What's In Your Junk Drawer?

Even though summer usually says outdoor activities, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of us are confined to our place of residence. The last pandemic in 1918 was a period in history without the internet, without computers, without social media, without smart phones, without cable, without movies on DVD, without television, and even without radio. For this pandemic, in addition to all the above mentioned conveniences, we have live face-to-face communication through such platforms as Facetime, Skype, and Zoom. When you compare our situation to 1918, we are in a much better position to handle the stay at home restrictions.

But there's still that daily cry of 'there's nothing to do.' Maybe this is a good time to turn our attention to cleaning out and organizing that infamous catch-all known as the junk drawer. Don't deny that you have one. Everyone does and it's usually in the kitchen. What are some of the common items kept in a junk drawer? Wouldn't this be a good time to clean it out? Get rid of all the obsolete junk in that junk drawer? Let's take a look of some of things you'd typically find in the junk drawer.

1)  Scissors:

These are a must in a junk drawer.  They don't need to be an expensive pair, but they do need to be there.

2)  Paper clips and safety pins:

When something needs fastening, it's a nuisance to rummage through your office for a paper clip and sift through sewing supplies to find what you need.  It's very convenient to have a few of these items handy in the kitchen.

3)  Pens and pencils:

Another must for the junk drawer.  Everyone always needs one in the kitchen.  This is where a lot of the free give-away promotional pens end up…or the one you liberated from the grocery store after writing that check (assuming anyone writes checks at the store rather than using the handy debit card).

4)  Bandages:

Just in case you cut yourself while chopping veggies.

5)  Gum and candy:

Always a nice surprise to find a stick of gum or piece of candy. But how long has it been there?

6)  Rubber bands:

While they're essential to a junk drawer, they often end up running amok.  You need to put them in something so they won't get tangled with everything and with each other.

7)  Bag clips:

If you have the kind with magnets on them, then you probably keep them on the freezer or refrigerator.  But if they don't have magnets, you'll most likely keep them in the junk drawer.

8)  Batteries:

Many people keep batteries in their refrigerator, but it has been debated whether or not this actually extends battery life.  I keep mine in my junk drawer, mostly AA and AAA batteries since they are the most used. I do, however, have a clear plastic case that hold them.

9)  Mini tools:

It's good to have a few tools handy such as different sizes of screwdrivers (both Phillips head and flat head) and maybe a hammer and pliers for those quick emergency fixes that don't require dragging out the big tool box.

10)  Flashlight:

It's nice to have one handy in case of that power failure.  Of course, I also have one in my bedroom and my office.

In my junk drawer I have some of these items and I have some that aren't mentioned here such as a couple of extension cords, a jar with miscellaneous nails and screws, and a roll of duct tape.

There are drawer organizers made for the specific purpose of putting that junk drawer in some kind of order.  I've given up on them and have returned to the basic disorganized system.

What kind of stuff do you keep in your junk drawer?

10 Of History's Overlooked Mysteries

History is filled with mysteries, some small scale like the origins of a book and others on a very large scale such as the disappearance of an entire civilization.

I recently came across a list of 10 historical mysteries that don't seem to get too much attention.

The Tarim Mummies

An archaeological excavation beneath the Tarim Basin in western China unearthed more than 100 mummified corpses dating back more than 2000 years.  Even though dug up in China, when a college professor viewed the mummies in a museum, he was shocked to discover they had blonde hair and long noses.  In 1993 he returned to the museum to collect DNA samples from the mummies.  Tests validated his belief, showing that the bodies were of European genetic stock.  Ancient Chinese texts from as early as the first millennium BC mention groups of Caucasian people living in the far east, but there is no mention on any living in the Tarim Basin.

The Voynich Manuscript

This is quite possibly the most unreadable book in the world.  The 500-year-old, 240 page manuscript was discovered in 1912 at a library in Rome.  It contains illustrations and writing in an unknown language.  The best cryptographers have been unable to decipher the text, but statistical analysis of the writing shows that it does seem to follow the basic structure and laws of a working language.

Who Was Robin Hood?

