on the roll around produce code bar, no such thing as a plumcot was listed. So we asked for help. The lady didn't know so she called for some help and sent a guy to look. He never returned. Then she asked another lady and she brought back a code. When we entered it into the machine, it was for black plums, not plumcots. The first lady wanted to send someone else, but I volunteered to go and take a look. When I arrived at the stand again, there was no code on the container and I noticed that the price was 40 cents higher than what had rung up for the black plums. Upon returning to the checkout, I looked at the screen again and suddenly realized that we had 7 pounds of plumcots!!! The scales in the produce department were a bit off!!
All this time, people were standing in line waiting for an empty checkout. I am sure they were wondering what we were doing using a checkout with nothing there! When I told mom that we really had 7 pounds of fruit, she told me to bring the fruit. We went back to the first lady, and she did a wonderful thing...
She took a plastic bag, enclosed our fruit with it, and told us "Merry Christmas!" Mom, looking incredulous, said "What?" The lady apologized for all the trouble and said again, "Merry Christmas. Have a nice day. And enjoy the fruit!" Mom: "Are you sure I don't owe you anything? I feel funny walking out of here without paying." Lady: "No, ma'am. It's Harris Teeter's policy to give it to the person when no one can find an answer." Promising her a jar of the jelly, we headed out the door. Mom said she felt like she was stealing! I, on the other hand, felt joyous! We received double what we wanted and didn't have to pay a dime for it! WOW!
Cue the music...
I love my HARRIS TEETER!!!
(I at least owe them a small ad in exchange for the fruit!)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Therapy
Leader: Group, we have a new member today.
Hello. My name is Kevin. And I'm an impatient driver. At least when it comes to the other drivers that are in my way.
All: Hi, Kevin!
Group leader: Welcome, Kevin! Please, tell us how you came to accept this reality in your life.
Well, this past week has solidified what I have really known all along but wanted to put the blame elsewhere.
Leader: What happened?
Well, there are several things? Should I recite them all?
Leader (looking at the clock): Well....maybe just one or two...
OK. (Taking a deep breath) Well, there were several people out for a Sunday evening cruise down a Christmas decorated subdivision street. The only problem with that was it was not Sunday, not Christmas, and they were on main roads during rush hour. (Arm movements begin in earnest) And then there was the guy that was going through downtown and when he came to the last stoplight before exiting downtown, he actually stopped when the light was still green because the timer on the pedestrian crossing was down to 5 seconds! And yes! I was behind him. Did I mention the light was still green and we could have all made it through the stoplight? And then there was the person who pulls out in front of me when I was going down the road at a nice pace and caused me to have to slow down quickly to avoid the nasty sound of crunching metal. And then there was the time that I was trying to change lanes, complete with appropriate signal, and not a soul would allow me a modicum of room in which to move my vehicle. And then there was all the traffic at the stop lights. Do all these people have to leave at the same time that I do? And then there was the...
Leader: AHEM...Well, it looks as if the time is all but over...
Oh, yes...I see that it is (looking sheepish while the others sigh deeply while looking at the walls with glassy eyes).
Leader: Thanks so much (rolling eyes) for such a riveting revelation. Group, what do you think the solution for Kevin should be?
All: Stay home.
Leader: Well, I think that is a fair resolution for your impatience. Try it for one week and come back to let us know how you fared.
Ummm...OK (staring incredulously) Thanks for your time (Mumbling on the way out of the building)
Hello. My name is Kevin. And I'm an impatient driver. At least when it comes to the other drivers that are in my way.
All: Hi, Kevin!
Group leader: Welcome, Kevin! Please, tell us how you came to accept this reality in your life.
Well, this past week has solidified what I have really known all along but wanted to put the blame elsewhere.
Leader: What happened?
Well, there are several things? Should I recite them all?
Leader (looking at the clock): Well....maybe just one or two...
OK. (Taking a deep breath) Well, there were several people out for a Sunday evening cruise down a Christmas decorated subdivision street. The only problem with that was it was not Sunday, not Christmas, and they were on main roads during rush hour. (Arm movements begin in earnest) And then there was the guy that was going through downtown and when he came to the last stoplight before exiting downtown, he actually stopped when the light was still green because the timer on the pedestrian crossing was down to 5 seconds! And yes! I was behind him. Did I mention the light was still green and we could have all made it through the stoplight? And then there was the person who pulls out in front of me when I was going down the road at a nice pace and caused me to have to slow down quickly to avoid the nasty sound of crunching metal. And then there was the time that I was trying to change lanes, complete with appropriate signal, and not a soul would allow me a modicum of room in which to move my vehicle. And then there was all the traffic at the stop lights. Do all these people have to leave at the same time that I do? And then there was the...
Leader: AHEM...Well, it looks as if the time is all but over...
Oh, yes...I see that it is (looking sheepish while the others sigh deeply while looking at the walls with glassy eyes).
Leader: Thanks so much (rolling eyes) for such a riveting revelation. Group, what do you think the solution for Kevin should be?
All: Stay home.
Leader: Well, I think that is a fair resolution for your impatience. Try it for one week and come back to let us know how you fared.
