A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

en·cour·age·ment [en-kur-ij-muhnt, -kuhr-] –noun
1. the act of encouraging.
2. the state of being encouraged.
3. something that encourages: Praise is the greatest encouragement.

My bestie did a cheer for me over GChat. I am addicted to COKE (as in Coca-Cola) and I'm having great withdrawals. And it makes me really sad that I can't and shouldn't have something that tastes so GOOD because it's SOOOO BAD for me. I wanted to share it with you because it makes me laugh and honestly provides encouragement without being preachy.

So - here it is.

GIVE ME A "W"
GIVE ME A "A"
GIVE ME A "T"
GIVE ME A "E"
GIVE ME A "R"
WHAT DOES THAT SPELL?
WATER!
WATER! He's our man. If he can't do it, NO ONE CAN!
WATER!
YEAH GET SOME TODAY
GET SOME it's FREE!
Great for your wallet
Great for your skin
Great for your butt
Great for your C-H-O-L-E-S-T-E-R-O-L

Oh man, was that the "C" word? Yes, that's right. That's the OTHER problem that I'm addressing. It sucks.

oh and my 9.5 stress level. I'm working on that too!

:o(

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

re·demp·tion [ri-demp-shuhn] –noun

1. an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
2. deliverance; rescue.
3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation.
4. atonement for guilt.
5. repurchase, as of something sold.
6. paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, or note.
7. recovery by payment, as of something pledged.

I mentioned having gone to a leadership conference a couple weeks ago. I can’t tell you what a deep impact it’s had in my life. I think the only way to explain it is basically to get of my bum and do something that REALLY matters. I’ve set some goals and have a sense of urgency that the time is NOW or NEVER.

Okay, so I would like to introduce you to Catherine Rohr. She is the Founder and CEO of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). She was one of the speakers at this conference and I can’t seem to stop talking about this AMAZING program she started. Seriously – it’s redemptions story at its best. Catherine Rohr’s story has given, for me, a new meaning to 1 Peter 2:9. It says:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

He (God) didn’t just pull us out of darkness for the sake of taking us out of darkness but to bring others with us! She proclaims the excellencies of Jesus – and it’s evident in these men that she’s shared with them LIGHT!!

Enough talking from me. Please, Please, Please watch the videos!

Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

sa·lu·bri·ous (sə-lōō'brē-əs) adj.
Conducive or favorable to health or well-being.

Have I mentioned how much I love salubrious laughter. I've had a lot of it lately and for that I'm thankful.

Here is one conversation via AIM that had me laughing pretty hard. The conversation started with a blurb I had to cut in half (yes, work related).

Me: If you're interested in reading the final butchering you can come read it
Intern: I'm coming. I love gore and blood!
Me: LOL
Me: I just read this. GORE and BLOOD. HA.
Me: are you talking about Braveheart?
Intern: more Gladiator. I don't know why, but I actually hated Braveheart.
Me: WHAT
Me: I can't stand the actor for the Gladiator!!! WHACK!
Intern: WHAT!!! "My name is Maximus Decimus Brulius, commander of the armies of the North, General of the Felix legion, loyal servant to the true emperor Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will seek my vengence in this life or the next."
Me: Okay, I never said that I didn't like the movie...but if HE could be replaced by another actor I'd like it Much much better
Me: But then again, he played the role well. So, I can't think of a suitable replacement
Me: Schwartznager* was prob governer* by then and he'd make it too cheesy! :o)
Intern: No kidding! Hasta la vista, Commodus!
Intern: actually, it would be commode
Me: HA HA HA

*Excellent spelling, I know!!

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

rac·on·teur [rak-uhn-tur; Fr. ra-kawn-tɶr]
–noun, plural -teurs

a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

Origin: 1820–30; <>re- + aconter to tell, account) + -eur -eur]

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When I grow up, I’d like to be like my Tia Kika. She’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met and she has THE BEST stories on the face of the earth. Why I’ve never considered having a recorder of some type with me when she’s telling stories is beyond me. She uses words in Spanish that I never knew existed and to this day can’t think of what they are but WOW – She’s the perfect person to have around if you want a good heart exercise.

She is my late-grandfather’s oldest sister. She’s become really good friends with my grandmother (her sister-in-law). Since she lives in Mexico, I don’t get to see her often, but when I do I LOVE LOVE LOVE the off the wall stories she tells.

