aggravate "What's the Good Word?" from alphaDictionary.com

• aggravate •

Pronunciation: æ-grê-vayt • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Verb, transitive

Meaning: 1. To make heavy or heavier, to load, burden, as to be aggravated with the responsibilities of someone else's office. 2. To increase the gravity of, to make worse, exacerbate. 3. To annoy.

Notes: The word aggravate has been a bone of contention for centuries because of its meaning (see In Play). Its forms, however, are very straightforward. The abstract noun is aggravation while the agent noun is aggravator (remember the ending is -or and not -er). There is also an adjective, aggravative, meaning the same as aggravating, as an aggravative zipper that sticks all the time.

 

It's funny to me how these Words Of The Day are always right on target to help me express what is going on with me.  I am still visting Josh out of town.. Omaha NE to be exact.  Ya.. exactly..eeehhhh awww..about the best thing out of this trip is the tan I am getting from being at the pool and the great sex.  Other than that, not much to tell.  I am littarly STUCK here.  There seems to be some snafu with Josh's check being direct deposited and now all we have is $10 to our name.  They tried to blame the power outages in Saint Louis but as it turns out *ahem* some one didn't send a fax threw with Josh's hours and so He didn't get paid.  So.. I have no money to buy food, or gas, or take the kids anywhere or even GET home!  Josh works 10 hour days.. gets home and eats and drinks a few beers with the guys and then is ready to crash, while me on the other hand am just aggravated.  I am sure you can imagine.. 4 kids, one small apartment.. not junk food to apease.. ya you are getting the picture.  Not that it has been all wrot.  I have been getting to know some of the dudes Josh works with, not all a bad bunch and one of them has his girl friend up.  Her and I have been budding up and I hope that we can stay in touch when this trip is over.  I'll have lots of pictures to share soon too.

*note*  I am using AOL.COM and am using the new blog this feature on the web mail.. pretty cool.. try it, you'll like it.

Just a note

Word of the Day from alphaDictionary.com: shemozzle

• shemozzle •

 Pronunciation: shê-mah-zêl • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: 1. A noisy row, a loud argument, a yelling match. 2. A mess, a confused, muddled situation, a shambles.

Notes: Don't be misled by the beginning of this word: men are just as likely to be involved in a shemozzle as a woman. You can, however, use the pronoun she as a mnemonic device for remembering how the word is spelled. Todays word is related to schlemiel "a jerk" and schlimazel "a loser with no luck", which is the same word as today's in a different guise. According to Leo Rosten (Hooray for Yiddish!), if a waiter spills the soup he is carrying, he is a schlemiel; the person who gets it down the neck is a schlimazel.

In Play: Basically, a shemozzle is a noisy argument: "When Lenny came home at 2 AM last night we heard a big shemozzle next door." However, it also works to express a shambles, a word sharing quite a few sound similarities, too: "We haven't had any big corporate shemozzles since the Enron-WorldCom era."

Word History: Today's Good Word entered British slang at the end of the 19th century as schlemozzel from Yiddish shlim mazel "rotten luck, a person with rotten luck". Shlim came to Yiddish from German schlimm "bad", and mozzle is Hebrew mazzal "luck". This latter word, spelled differently, also appears in the Yiddish toast, Mazel tov!, from Hebrew mazzal tov "congratulations" from mazzal "luck" + Hebrew tob "good". So, whether you are a schlemiel or a schlimazel, or involved in a shemozzle, the staff at alphaDictionary wishes you, Mazel tov!

The situation in Isreal is well past the shemozzle stage and is now an all out war!

alphaDictionary.com: Word Of The Day: Snobocracy..oh ya.. I know you can put this one in a sentance!

• snobocracy • Pronunciation: snah-bah-crê-si • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: 1. Snobdom, all snobs taken together collectively. 2. A society in which snobs hold sway, a society controlled by snobs.

Notes: The -cracy in this word means "rule, governance" as we see in democracy, autocracy, meritocracy. This means that the politically influential members of this group are snobocrats who behave snobocratically. All snobs together as a class comprise snobdom, though today's word can be used in the same sense.

In Play: When we speak of snobocracies, we don't look for countries; this kind of ruling class is found everywhere: "The company's fortunes ran afoul of a managerial snobocracy that refused to listen to the ideas of the folks who worked below them." If you are not born a member, you must buy your way into a snobocracy: "Haifa Lutin worked on Wall Street for 20 years until she made enough money to join the New York snobocracy."

