Please Take This Advice From Myself

Okay, let the Grammar Police commence the citations.

I work in a professional setting. You would think that in a professional setting people would be savvy enough to send out a grammatically correct email or memo. If you'd think that, you'd be wrong.

I see the misuse of many words and phrases, but the one that really gets under my skin is the misuse of the word myself. I see sentences being punished by the misuse of this word daily. I usually make fun of the perpetrator as if they were an uneducated dolt and then move on. However, last week someone very high up in our corporation sent a memo that contained a glaring mistake to all employees. Well, it was a glaring mistake to me. It went something like this (as part of the salutation):

"If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Persons Name or myself."

Oh, how rich! Oddly enough, no one else (to my knowledge) noticed it. That's because the majority of people think this is proper grammar!

I didn't know the exact name of the offense that had been committed, but common sense - and having the rudimentary knowledge required to break down a sentence - told me that this is not right! So, I was on a mission to put a name to the horrible ignorance that accosted me daily.

After a google search that took me all of, oh, 1 minute, I found this intriguing article: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/myself-grammar.aspx

An enlightening explanation offered up by the Grammar Girl site is this:

"Digging into the topic a little deeper, myself is what's called a reflexive pronoun. That can be hard to remember, but just think about looking into a mirror and seeing your reflection. You'd say, “I see myself in the mirror.” You see your reflection, and myself is a reflexive pronoun.

Other reflexive pronouns include himself, herself, yourself, itself, and themselves. A reflexive pronoun is always the object of a sentence; it can never be the subject. Grammar Girl has talked about it before, but a subject is the one doing something in a sentence, and the object is the one having something done to it. If I step on Squiggly, I am the subject and Squiggly is the object."

So, now I had the answer. Quit misusing the REFLEXIVE PRONOUN!! When I run across this mistake in the future, and I will, I can incorporate the words 'reflexive pronoun' into my annoyed rant.

I also believe I know why so many people are want to misuse this poor little word. Of course, the answer to this one can't be found by googling. Mere speculation on my part. For some reason, people are afraid of the word 'me'. Like, they think it sounds stupid or improper to use 'me' in a sentence. Well, get it through your craniums, people, me is a WORD and it is one because sometimes it's correct to use it. Let's all say it together: "Me. Me me me. ME!" There, feel better? It sounds just fine to say it. Get used to it friends.

I feel better now. Hope you all enjoyed my mini-rant and please take it with a grain of salt. My overall mood is one of cajoling.

If you have a similar story to share and aren't offended at all, please feel free to contact me. Any one else better contact myself.

Master Groove Hit List - Week 3

I've been painting little figurines all day, and I do mean all day, for my Mom to give to her sisters at their monthly luncheon and I'm exhausted. So please forgive my pithy post!

I've had this next entry into the Master Groove list on my mind here lately and I think my favorite song by him is more than worthy of making the list.

Michael Bublé did a remake of Feeling Good, a song written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (thanks, Wikipedia). Although a few have attempted this wonderfully soulful song, I don't believe any before Buble has put the umph into it like Michael did. I kid you not, when I hear the first few cords of Michael's Feeling Good, my heart speeds up in anticipation of the amazing lyrical, vocal and melodical ride I'm about to go on.
So here's to that categorically cool (and cute, too!) Canadian crooner, Michael Bublé!

(FYI the official video has been removed from youtube because of alleged copywrite infringement. That's too bad because it's a really amazing video. Alas, here's a live version which is, of course, incredible too. But to hear the recorded version, please check out the Master Groove Hit List in the right side navigation of this page.)

My Stars are Crossed?

I am by no means an expert on astrology. As a matter of fact, I can say with certainty that I know almost nothing about it. So that makes what I'm about to say have even more weight. I think that the stars alignment has a bearing on my life. It's a subtle thing, but I notice like a couple times a year that I'm not very popular among the small group of people that I know. The response to me runs the gamut from mild hostility to ennui. This phenomenon lasts around a month and then passes. I wish I knew more about astrology so I could understand what is happening to make this occur.

This time it started about a week ago so I have 2 - 3 weeks left of it. I notice it online as I get utterly ignored, my comments are disregarded too. In the physical world, I notice it because I work at an information systems helpdesk. If you ever want to get a taste of how shitty people can act, work a helpdesk phone. Usually the majority of people are very nice, with buttholes interspersed. But, right now I notice even people who are always nice being rude or snide. Mostly to me.

I don't want to sound like a whiner, cause I really don't care too much about the poopy attitudes cause I know it'll pass soon. I was just curious to know why this happens to me.

I did a search online, trying to find the most dumbed down explanation I could. I searched my horoscope and this is the first one I came across, so I think I'm on to something:

"The powerful Full Moon Eclipse in your sign can explode onto the scene, stressing your relationships and temporarily turning your life upside down. You know what you want now and if anyone inadvertently stands in your way, you could prematurely go on the offense without even realizing what you have done. Keep in mind that you don't have to express every little thing you feel."

So, it's not all in my mind! At least now I know not to confront anyone or bitch about it. I believe I will have to do some in depth research to even touch the surface of what is going on here. I'll keep you posted as to what I find. For now, I can take comfort in the fact that my dog loves me no matter what.

Master Groove Hot List - Week 2

There is a constant sound track to my life playing in my head. Sometimes it's very loud and prominent when I'm feeling feisty (Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence), other times it subtly offers background atmosphere (Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley) or really rocks my world when I'm profoundly epiphanizing (Just Like Heaven - The Cure).

But lately there has been a magnetic, beautiful free spirited girl that is really defining who I am as a listener and inspiring the artist in me like no other. It's Sia Furler. This crazy, tell-it-like-it-is Australian gal whose heartbreakingly poignant voice haunts me. I'd be way remiss to not only include her on my Master Groove Hot List but to sprinkle her in many times.

I'll start off with a song that has inspired a pivotal scene in the graphic novel I'm writing. Sia embodies freedom and living life to the fullest without regret. And it shines through in her music.

I've chosen Day Too Soon as Sia's 1st entry onto this list. But know that any song of hers would be a super choice. Yes, she's that good. Please enjoy my week 2 entry onto the Master Groove Hot List:

Click for Day Too Soon. (Sorry embedding disabled)

Visit Sia's website here.