Toe socks

I have strange feet. Maybe everyone has something unique about their feet, but I know my genetics give me certain toe characteristics. Most of the time my feet don't cause me any trouble. I'm too old and fond of comfort to ever wear the high-fashion footwear that some young women like. I'm not sure I would ever have worn such shoes.

I do like to walk and soon after I began this blog I posted about the MBTs I found and loved. They stopped the burning pain I would have in the balls of my feet after about 2 miles.

However, after a long walk, especially on a warm day, the configuration of my toes caused pinch blisters. My third and fourth toes were too cozy and when they were pushed together a little by my shoes, blisters blossomed. What I didn't know was that my oldest son has the same problem. I did know that he is very resourceful. He introduced me to toe socks--but not the multi-colored novelties for winter. These come in a variety of weights and styles, some to wear under regular socks, some heavier.

I bought some. They are a bit tricky to put on my "cozy" toes, but once on they don't feel much different than ordinary socks. So far, no blisters for me!

My son just showed me his new toe shoes. Probably not something for me; I'll just wear my comfy MBT sandals when my toes need their space.

Hearing aids continued

I was talking about my hearing loss theories with another family member, and she had some good insights. As mentioned in my last post, I think people don't get hearing aids as often as they buy glasses because:

1) it's way more expensive,

2) the loss is gradual and they adapt to a quieter world, or

3) they don't know what they can't hear.

She thought the big reason might be #3. She knows her hearing isn't good (too many childhood infections in one ear), and she related a recent experience. She went to a movie and sat with her husband in the back of the theater because that's where he likes to sit. Then, she went to the same movie with someone else and sat in the middle. She was amazed at the things she could hear that she had missed the first time. Nothing like good anecdotal evidence to validate my theory.

On a new, but somewhat related subject. Is anyone else bothered by television shows where the dialog is difficult to hear, but the commercials blast you out of your chair?

Glasses or hearing aids?

I have a question. Maybe others can help me understand.

When someone's eyesight changes, especially because of age, people are quick to seek help. They buy glasses, or contacts, or have surgery to restore their vision.

When someone's hearing changes, they are much more hesitant to do anything about it. I have a couple of theories. Hearing aids are much more expensive than glasses, so cost is definitely a factor. But my best theory is that people don't notice their loss at first and gradually adjust to a quieter world. Then, when they finally decide that they need help, the hearing aids restore the noise and it seems too loud. It's uncomfortable. Maybe another consideration is that we know when we can't see something, but we don't know about the things we can't hear.

When a family member and I were talking about vision and hearing loss one day, we pondered which was worse. Her pragmatic choice was hearing loss was worse, because if someone couldn't see, others would be quick to help. If someone couldn't hear, others would just find it annoying. Think about it.

I remember hearing that Helen Keller was asked a similar question. Her response was that being blind separated people from things; being deaf separated people from people.

I've been near-sighted almost forever, but I have contacts and glasses. If I should begin to lose my hearing (which is still excellent--bionic according to my hubby), I'm heading right for a hearing aid. I don't want to miss a thing.

Literally?

I love this comic. It reminds me of when I had a teenage boy around the house. I particularly enjoyed it today because I've noticed the same thing Jeremy (the teenager) did: many people misuse the word literal. It's used by "celebrities," talk-show hosts, radio commentators, and lots of others who do not truly mean "literal." I guess they are trying to make the point that what they say is important or worth remembering, but that's not the meaning of the word. English has so many words, it shouldn't be that difficult to use one that makes sense,

Let us count the ways...

"A rough-coated, dough-faced ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough, coughing and hiccoughing thoughtfully."

Notice anything? Some of the words are a bit old-fashioned, with alternate spelling choices, but this sentence has the syllable "ough" pronounced in 8 different ways. It is no wonder that English is such a beast to learn as a second language. Add that to the fact that English has more words than pretty much any other language and be glad you learned it as a child.

Valentine Day question

This may be an odd Valentine post, but I've been wondering something.

Is it Valentines Day (a day of many valentines),

Valentine's Day (a day belonging to a specific valentine), or

Valentines' Day (a day belonging to many valentines)?

It is the same conundrum as Mothers Day....Mother's Day, or Mothers' Day (Fathers Day too). Most often the apostrophes are just ignored or forgotten. Maybe it's just as well since we have a difficult time deciding where they go anyway.

I'm not kidding

Just wanted to reinforce that I'm not just making this stuff up. Yesterday I had a mail request from the Alzheimers Association--light day.

Today I have mailers from: Feed the Children

March of Dimes (I've gotten quite a few from them)

CARE

National Cancer Research Center

and St. Labre Indian School (never had one from them before).

