Dear Ones,
Today I am joining my friend Rebecca for Thankful Thursday, 10.2019 and my friend Penny for Thinking Out Loud Thursday and linking up with Sylvia for her Gathering of Friends. Combining the 2 themes into one post. You can read last month’s combined post all about naps, here.
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Thankful Thursday, 10.2019
Have to be honest, this month there were a few nights where I turned my back on my gratitude journal. Although I always have so much to be thankful for, those evenings I didn’t have a very grateful heart. And didn’t feel like thinking hard enough to think of something I was thankful for.
Here are some of the things I did give thanks for this month.
- Cia snuggles
- my Cady-Coo
- the love I feel for my husband; our relationship
- physical therapy – the people there, the treatment, the improvement in my leg
- Francisco’s grandfather is no longer suffering
- painting rocks like scarecrows while listening to my book on Audible
- rain
- good batch of homemade bread
- afternoon nap
- the green sandals and fancy necklace PC gave me years ago that made me feel like a fancy lady
- my prince replacing the metal Harvest-themed stakes in the yard (They were in the way when he mowed, so I moved them. Then started thinking I didn’t ‘need’ them and threw them away. PC fetched them from the trash and put them back in the yard after he mowed. I saw them the next day)
- Lauren’s thyroid ultrasound showed no sign of cancer
- Mustafa did well in his interview and was offered an MRI tech job
- clean house
- pecan tree canopy on our drive on the back roads between Las Cruces, NM and El Paso
- ice cream
And There’s More
- my mother-in-law, May, was not badly injured in her horrific car wreck
- blue pumpkins
- my sister received a call from my nephew in basic training
- trying on new outfits
- love of my family
- my Dia de los Muertos altar with its tea light (think the movie “Coco”)
- Mom sounds good
- finding where I had put PC’s blood pressure cuff and TENs unit
- PC switched my washer and dryer around so that the doors open the right way and the washer comes before the dryer
- the love my daughters have for each other
- medical tests like the mammogram I had
So blessed. Every single day. Even those when I don’t immediately realize it.
Thinking Out Loud Thursday: (Mis)Spelling Matters
I have never been a great speller but now, with spellcheck available for virtually anything I write, I’ve gotten even worse. Don’t even try to remember how to spell the word ‘misspelling’ (one S or two?), because spellcheck will remind me when I misspell it. But I do think spelling matters.
And I was recently rather embarassed to realize I had been spelling the word ‘fave’ incorrectly. I do remember the rule the says ‘Silent E makes the vowel in the middle of the word say its name.’ Like in the word name. The E at the end of the word makes the vowel in the middle, the A, say its own name. So I should have realized that the word fave, short for favorite, would be spelled F-A-V-E. However, I didn’t. I was spelling fave without the E, so F-A-V. Which we all know (now), would be FAV – rhymes with salve. Which is a whole ‘nother ball of wax with that silent L.
All of this to say, I have realized my error and will not be forgetting how to spell FAVE ever again.
Tennessee Tee
A couple of weeks ago, in a Friday FAVES post, I shared the story behind a new Tennessee tee shirt. Tennessee as in the University of Tennessee. You might remember this post.
I was so proud that my alma mater took this Florida 4th grader’s design and created a tee shirt out of it. And then made it available for purchase online. So many orders flooded into the Vol Shop online that it temporarily crashed! I ordered my tee and received it about 3 weeks later, they were so overwhelmed by the public’s response. Here I am, coming to you from the Walmart dressing room, proudly wearing my tee.
But one thing bothered me about this whole thing. This is the image of the tee from which I ordered my shirt.
[source]
When it arrived, I was a little surprised to see that the word Tennessee was misspelled, Tennesee. One S, not two.
I have gone over and over this in my head. Seems to me that the word Tennessee on the official shirt should have been spelled correctly. I understand that the student who created this design is only in the fourth grade. And doesn’t live in Tennessee. He lives in Florida. And he was bullied by other children for wearing a safety pinned piece of notebook paper with this graphic on it for college tee shirt day at school. But, this is for school. For hiis school and now the University of Tennessee school. Shouldn’t someone have corrected the spelling of Tennessee on this sweet graphic before they used it on thousands of tee shirts?
