Saturday, December 22, 2007

We Wish You an "Amazing Holiday"

Today I am going to get on my soapbox about 2 different things.


AMAZING

I have decided to go on a rampage and do what I can to eliminate the word Amazing from the English language. Yes, I know this will cause a real hardship for many people, especially in Hollywood. It is the only adjective ever used:

"you look amazing"

"it was an amazing experience"

"I have an amazing husband/wife"

"that dinner was amazing"

"it's an amazing movie"

"I read an amazing book"

"we have an amazing connection"

"the Grand Canyon is amazing"

"my kids are amazing"



So, I thought I'd look through a thesaurus (since no one else seems to have gotten this idea) and find some other words that would do nicely

"you look fabulous"

"that dinner was outstanding"

"it's an excellent movie"

"I read a fascinating book"

"we have a wonderful connection"

"the Grand Canyon is breathtaking"

"my kids are extraordinary/talented/funny/smart/sensational"

Here are some more words that could be used:

admirable, astonishing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awesome, brilliant, cool, divine, dynamite, enjoyable, excellent, fantastic, fine, groovy, incredible, magnificent, marvelous, miraculous, outstanding, peachy, phenomenal, remarkable, sensational, something else, staggering, startling, strange, stupendous, super, superb, surprising, terrific, tremendous, unheard-of, wondrous, prodigious, shocking, stunning, surprising, unbelievable, bewildering, impressive, miraculous, spectacular, staggering, startling, striking, stupefying, exciting, hair-raising, heart-stirring, magnificent, moving, overwhelming, spine-tingling, thrilling, bizarre, curious, exceptional, inconceivable, odd, peculiar, strange, unheard-of, unimaginable, unique, unprecendented, unthinkable, weird.

You'll notice that there are some words that are not necessarily a compliment. That's part of why I hate that word -- it's not always used correctly. For instance, if you tell me I look amazing, does that mean weird, odd, peculiar, or awe-inspiring? Why are you amazed? Because I look so hot and that's unusual, or that I look strange?

Now, let's try out our new words. I will show you a picture, and you will come up with an adjective other than amazing:

What a/an ______________ view!








The Grand Canyon is ___________!

Josh Groban has a/an ____________ voice.

I love sunsets. They're so __________.

Next, HOLIDAY.

I am so tired of the whole "holiday" thing. Yes, I realize that not everyone celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. But Christmas also symbolizes faith, love, and giving. When I wish someone a Merry Christmas, I'm hoping that they feel some of that special joy that Christmas brings. I think people (just a few people, really) are trying to erase not only the religious significance of Christmas, but they also seem to be trying to rewrite history by saying "holiday lights," "holiday tree," "holiday party," and "holiday cards." Can we be just a little more specific? There are holidays at other times too!

Well, I can't come up with anything funny to end the post. But I've already spent way too much time on this post, and I'm going to go make some mouth-watering pies for our Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Merry Christmas to All

Well, I started this blog by taking a picture of the cookies I had made to send to Maestro in Seattle. You see, most of what I have done today has not turned out well. I'm not really in the mood to send out my Christmas cards because I wanted to include a picture of the kids in it, so I was going to make a nice montage of pix. I was going to start the cookies but we're out of butter. So I went to the car to go the store, but the car is not actually in the garage. It's at the shop, getting fixed after my car accident (yes, Mom & I are fine), and Poppy had the Trail Blazer at softball. No problem, just call Poppy to get it on the way home. Went for a run, where nothing bad happened :) Got tired of addressing envelopes so I started the cookies. Went to the computer to figure out a nice montage. BURNED the cookies. I mean really bad. Got an idea to put a pictures on my blog of the burned cookies and the Christmas tree with burned out lights on top, so I got some pictures of our trip to Snow-land ready and put them on the site, then realized the burned pix were NOWHERE to be found. I had downloaded them to the computer and deleted them (and some other nice pix) from the camera. Only guess what? They're gone. Can't find them. Poppy & I searched & searched and searched for them and so I thought, well, I'll just take new pix. But they're in the garbage now. And really, I just don't have the energy to dig them out & take their picture.

The following pictures are very nice Christmassy ones though. Cookie baking, tree trimming, and gingerbread house making at Dimples' school went very well.




BDE (not sure of the new blog name for her) talked me into taking a walk in the snowstorm . I needed a photo for proof, since those of you who know me would not believe it otherwise. I told her I would only go if I could sing Winter Wonderland (or at least some of it).

The next photos are just for fun. Here's Mowgli being a Knight and a Princess all at once.

Poppy & Shortcake --



You've already seen how curly Shortcake's hair is after a bath if you've seen T~'s blog --



Sizzle's is curly too after a bath--



Bwin & Sizzle on a walk in the park --

Here's Juju, Bwin & Sizzle at a family Christmas party --

Some great pix of Sizzle --I hope you've enjoyed these photos and my rambling.

Love, Neenee