Countdown to Friday

No DIY Facebook wall recapping for last week.

Because it was semi-normal. Whatever “normal” is.

Other than the air conditioner breaking on Wednesday. And the temperature in Atlanta is averaging about 120 degrees daily. Okay, really high 90’s but it feels like 120.

Thanks to all who sent personal emails with care and concern. Seriously, we are all fine, fine, fine!

The darling twins should be flying home on Friday. Which happens to be their 19th birthday. We’re getting excited and bracing ourselves at the same time. More on our preparations later this week.

Here’s something neat they got at the beginning of their 5 month journey.

Even though Toyota was handling their P.R. nightmare and vehicle safety issues this spring, I did want to give a shout out to say that while somewhere deep in their marketing department, someone came up with a very nice idea.

I’m sure the girls have worn the hats. Not.

But I know they both appreciated the 1 GB memory stick, headphones and the deck of cards. I forgot to ask how the spearmint chapstick was.

Roger Leroy signed up to receive hers before she left and after it came to the house, we boxed it all up and sent it to her. Then I emailed to get Wizzy a gift pack too. About 4 emails later, she received hers in Arizona.

They even included an hour of internet service. Did you know that they have to pay for their internet service?

Yes, I know they are marketing to Soldiers and want their business/money. Still, this was a nice touch.

Can’t wait for next Monday when the darling twins will be here to watch The Bachelorette with me.

MY DIY Facebook Wall ~ Part Two

More DIY Facebook Fun as promised.

If Memorial Day weekend wasn’t memorable enough what with the puking dogs, 911 call, the nice police officer, broken glass on the driveway and being a 24 hour on call travel agent, the next week proved to be much more exciting…

My DIY Wall Status Updates

SherraLifeLesson 2nd debilitating migraine in 4 days. Neurologist of 10 years is no longer on our insurance plan. Will search for new doctor when head stops pounding.
June 6 at 3:30am

SherraLifeLesson Monday fun – migraine meds have worn off enough for me to drive to my overdue full body/skin appointment. Overdue after having a tiny place on shin turn out to be basal cell skin cancer three years ago. Worried about a new place on my forehead.
June 7 at 2:00pm

SherraLifeLesson The doctor’s office staff says “Are you sure you have an appointment? We don’t have you in the computer.”
June 7 at 2:30pm

SherraLifeLesson Took Scary Baby to Chik-Fil-A and came back to doctor’s office. So nice of them to work me in on the same day I had an appointment that disappeared in their computer.
June 7 at 2:45pm

SherraLifeLesson Doctor took one look at forehead and said “Oh, that’s totally fine…blah, blah, blah.” That’s all I heard as I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
June 7 at 3:40pm

SherraLifeLesson Until she said, “These two spots look suspicious so let’s do a biopsy on those right now. We’ll know in 1-2 weeks if they are anything to worry about & we’ll call you if we need to do anything else.”
June 7 at 3:45pm

SherraLifeLesson Reschedule annual GYN exam that was on Wednesday. Need to space my exams a little farther apart. They probably didn’t have an appointment for me anyway.
June 7 at 4:30pm

SherraLifeLesson Worrying begins now. X*nax time.
June 7 at 8:15pm

SherraLifeLesson Tuesday came and went
June 8 at 11:00pm

SherraLifeLesson 3rd migraine in SEVEN days. Worrying apparently triggers migraines and insomnia. Oh wait, I had those before the skin biopsies. I’m probably overreacting.
June 9 at 4:30am

SherraLifeLesson Working my way towards shower. The Grunter didn’t even know I was here and slept all day. He thought I had left to go to office for contract job. Or maybe he never checked and he slept all day. He’s a fabulous babysitter. Not. Poor Scary Baby.
June 9 at 5:00pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from Wizzy…”Guess what. We did convoy live fire today n I got burnt on my neck by a live round. It was great.”
June 9 at 6:31pm

SherraLifeLesson My text…” OMG r u okay? Did you see a doctor? How bad is the burn?”
June 9 at 6:48pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from Wizzy…”No I’m fine. Three of us got burned. I’m fine. Just thought it was my luck.”
June 9 at 6:55pm

SherraLifeLesson There are so many things I don’t want to know when the darling twins are so far from home. I hear PhilBillPaul tell his mom on the phone, “Oh she has luck alright – it’s just always bad.” Poor Wizzy.
June 9 at 7:30pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter heads out to meet friends at Christian bowling night. Do they have atheist bowling night?
June 9 at 9:00pm