The possible real-life existence of a bandit living in the forest who stole from the rich and gave to the poor is more plausible than the legendary King Arthur and a magical sword named Excalibur.  The historical hunt for the real Robin Hood has discovered several candidates including Robert Hod, a fugitive in Yorkshire who went by Hobbehod as well as Robert Hood of Wakefield.  The name Robin Hood eventually became synonymous with being an outlaw.  His identity would later become even murkier as various authors wove more characters into the tale such as Prince John and Richard the Lionhearted.

The Carnac Stones

As with the construction of Stonehenge, it was a backbreaking task for the people responsible for the Carnac Stones.  On the coast of Brittany, in northwestern France, there are over 3000 megalithic standing stones arranged in exacting lines and spread out over 12 kilometers (7.2 miles).  The local myth explains them as a Roman legion on the march when the wizard Merlin turned them to stone.  The identity of the Neolithic people who build them is unknown.

The Bog Bodies

Hundreds of these ancient bodies have been discovered buried around the northern wetlands of Europe.  Researchers who inspected them have found tell-tale signs of torture and medieval foul play.  These clues have led some to suspect that the dead were victims of ritual sacrifice.  [I recall reading about an incident in England, I think in the 1800s, where a body was found in a bog and it was so well preserved that the locals believed it to be a recent murder which resulted in a police investigation.]

Disappearance Of The Indus Valley Civilization

The ancient Indus Valley people were India's oldest known civilization.  Their bronze-age culture stretched from western India to Afghanistan with a population of over 5 million.  Their abrupt decline rivaled that of the Mayans.  Excavations in 1922 uncovered a culture that maintained a sophisticated sewage drainage system and immaculate bathrooms, but found no evidence of armies, slaves, social conflicts, or other vices prevalent in ancient societies.

The Lost Roman Legion

After an underachieving Roman army led by General Crassus was defeated by Persia, legend says that a small band of POWs wandered through the desert and were captured by the Han military.  An Oxford historian who compared ancient records claimed that the lost Roman legion founded a small town near the Gobi Desert named Liqian, which is Chinese for Rome.  DNA tests are being conducted to hopefully explain some of the residents' green eyes and blond hair. [Which leads one to wonder if there is a connection with the Tarim Mummies.]

Fall Of The Minoans

The fall of the Minoan Empire has proven just as puzzling as the collapse of the Roman Empire.  Approximately 3,500 years ago, life on Crete was disrupted by a huge volcanic eruption on the neighbor island of Thera.  Ancient clay tablets show that the Minoan Empire continued for another 50 years.  Theories about their demise include a blanket of ash devastating their crops and another one says their weakened society was left vulnerable to an eventual Greek takeover.

Lost City Of Helike

The Greek writer Pausanias wrote about a great earthquake that destroyed the city of Helike followed by a tsunami that swept away what remained.  The once flourishing city had been a worship center devoted to Poseidon.  No trace of this legendary society existed outside of ancient Greek texts until 1861 when a bronze coin was found showing the head of Poseidon.  In 2001, the ruins of Helike were located beneath coastal mud and gravel.  Work is currently under way to unearth what some consider the real Atlantis.

Rongorongo

Rongorongo is an indecipherable hieroglyphic writing used by the early inhabitants of Easter Island, often referred to as the other Easter Island mystery.  Rongorongo appeared mysteriously in the 1700s, at a time when no other neighboring oceanic people had any type of written language.  The language was lost along with the best hopes of deciphering it when early European colonizers banned it because of its pagan roots. 

Weird August Holidays

Every month has its collection of strange, weird, and obscure holidays, sometimes more than one per day, many of which are unknown to the general public. And, needless to say, holidays that are not government recognized—days where the schools, banks, government offices, and post office are not closed. But still holidays to be celebrated and enjoyed in their own quirky fashion.

Let's start with month long celebrations.  For August you have:  Admit You're Happy Month, Family Fun Month, National Catfish Month, National Eye Exam Month, National Golf Month [I'd better make sure my brother knows about this one], Peach Month, Romance Awareness Month, Water Quality Month, and National Picnic Month.

And then there are the week long celebrations. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week. The second week of the month is National Smile Week. The third week is Friendship Week. And the fourth week is Be Kind To Humankind Week.

