"You Ate My Road Kill" - another trigger

                I saw a boy with a "Fly Guy" book and smiled as I thought about Jenna's desire to read the book back in 2007 or 2008 (Tedd Arnold has written the "Fly Guy" series since 2005 here.

          When Jenna and I read books together, we would take turns doing the voices of different characters.  I think it was a bird that had made accusations against "fly guy" specifically saying, "You Ate My Road Kill".  Jenna thought that was the most hilarious thing.  She would have me say it for many years. 

          "Do the voice, mommy," she requested.

          I would screech in a high pitched voice, "You Ate My Road Kill". 

          She would laugh and laugh and request that I do it again.

          From that point I realized that if she was having a down day (which is rare) I could say to her (in the screechy voice, of course)  "You Ate My Road Kill" and it would change her mood.

 

          Funny how little things can trigger sweet memories.

          I read her this post and she laughed again.  That screechy voice still works.

Wasted Time or Wasted Mind

I attended the webinar lecture

though my mind wasn't as present as

my body.

Not as though

I was seriously in the mood anyway

There were too many sounds drowning out

the lecture

First of all,

my instructor had a sore throat. 

He didn't quite sound like Darth Vader throughout

the entire lecture

There was no wheezing - but a lot of

deep throat

My neighbor's acoustics were going

and the sirens from fire department

started wailing loudly.

One of my classmate forgot

she had turned on her mike  and

failed to turn it off before she

attempted to discipline children

making noise in background.

My instructor finally muted her

and kept referring to the time which

made me laugh as he seemed

more anxious to finish the lecture

than I was. 

I should have left the lecture earlier

I suppose.

I really didn't get anything out of it.

Another Weather Report

The weather is so much different

this year as opposed to the year

we moved in. 

The temperatures were warm

but not hot. 

Spring had come early. 

I was astounded at the amount

of "spring" growth and took

lots of pictures. 

What awesomeness.

This year the fog lingers longer.

The skies are grey and murky

and the temperature has been

uninviting. 

Bundle up. 

I mean, I guess that is what

I was doing in Utah. 

I don't want Oregon to experience

Salt Lake weather!

It snowed yesterday morning for

only five minutes or so. 

Big thick flacks that

didn't stick.

School was not cancelled though

some of the buses may have been

delayed. 

It wasn't for two hours though.

It seems laughable to me when

the schools are closed or buses are

delayed when there are less than

four inches of snow.

The snow is not the primary concern

however.

It is when the roads are wet and

slick and iced over.

Roland will keep the heater on

in the car.

I rarely ever make it to my destination

with the heat on.

I never have the heat on while

returning home

I loathe wearing a coat in

the car.

Words: Tear and Tear

If ever I should see the word "tear" by itself, I think of the word that rhymes with ear (or "tir) meaning "what falls from my eye" - probably because I produce a lot of them.  But the word "tear" also rhymes with air (or "ter") which means to rip or a hole.  According to this site the word "tear" is a homograph or hetronym.  That is it is spelled the same, in some cases is pronounced the same, but has different meanings.

          I had explored five dictionary sites.  Cambridge was the only one of the five that listed t-ear (tir) first.  The definition provided was "a drop of salty liquid that flows from the eye due to pain or emotion".

          Though all five dictionaries listed similar definitions, each of the others started there definitions with t-air (ter):

Google:     

                   1 - "pull or rip something apart; separate into pieces"

                   2 - "move very quickly, typical in reckless a or excited manner" 

Merriam-Webster

ter               1 -  noun: damage from being torn

                   1 - verb:  the act of tearing something (Thank you Mr. Webster!)

          2 - a run of unusual success

tir       3 - a drop of clear saline fluid . . . moisture from the eye

Cambridge

ter               pull apart

          2 - move quickly

Oxford (this dictionary had several definitions - I am providing only four)

ter     1 - pull somethin apart; remove or make a hole with force; damage

          2 - state of uncertainty between two conflicting options or parties

tir       3 -      a dop of saline watery fluid; moisture of the eye

          4.  a shape

Dictionary.com (which combines multi dictionaries such as COBUILD, Webster and Collins to name a few)

ter     1 - puncture or rend

          2 - doubt or uncertainty

tir       3 -      salty fluid due to emotion

          I have used tear (tir) and tear (ter) as a rip or being ripped more than other definitions included.  Occasionally I have used definition 2 as well.

