A. Evaluate: "You did a good job polishing the car."
Compliment: "The car looks great!"
B. Evaluate: "Bob, you made a great talk."
Compliment: Bob, the point you made about --
(a firm handshake) is very meaningful to
me. Thanks.
C. Evaluation can be divisive.
Compliment complements a relationship
D. Evaluation is a statement about the past.
Compliment is in the present.
The above words of wisdom were given to me by my friend, Stephen Ruiz, who completed college at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York, and with honors.
Marylee Manson Armour
April 20, 2009
Collected in 1994
Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, August 16, 2008
FROM MY WINDOW
It is 7:33 in the morning. As I sit at my computer by the window, no cars and no fast-walking people, with their dogs, pass by. At 7:33 a.m., my mind, and for only a minute, ponders why..
"Ah ha! Today is Saturday and Saturday isn't a work day for some folks." Today, the cars must still be in their garages. The dog-walkers that I see most days, no doubt, are in their homes, and perhaps, asleep."
As I think about the word, "folks" I'm glad for it. Human beings might have been named "yolks." However, folks, sometimes, are called, (but not to their faces), "yokel", and to be exact, "country yokels."
Words, to me, are fun to think about. The word "some" came into my mind and gave me a word to play with.
How many people, or cars, or clouds, must there be for us to use the word "some" as in "some people" "some cars," or "some clouds"? Must we talk about more than two? I'll let any reader who stops by my Blog, ponder an answer.
I started to say "No sun has yet come into my yard", but I looked again. This time I was surprised to see the sun dancing about, not only in my trees, but even atop my yard!
Meanwhile, it's time for breakfast for Sammy, my 13 year-old beagle and me. I hope others have fun with words.
Marylee Manson Armour
August 16, 2008, 9 a.m., 9:14 p.m.
"Ah ha! Today is Saturday and Saturday isn't a work day for some folks." Today, the cars must still be in their garages. The dog-walkers that I see most days, no doubt, are in their homes, and perhaps, asleep."
As I think about the word, "folks" I'm glad for it. Human beings might have been named "yolks." However, folks, sometimes, are called, (but not to their faces), "yokel", and to be exact, "country yokels."
Words, to me, are fun to think about. The word "some" came into my mind and gave me a word to play with.
How many people, or cars, or clouds, must there be for us to use the word "some" as in "some people" "some cars," or "some clouds"? Must we talk about more than two? I'll let any reader who stops by my Blog, ponder an answer.
I started to say "No sun has yet come into my yard", but I looked again. This time I was surprised to see the sun dancing about, not only in my trees, but even atop my yard!
Meanwhile, it's time for breakfast for Sammy, my 13 year-old beagle and me. I hope others have fun with words.
Marylee Manson Armour
August 16, 2008, 9 a.m., 9:14 p.m.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Old Time Fun
A long way lies ahead
If desired,you may
Stop along the way
and rest your eyes.
HAND PLAYS
In my former "neck of the woods" (Terre Haute, Indiana), the generation of "kids" that I am part of, enjoyed hand plays. I still like to remember those. I don't know whether my contemporaries, who grew up in this "neck of the woods," knew of the hand plays we had as children. (I am eighty three)
FUN WITH FOLDED FINGERS
A Somewhat tricky feat
Have you ever, with hands folded together, had someone point at one of your fingers to see if you can find that finger, and wiggle it? If you wish to do so, fold your fingers together now. Can you wiggle each finger in turn?
***
LEFT HANDEDNESS
Our late Grandma Barnhart, (Mother's mother) was right handed. My late Mother and Father were right handed. Aunt Bonnie Barnhart Eldred, mother's youngest sister, however, was left handed, as am I and as is my brother Joe. Our left-handed genes, family history shows, seems to have come from our maternal lineage.
Right-handedness seems to be more prevalent than left-handedness. I hope that the adjective "right" doesn't mean that left-handedness is wrong.
***
How Dominance is Expressed
If you fold your hands, which thumb is on top of the other? Is either thumb equally comfortable to be on top of the other one?
If you cross your legs, does one leg reflect the same dominance as your thumb?