SherraLifeLesson Major accomplishment – I have finally showered, re-bandaged my wounds and dressed. Yes, I do know what time it is, thank you very much.
June 9 at 9:10pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter calls me and says, “Momma, I’ve just been in a car accident. Some lady hit me and I spun around on Hwy 20 and hit my head but I think I’m okay.”
June 9 at 9:14pm

SherraLifeLesson He called me but not 911. I’m not sure if I’m touched or more freaked out as the three of us jump in car to drive 3 miles to where he is.
June 9 at 9:16pm

SherraLifeLesson How many days in a row constitutes a X*nax addiction as I pop one while I sit in the car with Scary Baby providing commentary to Wizzy on phone and blue lights flashing while PhilBillPaul walks to accident scene?
June 9 at 9:30pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter rides home with us with advice from the police officer that we watch him tonight and that he’ll probably be really sore tomorrow.
June 9 at 9:45pm

SherraLifeLesson So grateful he’s okay! Lady turned left in front of him while he was going about 50 mph. She said she thought he was going to turn even though he wasn’t in turn lane nor did he have his turn signal on. She got a ticket. We got The Grunter back home safe and sound with us!
June 9 at 10:15pm

SherraLifeLesson Feeling a little sad having to tell Grandma about his little Honda Civic. It was hers for 11 years and my dad had driven it off the Honda lot brand spanking new. It will be hard to replace.
June 9 at 10:25pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter’s neck is sore so he stays home from work and he makes a doctor’s appointment for Friday morning at my insistence. How many medical issues can we cram into ONE WEEK?
June 10 at 11:30am

SherraLifeLesson While driving to office (contract job), The Grunter calls and in a voice that earned him his code name on the blog (be thankful I’m translating what he said in English here) he says, “Momma, I can’t get the key to turn in Roger Leroy’s car.” Did I mention his doctor’s appointment is in 7 minutes.
June 11 at 10:23am

SherraLifeLesson He will be 21 years old in 3 months. This is one of the reasons I have always had a home business. Holy cow, his problem-solving skills frighten me. Mine are on point. I reply yell, “Call your father.”
June 11 at 10:25am

SherraLifeLesson My text to PhilBillPaul…”Did Everett get car started? Have u talked to him or is he still at doc?”
June 11 at 11:54am

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul…”Working close to home. I started car. Dr running late, rescheduled appt to 1:30″
June 11 at 11:59am

SherraLifeLesson My text… “OMG how did key work for u?”
June 11 at 12:04pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul… “I just used the correct key. Do not say anything 2 ev till we talk.”
June 11 at 12:08pm

SherraLifeLesson My text…”U have to be kidding me???” I think I may be narrowing down the cause of my migraines.
June 11 at 11:59am

SherraLifeLesson Phone call from my doctor’s nurse…”Biopsy did come back positive for pre-cancerous cells. Margins are not clear so we want to schedule another appointment…it’s outpatient surgery…blah, blah, blah…glad we caught it now…”
June 11 at 1:26pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul…”Ev being xray’d”
June 11 at 2:06pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from The Grunter…”Dr said my neck is pretty messed up. I got two prescriptions and was told to skip two days of work. I’m also to ice it several times per day.”
June 11 at 2:25pm

SherraLifeLesson Thank goodness for the weekend. Except that PhilBillPaul has taken Scary Baby and his girlfriend to a motorcycle rally in the Blue Ridge Mountains so I have something new to worry about.
June 12 at 1:10pm

This confirms why I don’t “do” Facebook. I’m pretty sure I would not be appropriate in my drug-induced, broken filter, state-of-being when crises happen. Lord only knows what I might type “in the moment” so I know it’s best that I stick to blogging only.

Life Lesson(s) found here? Don’t worry about what you think is odd. Worry about what isn’t.

Or better said…schedule your annual skin checkup along with your mammogram today!

In spite of the stress, we are counting our blessings.

We are all fine, fine, fine and we are grateful!

Happy Father’s Day to all those great dads out there.

I miss mine every day.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Bachelorette ~ Week 4

It was hard to watch because I’m all about the suspense and big rose ceremony buildup.

{tiny lol}

The darling twins told me to get the issue of People magazine with Ali’s revealing story and read it just before they left for their 9 day FTX (field training exercise) complete with no bathrooms or showers. They never knew until now what a fabulous invention baby wipes are. M

Talk about SPOILERS!! Ali and the People editors divulged serious show-stopping secrets BEFORE the episode aired.