Ummm...OK (staring incredulously) Thanks for your time (Mumbling on the way out of the building)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Together
See that sun in the morning,
Peeking over that hill?
I'll bet you're sure it always has
and sure it always will.
That's how I feel about someone;
How someone feels about me.
We're sure we love each other.
That's the way we'll always be.
Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money.
Maybe we're ragged and funny.
But we'll travel along
Singing a song
Side by side.
Don't know what's coming tomorrow.
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow.
But we'll travel the road
Sharing the load
Side by side.
Through all kinds of weather.
What if the sky should fall?
Just as long as we're together,
It doesn't matter at all.
When they've all had their quarrels and parted
We'll be the same as we started
Just a-traveling along
Singing a song.
Side by side.
These lyrics to this well-known ditty speak about two people I know so well--my parents. They have lived this song for 46 years today. Today is their wedding anniversary. Their marriage has seen many tough times, but they are still together and always will be. Never was a couple more suited for each other. Whether it's washing dishes, pushing a wheelbarrow full of mulch, gardening, or just sitting on the couch after a long day, they are always together. Neither one does much without the other one in tow.
How many couples can say that today? Most married couples can't wait to get rid of the other for a few hours or days so they can do whatever they want. My parents are the exception to that norm. They have been and always will be together!
Peeking over that hill?
I'll bet you're sure it always has
and sure it always will.
That's how I feel about someone;
How someone feels about me.
We're sure we love each other.
That's the way we'll always be.
Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money.
Maybe we're ragged and funny.
But we'll travel along
Singing a song
Side by side.
Don't know what's coming tomorrow.
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow.
But we'll travel the road
Sharing the load
Side by side.
Through all kinds of weather.
What if the sky should fall?
Just as long as we're together,
It doesn't matter at all.
When they've all had their quarrels and parted
We'll be the same as we started
Just a-traveling along
Singing a song.
Side by side.
These lyrics to this well-known ditty speak about two people I know so well--my parents. They have lived this song for 46 years today. Today is their wedding anniversary. Their marriage has seen many tough times, but they are still together and always will be. Never was a couple more suited for each other. Whether it's washing dishes, pushing a wheelbarrow full of mulch, gardening, or just sitting on the couch after a long day, they are always together. Neither one does much without the other one in tow.
How many couples can say that today? Most married couples can't wait to get rid of the other for a few hours or days so they can do whatever they want. My parents are the exception to that norm. They have been and always will be together!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mysophobic?
Today's title contains one of those 50-cent words. Mysophobia is the fear of germs. People with this condition do not touch anything unless it has been "cleaned" beforehand. They constantly wash their hands so as not to be contaminated. Any contact with dirt or any other thing seen as "dirty" will send them over the edge and start a whole new bout of cleansing.
I wonder...
Are we creating more mysophobes today?
Everywhere you go there is someone with a bottle of hand sanitizer squirting it all over everything. People use sanitizing wipes, cleaners, anti-bacterial soaps, etc. and cannot leave home without them.
Now, I am all about maintaining a clean body and surroundings and informing people of some potentially deadly illness, but we as a society seem to have become obsessed with germs. When there is an outbreak of some disease, it's decried as an "epidemic" and everyone wears masks and avoids contact with their neighbors. When someone gets the least little bit of dirt on them, it's time for the HAZMAT shower.
Really now? Isn't that why we have an immune system? Isn't it perfectly capable of fighting off anything that would harm us? God created that marvelous system for our protection. When we help it too much, it suddenly finds itself without as much to do and could potentially start fighting the body it was designed to protect. And there is also the potential of isolating ourselves from enriching and much-needed physical contact with our friends and other fellow humans. When we stay behind closed doors for fear of being contaminated, we short change ourselves from a totally fulfilled life.
So I say, if you are healthy and fit, go ahead and get dirty. Don't fret if you haven't washed your hands before you eat that french fry. As long as they aren't caked in mud or show no signs of visible contamination, take a chance. Nor should you worry about the door handle or railing that other people have touched. Your body will take care of any invaders that happen to make it inside. And if one of those invaders does evade all the immune infantry and cavalry that your body throws at it, take the appropriate measures to ensure a speedy recovery.
I wonder...
Are we creating more mysophobes today?
Everywhere you go there is someone with a bottle of hand sanitizer squirting it all over everything. People use sanitizing wipes, cleaners, anti-bacterial soaps, etc. and cannot leave home without them.
Now, I am all about maintaining a clean body and surroundings and informing people of some potentially deadly illness, but we as a society seem to have become obsessed with germs. When there is an outbreak of some disease, it's decried as an "epidemic" and everyone wears masks and avoids contact with their neighbors. When someone gets the least little bit of dirt on them, it's time for the HAZMAT shower.
Really now? Isn't that why we have an immune system? Isn't it perfectly capable of fighting off anything that would harm us? God created that marvelous system for our protection. When we help it too much, it suddenly finds itself without as much to do and could potentially start fighting the body it was designed to protect. And there is also the potential of isolating ourselves from enriching and much-needed physical contact with our friends and other fellow humans. When we stay behind closed doors for fear of being contaminated, we short change ourselves from a totally fulfilled life.