Ever fold your arms over your chest? Does your dominant arm end up on top of the other one? Where is the other arm? Underneath? Can we change the position of our arms and still feel comfortable?
If we try to change, is it a puzzle to find where to place our arms? If I cross my legs, the dominant one of my legs reflects its desired position. Does yours?
Cross your feet. What then? Why is the body so particular about the position its parts assume?
THOUGHTS COME TO US
A funny thought has just come to my mind. We can't think up a thought. Try! Try! Try! Right this minute, think up a thought.
A thought has come to me: "Isn't it a little strange that we can fold paper, and we also can fold our hands!
I can't cross my toes, but I can cross my feet.
My dominant foot, as with my hands, appears to be my left foot. I've crossed it over my right foot. That position feels comfortable. If I had a football and could kick it, no doubt, I'd use my left foot to perform that act. Such playful information interests me.
***
Dominant Eye
Make a circle of your thumb and forefinger about
six inches in front of your face,
Look through the circle with both eyes
at some object across the room.
Close one eye.
If the object stays in the circle
the open eye is the dominant eye.
Don H. Dunn
Business Week
FINGERS
The first finger next to our thumb, we called, the index finger. I wonder why it has that name. Some people, I think, call that first finger, the "pointer" finger. Any of you readers ever learn as I did, that when we point a finger at someone else (to accuse the person) three fingers point back at us.... as if to say "And are you perfect?"
WALKING
When you walk, what are your hands doing? and your arms? Do your hands and arms keep the pace? Are the tops of your hands facing forward?
AN OLD SONG
"I'd rather have fingers than toes. I'd rather have eyes than a nose. And as for my hair, I'm glad it's all there. I'll be awfully sad when it goes."
Ever hear the phrase: "Grass doesn't grow on a busy street?" I think I have heard that hair doesn't grow on a busy street, either. So would we conclude then, that the mind may be more wise in a person who has less hair?
***
LEFT HANDEDNESS
I don't understand why left-handedness appears in some of us folk. I am left-handed. My brother Joe is also, but my three other brothers were right handed. Neither of our parents was left handed. I wonder who passed along my left-handedness?
Was the left hand the dominant hand of any of my maternal Grandmother's sisters and brothers, or parents? Grandma Barnhart was right handed.
Does handedness matter? In some classrooms the chairs had small tabletops on their right sides. We lefties had to "make-do' the best that we could.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
How I love to think about words! I often amuse myself with their various meanings. Think of the word, "cover". How many uses might the word "cover" have? A book has one, as do beds. We may cover floor with paper before painting a ceiling. On a chilly night we may wrap ourselves in one. A manhole has to have one. At a picnic, covers keep food safe from flies. And do some detectives have those, too?
FLY
In addition to time, how many other things fly? Planes, of course, and birds; winged seeds off trees. If seeds of trees didn't have wings, so winds could blow those hither and thither and yon, trees would grow too close together.
In an Adirondack woods there is a hemlock tree that is 300 years old. My husband counted the rings of a specie of that tree, one that had died and had to be taken down. As I recall the tree was 300 years old. (I'll have to verify that age again)
FLYING
Some folks know how to make paper airplanes that they can fly, but only for a brief fight. Some paper planes, however, find a current on which to coast. Bees and birds, and flies, fly. In the Fall, leaves fly, or do they flutter as they descend from the tree tops?
HAND:
Let's all "give him a hand" for that wonderful performance on the bassoon! (Give him a hand? I can't do that. I need two hands for myself. )
MIND
For the wisdom I find in it and for the equal amount of fun I find, I treasure my mind.
I hope it stays close by. I surely would miss its company.
I Don't Mind
Some people, when coming into their homes, prefer to take off their shoes, I don't mind, when you come into my house, if you leave your shoes on. (Oh, Marylee don't ever end a sentence with a preposition!) OK. "Come in, dear friend, and you may keep your shoes upon your feet."
Like to sing? I'm singing to you now.
Be kind to your web-footed friends
for a duck may be somebody's mother.
