As I logged onto my computer this morning, the headline on Drudge was a photo of Mr. Obama with the quote, "Plug the damn hole!"
With excited anticipation, I quickly clicked the link. I was taken to a Reuters article that was long and boring, but I skimmed anyway hoping for that key phrase.
Why? Because I was hoping and praying that "Plug the damn hole" was truly the reaction of our President to the needless, endless debacle in the Gulf Coast. That is EXACTLY the kind of response I am looking for. Anger, frustration, real, and demanding. That is exactly how I think the President of the United States of America handles a crisis. With fortitude. With vigor. With power. And with an occasional curse word.
Buried deep in the article, the phrase finally showed. Obviously, the writer had no idea the significance the quote. But there it was. A phrase that Obama has apparently spoken to aides in recent days...I love it!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Grammar Problems
Similar to borrow/loan, many confuse the use of bring/take.
Both bring and take have numerous meanings.
One can, for example, take medicine, take the Fifth, take a liking to, take it on the chin, take a partner, take in a stray, take up for a friend, take out a date, and take an oath.
One can bring to bear, bring tears to the eyes, bring something up, and challenge someone to bring it on.
The OED entry for take lists 93 numbered definitions. The one for bring has 27 numbered definitions. The definition that concerns us here is Number One:
bring: 1. To cause to come along with oneself; to fetch. It includes ‘lead’ or ‘conduct’ (F. amener) as well as ‘carry’ (F. apporter); it implies motion towards the place where the speaker or auditor is, or is supposed to be, being in sense the causal of come; motion in the opposite direction is expressed by take (Fr. emmener, emporter).
When the words are used to express the conveying of something or someone to or from a given point, the choice between bring and take is clear:
If the person or thing is going away from where you are, use take. If the object or person is coming to where you are, use bring.
Some examples of the correct use of bring and take:
I’m taking this blender back to the store.
I’m taking my girlfriend to the movies.
Please bring your wife to the party.
Don’t forget to bring me that book next time you visit.
Jacquelyn Landis has also written a DWT post on “bring” and “take” for DWT.
Both bring and take have numerous meanings.
One can, for example, take medicine, take the Fifth, take a liking to, take it on the chin, take a partner, take in a stray, take up for a friend, take out a date, and take an oath.
One can bring to bear, bring tears to the eyes, bring something up, and challenge someone to bring it on.
The OED entry for take lists 93 numbered definitions. The one for bring has 27 numbered definitions. The definition that concerns us here is Number One:
bring: 1. To cause to come along with oneself; to fetch. It includes ‘lead’ or ‘conduct’ (F. amener) as well as ‘carry’ (F. apporter); it implies motion towards the place where the speaker or auditor is, or is supposed to be, being in sense the causal of come; motion in the opposite direction is expressed by take (Fr. emmener, emporter).
When the words are used to express the conveying of something or someone to or from a given point, the choice between bring and take is clear:
If the person or thing is going away from where you are, use take. If the object or person is coming to where you are, use bring.
Some examples of the correct use of bring and take:
I’m taking this blender back to the store.
I’m taking my girlfriend to the movies.
Please bring your wife to the party.
Don’t forget to bring me that book next time you visit.
Jacquelyn Landis has also written a DWT post on “bring” and “take” for DWT.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Just Another Sunday
I apologize if I didn't talk to you on Mother's Day. There are a million amazing women in my life that all deserve a flower, a hug, a smile, a phone call and a diamond bracelet for Mother's Day. Unfortunately, I spent most of yesterday trying to avoid the whole dam thing...
Friday I received from Brytin the projects he made at school for Mother's Day. One was a paragraph he wrote that says, "I like my mom because she is pretty and she picks me up at school everyday."
Saturday, I was thinking about how much MORE Mother's Day means to me this year. I was thinking about all the sacrifices mothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, and stand-in mothers make. I was thinking about the drive and dedication it takes to be a good, effective and loving mother (and primary caregiver). I was thinking about every Mother's Day prior when I didn't really understand how important it is to celebrate the women in our lives that have impacted us, that have helped shape us, and that have made sure we had a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, and a ear to listen.
At bar closing time Saturday night, I had a wonderful moment with my husband. We were dancing, and then he looked down at me and whispered "Happy Mother's Day." I was ecstatic. He remembered! He cared! He appreciates me and all that I have done for him and his son the past year!
Unfortunately, that was the full extent of my Mother's Day celebration. And as I told my husband as he laid down to sleep Sunday night, I don't take care of Brytin for accolades, but accolades every once in a while are a really nice thing. I really had hoped to just hear my husband say, "Thank you."
Friday I received from Brytin the projects he made at school for Mother's Day. One was a paragraph he wrote that says, "I like my mom because she is pretty and she picks me up at school everyday."
Saturday, I was thinking about how much MORE Mother's Day means to me this year. I was thinking about all the sacrifices mothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, and stand-in mothers make. I was thinking about the drive and dedication it takes to be a good, effective and loving mother (and primary caregiver). I was thinking about every Mother's Day prior when I didn't really understand how important it is to celebrate the women in our lives that have impacted us, that have helped shape us, and that have made sure we had a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, and a ear to listen.
At bar closing time Saturday night, I had a wonderful moment with my husband. We were dancing, and then he looked down at me and whispered "Happy Mother's Day." I was ecstatic. He remembered! He cared! He appreciates me and all that I have done for him and his son the past year!
Unfortunately, that was the full extent of my Mother's Day celebration. And as I told my husband as he laid down to sleep Sunday night, I don't take care of Brytin for accolades, but accolades every once in a while are a really nice thing. I really had hoped to just hear my husband say, "Thank you."
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