Friday, May 29, 2015

Lesson 362: Word Aversion


Graduation week is upon us, Readers.



As important a word as graduation is,
I hate it.

I hate it about as much taking a tree branch to the face.
My own fault...
I didn't wear my helmet on a quick ride around the yard on the ATV,
and I got distracted...

Live and learn.


Learning.
That's what life is all about.
You learn.



You graduate.



You move on.

What an inspiring message to give hope. I'll have to remember this for my upcoming high school senior. #God #faith #Christian

Graduation should be a continual process
 linked to all stages of life,
not just academics:
 preschool, 
sixth grade,
high school,
and college.

I love how the word GRADUATION looks.
It's pretty and it has a U in the middle.
Eloise likes U's in the middle of words.

That's probably why I married a




and named my son

and LOVE the word



But the connotation of the word graduation
is what gets to Eloise the Tenderhearted.
It's the feelings that word conveys,
beyond its literal definition,
that taps on my shoulder
and whispers in my ear,
It's over!

It was sure a fun ride,



but I know it is time to see what's next.





Even though, every year I have to say goodbye,
Mrs. Eloise considers herself lucky.

This lady's blog experience of loss of a baby and babies could be so helpful to others who are grieving child and pregnancy loss.

Eloise has an aversion to the word GRADUATION,
and Daughter Ellen Louise has one to the word MOIST.

She started openly complaining about the word MOIST about a year ago.
I dismissed it the first couple of times,
then as Ellen's angst continued,
I considered it a teenaged, attention-getting ploy.

Come to find out from Friend Dena's facebook post,
that Ellen is not alone in her aversion to the world MOIST.

words_and_phrases_moist_towlette-640.jpg -


                                         A word Ellen Louise hates, CLICK HERE


Here is some more interesting information on the word


An Exploratory Investigation of Word Aversion Paul H. Thibodeau (paul.thibodeau@oberlin.edu) Christopher Bromberg (cbromber@oberlin.edu) Oberlin College Department of Psychology 120 West Lorain St; Oberlin, OH 44074 Robby Hernandez (rhernan3@trinity.edu) Zachary Wilson (zwilson@trinity.edu) Trinity University Department of Psychology One Trinity Place; San Antonio, TX 78212 Abstract Why do people self-report an aversion to words like “moist”? The present study represents an initial scientific exploration into the phenomenon of word aversion by investigating its prevalence and cause. We find that as many as 20% of the population equates hearing the word “moist” to the sound of fingernails scratching a chalkboard. This population often speculates that phonological properties of the word are the cause of their displeasure. One tantalizing possibility is that words like “moist” are aversive because speaking them engages facial muscles that correspond to expressions of disgust. However, three experiments suggest that semantic features of the word – namely, associations with disgusting bodily functions – underlie peoples’ unpleasant experience. This finding broadens our understanding of language and contributes to a growing literature on the cognitive processes relating to highly valenced and arousing words.

Many people report that they find words like “moist,” “slacks,” and “luggage” acutely aversive. They describe the experience of hearing these words as similar to hearing nails scratch a chalkboard, often claiming that the sound of the word itself triggers their visceral reaction. Attention to this phenomenon has spread virally through social and traditional media in recent years. The word “moist,” for example, has been the subject of a Facebook page (called “I HATE the word MOIST”) with over 3,000 followers and was rated as the least liked word in the English language by a Mississippi State Poll (Ward, 2009); feature articles have been written in Slate Magazine (Malady, 2013) and The New Yorker (Greenman, 2012); and popular TV shows like “How I Met Your Mother” (“Stuff”) and “The New Girl” (“Birthday”) have devoted entire plot-lines to the comic consequences of word aversion

Eloise has to admit this:
SLACKS always kinda bugged me.

Here's a handy flow chart for you.
Eloise loves flow charts!



                                                                 Another article:


And another:


                                                       Look! It's #2 on this list!

And another!

                                  It made this one, too! With a picture to match! CLICK HERE!

Zombie apocalypse is on there, too.  
Boo!  Hiss!


Most of the Eighth Grade is suffering from Word Aversion.
Mr. Ludwig's Poetry Projects were due this week.




Ellen penned a couple of poems about her English teacher as part of this project:

Her teacher, who may I add, loves Shakespeare:

Mr. Ludwig

My teacher, a lover of Shakespeare
Confusing for me but he made clear
Using big words
Won’t make you a nerd
Befuddled and titillate hold dear

 shakespeare quotes | Best shakespeare quotes, famous shakespeare quotes - Funny Pictures

 Mr. Ludwig is a chicken $h!t around spiders, too:



The Basement

Wolf spiders inhabit the cellar
Arachnid, a huge basement dweller
With eight hairy legs
Please kill it he begs

Just shoot it like you did Old Yeller

My kids are growing up!







It's bittersweet, to put it in simplest terms.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – June 5, 2013 | thesassylife


When I google imaged the term bittersweet
(which I often do to get a feel for the word--
Eloise = Word Nerd),
I found out that bittersweet is a poisonous nightshade.


It's pretty to look at, but quite toxic to humans--
but it does make a heck of a pretty wreath.


I'm all into growing things, you see.
I took a Gardening Class last weekend with some Master Gardeners
as part of my Challenge Erie 6 Summer Program.


My friends and I helped create some wellness 
by developing a shared garden for Dr. Krauza's neighbors and patients.


Gardens are miracles that happen right before your eyes.
Eloise will try to employ my new knowledge and not kill mine this year.
I won't be growing bittersweet!


I loved playing with my friend Kevin's camera on the softball field this week!
He let me hold it and take some pictures with it.
I told him if that lens was mine,
I'd have a cradle for it next to my bed,
and would swaddle it in blankets 
and rock it to sleep every night.