Be kind to your friends of the swamp
Where it's very very dahmp,,,,,
Now you may think
that this is the end.
Well, it is.......
Marylee Manson Armour
Remembered from way back
April 1, 2008
Revised a little to blog
If desired,you may
Stop along the way
and rest your eyes.
HAND PLAYS
In my former "neck of the woods" (Terre Haute, Indiana), the generation of "kids" that I am part of, enjoyed hand plays. I still like to remember those. I don't know whether my contemporaries, who grew up in this "neck of the woods," knew of the hand plays we had as children. (I am eighty three)
FUN WITH FOLDED FINGERS
A Somewhat tricky feat
Have you ever, with hands folded together, had someone point at one of your fingers to see if you can find that finger, and wiggle it? If you wish to do so, fold your fingers together now. Can you wiggle each finger in turn?
***
LEFT HANDEDNESS
Our late Grandma Barnhart, (Mother's mother) was right handed. My late Mother and Father were right handed. Aunt Bonnie Barnhart Eldred, mother's youngest sister, however, was left handed, as am I and as is my brother Joe. Our left-handed genes, family history shows, seems to have come from our maternal lineage.
Right-handedness seems to be more prevalent than left-handedness. I hope that the adjective "right" doesn't mean that left-handedness is wrong.
***
How Dominance is Expressed
If you fold your hands, which thumb is on top of the other? Is either thumb equally comfortable to be on top of the other one?
If you cross your legs, does one leg reflect the same dominance as your thumb?
Ever fold your arms over your chest? Does your dominant arm end up on top of the other one? Where is the other arm? Underneath? Can we change the position of our arms and still feel comfortable?
If we try to change, is it a puzzle to find where to place our arms? If I cross my legs, the dominant one of my legs reflects its desired position. Does yours?
Cross your feet. What then? Why is the body so particular about the position its parts assume?
THOUGHTS COME TO US
A funny thought has just come to my mind. We can't think up a thought. Try! Try! Try! Right this minute, think up a thought.
A thought has come to me: "Isn't it a little strange that we can fold paper, and we also can fold our hands!
I can't cross my toes, but I can cross my feet.
My dominant foot, as with my hands, appears to be my left foot. I've crossed it over my right foot. That position feels comfortable. If I had a football and could kick it, no doubt, I'd use my left foot to perform that act. Such playful information interests me.
***
Dominant Eye
Make a circle of your thumb and forefinger about
six inches in front of your face,
Look through the circle with both eyes
at some object across the room.
Close one eye.
If the object stays in the circle
the open eye is the dominant eye.
Don H. Dunn
Business Week
FINGERS
The first finger next to our thumb, we called, the index finger. I wonder why it has that name. Some people, I think, call that first finger, the "pointer" finger. Any of you readers ever learn as I did, that when we point a finger at someone else (to accuse the person) three fingers point back at us.... as if to say "And are you perfect?"
WALKING
When you walk, what are your hands doing? and your arms? Do your hands and arms keep the pace? Are the tops of your hands facing forward?
AN OLD SONG
"I'd rather have fingers than toes. I'd rather have eyes than a nose. And as for my hair, I'm glad it's all there. I'll be awfully sad when it goes."
Ever hear the phrase: "Grass doesn't grow on a busy street?" I think I have heard that hair doesn't grow on a busy street, either. So would we conclude then, that the mind may be more wise in a person who has less hair?
***
LEFT HANDEDNESS
I don't understand why left-handedness appears in some of us folk. I am left-handed. My brother Joe is also, but my three other brothers were right handed. Neither of our parents was left handed. I wonder who passed along my left-handedness?
Was the left hand the dominant hand of any of my maternal Grandmother's sisters and brothers, or parents? Grandma Barnhart was right handed.
Does handedness matter? In some classrooms the chairs had small tabletops on their right sides. We lefties had to "make-do' the best that we could.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
How I love to think about words! I often amuse myself with their various meanings. Think of the word, "cover". How many uses might the word "cover" have? A book has one, as do beds. We may cover floor with paper before painting a ceiling. On a chilly night we may wrap ourselves in one. A manhole has to have one. At a picnic, covers keep food safe from flies. And do some detectives have those, too?
