Friday, December 8, 2006
Busted! Okay, I'll Admit It OR That Woman Has What?
Busted. To me, this is one of those words that sounds a bit like one of its meanings--- to break or burst. Perhaps that is why I like it. But I don’t use it much, especially when I’m writing for publications. That’s because “bust” as a verb doesn’t exist in proper English. Rather, it’s one of our...
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Thursday, December 7, 2006
Do You Have A Mother-In-Law Problem? Here's The Answer. And It's Legal!
Pull out your calculators, please. Today’s writing lesson will involve mathematics. Are you ready? 1) 1 mother-in-law + 1 mother-in-law =? 2) 1 attorney-general + 1 attorney-general + 1 attorney-general =? Okay, time’s up. Who knows the answer to No. 1? Yes, Buford, do you have the answer? Yes,...
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Monday, December 4, 2006
Another Chilly Language Lesson With Gratuitous Sexual Innuendo
Barry White provided seductive stylings in the background. Firelight cast a romantic glow in the otherwise darkened room. She leaned into me and pressed her full, warm breast against my arm. I felt the nipple harden, as did a portion of my anatomy. Her big brown eyes sparkled with innocence but...
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Sunday, December 3, 2006
Surviving At Ground Zero of Ice Storm AND A Chilly Language Lesson
Help! I should be by the pool, dining on mangoes and papayas, watching the scarlet macaws cavort in the trees above. I should be in Costa Rica! Instead, I’m at Ground Zero of the worst ice storm to hit the Midwest in decades. Thursday afternoon into Friday, three inches of freezing rain fell on my...
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The Life Of A Freelance Writer Revealed
After I sold my first magazine article, I continued to teach for eight years, as I gained more success as a writer. By the fifth year or so, I was making more money by writing during weekends, holidays, and summer than I was during nine months of teaching. And slowly but surely, I came to realize...
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Saturday, November 25, 2006
Wisdom Gained from Turkey Day Chaos OR Oxymoron Revealed By Child
I typically spend Thanksgiving in Mexico. I call it “work,” and I actually do take a few photos and make a few notes--- sometimes. Mostly I go, though, because I enjoy being with friends in a laid-back atmosphere that is so much a contrast to the gluttony and shopping frenzy that accompany the...
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Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Revealed! The Most Misused Adverb At Blogit
“Ironically” is a great adverb for conveying the absurd and sometimes tragic unpredictability of life. It means that the opposite has happened of what was intended or expected. “Ironically, the doctor neglected his own health and nearly died of pneumonia.” “Ironically, my math teacher couldn’t...
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Friday, November 17, 2006
Making Up Words Part II: What's The Opposite Of A Pack Rat?
In a previous post, I asked for original terms to describe someone who is the opposite of a “pack rat.” A pack rat is someone who keeps everything and who often lives in clutter. I wrote the following: But what do we call someone whose behavior is exactly the opposite? In other words, someone who...
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Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Is Anyone Here An All-American Blogger? No!
No one can be an “All American,” no matter how good he is at any sport. But he can be an “All-America.” For his achievements, he can be named to the “All-America” team. Likewise, in Canada, an exceptional athlete can be named to the “All-Canada” team, not the “All-Canadian” team. Yeah, yeah, I know....
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006
It's Time To Expand The Language: Let's Make Up Some Words!
We all know that language is fluid and constantly evolving. Perhaps no language is more so than English. With that in mind, let us create some words! And let us use the example given in a recent Atlantic Monthly magazine: We all know that someone who keeps everything and who often lives in clutter...
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