The employees of the Inn at the Colonnade in Baltimore may be good at many things, but punctuation and spelling are clearly not on that list. I submit for your consideration three photos taken of the announcements on the hotel channel and one sign.
I understand that not everyone grasps grammar, spelling and punctuation. Fine. But don’t make that person in charge of writing up announcements and making signs.
Posted in Grammar, etc. | Tagged Bright ideas, Peeves, Signs, Travel | 7 Comments »
The best part about traveling is trying new things, especially local food. Who wants to eat at a chain restaurant when you are out of town? I remember one vacation with some extended family, and all they wanted to do was eat at Denny’s. Denny’s!
I’m in Baltimore for a SCAD info. session tomorrow. My friend Terri, who works in SCAD admission, is from Baltimore and she will be working the session too. We got in at 9:30 this morning and I’ve already had Maryland crab soup, Utz chips, Berger cookies, and Balto MärzHon from the Clipper City Brewing Company.
One thing I had been looking forward to since I found out I was coming on this trip is Ethiopian food. Terri and I go to New York together every six months and Ghenet Ethiopian restaurant is always on the menu. Well, “was.” When Eddie and I went in September, though, the restaurant was closed. As in “bars on the door and ‘for sale’ sign in the window” closed. I wept.
I think you either love the food or you absolutely don’t. The deal-breaker is usually the injera, which looks and feels like skin. I’m OK with that. You use the bread to pick up the food, which consists of mashy beans, cabbage, chicken, etc., all spicy and yummy. Top it off with honey wine, and life is good.
Terri prepares to dig in
I’m fat and happy, so I’d say it’s been a good day.
Posted in Random | Tagged Beer and wine, Bright ideas, Food, Travel | 1 Comment »
Trish, a wet hen
The phrase “madder than a wet hen” came to mind today. It’s been a monsoon in the ‘Ham for the past two days, thanks to Ida. During a break in the clouds, I went to feed Trish. She came around the corner from the neighbor’s house, and she was soaking wet. She didn’t appear particularly angry about it though.
I’m sure that phrase originated in the south, but I wish I knew how and where. Wikianswers, which I don’t trust, of course, reports that it originated in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Someday I want to have time to study etymology. Someday. In the meantime, I’ll find time to peruse the Online Etymology Dictionary.
Posted in Chickens, Grammar, etc. | Tagged Chickens, Definitions, Etymology, Trish (the chicken) | Leave a Comment »
My language peeve this week (so far) is the phrase “near miss,” as in:
“Drunk woman falls onto subway tracks and survives near miss”
My friend Merriam-Webster defines it in the following manner:
1 a : a miss (as with a bomb) close enough to cause damage b : something that falls just short of success
2 a : a near collision (as between aircraft) b : close call
Folks, a “near miss” is a HIT. A “near hit” would be a welcome miss. Or “Hey there, buddy, that was close!” Or “Oh my, we barely missed being victims of a horribly disfiguring accident!” Or just “Good God!”
I’m not the only one who likes to argue this point. Check out the language corner portion of the Columbia Journalism Review.
But to save argument and confusion, doesn’t “close call” work just fine?
Posted in Grammar, etc. | Tagged Bright ideas, Definitions, Media, Peeves | Leave a Comment »
I’ve been called many things in my life, but only one bothers me enough to devote a blog post to it. Certain people have called me “controlling” (not to my face, of course). Anal-retentive? Yes, of course, but I prefer the term “organized.” Perfectionist? Yes, but only about my own work. Obnoxious? Perhaps, but I like to call it being blunt.
Let’s check in with dictionary.com, which defines the word in the following manner:
| 1. | to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command. |
| 2. | to hold in check; curb. |
Calling me “controlling” is offensive to me because it accuses me of being a dictator, a puppeteer. And it is offensive to Eddie and others close to me, because it makes them seem weak and sheep-like. And if you know Eddie, you know he is not weak and sheep-like. He is very much his own person, and makes his own decisions.
It’s silly, really, because you simply can’t control other people. And I’m not interested in trying. What I would like to control is my own life (ie. the ability to get everything done that I need to get done). But other people’s decisions affect my life, Eddie’s life, and the lives of my children.
If I may quote a fine Paul Newman flick, “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” What certain folks call “controlling,” I call, “I just want to know what the heck is going on in advance so that I can make my plans accordingly!” Or you can call it “asking for common courtesy.” Maybe it is the reporter in me. I want to know what’s going on. I like logic.
There are people who go through life living in the moment and making spontaneous decisions. Even though I can’t do that, I am totally fine with other people doing it as long as they recognize I sometimes can’t join in the reindeer games.
Must. Remain. Calm.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I submit for your review three scenarios:
1. A special meal: Invited guests ask, “What time should we be there?” I say, “Lunch is at noon.” They are two hours late, and I’m a little put out. Am I controlling?
2. An unexpected visit: The phone rings, and potential guests report they are on their way. I say, “Great, but I have a presentation tomorrow and I won’t be able to spend much time with you.” They are a little put out. Am I controlling?
3. Clothes shopping: I take a 13-year-old relative shopping. I will not buy her the hoochie clothes she wants. Her mother accuses me of treating her like my own Barbie doll. Am I controlling?