FLY
In addition to time, how many other things fly? Planes, of course, and birds; winged seeds off trees. If seeds of trees didn't have wings, so winds could blow those hither and thither and yon, trees would grow too close together.
In an Adirondack woods there is a hemlock tree that is 300 years old. My husband counted the rings of a specie of that tree, one that had died and had to be taken down. As I recall the tree was 300 years old. (I'll have to verify that age again)
FLYING
Some folks know how to make paper airplanes that they can fly, but only for a brief fight. Some paper planes, however, find a current on which to coast. Bees and birds, and flies, fly. In the Fall, leaves fly, or do they flutter as they descend from the tree tops?
HAND:
Let's all "give him a hand" for that wonderful performance on the bassoon! (Give him a hand? I can't do that. I need two hands for myself. )
MIND
For the wisdom I find in it and for the equal amount of fun I find, I treasure my mind.
I hope it stays close by. I surely would miss its company.
I Don't Mind
Some people, when coming into their homes, prefer to take off their shoes, I don't mind, when you come into my house, if you leave your shoes on. (Oh, Marylee don't ever end a sentence with a preposition!) OK. "Come in, dear friend, and you may keep your shoes upon your feet."
Like to sing? I'm singing to you now.
Be kind to your web-footed friends
for a duck may be somebody's mother.
Be kind to your friends of the swamp
Where it's very very dahmp,,,,,
Now you may think
that this is the end.
Well, it is.......
Marylee Manson Armour
Remembered from way back
April 1, 2008
Revised a little to blog
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Spring Fun; also a Mattress story
Over the years, and back in time, as I have encountered spring,
I learned little songs and jokes that I hope now to recall.
I will sing a song for you now.
Spring has come, O Spring has come.
Oh where has she come?
To the hills and to the valleys
Spring has come.
***
Spring Sun
The sun has got his hat on
Hip hip, hip hip, hooray.
The sun has got his hat on
and he's coming out today.
The song above has been sung to me by
Eiizabeth Lindquist, my friend of 60 years.
who came here from England.
***
Fun with Nonsense
Spring is here.
The grass has riz.
I wonder where
the birdies iz?
Amusement from
Marylee Armour's childhood
*******
A Question
It comes to my mind
to question whether,
when we spring forward
to add
more dayiight to our lives,
and gain an added hour
for each day,
do we accomplish
something more?
somethng we can point to
with pride?
*******
I play with words every day.
Consider "spring."
How else, other than a new season is
the word "spring" used?
"spring" into action,
a car spring: (I hope it never breaks)
spring: a place to find water. Let's hope the water
has been tested
a bedspring...
*******
Story of a Mattress
The word "bedspring"
reminds me of a
long ago
happening in my life.
Near my town
there was a
company that made
special size mattresses.
One day I went to that factory and
ordered a single-sized mattress
for my bed.
I expected to have it very soon,
but did not.
On several occasions, I called the
factory manager.
I asked, "When will you
have my mattress
finished?"
The manager had excuses.
Finally, the manager called me.
He said, " Your mattress is ready."
I said, "Good! I want you to deliver it today."
"I have waited long enough!"
The manager said, "I don't think there
is time
to deliver it today."
I spoke more firmly, but not angrily,
"I have waited so long.
Now, my mattress is ready, and
I want it. I want it today!"
The manager said, "OK.OK. I'll see that
you get it today,
but it may be late."
"Is that a promise?" I asked.
The man said, "Yes."
The manager kept his promise.
That night, I slept on
my new mattress
It was worth waiting for.
It was so comfortable!
During the night, and from
an unnown cause,
a fire broke out inside
the mattress plant.
Many firemen came, but
they could not
contain the fire.
The store's loss was
so encompassing,
the company had to
close its doors.
The last mattress the
company had sold was
wonderfully made.
I still sleep on it.
and enjoy its comfort!
Marylee Manson Armour
March 22, 2008
I learned little songs and jokes that I hope now to recall.
I will sing a song for you now.
Spring has come, O Spring has come.
