Ramblings of a Grammar Nazi.

Isn't it interesting how illiterate people can be? You don't have to be a "Grammar Nazi" to appreciate a well written sentence. I'm always seeing comments on thoughtless posts on facebook about how irritating it is when the OP doesn't use proper grammar. It makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who gets a metaphorical brain aneurysm each time I see someone using the word 'sense' in place of the word 'since' or 'your' instead of 'you're'. And, boy, does it get under my skin a little when I see a paragraph with no capitalization, punctuation or correct spelling. Don't even get me started on people who say words incorrectly.

I'm always correcting people. I know I shouldn't, since there are points in my life when I, myself, need to be corrected. Though, I can't seem to help it. There are times when I have to breath through the urge to correct someone and just let it go.

It feels like watching a wounded bird walk away. You want to go to it, patch it up the best you can and send it on it's way to heal. But, that's never the case is it? Once you send it away, it's not grateful for the help at all. The dumb bird scratches off the bandages you, so carefully, placed upon the wound and goes on living it's life broken, bleeding, and stupid.You can only hope that there's someone else willing to help the poor bird better than you did.

I guess that would be a bit of an extreme metaphor, but you understand what I'm saying -at least I hope you do. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Challenge Accepted.

It's been quite a while since I last posted. And to be honest, I'm not putting a lot of thought into this particular post.

I don't consider myself an awesome writer and I definitely don't consider myself anywhere near an author. For me this isn't a diary for everyone to see, because I would never post my personal thoughts online. This blog is a kind of outlet for myself. Not an emotional one where I share all the drama in my life. To be perfectly forthright, I don't have anything close to drama in my life. (I'm pretty boring.) No, this is where I'm free to talk about what ever I want without being interrupted.

Growing up with two headstrong sisters and a verbal father, it was hard to get a word in. So, I became a private person. I realized that whatever I had to say, would only cause problems for me, because, like my father, I'm a straightforward person.

This is where I get to finally say what's on my mind, but, not in a way where I tell every single thought that passes through my head. (That's why we use: facebook/twitter.)

It happens like this:

Random idea: *deep British voice* Hello, darling.

Me: Well, hi! Why I haven't I thought about you?

Random idea: I haven't a clue, I'm always right here.

Me: I should write about you while you're here...

Random Idea: What an astounding revelation! But, I'll make it bloody difficult.

Me: Challenge accepted.

And that's about it. I love it when it happens out of the blue because, usually, when I try to think of something to write about I end up coming out as dry as a sponge in the desert and I end up picking the brains of other people. Then, I may not even use their ideas. I'm a little picky in that way.

Simple Flirtation

It's so simple...flirting. The eyes meet, a smile is exchanged, a heartbeat is quickened, hello's are communicated, someone blushes, one tells a joke, the other laughs, he makes himself comfortable, she looks away and twirls her hair, he rubs the back of his neck, compliments are given, and so on and so forth.

It's funny how easily it comes to us. You don't need any prior practice, lessons, or examples. It just happens. That's because it's pure human instinct...that and hormones. Our minds and hormones tell us that we are attracted to a certain person, the wish to flirt simply comes to us. (The wish? Flirtation doesn't come naturally?)No, dear reader...some people need help with flirting. There are some who are flirtation-challenged. That's the advice most people go to the internet for.(But...what did we do before that?) We asked the wonderfully worded questions, "Should I go talk to him/her?" "What should I say?" "Do you think he/she likes me?" "How's my breath?"

Before self-help books, magazine articles, newspaper columns, internet quizzes, and all that fun jazz, we merely asked friends. What else were we going to do? Yes, our desire to flirt is there, but some of us lack the skill. We go to close friends for advice because we don't want to, for lack of better terms, strike out.

If the other person shows no interest, don't worry. That's clearly not the person for you. Since the beginning of time we have been flirting, striking out, and making fools of ourselves. Yes, flirting can make some people look foolish. The best you can do with that is laugh it off and move on. (People went through that long before we did?) Look at you staying on topic!

Yes, flirting was done pretty much the same way as it's done now. With the exception of text messaging, Facebook, and the weird abundance of cheesy pick-up lines...though, I'm sure our ancestors had their share. But, it all really came down to charm. Everyone has their own way of being charming. If you find yours, congratulations. Use it and you will be just fine out in the scary world of flirtation and foolishness.

I guess the conclusion we can come to is: Times have changed, but, the foundation of our hormones will always be consistent.

Forrest Gump Was Wrong.

"Life is like a box of chocolates, ya' never know what you're gonna get."

In my opinion, this quote from the beloved classic movie, "Forrest Gump" is flawed. (How is it flawed?) I'm glad you asked.

Don't get the wrong idea, I love the movie but, a box of chocolates usually comes with a chocolate map. In which case, you would know exactly what you were getting.

Life doesn't come with a guide. We all wish it would, though. It would be nice if, when meeting someone, you could just look at a piece of paper and there it would say,"Easy to talk to," "Likes the same shows," "Talks way too much about problems," "Get's a weird tick when listening to country music,"or "Good listener...". You get my point. We don't have the aw-inspiring chocolate map of animate existence. If we did, it seems like we would be farther along in the world and there wouldn't be as many wars.

Hangin' with Friends

Nothing beats hanging out with your closest friends. Even if you get a few scratches and bruises from it.

We explored a cave. Not today. It was more like a few months ago. Anyway, normally we would just sit around inside and play games or sit around a fire and indulge ourselves in the mysterious cuisines of the refrigerator or something our parents make for us(basically anything we can find, create, or order) and s'mores. But, that day we actually decided to do something...painful. It was fun though. Afterwards, we went back to my house, watched Smallville, and ate Long John Silvers. We talked, laughed, made fun of each other, and had a good time.

To be totally and completely honest, I love my friends. The more time I spend with them the more I want to hang out with them. One of the things that some people don't understand about my friends and myself is our humor. We are always making fun of each other and giving each other a hard time. We're all very close, so we know it's a joke. Of course if something is said that is taken wrong, deep apologies are made. We try not to cross any lines in our facetious conversations. But, we can also have earnest conversations. Honesty is pretty prominent in our group and we all take things genuinely well.

When new people come into the group, they like to ease their way in. Unfortunately for them, we act like we've known them our entire lives and joke around with them like they've been there for a thousand years and we just decided to pick up on a conversation we never started. That's what I love about us.

Looters. (An unfinished post.)

It's been quite a while since I've last updated my blog. So much has happened and I haven't had the time.

First of all: My hometown of Joplin, Mo. was hit by a tornado. Thankfully, no one close to me died. It's old news to the media, but here it's still taking some by surprise. The realization of the whole thing just dampens spirits. My family and I have been volunteering and trying to help, but this thing isn't going to go away.

There are people all over Joplin that have literally lost everything, from homes, cars and drivers licenses to loved ones, co-workers, and jobs. It is such a mess. Sometimes, I wonder if we will ever recover.

What's worse, is that there are people who have been going around taking things from the debris that don't belong to them. Looters.

Stress Mangement

How do you handle stress?? How does it effect you? Well, here are some testimonials that The Gummi Bear Groupies(Jacinda) put together for a class she doesn't take anymore: