Weird Word Wednesday!

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anti-perspirant, armpits, deodorant, grammar, history, hygiene, marketing, Old English, oxter, oxters, weird word

Welcome to Weird Word Wednesday! Today’s word is oxter. It sounds bovine, but has nothing to do with large, slow-moving plow pullers from days gone by.

Actually, you have oxters. I have oxters. Sis, boom, bah, we all have oxters!

They’re armpits. Yep, plain and simple, the word “oxter” comes from the Old English “ocusta” meaning “armpit.” Way back when, in the 1400s, folks were talking about oxters, and given their lack of hygiene, we can only imagine what was being said.

We’ve come a long way, baby, and have bazillions of products to take care of any suspicious smells emanating from our oxters. But where did deodorant come from? Turns out, back in the day, smelling funny just wasn’t discussed. It was improper, unseemly, to talk about our odors, but leave it to a marketer to find a way to bring the smell out into the open so they could sell us something to fix it!

And like a great smell, the deodorant industry has blossomed, selling over $10.5 billion in 2008. Whew! Or “phew!” as the case may be…

I’ll let you take a peek at the difference between deodorant and anti-perspirants here, and keep the conversation focused on our oxters. (Be aware that we all have different odors, and stronger smells might indicate a medical condition or the body’s reaction to a change in diet.)

Melvina was torn; despite her intense attraction to Lionel, the smell emanating from his oxters gave her pause. Could she ever have such a stinky steady in her life?

Here’s to our oxters – may they never get in the way of a good relationship!

Weird Word Wednesday!

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bad fashion, children, famous speeches, fanny pack, flagitation, grammar, history, Patrick Henry, weird word, writing

Welcome to Weird Word Wednesday! This post will be especially meaningful for parents out there, while also serving as a heads-up for expecting parents. Who knows; maybe it’ll even be useful in a workplace setting, for as we shall soon see, there’s all kinds of flagitation going on out there!

Yes, today’s word is flagitation, and it means “asking or demanding with passion.” Mothers nod heavily, recalling instances when their children wore them down with their incessant flagitation.

Heather felt her hair frizzle; if she had to listen to Jeremy’s whining flagitation for another second, there was no telling what would happen to the carton of eggs she held in her hand.

But flagitation isn’t limited to the world of raising children. There are plenty of instances of adults who use flagitation to get their way.

Reginald believed that office morale would improve if “Fanny Pack Friday” were implemented. Sadly, his incessant flagitation alienated all his coworkers except one.

Is there ever an appropriate time for flagitation? I suppose during the American Revolution, it may have come in handy in 1775 when Patrick Henry gave his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech. History is rife with moments when leaders used flagitation to win the battle or to sway people to their way of thinking. Nowadays, we tend to attribute this characteristic to wheedling children or manipulative coworkers.

But if flagitation works for you, go for it!

Pajama Grammar

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language, LOL, pajamas at Wal-Mart, proper grammar, snowshoeing, texting, winter

My husband and I went snowshoeing early yesterday morning – it was one of those crisp, winter mornings when the snow squeaked and crunched beneath our feet, glittering and sparkling under the sunlight.

Afterward, we made a quick stop at our local mini-mart for a gallon of milk, and I watched a younger father walk in with his two children. He was wearing a winter jacket and pajama pants. I wondered, not for the first time, when it became OK for people to head out dressed like they just rolled out of bed. I see pajamas in public often enough, and I’ll stick my neck out here and say it’s a sad trend, a devolution of style, if you will.

It reminded me of a dinner we had with friends a couple of years ago. Paul had returned to college to pursue a second degree, and was studying Hebrew and Greek as part of his college requirements. These studies refreshed Paul’s interest in language, encouraging him to take another look at English and the disturbing trend he was noticing: the poor quality of instant messages and texts holding traditional grammar hostage to speed and convenience.

“Language is devolving,” he said. “We’re so into shortcuts that we’ve sacrificed quality for speed.”

http://www.someecards.com

He was right. And since that conversation took place a couple of years ago, things have gotten worse. Grammar is suffering, and it’s become acceptable, OK, for shortcuts (and not caring how words should be spelled) to be commonplace. Shortcuts have their place, as I discussed in an earlier post, but poor grammar has no place in the work world.

Like pajamas at Wal-Mart.

Dogs on Wheels Leading the Way…

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adversity, Barbara Techel, dachshund, Frankie, grammar, overcoming fear, passion, positive spirit, writing

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to let it blossom.” Anais Nin

Today’s post is still about writing, but at its core, it’s about stepping through fear to become who you’re really meant to be. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a writer, an engineer or a mail carrier – we all have dreams in our hearts that yearn to come true. It’s fun thinking, wishing, hoping, but sometimes, actually acting on those dreams can create a lurching fear, holding us back.

That’s why I’d like to you meet Barbara Techel. She’s known mainly for her children’s books, authoring the “Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog,” series, along with “For the Love of Animals: A Collection of Short Stories,” but it’s the work she’s done promoting animals with disabilities that’s nothing short of inspirational.

And she never dreamed of being an author. Reaching her 40s brought “a restlessness,” a seeking for something more. Barbara always loved animals, having a passion and sensitivity towards her furry friends that ran deep.

Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog

To know Barbara, you have to know about Frankie, her late dachshund with liquid chocolate eyes and a spirit that invigorated every inch of her being. A fall left Frankie paralyzed, right at about the same time that Barbara herself was feeling paralyzed in her career.

Frankie was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease and eventually fitted for a custom dog wheelchair. Overnight, her needs became immediate, paramount, taking the spotlight off Barbara’s life situation, forcing her to make a move.

“I never considered having, or adopting, an animal with a disability before,” Barbara said. “But Frankie changed all that. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, and honestly, I questioned whether or not I wanted the responsibility, or if it was even the right thing to do. Would she have a quality life?”

Frankie, however, didn’t seem to notice. Fitted with wheels, the spunky little dachshund carried on as only dogs can, oblivious of her wheelchair or her disability. She was mobile again, and that’s what mattered.

And so was Barbara. Motivated by Frankie’s spirit in the face of adversity, Barbara found herself set free to pursue a career she had never dreamed of. Frankie became a registered therapy dog, and the pair appeared regularly at nursing homes and schools, where they urged children to “stay positive” in the face of challenges.

“I’ve always loved animals, especially dogs, so deeply,” Barbara said. “I wondered how I could share that with the world. Well, just by starting small with writing for a local column, led me to where I am today, still writing and writing about the human-animal bond.”

If you ask, Barbara will tell you that the indecision and second-guessing didn’t evaporate overnight; she still struggled, but taking the first steps toward a career focused on service and acceptance gave her the wings she needed for liftoff.

“I couldn’t live like that any longer. Once you break away from that, it is so gratifying and freeing,” Barbara said. “We think there is so much risk in following our passion that we stay stuck in a place that seems somewhat comfortable, but also comes with much pain at times.”

Barbara is sharing those experiences in her newest book, “Through Frankie’s Eyes: One woman’s journey to her authentic self and the dog on wheels who led the way.”

Her advice to others yearning to follow their passion? Start small and surround yourself with those who will support and nurture you along the way.

“I gravitate towards animal-loving people, as well as positive people,” she said. “The more I do, the more my world has opened up in a way I could have never imagined.”

Three Steps to Avoid the Cement Truck of Creativity…

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advice for writers, creative writing, editing, grammar, procrastination, proofreading, writing

It  happens to all of us sooner or later. Whether you’re a writer, a painter, an engineer or a pastor, we all have projects that need doing – books and articles to write, a looming customer deadline, a sermon that won’t reveal itself.

And there you sit…and sit…and sit.

I’ve been there, and I’d have to guess that you have, too. Words don’t magically appear on my computer screen, and things outside the window are suddenly a lot more appealing than what I’m really supposed to be doing.

The ideas are like cement – lacking color and flowing at a glacial pace.

I sometimes struggle with how to begin, and I mean that quite literally. I have the germ of an idea, waiting to burst through the soil of my mind, but I can’t seem to think of the introduction. Oh, sure, everything else lurks just beneath the surface, but I can’t get that first line to materialize.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that I hope might help you.

1)  Write around the block. When the introduction won’t come, I start in on the rest. Once, I even went so far as to write “this introduction sucks” at the top of the page, then went on to write my article. After I reviewed my work, an introductory paragraph popped in my head, so I ran with it.

2)  Run around the block. Literally, if you have to. Otherwise, step back. Sometimes our brains become so bogged down in fleshing out ideas that we lose the ability to sift and sort, choosing what’s important. When I feel my hair standing on end, I know it’s time to step away. There have been times when a mundane activity like washing the dishes unleashes an idea. It’s weird, but when I stop chasing, the idea often comes to me.

3) Just do it. I’m a planner, an investigator. While that’s great for gathering information, it can also be an excuse to procrastinate. I can “justify” avoiding work because of my “need” to gather more information. A few days ago, I had a wonderful chat with my friend, Cassy Tully, who told me that sometimes you “just have to do it.” Wonderful advice!

How do you break through the occasional cement block of creativity? I’d love to hear your ideas, because I’m always looking for ways to improve my productivity – both in writing and life in general.