Wednesday Word of the Week

This weeks word is:   CAREFREE

care·free   [kair-free]
–adjective


1. without anxiety or worry.


2. requiring little care: carefree fabrics.

care·free·ness, noun

—Synonyms


1. lighthearted, joyous, elated, cheerful, gleeful, blithe.

 I love this word.  Don't we all wish we were more carefree??  Last night I had a chance to act carefree for an hour.  It was a beautiful night so our photography class met at one of the local parks.   This weeks lesson was on photographing movement or action. 

So we all took the chance to act a little like children and play in the park.

We blew bubbles

 

We went down the slides and we jumped off park benches

And there is nothing better than soaring up high on a swing set

Even Deanne got into the act

 

But, you know how it is.......after too much carefree child's play, we all need to sit down for a wee rest

It's great when you can learn something new and have fun at the same time.  And I can't remember the last time I went down a slide or soared in a swing.

I think my goal for the summer will be to be more carefree. 

Soooo, having said that, I may not do a word of the week post regularly for July and August. 

I will still do them but I may miss a week or two and replace it

with a Wordless Wednesday perhaps. 

That could be a challenge because you know I like to talk so I might struggle with the

wordless part.  Lol 

I hope to be taking lots of photos this summer so I should have lots of wordless material if I can learn to shut my mouth. (well, I guess its more like my fingers since I'm typing)

Wednesday Word of the Week

This edition featured word is  :   Hostess

host·ess     [hoh-stis]

–noun

1. a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.  

2. a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

3. a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

4. a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

5. a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

6. taxi dancer.    (OK this one cracked me up so I have to add a supplementary definition)

Taxi Dancer

–noun



a girl or woman employed, as by a dance hall, to dance with patrons who pay a fee for each dance or for a set period of time.   (So just to be clear ---- There will be NONE of that going on  LOL)

So starting in about an hour, our municipality is rolling out the Welcome Mat to host the Annual Spring Conference of the Association of Municipal Administrators.   Approximately 90+ will be arriving and expecting us - the organizing committee to be the Hostess with the Mostess.   That's me, right??

The Swag Bags are filled, the venue is prepared, the hospitality room for tonight is stocked......

That is Root Beer (of course)  ;)

The next fews day will be jammed packed.  There are lots of great sessions and speakers booked and quite frankly, I am looking forward to getting out of the office for a few days.   The conference ends around noon on Friday and then immediately following that is a tee-time at the golf course.  I have the Dream Team.  More on that another time.

PS. Update on yesterday.  Auntie is doing OK - just a little slower and no lifting or sudden movements. Thank you all for your concern.  And not long after I posted yesterday I got a call changing the time of my class so I was able to get Millie all prettied up at the groomers.   So the moral of that story is things eventually work themselves out.

OK, Gotta go be all hostessy



Wednesday Word of the Week

The word of the day is ..... Stink-eye

 stink eye



Part of Speech: n


Definition: a facial expression of distrust, disdain, or disapproval; also called skunk eye, hairy eyeball


Example: When he kept me waiting, I gave him the stink eye.


Etymology: 1962

All last night I anticipated the Stink-eye.  I knew it was coming.  This morning was the new "Monthly Management Meeting" at work.   I was dreading it (for good reason).  First I must preface by saying that I have a great Boss.  Really, I'm not kidding here. 

BUT (there's always a but) he is a bit of a work-a-holic and ridiculously organized, efficient and always totally prepared.  The rest of the management team have been having trouble keeping up with him.  This is a particularly busy year for capital projects etc and we are all maxed out.  So preparing the level of detail for the reports he was requiring had us all wound up yesterday.

I knew I was not totally prepared and I did not want to get the Stink-eye.  Have you ever got the Stink-eye from your boss??   It sucks.    I did get the old hairy eyeball but much sooner than I anticipated.  It was 5 minutes to nine and I was setting up my laptop in the meeting room.  We have a projector so our documents can be displayed on the wall for everyone to see.  I was all anxious and nervous and dag-nabbit, the projector wouldn't work.  Oh no I think - this is not good, starting off with a problem.  I dialed the tech officer's cell phone.......no answer.  Crap.   I dial her assistant.....no answer.  Nooooooo.  I go out to the receptionist and tell them to find someone and get them in here now!  I continue to try and connect and just get an error message.  Then the boss, who is sitting right in front of me, asks if I am ready to start.  I frustratedly confess that I can't get the projector to work - its broken.