But, you know how the saying goes--


That's me with my arms open, yelling, 
"Where the he!! did that lens go!"

Couldn't choose any other song but Zac Brown Band's Bittersweet
for this week's photo video.

GREAT. TUNE.

Enjoy your weekend, Readers.
Do what you do,
and do your best while doing it.

ELOISE



Friday, May 22, 2015

Lesson 361: In Love, In Music, In Life


It's Memorial Day weekend, Readers!



Eloise hopes you find some time to relax,
and also reflect on our nation's past.

This is one that stopped me in my tracks when I seen this image. This is without a doubt one of the most moving tributes I've come across.... and I have seen many! This beautiful image " American Sacrifice" was created by DJ Florek. DJ's work can be view or purchased at Fine Art America. And again..... Thank you DJ for creating such a memorable piece, and remembering our Fallen Heros, and those that serve us each and every day!

If you are reading this blog,
you have some people to thank for that freedom.

Remember those who fought for what we enjoy today.
Thank them for your LIFE.

Home of the free because of the brave soldiers flag patriotic holiday memorial day united states happy memorial day memorial day quotes

Harry Truman got the words just right,
and it is with my own undying gratitude that I share them.

memorial day quotes | Memorial Day Quotes – Remembering Our Veterans; Happy Decoration Day ...

Eloise captured a photo moment of something that I LOVE.
I caught the Flag Brigade of Erie, PA
in action last weekend.



For the full story click the link below.

                                                          Flag Brigade CLICK HERE


Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Flag Brigade.
We LOVE what you do.



Natalie and I spotted them on the Nagle Road bridge,
and got out of the car to thank them in person.
We were on our way to a push-up challenge
at a gym that a friend of mine owns--Next Page Fitness.





Their NPF fitness enthusiasts took on a patriotic challenge,
and asked if I'd join, too.

Eloise is always up for a challenge,
so I signed up.



I'm game for anything that combines wellness
and help for the greater good.

The money raised from Push Ups for Charity went to help veterans.

The challenge was to do as many push ups as you could in 90 seconds.
This guy did them on his knuckles.


And Natalie....
well...
she did her own version--
a cross between cobra pose and a push up.


We contributed to the Next Page Fitness total--


Natalie threw in 7,


and Mother Eloise added a few more.


I made my goal a push up per year of my life (44) 
and contributed a buck for every one.

The first round, I fell one short.
I only caused a small scene,
and blamed my counter Cheridan for sub par counting skills,
accused her of needing a new glasses prescription,
and suggested she was part of a sinster plot to undermine my wellness efforts---

and then I found out there were two rounds.

All was good. 
I got 48 on my second round,
which if you haven't tried to do 48 REGULAR push-ups lately,
see for yourself.

I hate push ups,
and so does T-Rex.

@Kyle Bragger McLellan, @Yves Paul Scherer Rice  ...sorry kaily! i saw this and it had to be pinned, but you were logged in!

For the last two years, 
every day I do push ups to match my age.
Every day but Sunday, that is.
God said no work on Sundays,
and push-ups are work.

I've tried them every way imaginable,
and they always suck.
82 Ways to do Push-ups - #37 (Yoga) Downward Dog pushups are my new fave! I also love the TRX one at the very end. One of the few things I DON'T like with kettlebells are the kettlebell pushups, but check these out -they ARE a good workout!



But this, by far, was the most fun.

Should I be insulted or impressed that this pin was "recommended for" me by pinterest? Well played, pinterest.


Some days I do them all at once,
but most days I do them in sets of 11:

11 in the morning to wake up
11 after lunch at school when I start to get tired
(most of the times my class does them with me)
11 when I am burning things on the grill at dinnertime
and
11 when I stretch out at night before bed.

All those push-ups in a few minutes was well worth my dog tag!



I plan to spend some of my long weekend working on my yard,



finishing the novel I'm reading
(Eloise highly recommends this read for Memorial Day weekend--
we must never forget the atrocities of World War 2)





and fooling around with my camera--my favorite things to do.



Eloise plans to find inspiration
in LOVE,






in MUSIC,


in LIFE.


In between belting out a couple of rounds of America the Beautiful
(which I find much easier to sing out of tune than The Star Spangled Banner),

America the Beautiful Lyrics  Patriotic Art  Word par no9images, $30,00

I'll be singing Happy Birthday to my husband.
Happy 46th, Louie!
We love you!


I can't wait to see what is next for us,
or what's coming around the bend.


Weekend homework--
three assignments because you have an extra day.

#1--Check out Paul Smith,



the artist who creates beautiful pieces like this,



by using a typewriter.

And, oh,
he has cerebral palsy!

                                                       Amazing Artist CLICK HERE

Assignment #2--
Check out the work of this photographer

Holly Spring

Holly Spring

Did you notice the little girl is missing the bottom part of her arm?

Click the link below to see more breathtaking photos.

                                           Photography at its finest CLICK HERE

Bonus Assignment for LOST fans only:

It's been 5 years since LOST ended on May 23, 2010.
Every year on this date Losties remember what kept us captivated for six seasons.
Take the quiz below.

I got 11 out of 18 correct.

Here is Eloise Hawking on not one of her best days--



                                                   Lost trivia CLICK HERE

Most importantly, My Fellow Americans,
take a moment to reflect on your freedoms,

and celebrate them
in love,
in music,
and 
in life.

Some helpful tips on how to teach children about Memorial Day -- let's remember the sacrifices made by our troops to preserve our nation and our freedoms!

The perfect song choice this week is yet another of my favorites from the Zac Brown Band's new CD, Jekyll and Hyde.  The song is called Remedy, and I stole the words from its chorus to use for this blog.

Enjoy your long weekend.
ELOISE