Word History: It is clear that this word is based on the word snot, the disgusting nasal mucous that is more visible when your nose is 'stuck up' in the air. English bears several words based on this lexical unmentionable referring to people who are high-falutin' and arrogant: snotty and snooty are the first among them but snub is also a cousin. Snoot and snout are also both variants of the same slippery root and Jimmy Durante's inventions, schnoz and schnozolla, too, are based on this root with a twist of Yiddish and Italian in respect to his origins in Manhattan, New York. The root is clearly Germanic, not a borrowing. It might well be an onomatopoetic word based on the sound of someone clearing their nasal passages before the invention of the handkerchief.

Gawwwd!! I am so sick of dealing with people who still act like they are in HighSchool and are apart of some elete snobocracy!!!!!

Word Of The Day from alphaDictionary.com: Blackgaurd

• blackguard •

Pronunciation: blæ-gê(r)d • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: A scoundrel, a villain, a rogue, a ruffian, a dastardly knave, a miscreant or, to put it another way, a real sleazeball.

Notes: The spelling and pronunciation of today's Good Word are sharply disjointed, so beware of the pronunciation above! Our British cousins, from whom we inherited the pronunciation of this word, often overlook the middles of words (compare Worcestershire [wu-stêr-shir] and forecastle, also spelled fo'c's'le). It was they who reduced St. Clair to Sinclair, too. Now, we have blackguard and all its kin, blackguardly, the adjective, and blackguardry, the stuff of which blackguards are made, as the blackguardry of blackguardly behavior—all pronounced with a silent CK!

In Play: Here is a lovely old name for knaves and dastards that is much more expressive than the vulgarities that often slip from our lips when we become angry: "The blackguard pulled the chair out from under me just as I was sitting down and broke the disk with my presentation that I was carrying in my back pocket!" Unfortunately, you will meet blackguards at home as well as at work: "Phil Anders told me that he loved me so I introduced him to my family. Now the blackguard is going out with my sister!"

 

Back when I was single I went out with too many blackgaurds but that has all changed now that I have found my prince!

Ecclesiastes 7... is it a riddle?

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2 [It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.

3 Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.

5 [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

These scriptures were read last night at church and I wanted to meditate on what looks like a riddle.. why is it better to mourn then to feast and rejoice?  That surely isn't what is conveyed in our society these days.. that song "Don't worry be happy" rings in my ears or those happy little pills the doctors give out so freely, if you are sad it's ok but hurry up and get over it, rejoin the party. 

Why is your day of death better then the day of your birth?? We certainly don't celebrate those life markers that way but I did recently hear an old Irish saying that may sum up how we should "Cry at births and Laugh at funerals". 

The ending of something is better then the start?  When I am watching a really good movie I am sad when it comes to the credits and ~THE END~ Maybe that is why some enjoy Soap Operas.. they never end but go on and on even with Friday Cliff Hangers and no one ever really dies.. they come back years later by some miracle or the actor reappears on a different show. But on the other hand when building a house we are excited when the foundation is laid but are so happy when the building process is finished and we can move in and live.  Or when when a student goes off to collage, they are excited about all the new experiences and new things they will learn but celebrate when they do finally graduate four years later and have that degree in hand. 

People who meditate on death are called morbid and weird, a special brand of crazy.  But that is not what scripture is telling us here, the heart of the wise is the house of mourning. I don't think God is telling us to be sad all the time though, and in fact he tells us to rejoice in many other scriptures.  So why here is he saying it is better to mourn then to feast?

When some one dies that is close to us it is a reality check.. a gut check.  We are reminded of our own frail existence, that we are all appointed to die once and then the judgment.  We are here but for a vapor of time. What we do with that time is up to us, a good name is better than precious ointment.  Maybe it is the wise that keeps that in mind constantly, not only at funerals or when some one dies unexpected and it is the fool that is only concerned with the here and now and what they can get out of the party of life to satisfy their flesh? 

