Online Grammar Nazis

Let's be real for a moment. We all know a Grammar Nazi. Those who correct our grammar constantly. In person, and online.

But the ones that are the most annoying, are the ones online that write a whole post saying:

Oh my gosh, I am deleting everyone who uses b for be or u for you. I can't stand it anymore, people need to learn to spell and use proper grammar!

And I respect that, it does get annoying, why can't people just spell out the whole word? Doesn't take much longer.

But then, the same person that complained, they use improper grammar. As in:

Its, where it's should go and vise versa.

Or use the wrong form of there.

ITS is possessive. IT'S is in, "it is there!"

There is "there it is." Their is "their money." They're is: "They are having fun."

If you're going to complain about other people's grammar and spelling, use the right grammar and spelling yourself.

-Meghan

The Social Media Correctors

Nothing bothers me more than someone correcting me. Even if I turn out to be wrong, I hate it. I'm sure you do too. Who doesn't?

What's more annoying, are the ones on social media. Those who wouldn't dare correct someone in person, but they love to do it on the internet.

Let's be honest, being behind a screen where the person can't actually see you is very nice, but sometimes, if you have a problem with someone, or want to correct them, try not to just do it on the internet. Try to at least do it person sometimes, I usually correct people's grammar both in person and online, or spelling. Because I just don't understand how people can't get the correct form...

Sorry, I'll continue.

As I was saying, The Social Media Corrector. Those who just correct online.

What's even worse, is when these people have never ever ever in the whole wide world, ever commented or liked one of your statues, pictures, etc. EVER. And they just decided, when they saw a post about something they think or know is wrong, and they comment to correct you. When they have never talked to you at all online, or in person for that matter.

So why should you take them seriously?

What's even more annoying, is when that person is wrong, and you have a biting urge to delete your whole post they commented on just because your feelings are hurt, but you don't. But that doesn't stop you from answering back sarcastically. Because, let's be honest, it feels good to get back just a little bit.

So for all you Social Media Correctors out there: Chill out guys.

-Meghan

Food Place Manners

I have been going out to eat since the very beginning of my life. I had started going to Tumble Weed with my family when I was just a little baby.

Not as many people are as lucky as I am to have been able to eat out as much as I have with my family, so let me break down some things about Food Place Manners.

My Papa is a cool dude, and every time our waiter and waitress leaves after seating us and getting our drinks, he always asks us what the person's name was. Sometimes I remember, sometimes I don't. But he always does.

So, manner number one: Remember the person's name.

This will help you when you're trying to get your bill paid and you need to wave them over, or you ask for their name from another person working at the place. Also, their name may be yours, or someone else at your table, makes for great converstaion.

Next, when ever they seat me, I always smile and thank them. Because come on, how can you not? They've probably had the longest shift in their whole life and you don't even stop for a second to thank them. I always thank my server. Because why the heck not?

They get our orders.

Thank you.

They get us our food.

Thank you.

They check on us

Thank you.

So, number two: Say THANK YOU.

Then, when you're about to leave, and they give you your check back, make sure to say "Have a nice day!" Because politeness people, seriously. Just be nice.

Number three: Wish them a good rest of the day.

And even if they were the bestest server ever, or the worst, always give them a tip. People like to do some fancy thing with the bill, but I usually dig out a few ones, or a five and leave it there, because they get to keep that. And that could be a lot of money for someone.

Number four: Always leave a tip.

And just for extra niceness, try to wipe off the table and stack the plates and forks, etc. Makes everyone's job so much easier.

-Meghan

You Don't Know How To Read?!

Let me break down what I mean by that title.

You know those people, those people that refuse to read the directions to something, refuse to listen when they're being explained to.

You know who I'm talking about.

This happens in my life often, I write out tons of instructions, I write them in a way that everyone should be able to understand. I write where to find the tools you need to complete the task. Everything is in order, and I worked hard at it too.

Then, BAM. Those people come in.

"Can you send me this please?"

"Can you look this up for me?"

"Can I have that person's phone number?"

"What time do we have to be there again?"

And inside, I am screaming: "I WROTE IT ALL OUT. I WORKED HARD, AND YOU CAN'T JUST GET ON YOUR COMPUTER AND LOOK? IT'S RIGHT FLIPPING THERE!!!!!!!"

But, since I am a nice person, I politely answer their question. But, not without some hinted sarcasm.

"Sure, but I did write this all out earlier. :)"

Because, let's be honest. How can one not get upset when one asks them for something that you worked really hard to explain and all the info is right there for them to see without any extra work from anyone else? It's like writing a huge essay for your teacher, and then them saying: "Hey, you know what? I'm too lazy to pick up the essay you wrote for me and read it, can you just hint a few things for me? Then I can grade it."

