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As a writer (and I'm certain that many other writers will agree with me here) I appreciate words! I appreciate finding just the right sequence of phonemes, words, meanings and connotations to express my thoughts with fluid ease. I like having words right at my fingertips. I like when words just tumble from my mind, down my arms, through my fingertips and right onto my computer screen just the way my mind originally intended them. I like nailing my thoughts on the first try.

Sometimes, though, I run out of words. Sometimes, though, words escape me. I struggle to find just the right verb; just the right adjective; just the right phrase to eloquently relate to my fellow man precisely what I'm imagining, feeling, observing, doing or contemplating. So, I value words.

I value them deeply.

I know what it's like to be at a desperate loss for words. I know what it's like to fall woefully short in an attempt at expressing deep sorrow for someone else's personal loss. I know what it's like to stand before an authority with an embarrassing lack of words to explain how I ended up standing in front of the authority in the first place. (Hey! I was young. I was at the beach at night with some friends, and it involved a lot of rum! The local police literally got wind of our midnight beach orgy...er...party and zeroed in on us before we could tidy up!)

So, I place a lot of importance on words. And you might think that - with all the importance I place on words - I'd never regard certain words or phrases with disdain. Yet, I do. Honestly, I do!

Whenever I hear someone say or use the word veggies, for example, the hair on the back of my neck stands right on end! I mean, what are we? Two years old? Are we really too lazy to say or write the four syllables of the word vegetables? (Hey, maybe I should shorten the word syllables to syllas? Think it'll catch on? "Teacher, that word has too many syllas for me to read.")

Trust me! I'll REALLY hate it when everyone starts calling their canine their doggy; or refering to their piranhas as their fishies. C'mon! Use the adult version of the word and call them what they are! They're dogs, or fishes, or vegetables!

I could go on and on about such things, but there's one phrase that I especially dislike. I mean, if you really want to get under my skin then just respond to something I might say about myself with, "Oh, that explains a lot!"

I really detest hearing that! I regard such a response as utter arrogance from the person drawing the conclusions

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