That's why I liked the idea I got from Bridget (who got it from someone else, actually) to use the letters TGIF in a totally different way. So, without further ado, my spin on TGIF:
T is for Temperature: It's suddenly and decisively Autumn here in Ohio, jump-started in August when we had a string of days in the 60s and nights in the 50s. Now in September proper, we are lucky to see upper 60s, and our nights have gotten as low as the upper 40s. I would largely be okay with this if: 1. I were normal and not always freezing to death; 2. I had any idea of what to wear. Right now, my fingers and feet are like ice and my nose feels like a big old Labrador's. I had to put the furnace on so that I wouldn't be suffering and miserable in my own home. And, is it permissible now to wear sweaters and leggings and boots SO THAT I DO NOT FREEZE TO DEATH? And yes, I am painfully aware that some of you are still wearing shorts and sandals. HOW DO YOU DO IT?
G is for Grocery Store: This week at my grocery store, I was stunned when I observed a young woman suddenly lift her shoulder bag, unzip it part way, and start speaking into it. "Hey," she said. "Stop all that. Just relax. Relax. You hear me?" It was then that I saw a small dog head peek out--only for a moment--and then disappear. I moved past her, but she made eye contact with me briefly and with no expression. There was no emblem on the bag to indicate that this was a service or comfort animal. What would you have done? Same thing I did, I'm sure. I zipped on past and kept on shopping. Sigh.
I is for Insult: In order to try and get back to Reading the way I used to, I have been Re-Reading, mostly history and mainly books about President Lincoln. The more I read, the more I see the current administration as a grave and profound insult to not only the Office Of The President Of The United States, but to this country and its history, especially with regard to the Civil War. It goes without saying how shamefully ignorant 45* is of American History in general and the history of the Presidency specifically. His willful disregard of basic facts and respect for the country's journey, evolution, and struggle, let alone the people who made it possible, is pathetic. Usually, I feel pity for someone so needy and ignorant; in this case, however, I find myself unable to muster it.
F is for F*#k: Oh, what a terrible Disappointment it is to admit that The Eff Word has barged its Big Old Self back into my Everyday Vocabulary. I thought I had eradicated it, for the most part, but IT'S BAAAAAACK! I do try Very Hard to curb its appearances in Pleasant Company, but sadly for Rick, he hears it quite a lot these days. Most probably, it is a Stress Reliever Mechanism and an Anger Management Strategy. As my Dearest Readers know, I do not subscribe to the Myth that profanity is a crutch for people with poor vocabulary or bad verbal expression skills. That's a load of bullshit---er--baloney. Cuss words are explosive and feel good to say; they release tension, dammit. I'll save my SAT words for another time when I feel serenely erudite.
TGIF! Unwind in Comments.
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I'm another one who is freezing cold from September to June. Nothing I do helps. Not layering. Not hand warmers or hot showers.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a purse puppy but there are a few stores around here that do allow pets, especially along the lake shore. I would have walked by too, without a word. Wouldn't bother me.
I go in streaks where I use the F word too often. It's part of the The Trump Effect, I think. I heard him once say that Lincoln was he favorite president and I'm so cynical about #45 my first thought was is that Lincoln is the only one he could remember.
Jean--It's so terrible to be cold. And lonely, because few people have sympathy or feel the same. When it's hot, most people feel hot. I am cold all the time, and every day from 4 pm into the night. Not sure why.
DeleteThe law is very clear regarding animals in grocery stores and restaurants, unless that animal is a service animal. It's NO. And it did bother me, for a variety of reasons. However, since the law also does not require certificates or even labels for service or comfort animals, and since all the person has to do is claim the animal is one of those, period, it's rarely worth it. And I'm not going to confront anyone in Ohio, where the new state motto is "We love guns and you should have one all the time."
I agree with your comments entirely about The Eff Word AND 45*'s "thoughts" on President Lincoln. Absolutely.
I agree that swearing is a stress reliever, especially for teachers!! Good lord, I can't imagine what else I would do without that specific luxury!
ReplyDeleteRose--I like the idea of swearing being a specific luxury. And yes, the teachers' lounge was a haven for aficionados of profanity. Those were the days!
DeleteI am still wearing shorts and sandals, I'm sorry! But last weekend it was 107, so can you imagine wearing anything else?
ReplyDeleteI curse ALL THE TIME. My father was a handy guy around the house, and often fixed our cars. This resulted in hours of cursing at the pipe he was trying to fix, or the radiator hose he was adjusting, or whatever job resulted in him being super frustrated.
I have an excellent vocabulary, but you are correct that an explosive curse word feels better than some sort of made-up Ned Flanderism.
Gina--No apology necessary; you are dressing for the weather, which I would be doing as well. And I am today again, in fleece-lined leggings and long hooded fleece tunic while we are working on various projects at the lake. Today's projected high is 65 with winds out of the north. This morning it was 45 when we awoke.