Oh where has she come?
To the hills and to the valleys
Spring has come.
***
Spring Sun
The sun has got his hat on
Hip hip, hip hip, hooray.
The sun has got his hat on
and he's coming out today.
The song above has been sung to me by
Eiizabeth Lindquist, my friend of 60 years.
who came here from England.
***
Fun with Nonsense
Spring is here.
The grass has riz.
I wonder where
the birdies iz?
Amusement from
Marylee Armour's childhood
*******
A Question
It comes to my mind
to question whether,
when we spring forward
to add
more dayiight to our lives,
and gain an added hour
for each day,
do we accomplish
something more?
somethng we can point to
with pride?
*******
I play with words every day.
Consider "spring."
How else, other than a new season is
the word "spring" used?
"spring" into action,
a car spring: (I hope it never breaks)
spring: a place to find water. Let's hope the water
has been tested
a bedspring...
*******
Story of a Mattress
The word "bedspring"
reminds me of a
long ago
happening in my life.
Near my town
there was a
company that made
special size mattresses.
One day I went to that factory and
ordered a single-sized mattress
for my bed.
I expected to have it very soon,
but did not.
On several occasions, I called the
factory manager.
I asked, "When will you
have my mattress
finished?"
The manager had excuses.
Finally, the manager called me.
He said, " Your mattress is ready."
I said, "Good! I want you to deliver it today."
"I have waited long enough!"
The manager said, "I don't think there
is time
to deliver it today."
I spoke more firmly, but not angrily,
"I have waited so long.
Now, my mattress is ready, and
I want it. I want it today!"
The manager said, "OK.OK. I'll see that
you get it today,
but it may be late."
"Is that a promise?" I asked.
The man said, "Yes."
The manager kept his promise.
That night, I slept on
my new mattress
It was worth waiting for.
It was so comfortable!
During the night, and from
an unnown cause,
a fire broke out inside
the mattress plant.
Many firemen came, but
they could not
contain the fire.
The store's loss was
so encompassing,
the company had to
close its doors.
The last mattress the
company had sold was
wonderfully made.
I still sleep on it.
and enjoy its comfort!
Marylee Manson Armour
March 22, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Wisdom in Words
There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. -Alexander
Woollcott
Take time to come home to yourself everyday. -Robin Casarjean
Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it,
anything but live for it. -Charles Caleb Cotton
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
-Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own
self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of
consciousness. -Joseph Campbell
Mistakes live in the neighbourhood of truth and therefore delude us.
-Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet (1861-1941)
If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment. The
literature was full of examples that said you can't do this. -Spencer
Silver, the originator of Post-it Notepads
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the
right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
-Dorothy Nevill
Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at
play. -Heraclitus, Greek philosopher (500 B.C.)
Life is life--whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference
there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception
for man's own advantage. -Sri Aurobindo
Every child comes with the message that God is not yet tired of the man.
-Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet (1861-1941)
You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.
-Oliver Goldsmith
Collected over time by
Marylee Manson Armour
Posted January 20, 2008
Woollcott
Take time to come home to yourself everyday. -Robin Casarjean
Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it,
anything but live for it. -Charles Caleb Cotton
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
-Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own
self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of
consciousness. -Joseph Campbell
Mistakes live in the neighbourhood of truth and therefore delude us.
-Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet (1861-1941)
If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment. The
literature was full of examples that said you can't do this. -Spencer
Silver, the originator of Post-it Notepads
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the
right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
-Dorothy Nevill
Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at
play. -Heraclitus, Greek philosopher (500 B.C.)
Life is life--whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference
there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception
for man's own advantage. -Sri Aurobindo
Every child comes with the message that God is not yet tired of the man.
-Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet (1861-1941)
You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.
-Oliver Goldsmith
Collected over time by
Marylee Manson Armour
Posted January 20, 2008
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Heart and Mind
Since age ten, I have learned many songs and hymns "by heart."
Every night, after I settle into bed, I sing a verse of a hymn, or
two, in my mind. I am surprised that, as I sing,
and without sound, I seem to "hear" the music.