Then there it was.............................

He looked at me and said.................."Ummm, you might want to plug the cable into your laptop."  OMG I got so wound up waiting for my report to get ripped to shreds I didn't connect the cable.  I was so mortified and then the nervous giggle burst out.  He was laughing by this time too.   Then I quietly called the receptionist and whispered "cancel tech support".   

Actually that little incident did calm me down a bit and whether it is good or bad - no one escaped the Stink-eye.  I was not alone.  

Wednesday Word of the Week

Todays word is:  SMILE

smile   [smahyl] 

verb, smiled, smil·ing, noun


–verb (used without object)


1. to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.


2. to regard with favor: Luck smiled on us that night.


3. to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc.: The landscape smiled in the sunlight.

I almost cancelled this weeks edition of the Word of the Week for Big Breaking News.
 
However, I reconsidered and decided to incorporate my big breaking news into the post.  I have had a huge smile all day.  In fact, my face is almost sore from smiling.   Can't seem to stop.
 
Hmmm, are you wondering what is making me smile??  ........................

OK, you twisted my arm - I'll tell you the Big Breaking News

 

This morning....................I had my braces removed.  Yippee, Woohoo, Hurray etc etc. 

 

I have my smile back.

 

Now I have to go and eat everything I can get my hands on.  Lol

Wednesday Word of the Week

This weeks word is:   REPAIR

re·pair    [ri-pair]
–verb (used with object)


1. to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend: to repair a motor.
2. to restore or renew by any process of making good, strengthening, etc.: to repair one's health by resting.
3. to remedy; make good; make up for: to repair damage; to repair a deficiency.
4. to make amends for; compensate: to repair a wrong done.  


–noun
5. an act, process, or work of repairing: to order the repair of a building.
6. Usually, repairs.
a. an instance or operation of repairing: to lay up a boat for repairs.
b. a repaired part or an addition made in repairing: 17th-century repairs in brick are conspicuous in parts of the medieval stonework.
7. repairs, (in bookkeeping, accounting, etc.) the part of maintenance expense that has been paid out to keep fixed assets in usable condition, as distinguished from amounts used for renewal or replacement.
8. the good condition resulting from continued maintenance and repairing: to keep in repair.
9. condition with respect to soundness and usability: a house in good repair.

We are in the middle of home repairs.  And if you have an old house you can imagine how scary that can be.  Anytime we have done any little job in this house it has snowballed into a larger more expensive task. 
 
However, the roofing job that is underway is going along as smooth as silk.  I am so impressed with this crew.  They are the nicest young men and they are even cleaning up as they work.  I expected that they would clean up the yard at the end of each day but about every hour one guy climbs down and cleans up. 
 
There have been no problems at all.  They were originally supposed to only replace the main roof, not the kitchen addition.  We have been having a lively internal debate (me and Auntie) over the smaller kitchen roof.  You remember - the one that leaked last winter and forced me to line the window sill with diapers!!  There was a visible soft spot under the shingles - which means water damage.  Auntie's philosophy is - if you can't see it - It's OK.   Arrrgh.  My philosophy is bite the bullet - pay the extra money and get it fixed before it becomes a much bigger problem.  I won this round. 
 
They gave us a new quote and we both make a 2nd visit to the bank and by the time I get home tonight all repairs should be complete but my wool budget has taken a serious beating.
 
The downside to the home repairs.........Mom and Millie.   Both are going crazy with the noise and the banging.  Neither one understands what is happening.   They are both acting like Chicken Little

I keep telling them both that THE SKY IS NOT FALLING

 

I find it frustrating interesting that Blogger is still not repaired.  Sheesh, and there has been extremely limited updates from blogger as to the problem and how they intend to fix it.   What really is interesting is that we - the users - have developed and shared several different solutions to assist in finding creative ways to still comment.   Selecting the name/url option works on some blogs and changing your settings from imbedded comments to pop-ups seems to work.  I gave up on waiting for blogger to repair itself and went ahead and changed my settings to pop-up this afternoon so I hope it helps. 

