AWK-WORD

Do you ever write a word out, or happen to just look at a word for awhile and suddenly it just doesn't seem like it is spelled right? No matter how you say it, or spell it, something seems wrong?

Like "plumb"...really, what the heck P-L-U-M-B? I know its right, but it just looks so wrong. What kind of word is it anyway? Plumb? Now it doesn't even sound right.

Actually, as I am writing this, "wrong" seems wrong too...something really is WRONG with me isn't it? ('Too' is getting to me...well uhm...too. I'm just going to stop writing now.)

Worrisome Words

You know what number I hate writing out? 40

I put an inordinate amount of time thinking about how to spell out that word Every. Stinking. Time.

4 - FOUR
14 - FOURTEEN
40 - FORTY (wth? it messes with the mind)
400 - FOUR HUNDRED
4,000 - FOUR THOUSAND

Whats up with that for real? Is it too good for the letter 'U'? Is 40 just a snotty number that thinks its too good for me...and U?  I think kindergartens everywhere would thank me if we just add the frick'n extra letter in for consistency....and cut down the extra thought process in writing out checks.

Another word frustration I have is pronunciation.

Like 'Creek'.  Everyone is aware that you can say it cr'eeeek!'(there's a mouse) or cr'ick' (I am not eating that!).  I don't know how I say it.  Really, I don't.  When a discussion comes up  about it I get all confused. I am pretty sure I have said it both ways...then I don't know which sounds right. Then the people are arguing back and forth...and I don't know which side I'm on.  Is this what a fence sitter feels like in a political battle?

Apparently I also don't pronounce the word 'Corral' properly.  Growing up on a ranch, marrying a farmer and working in a number of them you would think I could say it without being mocked...you would be incorrect.  I have a habit of picking up on accents from people I am around and certain words stick....hence the elongated 'O's I throw around after living in South Dak'OH'ta for college. As I result I have boycotted the word 'corral' and you will NOT hear me say it, ever.

We won't go in to my former struggle with the letter 'R'.  Only that I came out victorious after speech therapy down in the grades and am still self-conscious about saying words like "rural".
Am I alone in this?  Do you have a pet peeve word to spell/say?

***Edited****
I just thought of another one! I was informed in college that people couldn't tell the difference between how I said "Mail" and "Mayo"...to solve this problem I just dropped using the word Mayo and now say mayonnaise or miracle whip. But honestly, they are totally different words and don't sound alike when I say them....I just struggle finding people to agree with that statement. Either that or my sister wasn't lying and I really was adopted...from somewhere in the deep south. I am beginning to think speech therapy taught me avoidance rather than overcoming obstacles in speech. I'm cool with that.

Things That Keep Me Up At Night...

Oh who am I kidding,  I have two small boys.  I take all the sleep I can get.  Still there are things that bug me:

Mrs. is pronounced Misses but is the abbreviation of Madame? Uhmm... so where does the 'R' come from?

Does the military hate children?  I remember struggling with spelling down in the grades...but who could blame me.  They drill "sound it out" to kids learning to read and spell...and then you have Colonel (again with the added 'R' for no apparent reason) and Sergeant (shortened as Sarge-which honestly is the only way it makes sense to me)

If the plural of Mouse is Mice, why isn't the plural of House Hice?

Why will children throw a temper tantrum at the prospect of a cup/sippy being filled with water to drink...then an hour later be splashing and trying to drink from the toilet?  Directly followed by trying to lap up soapy water from the bathtub?

(Please tell me my kids aren't the only ones to play in the toilet, I'm disturbed enough as it is.  For God's sake please let it be a common and normal stage...that they will out grow it soon and I won't have to remember it again....Amen)

Ever Wonder Why?

1) You all know the poem we were taught as children to remember how many days each month has?

30 days has September, April, June, and November all the rest have
31 (January, March, May, July, August, October, December)
save for February which has 28
and 29 on leap year.

Here is my beef.  Why the heck doesn't February borrow a day from two months that have 31? Then more months would have 30 days, and every 4 years February would have 31 days and we would be dealing with less variables.

Here is what I propose:

J 31
F 30 ( 31 during Leap Year)
M 30 (March is madness, it can spare a day)
~~~~~
A 30
M 31
J 30
~~~~
J 30 (take a day off...makes my birthday seem sooner!)
A 31
S 30
~~~~
O 31
N 30
D 31

*** Also notice how the number of days in each season are more uniform***

2)  What is up with the letter 'C'?  It brings nothing unique to the alphabet.  Seriously 'K' and 'S' have it covered.  And don't give me that, "combine 'C' + 'H' spiel, 'K' is totally up to taking on that duty. Afterall, 'S' does it just fine. Really it makes more sense for 'K' to do the same.

Here is what I propose, do away with 'C' altogether:


A B D E F / G H I J K / L M N O P / Q R S T U / V W X Y Z

25 letters of the alphabet, easily divided by 5, which I think splits things up quite nicely. Tidy and even for pre-school teachers to introduce the letters in groups.

In order for these changes to really have a shot though...we need a new 'Days of the Month Poem' and new "Alphabet Song Tune"

Like shouting out each group of 5 letters like a cheer!

A--B--D-E-F ! (double time on the last 3 in the group)
G--H--I-J-K !
L--M--N-O-P !
Q--R--S-T-U !
V--W--X-Y-Z !
And then ending the whole shebang with "GOOOO ALPHABET! YAAY!"

(I'll give you a minute to try it out yourself, I know you want to)

AND

Thirty Days Hath February, March, April, June, July, September, and November.  All the rest have Thirty-One; even February when its Leap Year. The End.

Catchy, No?

So remember how you vote in 2012, we can change the WORLD...mwahhahaha. Oh Yeah, and I hate Daylight Savings Time, so lets do away with that too.