WARNING: Stop reading if you haven’t read the People magazine article and don’t want to know about any of the spoilers from the article.

How am I suppose to get the full benefit of this important TV show when they tell me that Justin has not one but TWO girlfriends back home. And I was so sure that the “entertainment wrestler” was going to be in the final two.

Not.

No surprise Frank also has a girlfriend at home. He was weird and clingy from date one at the Hollywood sign. Even though they had so much in common because he gave up his highly successful career and moved back home with his parents after taking off to living in Paris if you call call 6 weeks “living in Paris” to fulfill his dream of becoming a screenwriter. I hope he gets casting rights so he can cast Ali in the lead role of his first production of “We Made Out Under the Hollywood Sign After Our Car Broke Down & I Didn’t Even Try to Fix It Because I Am a Screenwriter.”

He was the total package. A guy living at home with a girlfriend he couldn’t stop thinking about. Darling twins please take note.

And very strange Kasey did something very strange.

A tattoo to profess his love?

That’s always been my criteria.

Oh wait, PhilBillPaul doesn’t have any tattoos. What does this mean?

OMGosh – let’s not rewind to see the most awkward “serenade” in the history of the show when they were sitting in the park. Weird, weird, weird. And a little creepy.

Her embarrassment about his weird behavior was painful to watch.

Please, please STOP singing.

The Lion King thing was weird too. Why, as they look for love, do they have to audition for Broadway and then be suspended in mid-air wrapped around each other in full costume half-naked?

But speaking of all the singing…kudos to Jesse and his sweet singing. He’s a small town boy who I bet has been in the church choir for years. Probably too young and small town for big city Ali but I bet he’s never had trouble finding a date.

Did anyone else notice she was chewing gum when they came out to bow?

How funny was Roberto’s comment about The Weatherman when he started whining?

“The forecast for The Weatherman, once again, we’ve got a high pressure situation moving in so he’s gotta step it up.”

The Weatherman sealed his fate at the rose party when he got his guitar and sang a lame song. Too much of a gooner.

Kirk…class act putting her to bed when she was sick and leaving. No surprise he’s a nice Midwestern boy from Wisconsin.

Chris L.…class act bringing soup and just hanging out while she was sick and not being a whiny baby about it especially since it was his birthday.

She said “supposeably” or some variation that is not a word. Ahhhh.

I hope we find out next week that she has a restraining order on Kasey. I’m scared and I don’t even know him.

I think we all saw at the end why The Weatherman is going to have a hard time finding love when we saw the outtake with The Wrestler.

My vote for top three at this point is…Chris L., Kirk and Roberto.

And if she doesn’t pick Roberto, I have two daughters I want to introduce him to. I’m a good judge of character and he would be a lovely son-in-law.

WHY OH WHY?

…did she start with a photo shoot in NYC? And now she’s going to be in InStyle magazine. Oh yeah, because she’s searching for love.

Weigh in. Come on, I know Nancy isn’t the only one watching!

How do you think Ali’s audition tape for her new gig as an entertainment reporter/journalist/STAR is going?

My DIY Facebook Wall

Y’all know how much I love Facebook.

Not.

But if I had 523 fans or friends or whatever they call them, I could have sent you updates on my life all through Memorial Day weekend while PhilBillPaul was visiting the darling twins in Arizona.

Instead I have this blog and 5 relatives and 12 friends reading so I thought I could give you the recap in the form of my own Facebook Blog Wall…

Disclaimer: I know this is late. I was busy breaking my blog last week and am still fixing some things. Might be the longest post ever. Hang with me – it’s super easy reading!

My DIY Wall Status Updates

SherraLifeLesson Just dropped off PhilBillPaul at Atlanta airport to fly to Arizona to see his darling daughters as we find out his brother is being admitted to hospital for dehydration and some medical tests in Texas.
May 27 at 4:00pm

SherraLifeLesson A stressed PhilBillPaul forwards a text to me from Wizzy as he makes his connecting flight in Dallas because he doesn’t have time to call her sitting on plane. Text says “We are coming to tucson. Call me when ur are in phoenix
May 27 at 9:00pm

SherraLifeLesson Great text Wizzy but he’s not flying to Phoenix. And her great new plan to meet her dad in Tucson instead of Sierra Vista is not all that great. Gee, that’s only eleven minutes after the cancellation policy of the room their travel agent (me) booked for them in Sierra Vista.
May 27 at 9:11pm