And the daily celebrations:  I found it interesting that 10 of the 31 days in August had holidays connected to food [are we seeing an ongoing theme here?]. Some of the dates had more than one holiday attached to them.

August 1)  National Mustard Day (the first Saturday in August)

August 1)  National Raspberry Cream Pie Day

August 2)  Friendship Day (the first Sunday in August)

August 2)  International Forgiveness Day (first Sunday in August)

August 2)  Sisters Day (first Sunday in August)

August 2)  National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 3)  National Watermelon Day

August 4)  U.S. Coast Guard Day

August 5)  Work Like A Dog Day

August 6)  Wiggle Your Toes Day

August 7)  National Lighthouse Day

August 8)  Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day

            Apparently zucchini is one of the most prolific plants with a single plant producing what seems to be an endless supply of zucchini. By the time August arrives, home gardeners have far more zucchini than they can possibly use. After giving away as much as they can to family and friends, desperate growers seek desperate measures to rid themselves of the overflow. And that gives us the name of the holiday…sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor's porch day.

August 9)  Book Lover's Day

            Book Lover's Day encourages you to find a comfortable place, relax, and enjoy a good book. If you happen to fall asleep in that gently swaying hammock while reading, that's perfectly okay. There is some disagreement about when this holiday is celebrated. August 9^th is the most widely accepted date. Some celebrate it on the first Saturday in November. My suggestion? Celebrate both days.

August 10)  Lazy Day

August 10)  National S'mores Day

August 11)  Presidential Joke Day

August 12)  Middle Child's Day

August 13)  Left Hander's Day

August 14)  National Creamsicle Day

August 14/15)  V-J Day (end of World War II)

August 15)  Relaxation Day

            For people with a hectic lifestyle, this is the day to kick back and do nothing…just relax. Take a break from your busy work and personal schedule. If something stresses you out, this is the day to ignore it.

August 16)  National Tell A Joke Day

August 17)  National Thrift Shop Day

August 18)  Bad Poetry Day

August 19)  Aviation Day

August 20)  National Radio Day

August 21)  Senior Citizen's Day

August 22)  Be An Angel Day

August 22)  National Tooth Fairy Day (and/or February 28)

August 23)  Ride The Wind Day

            This is a carefree day, a time to soar above the earth. Catch a ride on the breeze or float like a cloud. Summer will soon be over. Take advantage of this day to relax and leave your worries behind. Fly a kite. Enjoy the final days of summer.

August 24)  Vesuvius Day

August 25)  Kiss And Make Up Day

August 26)  National Dog Day

August 26)  Women's Equality Day

August 27)  Global Forgiveness Day

August 27)  Just Because Day

August 28)  Race Your Mouse Day [but in today's world are we talking rodent or computer?]

August 29)  More Herbs, Less Salt Day

August 30)  Frankenstein Day

            There are 3 versions of this day. This one is in honor of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, who was born August 30, 1797. There is also Frankenstein Friday and National Frankenstein Day, both celebrated in October. Confused? Celebrate all 3 days.

August 30)  Toasted Marshmallow Day

August 31)  National Trail Mix Day

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE Release date July 27, 2020

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE, scheduled to release in ebook on Monday, July 27, 2020. A contemporary romance novella by Shawna Delacorte from The Wild Rose Press, part of the One Scoop Or Two series.

One Scoop Or Two is a summer series, quick reads of no more than 35,000 words to enjoy while relaxing in the back yard or on your patio. And One Scoop Or Two certainly implies ice cream. How many scoops do you want on that cone, one or two? The series encompasses both contemporary stories involving an ice cream shop or stand and historical stories with the ice cream parlor of the time. Fun fact: each novella title includes a specific flavor of ice cream.

My contribution to the series is a contemporary novella set on the boardwalk at a lake marina.

BLURB:

History teacher Sarena Fallon has leased the ice cream shop at the Colton Marina for the last three summers. And every year, she looked forward to spending time with her friend, Drew. Only this summer, she wants their relationship status to move beyond the friend zone he seems to prefer.

Drew Braden was taken with Sarena the first time he saw her. But a disastrous marriage to a scheming woman has left him seriously commitment phobic. Then there's also the matter of his true identity. If she discovers who he really is, he could lose her forever.

