Take my hand; forget your fears, babe

The morning after my last post, I received an email from the Otter about my trip to MN. He will have his son that week-end, so if we have any time together, it will be short. He will have his son at the event I am attending as well. I strongly suspect his ex wife will also be there. So, that means I get to keep my distance at the event. *sigh* oh well. At least I am day-tripping it and can skidaddle at my leisure if thigs get too strange to deal with.

I called Colin tonight to tell him how much airfare is to Chicago. He is apparently mildly afraid of flying...but will be coming out in November for a visit. I was hoping for an earlier time, but after looking at schedules and free week-ends, it has to be November.

In other news, I found myself getting rather upset while listening to the radio this evening. Whatever happened to the g in the words strength and length? they have suddenly become strenth and lenth. People who say these words like this are perfectly able to say running or learning...they don't say "runnin" or "learnin". What do they have against that poor, innocent g? It drives me absolutely bonkers to hear. It actually makes my tongue go back a little in my throat, causing me to gag a little bit.

What is with these people??? My mother, for whom English is a second language and whose native language has some of the most whackadoo ways of saying the letter g in the world, pronounces her g in these "ength" words with no issue.

Also, what about the poor, innocent t in the word often? How come it gets changed by so many into an f? Granted, the t looks like an f turned upside-down, but that is simply not an excuse.

And, while I am on the stupid things people say on the radio rant, can we please pass a bill that fines politicians for saying the phrase "I and my staff," ASAP?? It is "My staff and I", dickwad. Be polite, be considerate, open the grammatical door for someone else before walking through yourself...put them first. It sounds awkward and pig-headed when you thrust yourself in first.

Besides, I strongly suspect your staff was doing most of the research into the issue you were investigating, so give them the credit they deserve.

OK, time to sleep now.