Not the best example, but you get the point.

But don't get me wrong, I like to help people. If it's something that I didn't spend forever on, and I listed out everything that needs done, I'll answer your question. But if I wrote it out, or someone else did, and it should be easy to read, I'm sure you're capable of looking at it yourself. And if you're done in a position to look at it at that moment, just wait until you are. Nothing's going to happen, I promise.

So I will end with this: Why can't people just read things?

-Meghan

Song Breakdown: "I Know Things Now"

When I listened to the entire playlist of Into the Woods a few days after seeing the movie, I noticed something about the song I Know Things Now.

Take a look at the first few lyrics:

Mother said,

"Straight ahead,"

Not to delay

or be misled.

I should have heeded

Her advice...

But he seemed so nice.

The first few: "Mother said, straight ahead, not to delay, or be misled." when I heard these, I changed the word mother to 'God'. God is always telling us, go straight ahead, don't let sin get to you, keep going, don't let it draw you in.

Then,

"I should have heeded her advice...but he seemed so nice."

We should have listened to God, done what he had said, but like all humans, we are not perfect. And like all humans, we are easily drawn in. Naive. Sin seems nice, seems wonderful at first...but then it changes at the last minute, and you can't leave it. Which brings me to the next set of lyrics:

And he showed me things

Many beautiful things,

That I hadn't thought to explore.

They were off my path,

So I never had dared.

I had been so careful,

I never had cared.

And he made me feel excited-

Well, excited and scared.

Satan shows us many wonderful and beautiful things, that's how he draws us in. And we are always so careful, trying to avoid sin at all costs, and then we think to ourselves: "I've been so good lately...maybe...maybe just this once. It won't hurt." So we stray just a little bit. And sin makes us feel excited, and like the song says: "Excited and scared."

When he said, "Come in!"

With that sickening grin,

How could I know what was in store?

Once his teeth were bared,

Though, I really got scared-

Well, excited and scared-

But he drew me close

And he swallowed me down,

Down a dark slimy path

Where lie secrets that I never want to know,

And after that one slip, Satan has us once again, and when he calls us, sometimes we listen. And we don't know what's going to happen, but we don't care, and we go in anyway. And again, he seems scary but we're still excited though scared, and then...We learn secrets that we never ever want to know, but we know things now, even though we didn't want to.

It then goes on to say she slid down a path and at the end of is her Granny, then:

So we lie in the dark

Til you came and set us free,

And you brought us to the light,

And we're back at the start.

And I know things now,

"You" is Jesus. Jesus came and set us free, gave us a fresh start, and we know more things now then we did before.

Many valuable things,

That I hadn't known before:

Do not put your faith

In a cape and a hood,

They will not protect you

The way that they should.

And take extra care with strangers,

Even flowers have their dangers.

And though scary is exciting,

Nice is different than good

We know a lot of things about the world and sin now, that we didn't before. Don't put your faith in yourself, don't think just because you've been so careful, that sin won't drag you back in again. And of course, be careful around strangers, even the little things have their dangers, and even though scary can seem exciting, nice is different than good.

And finally:

Now I know:

Don't be scared.

Granny is right,

Just be prepared.

Isn't it nice to know a lot!

And a little bit not...

-Meghan

There's just something about wearing a different language on your shirt...

And then there's the fact that most people that buy the same shirt, have no idea what it means, but just like it because it's not in English.

When I bought my first French shirt, I wanted to know what it said before I got it. That way, it was something meaningful, and not something dumb. Like the fact that Victoria Secret has a new perfume called noir. Which is just black...in French.

People use different languages to make things seem more exciting, so that people are curious and want the product.

I would never buy a perfume called black. Seems ridiculous to me.

And since we use let's say, for example, French, on so many items these days, when people see a word they don't know on a product, they assume it's French. And that's not always the case, it would be English, just a made up word a company made.

Now that's creativity.

What's exciting about wearing a shirt you can read, is when people ask you what it means, and you can tell them. Not a 'um...not sure.' and then they'll try to guess and that's just annoying. When you know what you're wearing, it'll make the conversation shorter and less annoying, and maybe once you tell someone, they'll get excited about it.

My first French shirt says:

J'adore la mode. P.A.R.I.S.

Which means, I adore fashion, P.A.R.I.S.

Now that I know what it means, I can feel proud as I wear it around, instead of wondering that the heck it says.

-Meghan