One verse of song I know by heart
and sing in my mind is:
"I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free
for His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me"
Mary E. Adams,
according to Google,
is the author.
*****
I also sing:
Lead me, Lord.
Lead me in Thy righteousness
Make Thy way plain
before my face.
for it is Thou, Lord,
Thou, Lord, only
that maketh me dwell in safety.
-- Psalm 5:8 Psalm 4:8
From United Methodist Hymnal
A question now comes into my mind. Why do we say that
we know a song "by heart".
Isn't it the mind that holds our memory?
Or might it be that our heart also
holds memory?
How is it that we, and every created life
are able to meet the challenges
our minds, and our hearts, face?
The answer to that question is
known only by One, who is
the Creator of all.
Marylee Manson Armour
July 14,2007
Every night, after I settle into bed, I sing a verse of a hymn, or
two, in my mind. I am surprised that, as I sing,
and without sound, I seem to "hear" the music.
One verse of song I know by heart
and sing in my mind is:
"I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free
for His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me"
Mary E. Adams,
according to Google,
is the author.
*****
I also sing:
Lead me, Lord.
Lead me in Thy righteousness
Make Thy way plain
before my face.
for it is Thou, Lord,
Thou, Lord, only
that maketh me dwell in safety.
-- Psalm 5:8 Psalm 4:8
From United Methodist Hymnal
A question now comes into my mind. Why do we say that
we know a song "by heart".
Isn't it the mind that holds our memory?
Or might it be that our heart also
holds memory?
How is it that we, and every created life
are able to meet the challenges
our minds, and our hearts, face?
The answer to that question is
known only by One, who is
the Creator of all.
Marylee Manson Armour
July 14,2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
MY BLOG; ALSO WRITERS AND WRITING
Recently, I pondered the fact and wrote that "My local friends tell me they read and like my Blog. If there are readers, unknown to me, in other places, I have received no comments."
Thus, I have no way of knowing whether people I don't know, are reading my Blog. Whether I have readers from distant places, or not, I find pleasure in the activity of writing.
A new direction has just come to my thought.I have been directed to: "Rewrite the sentence that is up above. As you write, eliminate all words that end in "ing" and use verbs to express the thoughts that came to your mind."
I will now follow the "orders" from above, and rewrite my earlier paragraph. I will allow verbs to help me share my thoughts.
RE-Written sentence: "When I receive comments from people who read my Blog, I am pleased to know that I have readers. Even without comments from others, I find it a pleasure to sit with a pen or at my computer, and write."
I would be pleased to know whether readers or other writers agree that if, as we write, we put aside the words that end in "ing" and use verbs, we add emphasis and clarity to our work.
Below we find the active voice of verbs used in a nursery rhyme.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
My late husband, who died at age 66, had in earlier days, taught me a rhyme that I am certain, will never be memorialized.
I hope the word "be" is a verb. If so, does my late husband's rhyme have power, even if its power lies in the calling forth of laughter?
Never be lonesome
Never be blue,
Remember the mighty oak
was once a nut like you!
Words! I adore words. What wonderful friends are words! Words help us express ourselves. As we write, we often play with words, and for fun.
My retired hunting beagle, eleven-year-old Sammy, understands the words that I speak to him. (I think he is helped to understand my words by the tone of my voice).
Sammy also interprets the meaning of my index finger that points at him, or is wiggled. I am surprised that when Sammy speaks to me with barks and with a tail that wags, I understand his language, too.
Words are friends who join me in serious reflection and in play!
marylee manson armour
January 29,2007 January 30,2007
Revised January 31,2007, 10:00 a.m.,9:50 p.m.
Thus, I have no way of knowing whether people I don't know, are reading my Blog. Whether I have readers from distant places, or not, I find pleasure in the activity of writing.
A new direction has just come to my thought.I have been directed to: "Rewrite the sentence that is up above. As you write, eliminate all words that end in "ing" and use verbs to express the thoughts that came to your mind."
I will now follow the "orders" from above, and rewrite my earlier paragraph. I will allow verbs to help me share my thoughts.
