Showing posts with label Editorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Editorial. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

"HELLO, EXCUSE ME, DUH, WHATEVER”



She was yelling very loud “Hello, Hello, Hello”. When I turned to look, I saw this woman pointing to the supermarket bag boy, who was gathering up all the carts in the parking lot, and by the way was at least 50 feet away from this woman. I thought to myself, what does she expect him to do, take her a cart? She was standing in front of the door of the supermarket, there were carts inside, I just looked at her and she at me from a distance, then she walked out to the parking lot and got herself a cart with a little embarrassed look on her face. I thought to myself “Duh... Whatever.” The bag boy never heard her, he was talking on his cell phone.

I really think that Miami is the “HELLO” capital of the world. That's all you hear, people say “Hello” for everything else except for it's true meaning. “Hello” I need to ask you a question! “Hello” you're in my way! “Hello” that was a stupid answer! “Hello” I need service! “Hello” don't you see me standing here! “Hello” I'm next! It goes on and on. You never hear it used for just what it means “Hello”. Maybe we could make it our state word.

But then we would have to have four state words, because the number two word in Miami is “Excuse Me”, number three is “DUH”, and number four is “Whatever”. These are very contagious words. I've even heard my mother say them on occasion and she's 78 years old and etiquette was a very important part of her life, a southern woman growing up in Miami in the forties and fifties.

“Excuse Me” I need service. “Excuse Me” I need to interrupt you and ask you a question, and now!!!! “Excuse Me” I'm in line, in front of you, and “Hello” are you stupid or something? “Duh”!!!!!! “Whatever”!!!! “Excuse Me” I said “Hello” did you not hear me? “Excuse Me” I need your attention now, no matter what you are doing!!!!! “Hello” don't you hear me. And it goes on and on and on.

If you live in Miami, you hear these words all day long, it's like a plague. I worked in a restaurant and for two years I was called “Excuse Me”, even after trying to tell people my name, they still called me “Excuse Me”. It's so rude!!!!!!!!! Really it is. I think one of the news stations in Miami should start a segment during their broadcast called “That's Just So Rude”.

Let's get to the real meaning of the words. “Hello” in the dictionary says, noun: and expression of greeting. It also says, in 1588 was first recorded “holla, hollo, a shout to attract attention. Holla, stop, cease. Popularity as a greeting coincides with use of the telephone, where it won out over Alexander Graham Bells suggestion, "ahoy". Central telephone exchange operators were known as hello-girls. Word used as greeting: a word used to greet somebody you meet, to answer a telephone call, or to begin a radio or television program: Hello, pleased to meet you. Hello, and welcome to the show. After we had all said our hello, we settled down to eat. A word used to attract attention. Hello, Is anyone there? At word to express surprise, Hello! What's that doing here? The sarcastic or sometimes angry definition or slang is He's like hello? Who do you think you are? I'm living my own life now, hello? Please mind your own business.

The problem is that I think we use it too much. Do we have to use it all the time. Can't we use other words to express ourselves. We could say when we need our server at a restaurant, “When you get a chance, please, I would like to speak with you?” We wouldn't have to put the hello or excuse me in front, would we????? Or, could I get by please, instead of excuse me, could we?????

Could we just completely eliminate the word “duh”.The dictionary says its and ironic response to being told something obvious or well known, or a humorous expression of stupidity used in humorous acknowledgment of your own stupidity. So it's another way of saying someone is stupid, or that you yourself is stupid, DUH!

And last but not least, WHATEVER! As an adjective it says: one or some or every or all without specification. For example: “ Give me whatever peaches you don't want”. A grammatical word used to refer to everything of a particular type, without limitation. As a pronoun: Feel free to say whatever you like. As an adjective: He lost whatever interest he may have had in it. Pronoun: emphatic "what": an emphatic form of "what" used to express an emotion such as surprise or perplexity. Whatever is the matter now? Adverb: of any kind: used for emphasis. I can see no reason whatever why you shouldn't go. Adverb expressing mild disagreement: used to indicate that the speaker disagrees with what has just been said, but is not prepared to argue ( informal )
OK, if that's what you think, whatever.

Oh so now I get it, we use it mostly when we disagree with what we hear but don't want to argue about it. Now I understand!!!!!!!!! WHATEVER!!!!!!!!

I'm out of here!!!!
Mimi Jay

Sunday, June 28, 2009

The End of the Trail


The classic Cherokee Indian statue called "The End of the Trail" is the image of a broken down Cherokee Indian and his worn down horse at the end of the "Trail of Tears" March 1839 at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. The first time I ever saw this image was in black and white at my grandparents home when I was a little girl. My grandmother always keep it on the archway shelf so everyone could see. I found this one many years ago when we traveled to Cherokee, North Carolina.