G-Excerpt #1: (story opening)

Sarena Fallon entered the ice cream shop and set her purse on one of the chairs. A quick glance around told her everything appeared to be in order. She ran her hand across the counter, then rubbed her fingers together. She wrinkled her brow into a scowl. It definitely did not feel very clean. I have the uneasy feeling a more detailed inspection is going to discover—

“Hi. I hoped I’d find you here.”

She turned at the sound of the smooth, masculine voice. She couldn’t stop the smile that came to her lips as her gaze fell on Drew Braden, all six feet one inch of him. Her breath came a little quicker, and her heart beat a little faster. His blue eyes sparkled as he blatantly looked her up and down. He wore his medium brown hair longer than last summer, but it was a length that looked good on him. It gave him a sexy appearance—even more sexy than she remembered from last year. She liked it longer. She definitely liked it.

“Hi, yourself.” Her smile widened, conveying her pleasure at seeing him. “I just unlocked the door. If you had arrived five minute ago, you would have beaten me here.”

He looked even more desirable than he did at the end of last summer, right before she returned to her teaching job at the beginning of the school term, when he had suddenly pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with the hottest kiss she had ever experienced. A kiss that curled her toes and confirmed how much she wanted more of him. But more apparently wasn’t to be, much to her disappointment.

Fall, winter, spring—not a word from him, as if he had totally forgotten she even existed. But now, here he stood, as if he had been waiting for her to show up. The situation left her slightly perplexed. She briefly touched her fingers to her lips. All these months later, his parting kiss still burned hot against her lips. “You’re looking well. I like your hair longer like that.”

“Thanks…I think it might be the result of a bit of mid-life crisis. Trying to recapture a little youth.” His teasing grin said far more than his words.

“Mid-life crisis? You can’t be old enough for that.”

“I’ll be that dreaded forty in a couple of months.”

“There’s nothing old about forty.” Especially considering that I’m thirty-five.

He winked. “How would a sweet young thing like you know anything about old?”

“You’re incorrigible.” Her laugh surrounded her words. “It looks like you managed to survive the winter without any mishaps. Your brittle old bones didn’t snap?”

His spontaneous laughter filled the air. “No broken bones from slipping on the ice or falling into any snow drifts if that’s what you meant. And no broken bones from being thrown off a bucking horse, either.” His smile slowly faded as he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you. I’m so glad to see you back this summer.”

“I have a phone, you have the number, and I only live fifteen miles from here in Coltonville. It’s not like you need to drive for several hours to get there.” She teased, but her comment contained a lot of truth.

A hint of something darted across his features but disappeared before she could read it. He slowly released her without kissing her, almost reluctantly so. After the goodbye kiss from last summer, she had anticipated more than just a hug.

“I haven’t checked the shop to make sure it’s been properly cleaned.” She touched the counter again. “And from what I’ve found so far, I suspect it hasn’t been.” A scowl darted across her face. “At least not adequately. Do you want to help me with my inspection?”

“Sure, I can handle that.” Drew nodded, pleased with the opportunity to check out the management office’s efficiency without it appearing to be his objective.

Drew Braden—Andrew Braden Colton V, to be exact—was fifth generation of the wealthy and powerful Colton family and at thirty-nine years of age, the corporate head of all the family holdings. He went by his nickname and middle name to separate himself and his personal activities from the family name and business empire. He found he accomplished more if people didn’t know he was one of the Coltons, specifically president of Colton Enterprises, Chairman of the Board, primary share holder, and in control of all the family businesses and investments of the privately held corporation.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE, a contemporary romance novella by Shawna Delacorte from The Wild Rose Press.   www.thewildrosepress.com 

Scheduled for release Monday, July 27, 2020. Available in ebook at:

www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Romance-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B089P3TBFV  

And other online vendors.

Excerpts and other information available on my website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com  

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE—A Character Chat with Sarena Fallon and Drew Braden

She wants more than friendship…he's afraid of repeating the worst mistake of his life.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE by Shawna Delacorte is a contemporary romance novella that's part of the One Scoop Or Two summer series from The Wild Rose Press. This book is scheduled for release July 27, 2020.