I have the feeling that the more different charities I support, the greater the exponential growth of the requests I receive. It's pretty depressing.

Bugged by charity mailers

I know there are many worthy charities out there, but I have a bone to pick. Apparently, once a person donates to one, their name and address are shared with all. That bothers me. I send donations to several charities I know and care about. Suddenly I have multiple daily requests for money, from places I have never received requests from before.

I've been away from home for a few days and my mailbox contained requests from:

Habitat for Humanity

Children's Cancer Research Fund

Arthritis Foundation

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Easter Seals

Others I hear from regularly are:

March of Dimes

American Heart Association

Alzheimers Association

VFW Nation Veterans Service

Arthritis Foundation

American Cancer Society

National Foundation for Cancer Research

Those are just the ones I can think of right now. Many of these requests for money are using guilt as a persuasive technique. I have two nickels today, along with more sheets of personalized stickers, note pads, book marks, cards, and 2011 calendars. If they give me something, surely I'll feel the need to send money. I don't like it. I can tell the information came from one place because of the way my name is spelled. Getting one plea from each organization might be okay, being deluged is quite another.

The charities would have more money for their causes if they spent less on postage and personalized sticker sheets.

Just sharing

Sometimes I wonder if Hagar isn't right, but just on those discouraging days.

Oh those mysterious apostrophes.

I so wish that more people had paid attention in English classes. The apostrophe seems to be so confusing for so many.

I saw a big, new, temporary sign outside a restaurant exclaiming they had "twenty-five new omelet's."

I am acquainted, through my Home Owner Association, with a nice gentlemen who sends up updates on the work the landscaping company is doing. In mid-December they "blew out the walks and patio's....and will clean up the next few visit's." I have noticed the apostrophes occurring less and less in his reports. Don't know if he is realizing they are not needed, or just getting tired of putting them in.

Signs in stores are notorious for misplaced apostrophes: "employee's only," "please don't open box's," and "10 item's or less" (and, yes, it should be "fewer" too).

There is a service station that made me feel all warm when I first noticed its name. I thought "Hooray, someone cares." The marquee says it is "Russ's." So few actually know what to do when a word ends in s, and because of that the rules will change to account for those who didn't know what was actually correct. Right or wrong, that's the way it is.

Favorite book?

I've been asked a few times--recently too--what was my favorite book. I've found it impossible to answer. I can't think of a book that I loved more than any other. I can give a list of authors whose novels I have consistently enjoyed, but books? Impossible.

I was working on a list of possible books for my 9-year-old granddaughter who just got a Kindle for Christmas. It was fun to remember some of the good books for her age, but I realized that I'm out of the loop now. I used to read lots of the new books written for kids so I would know what was available and what my students were reading. I hate to recommend books I haven't read because sometimes books are published for young readers that I think are awful. Anyone have any new, wonderful books for young girls?

More fiction fun and odd words

I was just watching my DVR-saved episodes of Sanctuary on the SyFy network. Someone in the story made reference to needing House for a medical question. I just get a kick out of writers who don't take themselves too seriously. Two very different programs on different networks makes it even more fun.

On another blog topic, I saw a business that was having a Pre-Grand Opening. That was a new idea to me. Is it just a little opening, with a grand one to come later? What does that mean?

Odd words and phrases

I've noticed another couple of odd phrases and words recently. A newspaper article was about an accident that occurred in an "unmarked crosswalk." I couldn't help but wonder what that meant. I guess I've been under the impression that it was the markings that made a crosswalk. It's against the law to cross the street between intersections--unless there is a marked crosswalk. Is it okay to cross at any intersection? What exactly makes a marked crosswalk--lights? paint? If the paint is faded or the light is out, is it still a safe place to cross or is it now unmarked? I'm confused.

Another thing I read mentioned disinhibition. My first thought was, "huh?" I decided it must be the same as less inhibited or less inhibition. Does disinhibition sound that much more erudite? It surely caught my attention, but I'm not sure that's what the writer intended since I can't remember what in the heck the article was talking about. I guess I'm suffering from disremembrance.

Redundancies

A newspaper article this morning stated that a robber had been wearing a "fake wig." I wondered how that is different from a regular wig. These silly redundancies are all over the place: people get "free gifts," "added bonuses," and sometimes "cash money."

Have you heard people say the "exact same" thing? Or how something happens "each and every" time? Do you make "future plans?" Can anyone make past plans? Maybe it's like a "past experience." It is so difficult to count on a future experience.

How many times have you heard people say they have a "personal opinion?" I thought opinions were always personal. You have heard others comment that their solutions were the "sum total" or the "true facts." If you pay attention, the redundancies are everywhere.