I read this article today:


Among other things it says, "The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. But that promise has not been kept. About one-third more is spent per capita on health care for felons in federal prison, according to 2005 data from the health service."
We never hear much about American Indians. This article didn't surprise me, but it did make me mad.
Just thought I should post it. I'm not asking your opinion, but I just felt compelled to let others see it.
Okay, I have to admit I'm a little bit Cherokee, maybe a little biased. All my life I have felt a great love and respect for all American Indians. I am very passionate feelings about them and what they went through.

A Little Heartbroken,
Joyce

Saturday, May 23, 2009

SSO-Toll Booths

I know a lot of people are traveling this weekend. So maybe this is the wrong Saturday to talk about highway tolls, but I was just hoping they would suspend all the tolls for the weekend, since it is a holiday, and all...............not!!!!! Here's my question.

Can someone please tell me why the people who go through toll booths here in Florida and do not have a Sunpass have to pay 25 cents more. They also have to wait in long lines, because there's usually only one booth open for the No-Sunpass people. A Sunpass costs $25, and you have to have a debit or credit card attached to it in order to be charged for each toll you go through. Some people don't want to do that. I am one of them. I would rather just pay it as I go. Some people don't have credit cards or debit cards, or even bank accounts. So the less fortunate have to pay more and wait in line. Is it me, or is something really, really wrong here??????




I used to love it years ago, when I would drive up to the toll booth, grab a big hand full of pennies, nickles, and dimes out of my ashtray, and just start throwing them into the basket and let the machine do the counting for me. I liked hearing the cling clang as the coins went through the counter, then the arm would lift up and off I would go, so happy to get rid of all those pennies. And guess what? They probably owe me money for all those times I just threw in coins, not counting them, and overpaid.



Anyway, I have become an anti-toll person. I try not to go any route where I have to pay a toll. I do my best to avoid them. I take the free roads! Actually I get where I am going a lot quicker. Besides the highways in this town, where you have to pay a toll, are always backed up with traffic. Not only do you have to pay a toll, you are usually in a traffic jam before and after the toll booth. So what's the point. And, watch out for those exit and entrance tolls that get you unexpectedly and are 50 cents and up. You'll be thinking okay I made it without paying a toll, and when you exit, there's another toll to pay.

But my question still stands. Why do the less fortunate have to pay more? It's just something that bugs me. Aren't we all equal in the toll booth cameras eyes?

We do have a choice. We either travel the roads with toll boths or we don't.

So, I guess my idea of not having to pay tolls this Memorial Day weekend, is not going to happen. They could of just closed them down. Surprise us with something good, once in a while. Let the workers take the day off. Show us some love!

Oh well, I can dream can't I?

Have a good Saturday and Relax If You Can,

justjoycee




Saturday, May 9, 2009

Saturday Sound Off/Credit Reports


In this time of economic instability and the fact that thousands are loosing their jobs, what's really ticking me off are those "Credit Report Ads" all over the television every other commercial and on the Internet popping up in your face on every page. I agree, having good credit is a very good thing to have, and very important especially if you want to buy a house or car. But, if you lose your job and can't pay your bills, the pile of bills starts getting bigger and bigger, your credit score starts going down immediately, right??? So then what becomes most important in your life???? Survival?? Holding on to your home???? Paying the electric bill??? Eating??? Your children's well being??? One's credit score becomes way down on the priority list of what's really important in life, unfortunately!!!!! At least that's the way I feel!!

Most people don't think that they will ever lose their jobs. That's why they buy things on credit thinking that they will pay it back in time. Having to close down a business you worked hard at for years does not cross the minds of the owners when they buy goods they need to keep the business running. Then when it happens, it is truly devastating, and people have to be strong and roll with the punches, and do whatever they have to do to survive and take care of their family. It is not a joke!!!!!

The credit report.com ads kind of hit me the wrong way. The guy sings about he married his girlfriend who had bad credit and now they are living with her parents. Maybe he should have found a rich woman, or maybe have good credit himself, why do they blame his girlfriend? Or the one where he's driving an old junkie car because his credit it bad. So what are they saying? Okay, so the guy has to drive an old junkie car. I drove one or two in my lifetime. They are looking down on people who don't have it so good. It's just WRONG as far as I'm concerned. Especially now when people are in losing their jobs, their homes, their cars, and their good credit!!!!!!!

I'm getting to the point that I'm starting to think that I need to go live in the counry and get away from all of this. Maybe it's because I am older and like others, have been through a lot in my life. But you know what?? Having a good credit score is not the most frakking important thing in one's life, especially if it's a struggle to put food on the table for your kids.

There are a lot of people out there who lost their jobs, had to close their businesses, can't find work, are losing their homes, their marriages are suffering and their children are suffering. Their lives are being destroyed!!!! Give me a break!!!! Have a little compassion!!!!!

I mean come on GET REAL!!!!!!!! LET"S GET REALLY REAL!!!!! They take your good credit away when you can't pay and a lot of good Americans cannot pay right now!!!!! People are having in rough right now so LAY OFF!!!!

Okay, I feel better now.....

I Wish You Love & Remember There Is Always Hope, And You Gotta Have Hope.........
Joyce

Hollywood Beach Summer 2010