DeleteThe profanity is nothing I learned/heard at home. As a matter of fact, growing up, I probably heard the saintly St Patsy swear a total of 10 times in 22 years living at home. My dad swore, but not a whole lot more than that, and certainly never said The Eff Word or even the word Shit. He even forbid us to say the word Crap.
All of that is likely why swearing feels so good to me now.
And yes! Saying some made-up version doesn't come close to the satisfaction one feels when letting the real thing fly.
Just today I was lamenting on Instagram that I'm wearing my gingerbread man Christmas pajamas - it's 68 degrees in our house. I need for it to be at the very least 74 for comfort. I really thought that when I moved to NC I would get to have shorter periods of freezing, but APPARENTLY NOT. See, the climate isn't changing at all, is it?
ReplyDeleteI have just this year started being able to read the Eff Word aloud to Dr. M when I find a quote he needs to hear. But I still hesitate & say it a little quieter than the rest of my words. I will say Shit, Damn, & What. The. Hell many times during the day, but I can't seem to get my mouth around that one extra curse word. Damned Southern Baptist upbringing. :)
On the subject of #45, he does tempt me to more cursing than usual. And not really even him, but the people who voted for him & who still think he's doing a great job. Like my aunts for example. The heaviest of heavy sighs.
Bug--I hear you; I hear you. I awaken each morning now to temps in the 60s INDOORS. Last year, IIRC, September was like summertime. But I probably crabbed about how hot it was.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for resisting The Allure Of The Eff Word. I worked very, very hard to eliminate it from my vocabulary a while ago, and it pains me to have it make a resurgence. My grandmother Ethel would be so disappointed, and more immediately, I know Rick dislikes it a great deal although as a very tolerant and uncomplaining spouse, he says nothing about it.
As to your last remarks, I wholeheartedly agree with you. His rabid base--those are by far the worst of the worst when it comes to those who frustrate me entirely. Talk about willful ignorance...!
I'm one of the few people in the world who would rather be too cold than too hot. Yeah, I'm weird. But you for one already knew that. :-)
ReplyDeleteBridget--I'm surprised by that, especially as someone who suffers from arthritis yourself. Being cold makes me lock up terribly, and everything hurts even more as I draw up into myself for warmth. At least in hot weather, my bones don't ache so badly.
DeleteMy vanity, however, vastly prefers cooler weather, on account of MY HAIR looking better without all that humidity! :-)
Like Bridget, I prefer the cold, but not freezing!! And I have been freezing lately. Piled the blankets on the bed last night...in the 40's on the patio this a.m. when I went out with my coffee. I'm definitely making a fashion statement in the mornings - ha! Oh, and I curse ALL the time. Can't seem to help it...there seem to be more and more reasons to curse these days.
ReplyDeleteVera--I know it's better for sleeping when the room is cool/cold, so I'm okay with cooler nights. I even have my windows open a bit, despite overnight temps in the 40s lately. But yes, these chilly mornings are an endurance test; it doesn't get warm until much later in the day!
DeleteFor those of us who remember Things The Way They Used To Be/A Kinder, Gentler America, we are all much more frayed around the edges. I know so, so many people who are dealing with health concerns, stress, and everyday nagging issues that continue to be so peevish and relentless. It's like there's no respite from the swaggering barbarian persona that is looming over this country. It's exhausting.
Interesting interpretation on TGIF. I used to get mixed up on days when kids in school would be home some weekday due to teacher's meetings, or whatever -- seemed like it must be a weekend to me. I glance at a calendar now to double check the day sometimes, too, since I stopped working. Fall was always my favorite season in Ohio as I looked forward to Indian Summer -- maple trees with leaves changing color so beautiful. No maples here in So Cal where I live, but there are other compensations. I feel sorry for those poor dogs I see people, usually women. carrying around as you describe. I don't think they're all service dogs. I, too, think our current Prez is an insult to our nation's history with pretty crass values. I wonder when the novelty, shock and impact of the F word will become so routine people will relegate it to being a meaningless expletitive as happens with those expressions. What I wonder is what will be the word or expression that will replace F*** as it did others before it. Maybe we'll latch on to a word(s) from another language.
ReplyDeletejoared--Your comment re: the Eff Word is thought-provoking. It seems as if every year, a new word gets by the television censors on regular network programming. This past season, it was 'dick'; for example, "quit being such a dick." Before that, I noticed the word "bitch", both as a noun and a verb. Pretty soon, it will be asshole, I think, and as you say, perhaps the Eff Word is not so terribly far behind. I'm not saying that's A Good Thing. I remember reading a UK blog whose author was lamenting the wide acceptance of the word "bloody", a word which is/was profane. (And, interestingly, is beginning to creep evermore into American usage, esp. among the younger citizenry.)
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