Phraseology (frā-zē-ˈä-lə-jē) noun

The other day in a personal correspondence - I think it was a text - I used the phrase - "I can't wait".  UGH!!   I cringed!  I really don't like that phrase and I don't know what possessed me to use it then, other than, no brain energy to think of something different. 

If you "can't wait" for something, then just what else are you going to do?  Die?  Make it happen sooner?  Well, I suppose some things you could make happen sooner.  Food comes to mind. Like, I can't wait till noon to eat my lunch, so I'm going to do that now... at 10:15.  Okay, I'll try to at least hold out until 11:30.  

I prefer to say "I'm looking forward to..."  Even that seems a little lame.  How about - "I'll be so happy when.."  Well either of those aren't great, but so much better than the very overused.. "I can't wait".  When someone says that I just want to say ... "Well, honey... I think you'll have to wait.  The world only spins so fast."  And besides... getting all tied up in something that may or may not be coming in the future - might take your focus off all the fun of today. And in the meantime, you're wishing your life away.  (so proud that I used both you're and your in that sentence - correctly!)

Another phrase that I really don't care for is "on the same page."  That one is very overused in the corporate world.  It's just a cute, catchy and trendy way to make sure we all understand what's going on.  It in no way really verifies that everyone does understand.  Your "page" may be a bit different than someone else's.  Their interpretation of the conversation, or "page", may be different from yours.  Instead of saying this cute little catch-phrase, why not just use the time and words to make sure each person understands the "page" line by line, point by point?  Just a thought.  Are we on the same page here?

Another one that I REALLY don't care for... "at the end of the day."  Sort of like the old phrase - "when all is said and done.."   Maybe that can be replaced with the word "ultimately" or just not said at all. It depends on the context, I suppose.  It's hard to dissect that one since it's used in so many ways. A few years ago, I saw an interview with Justin Bieber and I actually began counting how many times he said that in his interview.  A little boy trying to be so mature. Maybe that's when I really got sick of that one. And by that I mean - even though this one is in the center of this blog, it's at the top of my list!  If you hear me saying that one, I've been abducted by aliens and you are conversing with their alien Gail replacement.  Hmmm, maybe I'll make that a good code phrase for family and friends.  Then they'll know something is wrong. So, if you ever call and/or text me and say "how are you doing?", and I reply with something like "at the end of the day, all is fine."  Hang up, call 911.  I'm being held captive.

I'd be curious to know any phrases that you hear that make you cringe.  What would be the code phrase for me to call 911 for you?

Maybe you "could care less" about all this.  Really?  Could you?  I think what you meant to say is "I COULDN'T care less."  Just let that one sink in a bit.    

Maybe you're just "out of pocket".  What pocket were you in?  Must have been a big pocket. That's not a comment on weight and girth.  Most people would need a big pocket to fit in.  How about just saying what you mean.  "I'll be out of the office".  Or, "I'll be on vacation".  A few years ago, Jack and I took a vacation.  A trip out west.  When driving through Utah, we were "out of pocket".  Actually, we were literally "off the radar".  No phone service on those open desert roads. I tend to like the phrase "off the radar".  I think in today's techno-frenzy world, it's very appropriate and precise and would explain to people why, for just a little while, I may not answer texts, calls or make my snarky remarks on Facebook.  It's a quicker way to say -  "we're in the middle of Utah".  Or, "on the big hill north of Staunton".  Or, "I took the back roads to Edwardsville".  Besides, when I'm actually "off the radar" I really can't tell you anything, can I?  So I'll tell you before my trip that I may be "off the radar", or afterwards explain that I was "off the radar".  (disclaimer - we're still in the leftovers of 2020 - there is no trip!)  Leftovers!?  I can't wait for supper!

I'm just saying...  

It is what it is, so don't throw me under the bus.

I Resolve to....

Yes, it's been a long time since I've blogged.  It seems like last year! 😂

I hope all who are reading this had a wonderful Christmas.  I suppose I have that same wish for all those who are not reading this, too.

We had a nice Christmas here at our house.  Not all the family members were able to be with us, but we did well including them with FaceTime.  So many blessings on that day.  We did all the right things.  We had plastic gloves for the buffet line, hand sanitizers here and there, paper towels in the bathroom instead of my cute Christmas hand towels, we were spread out in our little "pods" while eating and, then, when not eating - all wore masks.  It is 10 days later as I type this - no one has been sick.  I suppose we either did it right, or no one here was infected anyway.  Praise God. 