I hold on to Matthew 5:4 close to my heart in times like these, it is a promise and so very true:

Matthew 5:4 Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

It is a blessing to mourn because the Lord will comfort you.  I think of it like my father or mother holding me when I was young crying over a dead pet or a lost friendship and the warmth and love in their eyes and arms. Only now it is my Holy Father in Heaven holding me, speaking to me threw the Holy Spirit and encouraging me.  And the comfort is knowing that this is not the end of my friend's life but the beginning of my friend's days in Heaven, in the presence of God.  No better place to be then that!  And really in light of that Ecc. 7 is not such a riddle but a reminder to be heaven minded. It is telling us to be like the wise and to think on eternal things here and now, not be like the fool who passes threw life brushing off thoughts of mortality and rejecting faith in Jesus Christ.

It Looks worse than what it is.. Lilly in a cast..

 

 

 

 

 

Amidst dealing with the calls about Pastor Bill yesterday I had to take Lilly in to get her broken finger checked out.  After looking at the X-Rays the doctor said she is very lucky because where and how it broke they normally would have to do surgery on it and put pins in but since it was such a good break that was not necessary.  (Ofcoure I know Luck had nothing to do with it.. Praise The Lord \o/ ) The important thing she said is to keep it immobile so it does not get worse and end up having to get surgery anyway.  Her hand needs to be in a cast like that for the next two weeks and then after that wrapped for another two weeks. She has to be careful not to bang it. My poor baby!!!  In a cast for almost the rest of the summer!! But at least she got to pick what color lol.

She is so shy about it too.  She tries to hide it behind her back and doesn't want anyone to see it.  She about had me bawling my eyes out yesterday when she said " I don't want Bill & Bob at church to see it"  I had not told her about Bill yet. Bill and Bob are some of her favorite ppl at church she loves to give hugs too.  I don't know why she wouldn't want anyone to see it.. We tried telling her it is like a badge of honor and that she should be proud to show it off.. milk it for all it is worth lol.  We are still looking for a black marker so she can have ppl sign it.. I think maybe having ppl put stickers on it is a better idea because it is so small, not many ppl will be able to sign it.

Audra let me take a few quick pics with her camera yesterday.  She watched my other children when I took Lilly to the doctor.  She took the snap shot of my tan line for me.  My sun burn is starting to feel a bit better today but the picture just does not show it justice lol.  I took a more racy one with my camera phone to send to Josh but I guess we canceled my cell phone picture mail and he will just have to wait till he is in person to see it : p

I'll miss you Bill...

Pastor Bill went home to be with the Lord yesterday afternoon at approximately 12:12 after a long hard fight with a rare form of bone cancer.  Today would of been his 55th birthday. 

 

 

God sends people into your life for a time and a season.  Bill will always in my heart be my Pastor and I know many others feel the same.  He loved the Lord with all his heart and that love radiated from him no matter what he was going threw.  He had such a gentle spirit, hated conflict and was never ashamed to cry when the spirit moved him.  The ripple of him touching countless lives will go on threw eternity.

Bill meant so much to our family and to our church family.  He was the heart, the one who you would go freely to, with out doubt that he could help you in any relationship problem you may of been going threw and give you good sound Godly Advice and not sugar coat it. He was so friendly and approachable and easy to love and trust. He is the one Josh and I asked to council us about a Godly Marriage after we first became born again. I would of loved to renew our wedding vows with Bill presiding this year because it was our 10th anv. but he was too sick to ask.

 He gave hugs freely and smiles even when he was in pain.  He ached for the lost and had a heart for evangelism.  He connected to Tommy, my crack head brother and reached out to him and I know had an impact.  Even after my brother went to prison I know Bill wrote him and encouraged him.  I am sure Tommy is not going to take Bill's passing well.

Bill loved to worship The Lord and had a wonderful voice.  Now he is with The Lord and is worshiping at his feet.  If anyone deserves to hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant" it is Bill Kaber!

Bill will always be an inspiration to us and we will hold him in our heart till we meet again.

I am still trying to process his passing.  I know some will be angry at the Lord and try to understand why.. taking him so young and with so much life in him.  But Bill would not want that.  He will be the first to tell you that God has a plan, that he lived his life to the fullest and took his illness as more of a blessing then a curse because he grew so much in his relationship with THe Lord because of it.