SherraLifeLesson Roger Leroy announces in the background that if I can’t find them another hotel, she’s not staying at the Motel Six because people have told her that they have rats. This is unconfirmed but I wouldn’t stay in a Motel Six. Ever. Yes, I’m a hotel snob.
May 27 at 9:11pm

SherraLifeLesson Motel Six was suggested by Wizzy and approved by PhilBillPaul because he and Granny only needed a place to sleep for a few hours before they pick up the darling twins at 6:00 am. A kind front desk clerk at the posh Motel Six took pity on me and canceled the room without charging us.
May 27 at 11:11pm

SherraLifeLesson Our two wiener dogs were neutered the week before. They are now coughing and choking in their crates and start puking. Have I mentioned I don’t do puke? Especially dog puke.
May 27 at 11:32pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter comes down to handle the puke. Remember he takes care of poo at the movie theater so he’s way more qualified than I am.
May 27 at 11:47pm

SherraLifeLesson 3 hours on the phone and online with hotels in Tucson trying to find a room. Glad I didn’t have anything else to do.
May 28 at 12:39am

SherraLifeLesson I start researching kennel cough on the internet. I really can’t handle the dogs dying while PhilBillPaul is with the darling twins. They will all blame me forever.
May 28 at 12:45am

SherraLifeLesson Granny calls after she arrives in Tucson to find out what plans have changed since she had 4 frantic phone messages from PhilBillPaul that didn’t make sense and she couldn’t call him since he was in the air flying from Dallas to Tucson.
May 28 at 1:00am

SherraLifeLesson I tell Granny about the choking, coughing, puking dogs and my guess that they contracted kennel cough and she shares that they once got a puppy from a shelter and it had kennel cough. They had to put it down and the shelter had to euthanize all the dogs. Holy cow, the dogs are going to die under my watch…
May 28 at 1:30am

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter comes down to help me serve the dogs a delicious homeopathic kennel cough treatment I’ve mixed up. 8 oz water with tsp of raw honey, splash of lemon juice and 3 eyedroppers of 3% hydrogen peroxide.
May 28 at 2:05am

SherraLifeLesson Relieved to find that kennel cough by itself is not life threatening.
May 28 at 2:15am

SherraLifeLesson Hmmmm, I’m tired.
May 28 at 8:50am

SherraLifeLesson I didn’t have an eyedropper. I looked for a conversion for 3 eyedroppers of hydrogen peroxide and found it to be .03 tsp. I share with The Grunter that I put in a 1/4 tsp. We both realize I have probably poisoned the wiener dogs so if the kennel cough doesn’t kill them, my bad math skills will.
May 28 at 9:30am

SherraLifeLesson I call the vet and explain the dogs’ symptoms. I feel better that we should just watch them and can bring them in on Saturday if they aren’t improving. I didn’t mention the hydrogen peroxide overdose.
May 28 at 10:30am

SherraLifeLesson I hear from the Arizona crew. They are all safely together in Tucson and cannot start their drive to the Grand Canyon until they go back to the airport because they LOST PhilBillPaul’s luggage.
May 28 at 11:00am

SherraLifeLesson Need to focus on a client website design. Scary Baby is being very patient and has decided to re-read the Harry Potter series in her closest while I work.
May 28 at 1:12pm

SherraLifeLesson Third dose of honey/lemon/hydrogen peroxide for the wiener dogs. They seem to be getting better. Future tip: Sticky water is better served on porch than kitchen floor.
May 28 at 7:11pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter comes home from work and talks about some relationship stress that has been unfolding in the past week.
May 29 at 11:38pm

SherraLifeLesson The Grunter is standing in my bedroom in all his late night chattiness and as the fierce, coughing wiener dogs go ballistic barking, he says “Did you hear that? It sounds like someone is tapping on a window on the porch.”
May 30 at 1:10am

SherraLifeLesson A broad daylight break-in in our neighborhood 4 days earlier causes me to dial 911 without hesitation.
May 30 1:30am

SherraLifeLesson 911 operator wants me to look out window and see if I see anything. Isn’t this how people get shot?
May 30at 1:32am

SherraLifeLesson Police arrive within 15 minutes. He says he’ll go in backyard and check our property but does ask if there are dogs back there. I assure him that the barking wiener dogs are impersonating dobermans in their crates and actually weigh about 15 pounds each.
May 30 at 1:45am

