Places to do, things to go ...

We have so much time and so little to do! No, wait, scratch that. Reverse it.
-- Willie Wonka, from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Well, here it is Monday morning and I'm sitting at my desk wondering where the last three days went. By in a blur, for me. More volleyball Friday night (which made us miss the high school football game - which we did win, rah) and Saturday all day - we got home later than last week but didn't have to get up as early so it wasn't such a wearing out kind of thing. Sunday was church. The kids and I were getting ready when the WGH called and said one of his fellow orchestra members had four tickets to the Titans game and did he want them? Free, I might add. People can be such a blessing sometimes. So, the WGH and the kids went to the game after Sunday school. My afternoon didn't go exactly as planned, but it's a long, wet, hairy story involving Chinese food, the garbage, a pop-up thunderstorm and the dog that I'm not sure is worth sharing (maybe tomorrow if you really, really want to hear it). We topped the whole weekend off with the Indianapolis-NYGiants game (go Colts), NBC on the "big screen" TV in the basement. Fun stuff.

September 11. All day today there will be stories and news reports and updates commemorating the anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attack on the U.S. in our history. I remember what I was doing that day (that whole week, really) and how it affected the whole country. I'm not here to preach, but my feeling is that all those people who say the war is pointless should sit down and talk with a Viet Nam veteran - provided you can get them to talk about it. They'll tell you about pointless (trust me - my Dad was there). At least with this war we're actually accomplishing something. Now, don't jump on me and tell me I'm wrong. It's what I believe, and if you don't believe the same thing that's your prerogative. Just remember today that a lot of people gave or lost their lives, whether willingly, pointlessly or not, so that you could stand on your soap box. 'Nuff said.

Ringo. When the WGH and the kids first brought McCartney home, the WGH wanted to name the dog Ringo. I said no way in ... anyway, we settled on McCartney, or Mac for short. (These days he has lots of names, some of which I can't repeat in mixed company.) Now, I told you that story to tell you this one. The other night, the WGH came home from work quite late. He was in the kitchen getting a snack and turned on the television. I have no idea what channel it was or how he found it, but there was Ringo Starr in a live performance. The people in the audience were dancing, waving their arms, and generally having a good time. The WGH remarked that it was like a Wiggles concert for adults. I thought that was profoundly amusing.

Grammar lesson. I've been thinking about this for about a week. One of my biggest pet peeves when I'm reading a book is coming across instances of poor grammar. I'm not talking about typos here. I'm talking about flat-out, blatant misuse of words. The one I hate most at the moment? Than vs. then. So here's a quick lesson on proper use of the two. Pay attention. Take notes.

Then. According to Merriam-Webster online, the word "then" can be used as either an adverb (most common - meaning at that time, soon after that, being next in a series, in addition, in that case, as may be inferred, as it appears, or as a necessary consequence), a noun (meaning that time) or an adjective (meaning existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned). Not to be confused with than, which is either a conjunction (a -- used as a function word to indicate the second member or the member taken as the point of departure in a comparison expressive of inequality; used with comparative adjectives and comparative adverbs [older than I am] [easier said than done] b -- used as a function word to indicate difference of kind, manner, or identity; used especially with some adjectives and adverbs that express diversity [anywhere else than at home]) or as a preposition (meaning in comparison with). DO NOT EVER say/write "older then I", "better one then another", or "greater then these". Argh.

Product placement? The other day I happened to catch an episode of As Time Goes By on BBC-America. I love Dame Judi Dench (among other and all things British). During a couple of scenes something caught my eye that just tickled me. Dench's character, Jean, was lying in bed, reading a book (which I think she did often) - I couldn't see the title, but the author's name was big as you please on the front cover of the book: Ruth Rendell. I've never read anything by Rendell but have a lot of writer and reader friends who really enjoy her work, so I've heard the name. I'm going to have to pose the question to the illustrious mavens and moguls on DorothyL as to whether this is as common a practice on British TV as it is here.

Places to do. I've revamped the To-Do List yet again (it changes every week). I'm telling myself, as I do every day, that I am going to accomplish something.

But first, breakfast.

Read a book. It's good for you.

=) JB