Please pray for his wife and two daughters and his baby granddaughter and for our whole church family.  I think we will be grieving for awhile, even as we try and celebrate.  Tonight we are gathering at church to have something of a party in his honor and to remember him and celebrate his life.  The viewing will be Thursday and the Service will be Friday afternoon.  Josh is going to try and make it for the service Friday. Money is so tight we really can't afford him missing work or the gas it is going to take for him to drive home but I know Josh wants to be here with us all.. we are not going to worry about all that because God always provides.

Catching up is hard to do so I won't even try..

Turbulence.. Blister In The Sun.. Robbing Peter To Pay Paul.. Snap, Crack, Pop.. Hiding... Sad.. Lonely.. Excited.. Grieving..Pissed Off..Disillusioned.. Deleted Friendships..

All worthy titles for what has been swirling around in my mind these last two weeks since my last journal entry.  Obviously too much has gone on to give the blow by blow or play by play.  Lots of ups and downs for the people in my life and for me, enough to leave me screaming Come Lord Jesus Come.. Sooooooon!!! Please! This world is so dark and people are hurting so much.. and other people are so evil I am having trouble having compassion for them.

And besides all that I am sun burnt!!!  I haven't been sun burnt in about 3 yrs.. I am always so careful.. I like my creamy white skin lol but now I am lobster red... and I can't take a picture to illustrate my sexy tan lines and send it to my husband who is out of town!  That only adds to my grouchiness.  Saturday I helped out at the church yard sale and that is when I got burnt.  I put sun screen on but maybe should of made better choices about my clothing.. some with better covering.  I still feel the sting and am putting lotion on.  I don't think my cleavage has ever been this burnt before. 

It is not too serious and some say the color is good for me but I have had it drilled into my head to be careful of too much sun since I was little because us Sweed-toe-heads burn so badly when we get too much sun and my father always cautioned us about sun cancer and getting wrinkles prematurely from sun bathing.  I say the same things to my son and daughter who have the same complexion as me and of course they just give me a stupid look like I am a nut.

Yesterday was a hard day for me. It started ok.. had a day of fun planned for me and the kids.  I have promised them we can go to the park every other day this summer and yesterday was park day.  Also we were to pick up their checks from the school district from them going to summer school and take them shopping (yes they got paid for good attendance at summer school.. go figure)  In the excitement of getting ready to go, as usually they beat me out of the house and piled into the van.  Only this time Zane was not paying attention and SLAMMED poor Lilly's hand in the car door!!

I knew it was bad but thought she would be ok if we kept it iced till the swelling went down. Only her middle finger seemed to be swelling and effected. I feel guilty now that I didn't take her to urgent care right then but we went on with our shopping and running around.  By the time we were ready to go to the park I knew Lilly needed to be seen by a doctor.  Took her to the Urgent Care.. and all the other kids with us ofcourse.. the whole tribe takes up just about all the small waiting room.  They X-Rayed her hand and put her finger in a splint and said yep it is broken and advised us to go see a bone doctor (not even about to try and spell the proper name of that type of doctor).  So that is what we are doing today.

My poor baby.. this is the first broken bone in our family.  She doesn't like it being wrapped like that because it is so itchy lol and she can't put on the Barbie shoes on her doll with her hand like that or draw like she loves to do.  Ofcourse it had to be her right hand, her writing hand.

So last night when I was feeling really bad about my baby and doing the woe is me act I get a call from a friend at church that put me in my place, put it all in perspective.  One of Pastors has been battling for his life with bone cancer for almost as long as I have known him.  He has been up and down with it and at times it looked like he would make it, beat it.  But since his last hospital stay a few months ago he has not been able to get back to health and has been slowly slipping away in front of us all.  He is an inspiration and deeply loved.  Yesterday he was taken to the hospital and it does not look good.  I don't have all the details but I know many feel like it may be a death watch.  It is hard to know how to pray in situations like this so all I can do is ask for The Father's Will Be Done and Comfort to his family.  It is very hard and I know I am not the only one who has been crying and crying.  But we remind ourselves that this is not the end and even if he does pass he is going HOME and oh what a home coming it will be for him.

All the other dramas going on can fade away as far as I am concerned.  I have not been living my life very well lately and thinking of Bill and what a wonder man of God he is and all he has gone threw, and all the people he has touched with his life, makes me want to be a better person, to be more loving, to be more like Jesus.

Please keep me and my church family in your prayers.