          There is t-air (ter) like "let's get out of here"  "He tore out of there rather quickly"  - usually the word "tear" becomes a thing that happened in the past "tore"  -  I've heard the expression "they tore out of there . . . " meaning they hurried away, but I have never heard it in the present " watch me tear . . ." or "see them tearing"

Merriam-Webster 2 - a run of unusual success gives the example "the team was on a tear"  I have no idea what that even means.   They were running fast?  I have never heard that before.

The number 2 definition of being pulled apart due to conflict I have also heard and may have used myself

"torn between staying home or spending money unnecessarily to travel"

"this addiction is tearing the family apart" - again a tense that changes TEAR

What is the first thing you think of when you see the word TEAR?

Dash GA #5 Awards

What trophies, medals, awards and certificates have you earned throughout your life?  How many have you kept?

          Well this post ought to be short and sweet.

          I think I was in the fourth grade when I was called to the main office to have my picture taken as student of the month.  I don't know what happened to the photo or certificate.  I do not remember retrieving it from the box of treasures that mom had saved.

          I had ribbons from seminary here and ribbons for my targeteer flag here.

          I won a glass bowling pin filled with m&m's.  It was my "gutter ball" trophy.  Not that it's cool to boast that I had the most gutter balls of anyone who joined the league.  It was cute though.  And I enjoyed the m&m's.  If it hadn't broken I would probably still have it.

          Other than that there are my birth, baptism, marriage certificates.  Oh, and several (between 10 and 14) papers indicating I made either the President's or Dean's list. I think that's it.  Exciting, huh?

Last Day of January

        I finally finished the assignment I started research on Monday. It was supposed to be at least 800 words.  I had 810 to transfer to APA (that stands for American Psychological Association - common for formatting essays for colleges and often more importantly viewed by the instructor than the content) and had changed some of the wording as I was proof-reading and making certain I had and was able to add a few more words which total up to 856 - which is good, considering at least 40 of those words are really reference name and date.

      I have one problem with four parts to finish up for my assessment.  It is very time consuming and only worth 50 points.  I think it should be worth more for all the time I have to pour into it.

Abbreviations

          I remember when I was on my mission, and even now, we were (or are) told to stay clear of using abbreviations or initials to describe something that unless you are a member of the Church and are already familiar with the lingo, most non-members are not going to get that RS stands for Relief Society, YW stands for young women, etc. 

         

          I know I have been guilty of this in my blog - abbreviating.  Occasionally I do try to explain myself or refer to sites that will.  Back then (on my mission) the top initials used were D&C meaning Doctrine and Covenants (which is not what the majority of the population will think D&C means;  even many active church members I had met would first think of Dilation and curettage) and GA for General Authority.

          I suppose I appreciate the advice more now to steer clear from using abbreviations without interjecting the full meaning at least every now and then.  Currently I am taking my last accounting class.  My last one!!!  Talk about being initial happy.  The Church never had anything on the accountants as far as initial goes . . . and yet it seems there are always more initials to be had.  What a pain in the . . .  well, you know.  GAAP, IFRS, FSA, FASB, LIFO, FIFO and now a brand new one to my ears GASB - come one people !!!!  Why, you ask, have I never defined any of these?  Really?  My brain is so confused.  When I talk about my traumatic experiences with accounting, I want the reader to feel my confusion.  When I use the initials without explanation, don't you feel confused?  And even if I defined them, I promise, it does not make any of them any more exciting.  Accountants are boring!  Okay, maybe not all accountants, but the subject certainly is.  I think reading a math text book is more exciting.

          So why I am I even majoring in this, you ask?  I was hoping to straighten up my own personal finances and I've gone to tell you, NONE of those initials apply to anybody's personal finances.  They all have to do with business.  Early on I had learned that "accounting is the language of business"  - maybe that's why I hate the term "business" so much.  Why is it that I am having so much trouble sleeping?  Seriously.  You would think this stuff should put anybody in a coma for a year at least.

          To all of my readers who haven't been familiar with any lingo I've used in regards to the Church, my apologies.  I will try to do better.  For all of my readers who may not be familiar with any of the lingo I've used in regards to the accounting classes that have caused me attitudes of frustration, welcome to my world.  It's unforgivable lingo . . . but I'm certainly not the one who came up with it.  I think it was invented by those who are in a state of comatose.   Why would you purposely wish to make yourself sound dull?

Oh, and just for the record.  YW was the only Church term that spellcheck did not recognize.  Only two of the boring accounting abbreviations were recognized.