Then came New Year's.  If you don't follow me on FaceBook, here's what I said about New Year's:  Those that do follow me can skip ahead or refresh your memory.

I remember many, MANY years ago, traveling with a friend who had never been out of IL. She has traveled quite a bit since then, but way back then, as we crossed the line from Illinois into Indiana, she was so excited in the anticipation. About 30 seconds into Indiana she sat back and said, "It doesn't look any different."

Just remember this story tonight folks - at midnight. The number may change, but things probably won't appear much different.

If you travel East on I-70 from Illinois, it doesn't really change until West Virginia. That's 3 states away.

Sorry... but someone has to point out the obvious to y'all.

God's Blessings to you in 2021 and beyond.

So, there it is.. Not much has really changed for us yet this year. Restaurants are still closed or doing carry out only, masks required most everywhere, the Covid numbers are projected to rise again over the next few weeks. Same old stuff... different year. But, hope springs eternal that later in the year, thanks to vaccines, life will return to some form of normal. But, of course, we all refer to it as the new "normal". I wonder what precautions and things we will continue to do going forward beyond this pandemic. I think I may still want the wipes at the store to wipe down the cart handle. Remember having your toddler in that seat and looking down at one point and seeing their little mouths on that handle? YIKES! Of course, even then we discouraged that, but AJ seems to have survived that. I still know, and have always known, that a grocery store cart handle has more germs than a public bathroom. That could be fake news because I'm not going to verify with any internet source - reliable or otherwise. I guess that turns this whole blog into an opinion piece. Gee, who knew? I always washed my hands when I got home from the grocery, but, now I have wipes in the car and wipe my hands, the steering wheel, the door handle, the buttons (in my fancy push button start car). And, I still wash my hands before and after putting away the groceries. But, the mask wearing... I'll be so glad when that is no longer mandatory. And, if we never get to that point, I'm not sure how I'll fare mentally. Resolutions? Have you declared any? I haven't done that since December 2009.

Again... on Facebook, I declared my resolution for 2010. Out loud. For all to read. With the power of FaceBook filters - I found it:

Dear 2010, I plan to wake up each morning with a big glass of "whatever". I'm not going to get pulled into other peoples dramas, or deal with and/or stroke other people's over inflated egos, and I dang sure can't fix stupid. So... "whatever!" Besides, I have my own drama, ego and stupidity to deal with. Anyone else making New Year's resolutions?

Anyone care to take a guess at how that worked out for me???? Before I get to other people's drama part, I began a job that year in February where I really got to meet someone with an extreme over-inflated ego. Translation: Bully. End result, it changed me almost to the breaking point until 3 months later when I told that person (*cough* boss/attorney person *cough*) a very abrupt - Good-bye!

But, remember, that was a couple of months after I publicly declared my resolution for 2010. I actually recall the specific over inflated ego I was referring to in December 2009, and still deal with that one, although I now realize it's more like their insecurity. And, no - don't ask - I will not be naming names. Not for that one and not for the ones below... Also, in 2010, two of my closest friends needed some emotional support. Both for very different reasons. Both for some very life changing and life altering reasons. So I got caught up in some stuff. I hesitate to refer to it as "drama" because that sounds a bit... dramatic. It wasn't. It was just life. I'd like to think I was most helpful to my friends in both situations. As it turns out, finding myself unemployed in mid-May was perfect timing for one of them. All is much better now and has been for both for a long time. As for the stupidity part of my resolution... I sometimes wonder if I need to start with the person in the mirror. I remember after that year, that I began to consider what, if any New Year's Resolution, I could make for 2011. I thought hard about just how to word my New Year's declaration so that if it backfired a bit, like my one for 2010 did... it would still be okay. Then it occurred to me... I was trying to outsmart God. News flash - you can't outsmart God. That part is not fake news. That is fact! I have a good resource book on that one. So in early 2011, I posted this:

I learned a few things in 2010. That everything really does happen for a reason. That even though things may get a bit rough sometimes... it will all work out with faith in God and the love of good friends and family. My goal in 2011 is to try to remember what I learned in 2010.

And, finally by January 2018, I had learned a lot more:

I finally realized the only real resolution any of us can make is to resolve to follow God’s path for our lives. Pick up on the hints and signs He sends us if we need to change our habits or our ways and go from there.

Happy 2018.

Happy 2021. Wishing you all God's blessings. Honorable mention on this blog entry goes to FaceBook's filter in reviewing old posts.