When I started writing this blog, I promised myself I wouldn't hold back. I would say what was on my mind (kind of) and speak the truth (sometimes). I promised myself that no matter how lame a thought might be, and how isolated I may be in my view point, that I would still say it. I would write for myself and not for "the people."
"You should at least use spell check," my Mom would say. "And at least use proper grammar..."
"What's wrong with my grammar?"
"....And you shouldn't say words like 'vagina.' "
"Okay, Mom."
"....Or 'dude.' I hate 'dude....'"
OMG, dude. I get it. Why does mom gotta bug like that, yo.
The truth is though, my mom kind of has a point. Sure, I can write. But I don't always write RIGHT. Believe me. I know. In high school, I was the only one in AP English who needed/used cliff notes. While everyone used the class to ensure (or is it "assure"?) a head start in college, I used it as an opportunity to get some action from the nerdy boys. I was definitely the dumbest smart kid in the class and was perfectly fine with that stature.
But these days, I'm not perfectly "fine." I'm perfectly disheveled and my attention to details, words, and unfortunately wit, isn't exactly, well... perfect. In fact, some of you have even noticed.... A couple weeks ago, I got an email from a friend/reader who said that she was so sorry to mention it, but that after reading the
ode to my bangs, she had to tell me about a slight mistake. The sentence in my post read:
And though I never EVER strayed (with the exception of a very long/side swept
thing I tried right after college), for all intensive purposes, I have always been loyal...
Embarrassed and thankful for having readers that have a better grasp on the English language than I, I changed it immediately. Apparently, for 33 years I have been saying "intensive purposes" when in fact I should be saying "INTENTS AND PURPOSES." Who knew?!
"What?!" said my friend J, "Of course it's 'intents and purposes'. Everyone knows that."
"No," said his very educated and professional wife A, "I thought it was 'intense and purposes.'"
"Yeah," said his sister T (a 5th grade teacher with a masters in education), "I agree with J-Ko. I thought it was 'intensive purposes' too. I've been saying it wrong this whole time too?!"
"How is that there is a room full of sophisticated and intelligent women (with great butts I might add), saying something that seems so obvious, so ridiculously wrong?"
"Frightening," said T, "I'm shaping our youth."
"Shocking," said A, "I feel like I should know that."
"Embarrassing," I said, "I am a WRI-TER.... And this by the way, this is definitely going to be a blog post."
Without missing a beat, J chimed back in, "You want me to proof that before you post it??"
Ha. Ha.
The truth is though, I think I say a lot of things wrong. We all do. Not that I'm trying to pass the buck (or is it "dodge a bullet"?), but one of my very best friends, a Psychology Professor (a
PROFESSOR people), says "irregardless." I think she
knows "irregardless" is not a word, but she says it anyway, claiming that it souuuuuuunds like a word. Unfortunately, there is no such word. In fact, if you look up the definition of "Irregardless" on
Merriam-Webster Online, they suggest not using it. "Use 'regardless' instead."
Even Wikipedia has a
list of commonly misused English Words.... And I know the fact that we are
all a little dumb (sometimes) doesn't excuse my misuse, but it should at least make me relatable to "the people...." And while I've never been fully sure of when/how to use "affect" or"effect," I can ASSURE you that being a little dumb is better than being a little lame.
So please, feel free to proof read, comment and share your thoughts on my writing.... I may resent your remark, but at least, AT LEAST, I would never "resemble that remark." Because that, THAT would definitely be a little dumb....
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