Hott

Hi October, I see you inching closer to me. I'm really very friendly; take my proffered hand and lean in for a kiss.

Grammatacize: Part Deux

There are so very many grammatical things to learn in this world, I figured it won't hurt to add some more knowledge to our brains on the matter.

That being said, check out the following:

When to use i.e. versus e.g. when writing (thanks oatmeal)

i.e. is an abbreviated latin phrase meaning "that is" and is subsequently used for clarification purposes. Synonyms are "in essence" or "in other words". Keep in mind the "in other words" phrase because that will head you in the proper direction once you've started your sentence.

• I wanted to go for a run in the park, i.e. people watch.

e.g. is used in place of "for example". This one's much easier.

• When I go to the park, I like to people watch to see what they are like, e.g. crazy, hyper, or funny.

How about their, there, and they're? You feel comfortable with those? A lot of people think they are, but tend to still slip once in awhile. I still hesitate at times...it's inevitable. But it's an easy fix.

• Their - posessive. It is theirs, they own it.


• There - location. It is over there.


• They're - a contraction for "they are".


• Example: They're (They are) over there (location) by their (possessive, they own it) car.

Clear as mud? Try the next group on for size.

I have never known when to use affect versus effect so let's learn together courtesy of my new friend:

Affect means "to influence" someone or something.

• The humidity in Houston often affects my hair and subsequently makes me irritable.


• In this sentence, I would normally have used effect...lesson learned, B!

Effect translates easiest to "a result" due to something or someone affecting you. See how I threw that in there (location) to distinguish?

• The effect of humidity on my hair is disastrous, e.g. by creating a halo effect, wavy hair, and an uncontainable frizz.

Learning

I deal very poorly with bad drivers.

I need to work on this.

They really can't hear me when I'm talking to them.

And it's probably not a good idea to make gestures guiding them to their destination, be that the next lane over, across the freeway, or h-e-double hockey sticks.

I'm learning.

If they are a dinosaur behind the wheel, e.g. Sharptooth who can't reach the steering wheel, Sarah who can't reach the pedal, or Longneck who isn't using what his name implies, I should really just let them be. Eventually, they'll leave my general vicinity and I won't have to deal with them again.

At least until I see them in traffic the next day...then the next...and suddenly realize they are my neighbor.

Lesson learned.

Nutty

Nuts for You!

Nut King: Walnut
Nut Queen: Almond
Nut Prince: Cashew
Nut Princess: Pecan
Nut Jester: Brazil

Want a healthy snack with a real crunch? Grab a handful of this Court. All are good for you by providing healthy fats and minerals essential to a happy self.

I personally like to make the following:
Cashews + Dried Cranberries + Pecans = Delicious trail mix. Add Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds and look out world.

Nuts are a great way to stave off hunger for a bit. True story: I was quite hungry at 10AM this morning. I ate a handful of the King I had brought from home and it was 11:30AM before I realized I wasn't hungry anymore.

But then that got me thinking about lunch and then I got hungry again.

Success in the distraction though! Mental hunger is far more powerful than physical. True story.

Grammatacize

Let's be honest, I get pretty confused sometimes when I'm writing and I come to an a/an situation. Or a who/whom, etc. I've been meaning to look this up for awhile, so here goes.

A versus An:

Use A prior to all words beginning with consonants save the soft 'h'...like thus.

• I'm a nerd because I find joy in utilizing words appropriately.
• At the very least, I'm an honest nerd.

Use An prior to all words beginning with vowels...like 'zis.

• I'm an all-encompassing nerd.

Who versus Whom:

Use Who when you are asking or referring to the subject of the sentence:

• Who is going to the party tonight?: Check!
• Proof: To answer this question would you say he or him? He! This will make sense soon...

Use Whom when you are asking or referring to the object of the sentence:

• For whom is this party being thrown?
• Proof: To answer this question, you would say him, right? Notice how him ends in M? So does whom. If to answer a question you would say him then that means you should use whom. Get it? I thought that was quite clever. Not my cleverness, sadly, but greatly appreciated all the same!

To versus Too:

The easiest way to distinguish these two are as follows:

• Too should be used in the following situations: when emphasizing something in excess (That was way too obvious.) or when wanting to add something (He is coming to the party, too.)
• My trick for remembering the latter (about adding) is that if too is appropriate then it can be replaced with as well (He is coming to the party, as well.).
• I hear your question: Why don't you just say as well all the time? Because, I answer, that's irrelevant.

Who's versus Whose:

Use Who's when you are wanting to use a contraction.

• Who's going to the party tonight? (Earlier I used "Who is" = contractualized!)
• Can be "Who is" or "Who has"

Use Whose when you are talking about possession.

• Do you know whose car this is that I just hit? - A phrase that keeps floating around my office. Dear garage gods, please let it not be my car.

This concludes our lesson today on some of the basics. I realize half my sentences are improperly structured, I'm sure, based on some obscure rule or another. However, when it comes to that much detail, I will be leaving it up to my copy editor as he/she tears apart my future best-selling novel.

Paleontology

Dear Ross,

Well done on your first time directing. Run, Fatboy, Run was a fantastic movie. Clever shots, good scenes, great acting direction and choice of actors. You also got a great Cinematographer and Director of Photography. You build your Cabinet well...let's see some more from you.

Happily your newest fan,

Bex

Zomg

I just discovered the best chocolate dessert ever.

And I do mean that statement in its entirety.

The Chocolate Cake from Zydeco's on San Jacinto (downtown Houston).

Buy it. Take it home. Put it in the fridge. Eat it the next day.

The pudding frosting has slowly melded into the cake making it the consistency of a Tres Leches.

Win...epic win.