Some of the silliest are used with the prefix "pre." One can "pre-order" something not yet available (isn't that an order?), or parents with babies can often "pre-board" an airplane (don't they just get on like everyone else?).

I'm finished for a while. Maybe I'll have "temper tantrum" before I fix a "tuna fish" sandwich for lunch. I'll "postpone until later" any "final conclusions."

More fiction and reality mixes

Castle is a fun television show that mixes fiction and reality. If you don't know the premise, Richard Castle is a writer of novels who "consults" with the police department, often helping to solve mysterious crimes. Occasionally, he hosts poker games with other writers. The fun is that the other mystery authors in his games are the real thing. James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell appeared as themselves. I'm hoping others will stop by too.

Beyond that, the novel that Richard Castle supposedly finished (based on the female detective he works with) was actually published--listing Richard Castle as the author. Apparently it did well enough that another novel from the television series has also been printed and released. I guess the ghost writer, affiliated with the television series, didn't mind not being given credit for writing it. Maybe he gets some of the royalties.

Crazy stuff.

Fiction and Reality together

It makes me smile when a character in a television show, refers to another television show. Or, when someone in a fiction novel is reading another current fiction novel. Fiction kind of intersects reality. Clive Cussler always puts himself in his novels. The protagonist normally runs into an unusual man who gives his name as "Cussler." I think it's good fun figuring out when he'll drop in and out of the story action.

The best reference, however, is one I just heard. I was listening (while driving) to Spider Bones, by Kathy Reichs. Someone in the story made reference to a murder suspect who wasn't very bright--probably didn't understand CSI, or Law and Order, and was definitely not intelligent enough for Bones. Of course Bones is the television series based on Kathy Reichs's novels. It made me chuckle all alone in my car.

Follow up

I saw another secret yesterday. There is something that automobile dealers don't want us to know.

I can't imagine what that would be. Everything from the rebates and special financing deals, vehicle histories, to the actual invoice cost of the vehicles is on the Internet. I don't know, the whole "there are big secrets" idea feels wrong to me. There are no big secrets--I, and people I know, have worked in dealerships. Businesses are there to make a profit selling vehicles. People shopping want to pay as little as possible for the car they want (or, if you believe some of the commercials, the car they "deserve"). Where's the secret?

Secrets

Isn't it amazing how many secrets are kept from us? You'd think, in this day of immediate information, that no one could hide valuable facts. Ha! Apparently it can be done.

Those selling the benefits of natural supplements and herbs insist that there are things drug companies don't want us to know.

Some PhD holders have determined that there are self-help remedies that our doctors won't tell us about.

I just saw an ad informing me that there was a skin care secret that was hidden from us by cosmetic manufacturers and dermatologists.

Easy weight loss options kept from the public by the diet pill makers, simple at-home teeth whitening concealed by those selling whiteners, and the best, independent wealth made quick and easy with only the purchase of a few classes or DVDs (why didn't we know that?).

See, you just thought you had plenty of information. So in spite of the fact that we know (if we care) what every "celebrity" had for dinner, and whose done what awful thing to someone else, we are in the dark about many important realities. It is absolutely amazing.

Fabulous Fall

We sent on a drive last night, across some of our favorite places. These pictures don't do justice to the scene. With the late afternoon light, it positively glowed.
This is one of those years the Quaking Aspen turn many shades--from almost red, to pink, to orange, and to yellow, with a little green still thrown in.

I'm not a fan of winter, but autumn in Utah is fabulous!

Our changing language

Sometimes I wonder if our changing Americanized English language is improving or deteriorating. Generally I think it's the latter--especially since so few people actually pronounce deteriorating correctly (just listen).

Lots of kids make a common, but very logical, language mistake. If they don't do something 'on purpose,' then it must have been done 'on accident.' It is not correct, but it makes sense. It reminds me of a quote I used to have on a chart: If English were sensible, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.

Language does adjust and change as people use it. Nauseous is officially defined as "offensive to the taste or smell, disgusting, repellent." Yet I hear people all the time using it to describe themselves, "I was nauseous all day," or "the whatever made me nauseous." I'm certain they weren't saying that they were disgusting and offensive, causing others to be affected with nausea.

The adjective they should have used is nauseated, but that is an extra couple of syllables, or it sounds less cool--I don't know.

However, if enough people used a word incorrectly, it becomes okay. My dictionary says, "Today, however, the use of nauseous to mean 'affected with nausea' is so common that it is generally considered to be standard." I'm probably going to be out of step for a while longer.

One last thing I've noticed is some people have an itch and itch it. When I have an itch, I scratch it. Has anyone else heard someone say they are itching a bug bite? Is it a local thing? My hubby claims not to have heard it used that way, but he's not the world's best listener.