SherraLifeLesson Police officer returns to say windows and doors are secure but asks “Do you know you have broken glass in the driveway?”
May 30 at 1:55am

SherraLifeLesson After inspecting the mess of broken glass, The Grunter and I refrain from saying, “Why yes, we break glass in our driveway every night at 1:30 am.”
May 30 at 2:10am

SherraLifeLesson Now that we’ve swept up the broken glass, can I please, please, please get a few hours sleep?
May 30 at 2:30am

SherraLifeLesson Scary Baby & I went to early dinner and shopping as reward for her patience and help with dogs in this crazy weekend. Do people have to sit on the same side of the booth and make out during a meal? Icky.
March 31 at 4:35pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul…”Tucson flight delayed due to mechanical problems. Mom is now in gate reassuring everyone by screaming we need a new plane! ”
June 1 at 1:18pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul…”Jk about mom screaming ”
June 1 at 1:19pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul…”Flight cancelled. Rebooked thru AA connection chicago tomorrow arrive at 11:55 pm”
June 1 at 1:18pm

SherraLifeLesson Gosh that’s a convenient time to arrive.
June 1 at 1:25pm

SherraLifeLesson Text from PhilBillPaul…”Flight change again. Better time. Arrive at 4:12 pm. Going to hotel, thanks for good idea of asking for hotel voucher.”
June 1 at 2:30pm

SherraLifeLesson Migraine fun. Wonder why? Took meds at 2:00 am and 4:30 am. Feeling fabulous. Not.
June 2 at 8:51am

I know after reading this riveting detailed account of my Memorial Day that you will be waiting with bated breath to read part two of my DIY Facebook/Blog Wall that I’ll share later this week.

Because I only thought Memorial Day weekend was less than stellar until I lived through last week.

The Bachelorette

I’ve been sucked right back in.

To the evil, mindless TV that is The Bachelorette.

My own fault. I’m not blaming anyone. Except maybe the darling twins who are watching online until they get home. Then we’ll have lively discussion while viewing together.

So it will become less evil and more about family bonding time.

While I work on more profound and meaningful blog posts, I just have one question for anyone brave enough to admit they are watching too…

Does it feel like Ali is auditioning for her new TV gig on Entertainment Tonight (or whatever show will have her) more than she is searching for her “true love” or is it just me?

Beach Snuggie

I thought this blog reader was sending me a joke when she sent me this email:

“So have you seen the new Snuggie beach blanket yet “

I must have one.

I love to stay out on the beach and watch the sun set. It can get a little chilly.

I’m sure I’d serve lunch in it.

You may remember that the blanket with sleeves stressed me.

And The Grunter too. Until we found out he was wearing it backwards.

Side note: I didn’t even know he commented until I was writing this.
Isn’t The Grunter funny?

I need a towel with sleeves – that is so much more useful than a blanket with sleeves.

Thanks Jen for making me aware of this fabulous product.

American Soldiers

I started to look for a generic, patriotic picture of soldiers so I could write a quick blog post and remind you all to take a few minutes before the end of your day to remember what this day is all about.

Besides the grilling and picnics and 3 day weekend, Memorial Day is a day that we should all reflect on the sacrifices of those who have come before us and those who serve today…

Fighting to protect our freedom.

Then I remembered I didn’t need to look for a picture because in addition to my uncles, my cousins, my nephew and friends, we have two soldiers right here…

Well, not exactly right here.

They are still in Arizona at AIT.

But we are thankful as I know they are too that their Daddy and Granny got to fly in and spend time with them because they got a 4 day pass off base.

They’ve seen the glorious Grand Canyon.

Side note: I’m not sure how much PhilBillPaul and Granny actually saw because they appear to have their eyes closed.

And thanks to a special family in Mesa, they spent a beautiful day boating on Sagauro Lake.

You don’t have to save your gratitude and prayers for Memorial Day. On any given day, I hope you’ll send up a prayer for our military and their families…

and my darling twin daughters.

Here’s a great video worth taking 4 minutes from your day to watch and remember…

DWTS ~ Finale

I’m writing this first part before I know who wins.

I did not like Erin and Maks on the bed. I did not know that doing flips on a bed counted as dancing. It was just a little too weird for me even though I’ve been rooting for them all season.

I did like Evan and Anna’s Footloose routine even though the judges didn’t. I thought it had as much energy as Nicole and Derek’s freestyle.

Sans the low, low riding pants that she actually tucked her fingers at the waistband and pulled DOWN.

TWICE.

Which I think should result in automatic disqualification.