Let me introduce you to Sarena Fallon and Drew Braden. Their story is one of good friends moving toward a romance, but their journey is marred by a deception that nearly destroys a blossoming romance and true love.

Good morning Sarena and Drew. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to share your story with my readers.

Sarena:  Thank you for inviting us.

Drew:  I'm ready. Hit me with your first question.

Okay, Drew. You sound eager so let's start with you. How did the two of you meet?

Drew:  That's an easy one. Three years ago when the summer businesses at the lake marina were preparing to open for the boating season, I saw this beautiful woman inside the ice cream shop. She was unpacking boxes and putting things away. I tried to meet all the summer business operators each year, but usually on an informal basis after they open their doors for customers. This time, I immediately went to the marina property management office and obtained a full list of all the marina summer tenants and there she was—Sarena Fallon, history teacher at Coltonville High School. Unfortunately, due to business needs, I was out of state for the next month. I didn't have an opportunity to actually meet her until I returned to the ranch.

You said 'the ranch.' That's another of the Colton properties?

Drew:  The place where we are now, the original start of the Colton Dynasty five generations ago, is the cattle ranch.

Colton dynasty? That sounds a little over the top.

Drew:  [slight frown followed by laughter] It's totally over the top and definitely pretentious, but that was my father. He's the one who declared the family history a dynasty. The acquisition of additional land two generations after the start of the cattle ranch allowed for the expansion of the operation to include a dude ranch as a separate operation. From there, came the purchase of the large lake already being enjoyed by boating enthusiasts and water skiers. And finally the addition of a boardwalk and businesses as part of the boat marina. And along the way came expansion into many different types of businesses around the state, in other states, and finally internationally. We eventually constructed a corporate headquarters building on the property as a separate facility from the cattle ranch and the dude ranch. My house is also on the property. It's been in the family for three generations. I recently remodeled and updated the house.

Sarena:  I'm a high school history teacher with my summers free. I thought leasing the ice cream shop at the marina would be a good way to spend my summers and earn some extra money. I distinctly remember the day he came into the ice cream shop. He was dressed in jeans and a work shirt, certainly not the type of summer casual clothes being worn by the people who used the marina for their boats. And most definitely not how I assumed a high-powered business executive would be dressed. I assumed he worked at the ranch. He introduced himself as Drew Braden. It was an instant friendship, very comfortable and fun. He seemed to just appear almost every day. Sometimes just for a few minutes. Other times he'd buy an ice cream cone—rocky road was his favorite—and stay for a couple of hours. [embarrassed chuckle] And every time he stopped by, I secretly wished he'd ask me out on a date. The second summer that I leased the ice cream shop, he showed up opening day to welcome me back. Then on the third year, he showed up a week before opening, the day I was checking everything out and making a list of what I needed to do before opening.

It sounds as if he was always around yet you two never had a relationship beyond just friends in spite of what you secretly hoped for?

Drew:  Totally my fault. I had…uh…well, I guess you could say I had a bad case of commitment phobia—emotional baggage that basically scared me when it came to pursuing any type of personal relationship that had the specter of an emotional attachment connected to it. My biggest fear was repeating the worst mistake of my life.

Sarena:  Drew wasn't alone in the emotional baggage department. My ex-husband lied to me about everything. It turned out that I didn't even know who he really was. I swore I would never become involved with someone who didn't tell me the truth.

Well, Drew—even though you didn't know that about Sarena, I guess the most logical question is why did you present yourself to her as someone you're not, even to concealing your real name?

Drew:  Actually, Drew Braden is my real name—just not all of it. Andrew Braden Colton V to be exact. I use Drew Braden with everyone who isn't a business associate or employee. I'd been doing it for fifteen years, the result of the emotional baggage I mentioned. As to my job, I never said exactly what I did. It was that third summer when she finally asked me directly.

Sarena:  I had assumed he worked at the ranch, but not as a cowboy. It was obvious that he was highly educated. I had him pegged for some sort of mid management position like ranch foreman. Who he really was remained his secret. Even when he finally asked me out on a real date, he did not correct my erroneous assumptions. But reality crashed around me when a horrible situation happened right after I opened the ice cream shop for the summer season.