Here’s one that I remember. (Keep in mind that I am not the raconteur, my aunt is. Me telling the story gives it NO justice!)

One afternoon, Tia Kika notices that the water heater went out. She calls the water heater guy to come replace it. He does, but he just hooked it up without turning it on or anything. As she’s working on her stuff, she notices the hot water isn’t working and thinks it’s crazy because she just got the water heater replaced. She goes to check out the water heater and diagnose the problem – the problem being that the SOB didn’t light the water heater! Being the resourceful woman that she is, she gets a rag and dips it in diesel lights it to light up the water heater. When she puts the match to the rag there’s an “explosion” singeing the hair off of her arms and face. Yes – She even singed her EYEBROWS and her bangs!!!

That is one story of a million! I love her so much! And if I can be like her when I grow up (minus dipping rags in diesel and singeing my arm hair and eyebrows) I will be one lucky woman!

A Wednesday Word: making wenesday worthwhile

dis·gust [dis-guhst, di-skuhst]
–verb (used with object)
1. to cause loathing or nausea in.
2. to offend the good taste, moral sense, etc., of; cause extreme dislike or revulsion in: Your vulgar remarks disgust me.
Spanish: asquear, repugnar
–noun
3. a strong distaste; nausea; loathing.
4. repugnance caused by something offensive; strong aversion: He left the room in disgust.
Spanish: asquear, repugnar

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I feel disgusted when I can’t keep up with a fun feature for my blog!

I chose the word because the definition is so freakin descriptive. It reminds me of when someone looks at me when they are upset with me. (I know ridiculous!)

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So, Uhm, yeah. What a week!

Last week, I took some time off to help my dad’s church with Vacation Bible School. I did the decorations, helped my mom with crafts, and had 14-17 year olds in my class. It was fun, busy, and a nice time to take a break from work – you know, change of scenery.

So that schedule has messed me up so much, and maybe it’s not the schedule. Instead, it may be that I got just a tad bit worked up about coming back to work knowing there’s a load to do to meet deadlines. Regardless, starting Saturday night there have been three nights in a row that I’ve been unable to get REAL sleep. I’ll admit that ONE night was my fault! It was totally my fault. But one night I was WIDE AWAKE like….laying there with my eyes WIDE OPEN until 3 am, ladies and gentlemen. 3 am. Three hours of sleep on a full schedule is not cool. The previous nights I had maybe 4 hours, but wow. I'm a DISASTER when I don’t sleep.

All that to say: THANK GOD I SLEPT LIKE A ROCK LAST NIGHT!!!

Today started like this.

Mom: Mimi, look at this. I cannot take the pain anymore. (she’s crying)

Mimi: What’s going on with your eye?

Mom: I don’t know but I’ve scheduled an appointment for 10 this morning to see the eye doctor. Can you take me?

Mimi: OF COURSE! Let me call work.

Okay, so my mom’s eye was EXTREMELY red and swollen. SCARY!! It turns out that she has a paper cut like “scratch” in her eye. She was working in the yard and had a plant whack her in the face. Okay, so THEN, after the doctor’s appointment, we’re headed out to the car, ready to go home and my brother Tim is escorting my mother who is wearing a patch over her eye and who is SO uncomfortable, and, yeah, I have a flat! Had this been yesterday, I would have cried.

Instead, I was reasonable and started to work on getting the tire changed, thankful that my mom is inside and not outside in the heat. I don't think I really knew what I was doing - regarding the tire changing business, but I had a PRETTY good idea. So, I get the jack out and start clicking it up…or however you call that (jacking it up?) and this guy comes out of nowhere, says, “I can take care of this ma’am!” He takes out my puny jack and uses his amazing jack (I need to invest in one like his) and changes my tire, and leaves before I could give him an exuberant thank you and offer him any money. (WOW is all I have to say about that! That was really nice.)

Really, it was amazing that I got to work at 1 pm this afternoon and that I met my “deadlines.” There’s still a lot to do, because it doesn’t ever end, but Wow. I’m so incredibly thankful I got rest last night because I wouldn’t have made it.

And OMG! Yesterday, I met up with some people at a baseball game, but I rode up there by myself. LIKE BY MYSELF...can you imagine if I was on my way home from the game in DOWNTOWN HOUSTON by MYSELF and had a flat then?

Like I was told once: Life is timing!

Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

I realize it's Thursday, but I can't help posting a word.

The word for the MONTH is:

di·ver·sion: [di-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn, dahy-] –noun
1. the act of diverting or turning aside, as from a course or purpose: a diversion of industry into the war effort.
2. a channel made to divert the flow of water from one course to another or to direct the flow of water draining from a piece of ground.
3. British. a detour on a highway or road.
4. distraction from business, care, etc.; recreation; amusement; a pastime: Movies are his favorite diversion.
5. Military. a feint intended to draw off attention from the point of main attack.

Number 4 is the reason for posting this word. At work, we're down to the wire for our Annual Meeting. I'll take whatever DIVERSION I can get. At this point, I have to be pretty selective or I'll wear myself out and be useless for either work or play. Read this entry - under the dotted line. That's what happens when I pack it in full.

So, in my selectivity, I chose to go to one of the most awesome concerts last night! Like OMG, SO FREAKIN' COOL! Watch this trailer for the show. They are touring in the states and I'm so stinkin' glad I got to see them. When the show was over I kept hollering "ENCORE ENCORE!!!" I didn't want to go home. I left wanting even more!

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

Phileos: Greek for brotherly love. (there's a chance I misspelled it.)

I'm a lucky girl. I have pretty awesome brothers. I mean, seriously.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

trust (trŭst) n.
Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.

I've been reading the book of Acts. And in Acts there's an amazing, jaw-dropping, UNREAL - almost unbelievable conversion. Saul becomes Paul! Saul was a murder. He was an enemy. He was passionate about his cause - though it was wrong. One day, he's blinded and when he regains his sight, he gains his SIGHT! I mean, there is a complete 180! He becomes one of those he persecuted. And for a bit, followers of Jesus weren't sure that he could be trusted. Until of course, he shared his passion about the gospel.

CAN YOU REALLY TRUST PEOPLE!?

There is a reason why the scriptures are flooded with words like (and this is just from the psalms, but seriously it's all over):

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

Psalm 146:3

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Psalm 118:8

We have the tendancy to put our hearts out there - I mean, not even romantically speaking - you put your heart out there only to find out that this person was not what you thought. And your world is messed up for a bit, because you can't find which way is up. When all along we're told - it's better to trust in God, than man.

Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

au·dit [aw-dit] –noun
1. an official examination and verification of accounts and records, esp. of financial accounts.
2. a report or statement reflecting an audit; a final statement of account.
3. the inspection or examination of a building or other facility to evaluate or improve its appropriateness, safety, efficiency, or the like: An energy audit can suggest ways to reduce home fuel bills.
4. Archaic. a judicial hearing.
5. Obsolete. an audience. –verb (used with object)
6. to make an audit of; examine (accounts, records, etc.) for purposes of verification: The accountants audited the company's books at the end of the fiscal year.
7. to attend (classes, lectures, etc.) as an auditor.
8. to make an audit of (a building or other facility) to evaluate or improve its safety, efficiency, or the like. –verb (used without object)
9. to examine and verify an account or accounts by reference to vouchers.

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The organization I work for is going through an audit. And let me tell you something! Do you see the definition above? Yeah, that's not NEAR as long as the TO-DO List!

I don't think I'm sinking yet...

yet...

wait...my desk is accumulating a large amount of paper work...so I may look like 'him' soon.

So maybe I AM sinking and I'm in denial. muah ha ha ha ha.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

bal·ly·hoo (bāl'ē-hōō') Pronunciation Key
n. pl. bal·ly·hoos

1. Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
2. Noisy shouting or uproar.

Recently, advertising conversations have been frequent in my world (I'm taking a break from politics, ha ha).

• First, a friend of mine is shocked when she sees a billboard that reads: Jesusdoesnotcare.com. To which I responded, "Yeah, it's probably one of those church websites. You know - Jesus doesn't care...where you've come from, how you dress, if you're rich or poor..." Turns out that it is a billboard from her church! It caught our attention for sure. You should check it out!
  