Yes, that would be my new rule.

My mom noticed it and she doesn’t even have a DVR to back it up and replay it like we did several times because I was sure she didn’t do that while Brooke interviewed them. (Scary Baby was not present.)

She did. Super icky.

And the winner is…

Nicole – not surprised. She was absolutely consistent throughout. I’m just extra glad she didn’t wear her low rise pants for her last dance which was amazing.

Evan – class act from start to finish.

Let’s start a petition that no one who has dance experience as part of their career gets to be put in future seasons.

Now that dang Bachelorette show has started.

I hope the wardrobe folk will give her a dress that fits so Ali doesn’t have to adjust, tug, and pull on her strap 200+ times in the next episode.

My final thought

My mom has not appreciated my references to her in my recaps. She doesn’t particularly like my references to her in general. She says I am sarcastic.

GASP.

The 5 other blog-reading relatives will understand this and will “hear” this conversation my mom and I had.

From this point forward, I’m giving my mom a code name. Unless new readers dig into the archives, no one will know when I refer to my mom in this blog.

Code name:
Mom = Junebug

Let’s try it out here now.

My friend Junebug was/was not happy with the outcome of the DWTS finale. (I don’t know the answer because it was too late to call Junebug after we watched it.)

See Mom Junebug, no one will know anymore when I share something we have talked about.

If anyone else needs a blog code name, please let me know. I am all about respecting people’s privacy.

Typo Tuesday

Welcome to Apostrophe Class

Please take your seat and let’s review what hasn’t changed since the apostrophe was invented in _______ (fill in the blank if you know what year).

Before we start class, please be aware that we are focusing on apostrophes today and not on complete sentences or the proper use of commas. You will understand that as you continue reading.

First, here are some examples of the most common and incorrect ways to use an apostrophe.

At a school…no less.

Photo courtesy of Liz Henry

Photo courtesy of noiseburst

From an Atlanta Journal Constitution article that has since been corrected…

They then taped its mouth shut and bound it’s legs so that state wildlife officers could transport it to South Georgia.

Got the first one right.

its mouth

Possessive – no apostrophe

Second one wrong.

it’s legs

Still possessive – apostrophe should not be used.

I know the screenshot proof is tiny but if you click it you can read the full, corrected article about the alligator and its mouth and legs.

Side note: At a later time, let’s discuss what you would do if you saw a 5 foot alligator walking through your front yard. Dacula is a small town right next to us.

The way I remember this and most other quirky grammar rules is to read aloud. Or read it aloud in my head. Does anyone else do that? Chime in and tell me how you read aloud in your head and that I’m not crazy.

I know the “its” and “it’s” thing is confusing because you are suppose to add an apostrophe to make a word possessive and just add an “s” to make it plural. This is the backward exception to the general rules of possessive and plural. Add in contraction rules and people seem to glaze over.

The point is that I know that it’s is the contraction of it is (or “it has”) and that is what I say in my head.

For this example I would say “it is mouth” and “it is legs” and know quite clearly that I do NOT need the apostrophe because it’s it is possessive.

Here are two great tutorials regarding apostrophes:

Apostrophe Catastrophe (Part One)

Apostrophe Catastrophe (Part Two)

Here is the only exception to these apostrophe rules.

This is a great story of a typo that actually defines a company. I’ve known this story for years because visiting the Lands’ End outlet store in Madison, Wisconsin has been a favorite bargain shopping trip for my family since the early 80’s.

Fun company. Great products. Nicest towels we’ve ever owned both bath and beach. “Guaranteed. Period.®” is their policy and so many companies could learn extraordinary customer service from them!

Best of all, it’s a great lesson that we all make mistakes and I love the commitment they made to embrace the mistake.

I still believe we should all make a commitment to proof and proof again and ask someone else to proof our work. Most typos seem lazy to me and correcting them takes little effort while sending out a message that says,

“I still care about and respect our English language.”

I guess I’m old-fashioned like that.

25¢ Milestones

Busy weekend. Busy week.

It’s that time of year with end of school activities. Don’t get me started on how much can be crammed into the last few weeks of school.

Scary Baby is almost done with 5th grade and will go to middle school in August.

Not possible.

But true.

I took this picture a few months ago.

The Grunter started his quarter collection the same year Scary Baby was born.

He was missing 2007’s Wyoming.

It was only fitting that she complete his collection by finding the last quarter he needed.

A decade of milestones.

Surely worth more than a quarter or two.

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