 

I wouldn't want to miss any comments and especially wouldn't want to miss Michelle's Word of the Week response.  So many of my followers wait for her creative response and last week I received 3 emails from different people hoping that Michelle wasn't affected by the blogger glitch.  

Wednesday Word of the Week

This weeks word is  STIFLE

sti·fle  [stahy-fuhl]

verb, -fled, -fling.

–verb (used with object)

1. to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression.

2. to suppress, curb, or withhold: to stifle a yawn.

3. to kill by impeding respiration; smother.

–verb (used without object)

4. to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere.

5. to become stifled or suffocated.

Blogger has stifled me.  Do you think they are sending me a message that I yap on and on too much??   I can't leave any comments on any of your blogs.
 
I am reading your posts but my wise and thoughtful opinions are being stifled.  (OK maybe I stretched it a teeny bit with the wise thoughtful remark)   Lol   I meant my silly rambling remarks on all YOUR wise thoughtful posts are not being recorded.
 
I love this cat.  Sometimes when I am rambling I imagine this is what you all are thinking.......hahahaha

It makes me twitchy.   I feel disconnected.  I checked with Blogger Known Issues and apparently it is not just me and they are working on it.
 
I have spent the majority of the past 2 days in meetings.  At times I envisioned myself as Archie Bunker and it was all I could do not to scream "Oh Stifle it".   But that would have been a BAD career move.

However, in the meantime, I will keep reading your posts and wait until blogger decides to stop stifling my comments - but for now....my hands are tied

Wednesday Word of the Week

Ferocious

fe·ro·cious   [fuh-roh-shuhs]

–adjective


1. savagely fierce, as a wild beast, person, action, or aspect; violently cruel: a ferocious beating.


2. extreme or intense: a ferocious thirst.

OK, I have been on a diet since Sunday.  No treats, no snacks, no over-flowing plates, no sugar.
 
Quite frankly, when I'm hungry and off sugar it just makes me mean --- like ferocious, mad dog mean.
 

I had the day off today.  I had an appointment in Moncton and planned to spend a relaxing day shopping.   Well, that was the plan before this stupid diet idea.  I avoided the food court because I was scared I might turn ferocious and knock some old lady down for a cookie.   And what is the deal with baby strollers now that are the size of a Volkswagon Beetle??  Good Grief - get out of my way --- I'm on a friggin diet and I'm in a mood.....

Thank goodness no drivers cut me off on the way home because I seriously might have chased them down.
 
I want a cookie........................ or an entire bag of chips............................

Lets hope I lose these ten pounds quickly or things could get ferociously ugly.

P.S.  Thanks for all you who visit Miss The Sea's blog.  Blogging is so much more fun when you have some followers and comments. 

Wednesday Word of the Week

The word of the week is "WHIPPED"

whipped   [hwipt, wipt]

–adjective

1. having received a whipping.

2. subdued or defeated as though by whipping: whipped by poverty.

3. beaten into a froth: whipped cream.

4. exhausted, tired, beat: After all that weeding, I'm whipped.

This week I am feeling rather whipped.  Too many meetings, appointments, committments in a short time span.  It makes me feel anxious and stressed.  Evening meetings are often scheduled a couple of times a month but during budget prep time (now) they are more common.   When I finally got home from work last night I felt a bit like a bowl of whipped potatoes - the lumps were all beat out of me.   The worst part of it is that some of it is my own fault.

Partly because I really enjoy learning new things I tend to take on a lot of things.  Another reason is because of Mom's illness, I worry constantly about keeping my mind active.  There is still so much unknown about this disease but everything you read talks about keeping an active mind and trying to learn new things to keep stimulating new areas of your brain. 
 
So I am taking a fun new workshop on Saturday morning (more about that later) and I just signed up for a 6 week beginner photography class.  I love doing these things but I guess by mid week I feel a bit whipped. 
 
So since I am feeling whipped, I might as well actually do some whipping of my own.
 