Drew: I had already been wrestling with the reality of knowing that I had to tell her who I was, wanting to tell her, needing to tell her. I knew I couldn't pursue the serious relationship I wanted without telling her the truth. What I didn't know was how to tell her…what to say that wouldn't alienate her. Then that disastrous Saturday morning hit.

That sounds ominous. What happened? Sarena…what was this horrible situation?

Sarena:  [glances at Drew as a hint of a grin tugs at the corners of her mouth] I think you need to read the book to find out.

Drew? Can you tell me what occurred that disastrous Saturday morning? What kind of incident threatened to destroy your relationship?

Drew:  [makes overly obvious show of checking his watch] Will you look at the time! I didn't realize it was so late. I'm sure I must have some sort of really important meeting that I need to attend.

In other words, you're not going to tell me what happened?

Drew:  [allows a mischievous chuckle] That sounds about right.

Well, I guess that leaves me with nothing to say other than to thank the two of for being my guests today. The book is THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE published by The Wild Rose Press and scheduled for release on July 27, 2020.

www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Romance-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B089P3TBFV  

BLURB:

History teacher Sarena Fallon has leased the ice cream shop at the Colton Marina for the last three summers. And every year, she looked forward to spending time with her friend, Drew. Only this summer, she wants their relationship status to move beyond the friend zone he seems to prefer.

Drew Braden was taken with Sarena the first time he saw her. But a disastrous marriage to a scheming woman has left him seriously commitment phobic. Then there's also the matter of his true identity. If she discovers who he really is, he could lose her forever.

G-Excerpt #1: (opening)

Sarena Fallon entered the ice cream shop and set her purse on one of the chairs. A quick glance around told her everything appeared to be in order. She ran her hand across the counter, then rubbed her fingers together. She wrinkled her brow into a scowl. It definitely did not feel very clean. I have the uneasy feeling a more detailed inspection is going to discover—

“Hi. I hoped I’d find you here.”

She turned at the sound of the smooth, masculine voice. She couldn’t stop the smile that came to her lips as her gaze fell on Drew Braden, all six feet one inch of him. Her breath came a little quicker, and her heart beat a little faster. His blue eyes sparkled as he blatantly looked her up and down. He wore his medium brown hair longer than last summer, but it was a length that looked good on him. It gave him a sexy appearance—even more sexy than she remembered from last year. She liked it longer. She definitely liked it.

“Hi, yourself.” Her smile widened, conveying her pleasure at seeing him. “I just unlocked the door. If you had arrived five minute ago, you would have beaten me here.”

He looked even more desirable than he did at the end of last summer, right before she returned to her teaching job at the beginning of the school term, when he had suddenly pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with the hottest kiss she had ever experienced. A kiss that curled her toes and confirmed how much she wanted more of him. But more apparently wasn’t to be, much to her disappointment.

Fall, winter, spring—not a word from him, as if he had totally forgotten she even existed. But now, here he stood, as if he had been waiting for her to show up. The situation left her slightly perplexed. She briefly touched her fingers to her lips. All these months later, his parting kiss still burned hot against her lips. “You’re looking well. I like your hair longer like that.”

“Thanks…I think it might be the result of a bit of mid-life crisis. Trying to recapture a little youth.” His teasing grin said far more than his words.

“Mid-life crisis? You can’t be old enough for that.”

“I’ll be that dreaded forty in a couple of months.”

“There’s nothing old about forty.” Especially considering that I’m thirty-five.

He winked. “How would a sweet young thing like you know anything about old?”

“You’re incorrigible.” Her laugh surrounded her words. “It looks like you managed to survive the winter without any mishaps. Your brittle old bones didn’t snap?”

His spontaneous laughter filled the air. “No broken bones from slipping on the ice or falling into any snow drifts if that’s what you meant. And no broken bones from being thrown off a bucking horse, either.” His smile slowly faded as he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you. I’m so glad to see you back this summer.”

“I have a phone, you have the number, and I only live fifteen miles from here in Coltonville. It’s not like you need to drive for several hours to get there.” She teased, but her comment contained a lot of truth.

