The Goddess Professor Speaks

Unnecessary euphemisms are asinine. Necessary ones can be quite practical when you have young ears around or folks who you don't really want to know what you're talking about, but unnecessary euphemisms are slowly starting to annoy me. I mean, why?  Why use it?  Are you using it because you believe the listener will be offended by what you're saying or because you are too skittish to say what you really mean?  Are using euphemisms a tactful way to avoid offending others or do we increasingly lack the courage of our convictions and so we choose alternative, sad, watered down versions of what we're really trying to say? The longer I teach, the more annoyed I get with euphemisms.  The handbook we use reminds students (and teachers) to be direct and succinct in word choice and expression, so this has become a part of my life.  Don't fill your language with fluffy, indirect terms that don't add any real meaning to the text but instead are just circumlocutory wa

I just read " Don Draper's A Monster, and Here's Why We're Finally Noticing " from the Huffington Post , and I have a few issues with this title and the article. Don has ALWAYS been a monster, and I don't know whether to shrug off the suggestion that people seem to just now be noticing or to rant about what the hell have people being paying attention to if they didn't see that well before now. I also take issue with what he was finally called a monster for doing.  Yeah, it was jacked up that he stole the credit for the idea out from under Peggy, and she was definitely right to confront him--it's one of the main things I love about her lately.  But this isn't new Don.  It's the same Don we've always seen.  Why was this recent lying and recreating a false backstory any different than all the other times before? Again, Don has always been a monster.  A perpetual philanderer, an absent dad (yeah, it was the era, but still), an alcoholic wh

Along with making tons of soaps and whatnot, we also try to make a lot of food at home to cut down on costs. Recently, I was craving a bacon cheeseburger.  I drove over to Hardee's and was only moderately pleased with the burger I bought for $5.   So, the craving rolled around again and the hubs suggested I make one instead of buying. " Fine!   Get me the bacon, buns, and beef." I replied. So, off I set to make my bacon cheeseburger.  The results were ahmazing!!! I took 1 lb of beef and seasoned with season salt, pepper, and worchestershire sauce.  To the mixture, I added diced onion and peppers (we always keep a supply of a frozen "seasoning blend") and italian bread crumbs.  (I couldn't tell you any measurements because I rarely measure anything.  Eyeball it and season to your tastes.) I shaped the meat mixture into four patties and baked for 16 minutes at 375 degrees. While the burgers cooked, I fry the bacon in the pan, sliced the toma

Indecisive people annoy the shit out of me! We make decisions based on the best information we have at the moment, or at least, we should.  That means, gather your information, be as informed as possible about your options, then choose!  If you need advice from others to help you make a decision, seek it, then re-evaluate your options based on the information you've gathered, those people's opinions, your own assessments, then make a decision.  If making the decision takes time, that's fine, but  don't keep asking people their opinions over and over again on the same stuff. Why do people feel the need to constantly reconsider or constantly confirm a decision or constantly seek advice before ever attempting a choice? Are they unsure about their choice?  Insecure about their choice?  Huge life decisions require time, consideration, consultation, and serious thought about the best decision and consequences of that decision.  By huge, I mean buying a house, having a kid

Started this post on Father's Day 2013... Giving me the first example of what a real, hardworking, honest, loving, caring, disciplining man was, my father set the example for my life and more lives than I could ever count. Not only is he an awesome dad, he is the best granddaddy in the world, and has never hesitated to take in and help other folks kids when necessary. I took these life lessons and was blessed to find a husband with those same qualities and many more of his own unique, admirable qualities--qualities he's able to pass on to our own children. I feel so blessed to know so many amazing fathers.  I feel even more blessed that my dad and husband both continue to amaze me.