• Second, coming up 59 north, there is a billboard that reads: moonvertising.com. It has this big moon thing sticking out and there's green light stuff all over it and I think..."What are they trying to be - BATMAN?" Yes, curiosity had me. You should check it out!
• And last, but certainly NOT least, I spoke to another friend about The Real Men of Genius, Bud light commercials. I think these are considered ballyhoos. Whoever is on this brainstorming team really is a genius! I mean, who comes up with stuff like (yes click and listen. You should check them out!):
  
• Mr. Hair Gel Overgeller
• Mr. Underwear Inspector No. 12
• Mr. In the Car Nose Picker
• Mr. Really Loud Cell Phone Talker Guy
• Mr. Silent Killer Gas Passer
• Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer

Edit: Go here if the links don't work.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

Today, I will be using a Thesaurus!! I should rename today's Wednesday Word post to Wednesday Adventure!! It was a fun one...not anything extravagant per se, but SUPERB.

Main Entry: ace
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: expert
Synonyms: brilliant, champion, distinguished, excellent, expert, first-rate, great, master, outstanding, superb, virtuoso


Recently, we had a big thunderstorm here in Houston and it messed up our color printer here at work. I knew in the pit of my stomach that if they gave me the project of fixing it - it would work. Seriously the angels were singing and everything!!

So, my boss was working on it. That is just fine if I may say so. He worked on it all afternoon yesterday with a tech and was unsuccessful.

Today, my boss started working on it again and had to leave to an off site meeting and guess who got to take over? ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited! Seriously I got to play with the coolest screwdriver and pull apart this color printer and put pieces back together and all that stuff with the instruction of non other than a CANADIAN! As he was giving instructions he would say out, about, and other words that I made a mental note to remember, but nonetheless they have escaped me. I spent all afternoon working on it and now…uh-hum (clear my throat) it is working! It's printing!!! I'm so excited!!!

My boss is a bit jealous. Because I'm a girl and I, the girl who shouldn't be playing with tools and such, fixed it! YEAH!!! GO HANDY WOW-man!

P.S. I mention Canadian, because I have a Canadian friend. The accent was fun to listen to.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

re·pose [ri-pohz] verb, -posed, -pos·ing.
–verb (used without object)

• to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.
• to be peacefully calm and quiet: The sea reposed under the tropical sun.
• to lie or rest on something.
• Archaic. to depend or reply on a person or thing.

Here is a promise: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

mmmm....

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

shlumpadinka • \shlum-puh-DINK-uh\ • noun
: a woman who dresses like she has completely given up on herself and it shows : a dowdy and unstylish woman

Example Sentence: There you are running out to get the paper looking like a shlumpadinka. —Oprah Winfrey (April 27, 2007)

Did you know?"I have to practice not looking like a shlumpadinka on the air," said Oprah Winfrey on her eponymous show, broadcast April 15, 1997. Oprah has occasionally separated shlumpa and dinka, the constituent parts of the word, for emphasis: "You are watching right now in your sweats...the same sweats you had on yesterday and the day before...you are a shlumpa and a dinka and you know it!" Oprah has also used the word shlumpadink to refer to a masculine subject, although this form is somewhat less frequently heard. Oprah has often used shlumpadinka attributively to modify another noun, as in "It's my shlumpadinka shoes!" or "You're watching me right now in your shlumpadinka pajamas." Merriam-Webster's editors believe that the word is influenced by schlump, a word of Yiddish origin meaning "a sloppy or dowdy person."
Submitted by: Oprah.com Feb. 19, 2008 4:14 pm

Feeling a little shlumpadinka yourself? Give your brain a daily makeover by subscribing to Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day—one of life's free (and guilt-free) pleasures!
If it's in the dictionary, you can look it up instantly anywhere on the Web with the free Merriam-Webster Search Box—available with other great downloads here.

Okay - I cheated! I stole this from HERE!! No, actually SHE told me to do it!!

Hope you're not looking like a shlumpadinka! :o)

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

pas·sive [pas-iv]
–adjective
1. not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling.
2. not participating readily or actively; inactive: a passive member of a committee.
3. not involving visible reaction or active participation: to play a passive role.

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I've noticed that there is a lot of advice on how to be a good parent, how to have a good relationship, how to be a good friend, etc. More than that though, I've noticed that specific advice often transcends what it addresses - it is universal. I read this last fall and it has stuck with me. Sometimes it may seem like common sense. But when this sort of advice resonates in your being, it is more than common sense - it is TRUTH!