A hint of something darted across his features but disappeared before she could read it. He slowly released her without kissing her, almost reluctantly so. After the goodbye kiss from last summer, she had anticipated more than just a hug.

“I haven’t checked the shop to make sure it’s been properly cleaned.” She touched the counter again. “And from what I’ve found so far, I suspect it hasn’t been.” A scowl darted across her face. “At least not adequately. Do you want to help me with my inspection?”

“Sure, I can handle that.” Drew nodded, pleased with the opportunity to check out the management office’s efficiency without it appearing to be his objective.

Drew Braden—Andrew Braden Colton V, to be exact—was fifth generation of the wealthy and powerful Colton family and at thirty-nine years of age, the corporate head of all the family holdings. He went by his nickname and middle name to separate himself and his personal activities from the family name and business empire. He found he accomplished more if people didn’t know he was one of the Coltons, specifically president of Colton Enterprises, Chairman of the Board, primary share holder, and in control of all the family businesses and investments of the privately held corporation.

Available in ebook at:

www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Romance-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B089P3TBFV  

And other online vendors.

Excerpts and other information available on my website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com 

 

The English Language part 2 of 2

As pointed out in last week's blog, the English language (or at least the American branch of the language) is often confusing even to those who were born here with this being the only language they speak.

Here is a list of 20 common errors. Some are spelling/using wrong spelling of word with same pronunciation, some are different pronunciations of words spelled the same way, and others relate to literally using the wrong words in popular phrases.

1)  It didn't phase me, should be: It didn't faze me.

2)  For all intensive purposes, should be: For all intents and purposes.

3)  He has another thing coming, should be: He has another think coming.

4)  Escape goat, should be: Scape goat.

5)  One in the same, should be: One and the same.

6)  Given free reign, should be: Given free rein.

7)  Low and behold, should be: Lo and behold.

8)  Case and point, should be: Case in point.

9)  Peak your interest, should be: Pique your interest.

10)  Hunger pains, should be: Hunger pangs.

11)  Suppose to, should be: Supposed to.

12)  Should of, should be: Should have.

13)  Nipped that problem in the butt, should be:  Nipped that problem in the bud.

14)  Mute point, should be: Moot point.

15)  Piece of mind, should be: Peace of mind.

16)  Beck on call, should be: Beck and call.

17)  On accident, should be: By accident.

18)  Expresso, should be: Espresso.

and tied for most commonly misused:

19)  I could care less, should be: I couldn't care less.

20)  Irregardless, should be: Regardless.

The English Language—part 1 of 2

The English language (or at least the American branch of the language) is often confusing even to those who were born here.  I can't imagine learning it as a second language.  Where other languages seem to have set rules, English has rules that are filled with exceptions and sometimes even those exceptions have exceptions.

A good example is the spelling rule for the order of i and e within a word. 'i before e' is the rule. 'Except after c' (exception to rule), 'or when sounded as a, as in weigh' (exception to the exception).

We'll begin with a box and the plural is boxes, but the plural of ox became oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice, yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, should a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

One may be that and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose. And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother, we never say methren.

The masculine pronouns are he, his and him, but imagine the feminine as she, shis and shim.

Some reasons to be grateful if you grew up speaking English rather than learning it as a second (or even third) language. Imagine needing to figure out the differences in pronunciation and meaning of these identically spelled words:

1)         The bandage was wound around the wound.

2)         The farm was used to produce produce.

3)         The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4)         We must polish the Polish furniture.

5)         He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6)         The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7)         Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8)         At the army base, a bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9)         When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10)       I did not object to the object.

11)       The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12)       There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13)       They were too close to the door to close it.

14)       The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15)       The seamstress and the sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16)       To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17)       The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18)       After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.

19)       Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20)       I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21)       How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

22)       I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.

How many of you had to go back and read any of those 22 examples a second time to get it right?  :)

Let's face it – English is a crazy language.  There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.  English muffins weren't invented in England.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.  And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?

If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it, an odd or an end?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?  Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?  Have noses that run and feet that smell?  How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

If dad is pop, how come mom isn't mop?

Are you totally confused yet?  Check back next week when I continue with the eccentricities of the English language in part 2.