Words, Words, Words

32°f/0°C, snowing early, windy, then clouds. High all day was only 33, after a high near 60 yesterday!

Are there words that make you cringe these days? I don't mean profanity,  as the use of that is now so widespread that even the most horrible F-word is now almost passe'. 

These days, though, there are words that just make my ears want to curl up and draw inside my head. Kiddos, for instance: when did all children, regardless of age, become kiddos? The word is used, it seems, for anyone from birth to 30. It sounds demeaning to me, suggesting that maturity just doesn't happen any more until adulthood is reached.

Then there's doggo, for and and all canines. Why? Why not just dog? 

Curated is another over-used word, applied to everything from salad to....well, you name it. The word used to imply serious, deep research and learning to verify provenance, value, or suitability. Now even booths in vendor malls are "curated". Good grief.

Another pet peeve is the use of "reveal" as a noun. Why not revelation? It is just too long a word for our times? Gender reveal, remodel reveal, etc, etc. I just wonder when chefs will jump onto that bandwagon as they uncover that special dish in a big "reveal".

And one more---boujee.  Or is it bougie? Turns out both are in use, and have slightly different meanings. This is not a word I have ever used, and don't think I am likely to, but I hear it tossed out there by the younger generations about everything from nail polish to cars to clothes, houses, parties, and so on. 

Apparently bougie is slightly disparaging,  meaning an affectation of luxury ways by the bourgeoisie. Boujee, on the other hand is someone who starts from a poor background, attains great wealth and the accompanying lifestyle, but stays connected to their roots. For a more detailed explanation,  go here.  I would hear my grandchildren tossing this word around and finally asked them what it meant, but their response indicated that they weren't exactly clear either! Still, as a slang word, I am not as bothered by it as I am reveal and curate. After all,every generation seems to invent new slang.

I could go on: deep dives and drilling down into data or a story, gotcha and "I got you", and the like. I guess I am turning into an old curmudgeon at last!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Tire Shopping

47°f/8.3°C, raining. The very warm weather of the past couple days ends tonight. It was 65° yesterday!

Back at the tire shop, waiting on our new tires. A few things caught my eye:

So, clean your tires, y'all!

Then this board, completely covered in business cards. I wonder if anyone even sees it, in these days of cell phones?

Saturday morning shoe fashions:

Black ones are mine, the others belong to the random strangers beside me. Those messy ones...wonder what his tires look like? (See sign above)

One more sign:

This one is a joke. I think. I hope.

It's a rainy ol' day, so light as well get this job taken care of. We'll be $800 the poorer for it, but we'll have a better, safer ride.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Three Good Things

,42°f/5.6°C, cloudy but clearing to be a really nice day.

After my last post, I thought i had better look for some good things to share. Life is such a roller coaster, isn't it. It feels wrong somehow to just go on about our business when sadnesses fall on us, and yet what is the alternative? As my mother used to say, pull up your socks dear, and get on with it. Still, it feels fitting and right to pause, remember, and appreciate those who leave us behind, and speaking their names keeps them alive in our hearts.

So I am rummaging through my last couple of days, seeking the bright spots, and there are many. First, my son #3 is heading to the Philippines for a month's vacation, so i put him in touch with my cousin Bob in England who has visited those islands many times, and was married to a Filipino lady. Well, as it turns out, Bob's brother Joe, who i have never met, will be in the Philippines at the same time as my son! Talk about a small world. My English relationship are a scattered lot: some are in Australia, some in Canada, one was and may still be in Spain, and I believe one was in Finland. Then of course, there are many still in England. So bright spot #1 is that perhaps my son will be able to meet his second cousin while he's on vacation.

Bright spot #2: after a very busy day of pulling Christmaa from our booths, we rushed home to feed the critters, then left again for the bi-weekly open mic. We debated just skipping it, but I am so glad we went. The lineup was varied and interesting,  with some new voices that really added to the mix. I even sang three ballads (West Virginia Mine Disaster by Jean Ritchie, and the traditional Railroad Boy and Pretty Saro). I don't think anyone recorded me, but here are a couple clips of other presenters.

McKenna Hope was our featured presenter of the evening.

I don't know Randy's last name, but I sure like his singing.

The third good thing: we picked up our checks for the last 2 weeks of December, and found that we'd  had the best month we have had since starting our booths. Money can't buy happiness, but it will buy badly needed new tires for the truck. 

Add in spending time with friends, lovin's from the dogs, phone conversations with sons, and a fridge that is still working (fingers crossed!), and all in all it has been a nice couple of days.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.