Perhaps the real issue is that I am too honest when these things happen. I will admit that I’m honest to a fault. Perhaps I should smile and keep my mouth shut, but I’m not sure I have that in me.
But the good thing about me is that you can be just as blunt as I am, you can make fun of my need to know, and you can laugh at my obsession with time management. I won’t be offended. Just don’t call me the C word. I command it.
Posted in Random | Tagged Bright ideas, Kids, Peeves | 3 Comments »
Reggie is our porch cat. He does not come inside. His choice, not ours. He adopted me when I lived in Jacksonville, and he is just an incredibly loving, laid-back cat. This nature even extends to accepting all visitors, even including one Rhode Island Red. Reggie can’t be bothered. Don’t believe me? Take a look:
Trish trots over for a visit.
Reggie is unconcerned.
Posted in Chickens | Tagged Chickens, Pets, Trish (the chicken) | 1 Comment »
I haven’t been to the Coastal Empire Fair since Barf-fest 2002. And after all, it is the same every year: rickety rides manned by creepy ex-cons, the scent of corn dogs mixed with bovine remnants, and a wallet raping I wouldn’t soon forget.
I’m willing to do anything for the kids, though, and they’ve never been to a fair. So to the fair we went. All of the above was still true, but we didn’t care. The boys rode their first rides without us, and LOVED it.
The boys go it alone
Easy rider
We drifted into the livestock arena and were amazed to see a cow wash — a place where folks give their cattle a bath and blowout. Here’s one after the spa treatment:
Eddie and friend
It should come as no shock that I also noticed some sign errors.
I’m surprised I didn’t find more of that. Perhaps I was distracted by the funnel cake. It was the boys’ first time for that too. Yum … sugary grease …
The first funnel cake
The meltdown inevitably occurred shortly thereafter, and it was time to go home. But not before we had to promise we would return next year. And we will.
Posted in Grammar, etc., Random | Tagged Bright ideas, Kids, Peeves, Signs | Leave a Comment »
I’m a little out of my element with this post, but clearly I’m moved enough to write.
University of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert was suspended indefinitely for her unsportsmanlike conduct in a semifinal game against Brigham Young University.
Before Friday morning, I had never heard of this person. Today, I can’t think of anything else. Thanks, ESPN.
What was missing from the coverage Friday morning was the coach’s reaction and the college’s reaction. That response finally came Friday afternoon. As expected, Lambert apologized, and claimed, all Serena Williams-style, that she lost control in a heated moment. The full apology is posted on the college’s Web site, but here is one part:
This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player that I am.
Hmmm. This is the player whom the media guide praises for being “fearless when making a challenge.” The player whom head coach Kit Vela calls “fiery” on Lobo TV.
I think they liked her attitude and encouraged it. That’s the sports culture. Win at all costs. Here is a highlight reel of her actions in the BYU game.
UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs said, “There is no way to defend her actions.” But I’m willing to bet she’ll be back at it again when the spotlight is off and she is back on the field.
And that brings up a larger question of what has she learned. What has anyone learned? This kind of stuff happens all the time. It is our culture of rage where the angry cross some line (finally), apologize (sincerely or not), and then continue with their healthy careers. John McEnroe, Barry Bonds, Rasheed Wallace, Tony Stewart … the list goes on and on.
Inappropriate behavior, apology, more inappropriate behavior. Lather, rinse, repeat. It makes my head hurt.
Posted in Random | Tagged Academics, Media, Peeves, Rage, Sports | 3 Comments »
The Mammomat
Yesterday, I subjected my rack to the Mammomat.
It was a cold, mashy experience, but absolutely critical. I am adopted, and thus have no idea if breast cancer (or anything else) runs in my family. So I check these things on a regular basis.
For those of you who need to do this too, I assure you that it doesn’t hurt. It is weird and uncomfortable, but not painful.
I signed the consent form to have Memorial call me with the results. And they called this morning at 9:30 and left a message — a message I checked during the break between classes.
“There is one area on the left we need to take some special views of …”
Uh oh.
So I went back in this afternoon, delaying my admission trip to Charleston by about two hours.
They fit me in to a busy afternoon schedule, which actually worried me more. My friend Sarah (of Thrift Sale bagging fame) saw me driving behind her on the Memorial campus, and stopped what she was doing to hang out with me. So that was nice.
I communed again with the Mammomat. More extensive mashing and pressing and it was over.
It turns out that everything is fine. No “C.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and hit the road.
Posted in Random | 2 Comments »
I’ll share with you (at no cost) some advice I shared with students in my classes today:
Dress to impress.
It works if you have a job: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have so that you can look like a promotable candidate.
It works if you don’t have a job: You will not offend a potential employer if you are overdressed, but you can kill your chances if you are underdressed.
It works on a date. Obviously.
It just works.
It is No. 2 that concerns me today. A candidate for a job at my fine university appeared for the interview in a knit blouse, capris and tourist sandals. Here is her outfit, displayed using reasonable facsimiles culled from various clothing sites on the Web:
Imagine this with short sleeves and a few buttons up the front
Underneath black blouse
In linen
Now here’s the kicker (literally):
The shoes. For real.
I was shocked. SHOCKED. I could have forgiven the attire, perhaps, but it was truly all downhill from there anyway.
Sigh.
Posted in Random | Tagged Academics, Bright ideas, Peeves, Students | 3 Comments »
Observe and report 