RE-Written sentence: "When I receive comments from people who read my Blog, I am pleased to know that I have readers. Even without comments from others, I find it a pleasure to sit with a pen or at my computer, and write."
I would be pleased to know whether readers or other writers agree that if, as we write, we put aside the words that end in "ing" and use verbs, we add emphasis and clarity to our work.
Below we find the active voice of verbs used in a nursery rhyme.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
My late husband, who died at age 66, had in earlier days, taught me a rhyme that I am certain, will never be memorialized.
I hope the word "be" is a verb. If so, does my late husband's rhyme have power, even if its power lies in the calling forth of laughter?
Never be lonesome
Never be blue,
Remember the mighty oak
was once a nut like you!
Words! I adore words. What wonderful friends are words! Words help us express ourselves. As we write, we often play with words, and for fun.
My retired hunting beagle, eleven-year-old Sammy, understands the words that I speak to him. (I think he is helped to understand my words by the tone of my voice).
Sammy also interprets the meaning of my index finger that points at him, or is wiggled. I am surprised that when Sammy speaks to me with barks and with a tail that wags, I understand his language, too.
Words are friends who join me in serious reflection and in play!
marylee manson armour
January 29,2007 January 30,2007
Revised January 31,2007, 10:00 a.m.,9:50 p.m.
Monday, January 15, 2007
A Class in Writing, Led by Linda Loomis
I remember the fun of a Class in Writing led by Linda Loomis, and held in the Fall of 1998 at the First United Methodist Church in my town.
To get our class started, Linda asked us to close our eyes and visualize some experience we had had in our lives. While we immersed ourselves in that activity, Linda asked us questions: "Are you in the scene? Who else is there? What is happening? How are people feeling?” and so on.
Soon we were asked to open our eyes and to draw a picture of the scene. With that instruction, "groans" were heard around the room. Linda said, "Do the best you can. If we make a mental picture first, that step helps us tell the story."
Our next task was to tell our story to the person sitting next to us, and then let our neighbor tell us her story.
Now, we were ready to write the story we had shared with our partner. Linda suggested that we make our stories about 250 words long.
For a final step in the writing activity, each one of us read her story to the group. After one person finished sharing her story, she called on someone else to read. No one felt confident that her story was polished enough to read aloud, but we did as directed. After all, we were there to learn how to communicate our thoughts in writing.
Linda said, "Let’s each plan to write two devotions for the church booklet.” In my mind, I applauded Linda's confidence in our ability to let our thoughts take wing.
I was a little in awe, too, of Linda's ingenuity as our teacher! She led us to write in steps that brought us success. And as a bonus, it was a time we learners all enjoyed.
Marylee Manson Armour, with appreciation to my friend, Linda Loomis, Journalism Faculty, SUNY Oswego.
Collected in 1998
Revised February 12,2007
To get our class started, Linda asked us to close our eyes and visualize some experience we had had in our lives. While we immersed ourselves in that activity, Linda asked us questions: "Are you in the scene? Who else is there? What is happening? How are people feeling?” and so on.
Soon we were asked to open our eyes and to draw a picture of the scene. With that instruction, "groans" were heard around the room. Linda said, "Do the best you can. If we make a mental picture first, that step helps us tell the story."
Our next task was to tell our story to the person sitting next to us, and then let our neighbor tell us her story.
Now, we were ready to write the story we had shared with our partner. Linda suggested that we make our stories about 250 words long.
For a final step in the writing activity, each one of us read her story to the group. After one person finished sharing her story, she called on someone else to read. No one felt confident that her story was polished enough to read aloud, but we did as directed. After all, we were there to learn how to communicate our thoughts in writing.
Linda said, "Let’s each plan to write two devotions for the church booklet.” In my mind, I applauded Linda's confidence in our ability to let our thoughts take wing.
I was a little in awe, too, of Linda's ingenuity as our teacher! She led us to write in steps that brought us success. And as a bonus, it was a time we learners all enjoyed.
Marylee Manson Armour, with appreciation to my friend, Linda Loomis, Journalism Faculty, SUNY Oswego.
Collected in 1998
Revised February 12,2007
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