No enemy is more subtle than passivity. When parents are passive,
they may eventually discipline, but by then the delayed reaction is often
carried out in anger. Passivity waits and waits until finally, when it can wait
no longer, it comes down with both feet! When that happens, children are not
disciplined, they are brutalized. Passivity not only blinds us to
the here and now, it makes us inconsistent.
by Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives,
italics added by Mimi Marquez

I think at one time or another we have all encountered passivity and the dreaded "explosion." Wow, how passivity doesn't do us any good!! It causes more damage than we are willing to admit.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

Words make songs. Some songs are worth posting on a Wednesday!
Enjoy! ha ha ha.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

i·den·ti·cal (ī-děn'tĭ-kəl) adj.

1. Being the same: another orator who used the senator's identical words.
2. Exactly equal and alike.
3. Having such a close similarity or resemblance as to be essentially equal or interchangeable.
4. Biology Of or relating to a twin or twins developed from the same fertilized ovum and having the same genetic makeup and closely similar appearance; monozygotic.

Here's what it looks like in Korean: 바로 그

Here's what it looks like in American:

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

chry·san·the·mum [kri-san-thuh-muhm] –noun
1. any of several composite plants of the genus Chrysanthemum, as C. leucanthemum, the oxeye daisy, having white ray flowers with a yellow center.
2. any cultivated variety of the plant C. morifolium, native to China, and of other species of Chrysanthemum, notable for the diversity of color and size of their autumnal flowers.
3. the flower of any such plant.

Okay, so it's an autumnal flower! Perhaps it would have been better to post this around October or November. HOWEVER, Chrysanthemum also happens to be on of my favorite children's books. When you read it you have to do the voices and when you read Chrysanthemum you HAVE to read it like this: Chrys-AAAAN-themum!

A Wednesday Word: making wednesdays worthwhile

ebullient \ih-BUL-yuhnt\, adjective:

1. Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement; high-spirited.
2. Boiling up or over.

I always feel overly ebullient when we ring in the new year. There is something about it that gives me hope enough to make me fly for days. It's not just another day, it's a NEW YEAR! We have the choice to make it brake it! :o)

Personally, I think it will be fruitful. After all I just picked oranges last night!!! So symbolic!

p.s. New Year Resolutions anyone?

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

From J-Good's quotation stash:

A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of.
Burt Bacharach (1928 - )

I do the above. Reading that made me laugh because it's TRUE! Don't lie!! And thank goodness for God's invention of a brain that never stops soaking new vocabulary. I love words. Have I ever mentioned that?

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Today's word is in honor of three great girls - well, really FOUR great girls! We all used to work together and still make it a point to get together and celebrate birthdays, friendship and, OF COURSE, CHRISTMAS!

soi·ree [swah-rey] : -noun, an
evening party or social gathering, esp. one held for a particular purpose.
Also, soi·rée.

Here's my favorite picture of us - old, but good!

Check Patricia's blog for recent pictures!

Checkity Check

It's always around this time of year that I am amazed at how fast time flies.

Tomorrow is SATURDAY!

A quick overview (of last weekend) -

• Friday night: Went to see Gabi's Orchestra Concert. I was really impressed that they learned such a difficult piece in two weeks. I'm also extremely proud that she is SECOND chair! I could never make it to second chair. :o(
• Saturday: Read for a while in the morning, cleaned the kitchen, went to gramma's for lunch and ended up taking the longest nap ever in my life. I must be tired or something because I'm not a napper. I went to see my cousin Mikey go from cub scouts to boy scouts. It was funny to see how "serious" he gets when he's in formation. My Tia Mimi worked hard on the "arrow of light." I need to get an example of that because it's serious work. Then, I met up with some friends at the Lights in the Heights. That was Christmas fun and festive. We went back to their house and had some soups - not that it was wintery cold outside.
• Sunday: Went to LA IGLESIA and then had birthday lunch with Amy and Rosy (cousins), who turned 24!! And then went to watch Shane & Shane and Bethany Dillon. These people sound so much better live!! Something about recording in a studio that kills the edge of live music.

Wednesday Word: I've neglected it. But have not fear, it will be here (next week?). I have to get Jennifer to send me the quotation that is perfect to go along with the Wednesday Word. And guys: Check this out. Learn new words while feeding the hungry! Great way of combining charity with education! And speaking of words: Patricia posted this cool link about important 3 words. It's amazing!

And just for the heck of looking at a cute growing girl go check out Susanne's blog. Her daughter Lindsey is SUPER DUPER CUTE!

Merry Christmas!