Fifty Words or Less

On Sunday, Mr. S (co-owner of my fun workplace)'s philosophy regarding all meaningful experiences, ideas, etc. is that they must be able to be explained in 50 words or less to be worthwhile.
Regarding his life: "Every day, I read, I listen to good music, I smile at other people, I laugh out loud, and I give thanks that I can do these things. For the good I receive from life, I try to give full measure in return."

What's yours?
I will put mine up tomorrow.

Today's WoTD is exchequer. I read it in Harry Potter. Officially, it is Britain's national revenue department, but it can be used to mean financial resources or funds. Its pronounced ex-check-er.

Expunge

...the WoTD. Also Kim K's daughter's favorite word. Means to get rid of, purge, etc. I always get a vision of unclogging a toilet, but that's probably just me. Try saying it with the emphasis on different syllables. I think my favorite word is satiate.
I will post something more meaningful and perhaps more interesting later today.

Fob

This WoTD is a noun officially meaning a short strap, ribbon, or chain attached to a pocket watch. But fob is also a fancy word for keychain. Kind of like toupee is used instead of bad hairpiece.

Of My Own...

Volition, aka the Word of the Day meaning a conscious choice or decision. I first came across this word in college. It was used frequently by the guys in the schol hall next to mine to explain actions or events that unintentionally occured. For example, "I drank too much of that McCormick vodka last night, but it wasn't of my own volition."

Other things I know...
At first I was confused by the accusations that James Frey made events up in his quasi-memoir. But you know what, I'm more confused (and I use that word loosely) that he capitalized many more words than necessary to make an impact. That is the real crime, if you asked me. For example, "I heard the Rage come again, Booming in my Head." I made that up, but you get the general idea.

I want to print out articles about transgender issues to freak out my coworkers. I'm just that bored.

WotD and the Defector

Today's word is snit. Its a noun meaning "a condition of excited distress." I used it yesterday ~ snit is my favorite Word of the Day so far. Why are you in such a snit today?

Yesterday, it was reported on kusports.com that Micah Downs, a highly-touted freshman guard is leaving the Kansas Basketball team because of "personal issues." Rumors of homesickness, missing his girlfriend at home in Seattle, etc abound, but anyone who follows college b-ball has to consider that those issues might be smoke screens for a crybaby upset over a lack of playing time.

Squalor

...is the Word of the Day. I didn't do so well fitting yesterday's word into casual conversation. I want to blame it on the fact that I don't have a lot of conversations during the course of an average day. But it boils down to just forgetting.
Squalor is a noun meaning sordid dirtiness. Basically a condition in which you wouldn't want to live. Squalid would be the adjective form describing such, but the neat thing is, you can use that form to describe someone's moral choices. I wouldn't though...judge not, etc.
If you Google squalor, you can find an organization dedicated to helping those who live in such a situation (of their own accord) change their living conditions. If you contact them for assistance, please don't tell me.

Word of the Day

I woke up in the middle of the night and with the idea that every day I could feature a different word in my blog, and encourage readers to use it. At 2:30 am, I said to myself Emily, you are a genius. I think I smiled dreamily and rolled over after that.

Anyway, today's word is precipice. It is a noun, meaning a cliff or the brink of a hazardous situation. Say it to yourself and then out loud. Especially if you are mostly alone but there's a slight chance of someone hearing you say it.

Then try to work it in to casual conversation. As in, "My you seem to be standing at the precipice of being fired," or "Wow, look at the view from that precipice over there."

If you do this, please let me know. I will do my best and report back.

Catering

Today I worked a job honoring the managers of Toyota. There's going to be a new President of Toyota - North America and he met all of the catering crew. We had a large space to work in and the afternoon flew by. One of the workers was the daughter of the Main Caterer Lady and it was interesting to hear the conversations between the two 15/16 year olds. I remembered what it was like to be that age and to feel awkward and struggle for apathy in order to push the feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt away.

One of the topics at hand was the girl at the school dance who pushed her shirt up to her bra and her opposite, the girl who lacked rhythm and embarrassed those around her by trying to dance.

I'm pretty sure I would've made fun of these girls as well, worrying if I was at one extreme or the other. I also remembered how you couldn't just go up to a guy you liked and start making conversation ~ you had to have someone find out ~ if he was interested.
I don't know if life if harder now for those growing up than it was for me. I think a lot of the innocence is gone earlier.

Basically

So there's been some negative feedback regarding the pictures of attractive men I posted. I was tempted to post more, as a result. But I think I will go the educational route regarding men in today's entry. Dr. Palmer told me that 50% of all men will eventually get cancer, of some sort. I don't know the figures for women, sorry, but keep feeling your breasts for any changes. Anyway, here's a picture of what you need to get checked after you turn 40, if you have one:

That's right: your prostate. Dr. Palmer says that the procedure is painless and relatively embarrassing. She didn't laugh after observing her first one. I don't think.
There is a blood test you can take to make sure you don't have cancer, but "bumps on the prostate can cause problems too."

Anyhoo, I'm having a spectacularly good day after one of the worst weekends ever. Serious, life-altering events happened. Sickness, pain, self-realization, saying final goodbyes...
Sometimes words just don't work the way we want them to.

On the lighter side, don't go see Casanova unless you are with good friends who love to laugh. And a nice movie theatre helps as well.
Check your prostate. It might not thank you, but maybe others will?

My Version

Some blogs call it a "to-do" list. I'm just calling it a montage of attractive faces that I"ll look at when I need some cheering up.

...A model named Christian Monzon


and, of course, ZB

This Is It

Every day as I drive to work, I see the outside of a door. The only difference between this door and any other is that it is positioned on the side of a second-story house. So theoretically, an unsuspecting person could open it and fall to the ground.
I think that the start of each New Year is a lot like this door. You have to trust that you won't fall, no matter where the doors open. Or if you fall, know that life is about falling, picking yourself up and moving on.
It is also important to remember that you can only change yourself to some extent, and you cannot change those around you. No matter what you decide your actions will be for 2006, the previous year and the people around you will affect those choices.

Be at peace. There is nothing worse than an invisible source gnawing at your insides. I know from experience that pain and hate will nibble on you until you are raw. In the end, it just takes longer to heal.

Don't look back. The past is gone. Fix what you need to and move ahead. Understand that you only get today (most likely tomorrow, as well, but you know what I'm trying to say here).
Stick up for yourself. As my mother once said (I needed to hear it more than she will never know), in the end, you are the only person who can take care of yourself.

Learn from your mistakes.
Take risks. I know I am and I'll let you know how things turn out.