Wednesday Word of the Week

This week the word to ponder is:   APPRECIATE
ap·pre·ci·ate   [uh-pree-shee-eyt] 


verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
1. to be grateful or thankful for: They appreciated his thoughtfulness.

–verb (used with object)
2. to value or regard highly; place a high estimate on: to appreciate good wine.
3. to be fully conscious of; be aware of; detect: to appreciate the dangers of a situation.
4. to raise in value.

–verb (used without object)
5. to increase in value: Property values appreciated yearly.

So often we forget to appreciate what is in our lives.  I can tell you from experience that it is much easier to appreciate what you have than to moan and whine about what you don't have.  Just as simple as having a roof over your head and a few coins in your pocket puts us miles ahead of millions of others in the world.

And this is the last Word of the Week before Mothers Day on Sunday so I appreciate the fact that I still have my Mother with me, although she doesn't always know it.  But I do appreciate those brief flashes of recognition that appear.  I appreciate the fact that I have family and work related support that allows me to continue to keep her at home where she is safe and comfortable.

Now, of course, I have to put my own little twisty humor into this post (I hope you appreciate it)

........that I wish you would friggin grow.   I'm not asking for world peace here....just a little sprout for pete's sake!

And lastly, one thing I appreciate is that Kendra finally got the boot last night on Dancing with the Stars.  I have yet to be able to appreciate how shaking your surgically enhanced taa-taa's in front of a creepy old man in a smoking jacket makes you a STAR.   Hellooooooooooo........

Wednesday Word of the Week

I think this is an appropriate choice for this edition of the Word of the Week.....

hoop·la    [hoop-lah]
–noun Informal .

1. bustling excitement or activity; commotion; hullabaloo; to-do.


2. sensational publicity; ballyhoo.

The past week has been nothing but HOOPLA over one particular event.........

If you didn't guess the Royal Hoopla Wedding then you must be living under a rock.  It is everywhere.  And I hate to admit it but I am oddly fascinated with it myself.  Not enough to get up at 3am to watch the TV coverage of it though.  I will be content to watch the 4,000 or so highlight clips of it that will run ALL DAY.

I suppose I have a soft spot for William.  We watched him grow up, suffer the devastating loss of his mother, and develop into what appears to be a lovely young man.  I hope he is happy.

But you know it veers into hoopla territory when you see some of the wedding souvenirs being peddled.....
Here is just a sampling....

A mug or a key chain --- relatively tame and respectable

Starting to get a bit more into Hoopla zone - Will and Kate fingernails.......

And you know it is full blown Hoopla when you get your own commemorative underwear.....

(Mildly disturbing)

Our local dollar store has sold out of toy tiara's

So, I ask you....are you all caught up in this Royal Hoopla??  A friend posted an interesting question on facebook yesterday with some very amusing responses, so I will ask you the same question to see what your clever responses might be........

What are you wearing to the Royal Wedding??



Wednesday Word of the Week

The Word of the Week is  Chameleon

cha·me·le·on     [kuh-mee-lee-uhn, -meel-yuhn]
–noun

1. any of numerous Old world lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.

2. any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis (American chameleon), of the southeastern U.S.

3. a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.

4. ( initial capital letter ) Astronomy . Chamaeleon.
 

If you recall from my last post - I was attempting to save my sanity by hiding in my office.  Melaine had a great suggestion - to dress in the wall color and blend into the background.  Love it - So next week I'm going beige head to toe.   Do you think it will work??

Also, if you go back to my definition, at the end of #1 it mentions a projectile tongue.   Hmmm, this is what I feel like doing a lot of the time

However, maybe if I kept my tongue in my mouth more and yapped less I could avoid doing this....



But for now I will dig through my closet and look for lots of beige and see if I can pull off the Chameleon thing.   Now that I think about it - this could be useful at home also.   
 
Oh and no post on Chameleons would be complete with a reminder of this.....

So you remember this song?   Oh Man - the 80's........What were we thinking????

Wednesday Word of the Week

This week's edition of the Word of the Week features........

Balderdash

bal·der·dash   [bawl-der-dash]

–noun


1. senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense.