So I say, if you are healthy and fit, go ahead and get dirty. Don't fret if you haven't washed your hands before you eat that french fry. As long as they aren't caked in mud or show no signs of visible contamination, take a chance. Nor should you worry about the door handle or railing that other people have touched. Your body will take care of any invaders that happen to make it inside. And if one of those invaders does evade all the immune infantry and cavalry that your body throws at it, take the appropriate measures to ensure a speedy recovery.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Black and White
Black and white are total opposites. Black is the presence or saturation of all color in one place; white is the absence or un-saturation of color in one place. Opposites that totally compliment one another, look good next to each other, and bring out the best in each other just by being together.
Black and white together create a dazzling, crisp image that is considered to be one of the top color combinations in high fashion. Anyone seen wearing a formal tuxedo to carrying a nice black and white Gucci or Gigi Chantel would be seen as sharp, well-dressed, and would garner stares from all nearby.
Black and white is also found throughout nature. Penguins are the most formal of birds in their eternal, tuxedo-looking feather-attire. Zebras display brilliant patterns with their black and white stripes. Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) would look like any other bear without their black and white pattern. Pin-tailed Whydahs (Vidua macroura), Zebra Swallowtails (Eurytides marcellus), Orcas (Orcinus orca), Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata), and an astonishing array of other creatures are all sharing this earth with some kind of black and white pattern.
So then why, oh why, can't Blacks and Whites in humans (or any other color in between) get along as well? Why can't they compliment each other? Bring out the best in each other? Why must there always be such bickering and biting and sometimes downright cruel behavior among us?
Yes, there are differences. We all don't look at the world the same or think exactly the same, but that's what makes each of us beautiful. Our differences. When we get along with each other as black and white does so well in nature and fashion, we are striking and eye-poppingly beautiful.
Let's take a lesson from the God-created colors...
Compliment each other.
Support one another.
Peacefully stand next to each other.
When we do, we produce a small, but breath-taking portrait of what God, through nature, is trying to show us.
Black and white together create a dazzling, crisp image that is considered to be one of the top color combinations in high fashion. Anyone seen wearing a formal tuxedo to carrying a nice black and white Gucci or Gigi Chantel would be seen as sharp, well-dressed, and would garner stares from all nearby.
Black and white is also found throughout nature. Penguins are the most formal of birds in their eternal, tuxedo-looking feather-attire. Zebras display brilliant patterns with their black and white stripes. Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) would look like any other bear without their black and white pattern. Pin-tailed Whydahs (Vidua macroura), Zebra Swallowtails (Eurytides marcellus), Orcas (Orcinus orca), Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata), and an astonishing array of other creatures are all sharing this earth with some kind of black and white pattern.
So then why, oh why, can't Blacks and Whites in humans (or any other color in between) get along as well? Why can't they compliment each other? Bring out the best in each other? Why must there always be such bickering and biting and sometimes downright cruel behavior among us?
Yes, there are differences. We all don't look at the world the same or think exactly the same, but that's what makes each of us beautiful. Our differences. When we get along with each other as black and white does so well in nature and fashion, we are striking and eye-poppingly beautiful.
Let's take a lesson from the God-created colors...
Compliment each other.
Support one another.
Peacefully stand next to each other.
When we do, we produce a small, but breath-taking portrait of what God, through nature, is trying to show us.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mom
Today is the day when, once a year, we set aside a time to celebrate all things Mother. In reality, it should be everyday of the year, but at least this makes it just a bit more special every second Sunday in May.
There are not enough adequate words to describe my mother. She is one of a kind in every which way. She's funny, loving, caring, and easy going. But she can also be stern, forceful, and can take care of business when the need arises. She is one tough cookie that I always want in my corner. She's like a sow bear with cubs...never come between her and her children or grandchildren (no matter what age they are!). You will get hurt.
My mom should be put out as the example of what a wife and mother should be. She is very supportive of and submissive to my dad yet she is no shrinking violet. When she has had enough, you will know all to well that Mom is in the house. She takes junk from no one. She is proud but humble; she works hard and has finally learned to take a little time for herself.
There is not another woman even remotely close to her that I know. She is the best lady I know and I am proud to be her son. I wouldn't change anything about her.
Happy Mother's Day to my MOTHER!
I love you!
There are not enough adequate words to describe my mother. She is one of a kind in every which way. She's funny, loving, caring, and easy going. But she can also be stern, forceful, and can take care of business when the need arises. She is one tough cookie that I always want in my corner. She's like a sow bear with cubs...never come between her and her children or grandchildren (no matter what age they are!). You will get hurt.
My mom should be put out as the example of what a wife and mother should be. She is very supportive of and submissive to my dad yet she is no shrinking violet. When she has had enough, you will know all to well that Mom is in the house. She takes junk from no one. She is proud but humble; she works hard and has finally learned to take a little time for herself.
There is not another woman even remotely close to her that I know. She is the best lady I know and I am proud to be her son. I wouldn't change anything about her.
Happy Mother's Day to my MOTHER!
I love you!
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