2. Obsolete . a muddled mixture of liquors.
Origin:   1590–1600; of obscure origin

I think it is fair to say that this word could apply to a majority of my posts.   It is also a word that has popped into my mind several times this week.

I really can't post anything related to my job but if I could you would often be rolling on the floor.

Really, whoever originally said "There is no such thing as a stupid question"......was a MORON.  Because I hear them on a regular basis !  There have been times in the past few days that I have been rendered speechless ---- (which is quite a feat).  

I sat in my office this afternoon,  attempting with all my inner strength to maintain some degree of professionalism and all I could do was utter a string of grunt-like syllables  "Uhmm, ahh,  buttttt, huh"

I'm kind of a "tell it like it is" gal, so it was hard for me not to say "Are you freaking nuts??"  

While I'm listening to all this Balderdash I sometimes hear my grandmothers voice in my head.  She had lots of little "balderdashy" sayings.

- The lights are on but nobody's home.
- That boy's as sharp as a sack of wet mud.
- His/her elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor.
- ......not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
- ....dumb as a bag of rocks.

How's your week going?

This week's word is.......Anticipate
an·tic·i·pate   [an-tis-uh-peyt]
verb, -pat·ed, -pat·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1. to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee: to anticipate pleasure.

2. to expect; look forward to; be sure of: to anticipate a favorable decision.

3. to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.

4. to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made: He anticipated each of my orders.

5. to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance: to anticipate a military attack.

6. to consider or mention before the proper time: to anticipate more difficult questions.

7. to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.: Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.

8. Finance . (a. to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.

b. to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

–verb (used without object)

9. to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.

I am anticipating the arrival of all things Spring.  Green grass, tulip sprouts, new blossoms on trees, putting out the patio furniture, throwing something on the bbq for supper, sitting outside without needing to wear an arctic parka......

Yesterday it was plus 11 degrees and then it rained.  So virtually all the dirty crusty old snow has disappeared.   I anticipate road trips with the camera to get that perfect spring image.

I am also anticipating that our annual operating budget will be passed soon so we can get on with business.  I am REALLY anticipating getting approvals to proceed with the hiring of our summer students in the next month.  Mainly because I am sick to death of parents calling me "daily" to give their kid a job.  Here's a hint people.......send the student in themselves so I can see that they are ambitious and want to work.  (Arrgh, sorry had to get that rant in there)  Oh, and P.S.  stop bugging me at the grocery store.  You see me there every week and barely nod but come April I'm your favorite person.  I'm not stupid !

I also anticipate the Easter weekend coming soon.  Since Easter is later this year, the darn easter candy has been in the stores since February 15th and I am sick of eating it.  (yes, I know....self control.  Well I don't have any !)

Speaking of no self control, I am anticipating a call from the accountant any minute telling me our taxes are done - so I can see how much wool I can buy.  (hehehe  Watch me jinx it and end up owing money!)
What are you anticipating this time of year?

Wednesday Word of the Week

This weeks word is.......Zombie

zom·bie    [zom-bee]
–noun


1. (in voodoo)

a. the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose.

b. the supernatural force itself.

2. Informal .
a. a person whose behavior or responses are wooden, listless, or seemingly rote; automaton.

b. an eccentric or peculiar person.

3. a snake god worshiped in West Indian and Brazilian religious practices of African origin.

4. a tall drink made typically with several kinds of rum, citrus juice, and often apricot liqueur.

Today is the first of several annual budget preparation meetings.  It is scheduled from noon until 7pm.   Yes...7 hours long.  I am not a "numbers" person.  This is going to be painful.

 

I anticipate being like a zombie before it is over.  Seven long hours of soul sucking, mind numbing presentations of numbers, numbers, numbers.

I can probably feign interest for the first couple of hours but by about 3pm this will be how I feel.  Six adults will each attempt to gain a larger slice of the pie.  And if anyone even suspects there are a few dollars unspoken for this could happen.....

And, I suspect that by about 3 pm even the most entertaining excuses that many will offer for why they NEED the extra money will not even un-zombify me.  "If I don't get the extra money for X then society will crumble, there will be chaos in the streets....etc".  
By 7 pm I think I might need one of the zombie drinks defined in # 4 about.  Lots of rum.