What Do You Think?
Do you think they (UT) didn’t realize (heaven help me…like my fav and fave)? Hopefully, that’s not the case. Do you think the teacher didn’t catch the misspelling? Or that she didn’t want to point it out because the child had already been bullied over his tee? Is it okay to let a misspelled word slide to keep from hurting someone’s feelings?
Maybe that’s what y’all were doing when you saw how I was spelling FAVE. Sparing my feelings? If so, I appreciate it, because I am a little sensitive. But when I misspelled y’all in a post, PC told me and I went in and corrected it immediately.
Maybe I am making a mountain (Rocky Top) out of a mole hill. If so, please forgive me. Just seems like there is a lesson here for everyone. This child loves the University of Tennessee. He has even been guaranteed a 4-year scholarship to the University of Tennessee. And maybe now he knows how to spell that word. But to my way of thinking, it shouldn’t have gone uncorrected, especially since the design is representing the educational entity that is the University of Tennessee.
Your Turn
So, what things have you thanking your lucky stars this month? What blessings are you counting? Please share in a comment below and let me know what you think about this tee shirt thing, too, while you are at it. Then run by to say hi to my pals, Rebecca and Penny and Sylvia.
Have a happy Friday, girls!! Do something special just for you!
Hugs and kisses,
Gale Johnston
Personally, I think they should have corrected the spelling of Tennessee before churning out the shirts.
And I thought it was immensely sweet of your PC to put your stakes back out. Loved reading that!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Wasn’t PC so sweet to return my stakes to the yard. It makes me smile every time I see them. It’s the little things that are the BIG things!
Retirement Reflections
Hi, Leslie – I love your gratitude list. I agree thre is so much to be thankful for.
And there’s even more good news for you. According to the Urban Dictionary, you are off the hook with your spelling of ‘fav’. Here’s what they have to say.
Fav -The abbreviation of favourite (slang). e,g, That is like sooo totally my FAV book.
Okay, so it’s not the Oxford English Dictionary — but it’s something! 😀
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay!! So I have been spelling fav right…at least according to the Urban Dictionary. Thank you for that. Now I am wondering about frig. Is it frig or fridge? Will have to check on that one. I think I am probably more an Urban Dictionary kind of gal than an Oxford English Dictionary girl. Thank you so much. I have thought about fav way too much lately.
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Yes, they should have corrected the spelling of TN. As for fav or fave, I always use fav, not because it’s the correct way to spell it but because it’s faster to type fav than favorite. I get upset when I make a spelling typo on a blog comment, later discover it, and can’t go back and change it. 🙁
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Agree about the frustration of being unable to correct typos and misspelling on comments. Boo!!
Yay for spelling fav FAV. High five. Great minds, huh?
And I think it was important to spell Tennessee correctly on the official tee. Hate to be a stickler about that, but seems pretty important to me.
Debbie Harris
A lovely list of things to be thankful for Leslie, you really are loved and living a good life. I’m thankful for many things at the moment but mainly the medical profession for helping my granddaughter continue to thrive in NICU. My family and the support of so many bloggers for our fundraising efforts, it’s astounding! But I’m very grateful. Take care 🙂
Christie Hawkes
That is wonderful to hear, Deb! So much for which to be grateful.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am so glad so many came together to help make your walk a huge success. Anxious for you to be able to visit Dottie again soon. Sure she will have grown and changed and blossomed even more. Hope she is soon home where she belongs but thankful for the great care she is getting.
Christie Hawkes
Good morning Leslie! What a wonderful post to start the day with. It is heartwarming to be reminded that even in the most difficult of times there are small joys to hold on to, if only we take notice. I have always been a fairly good speller–not Spelling Bee winner good–but A-student good. Anyway, I have noticed a slip in my spelling skills over the years, probably due to spellcheck and online dictionaries. As far as the t-shirt, I’m going back and forth on honoring the original design and spelling the name of the state correctly, but I’m thinking an official shirt should have the correct spelling. I have the hardest time with quotes that contain spelling or punctuation errors. I really REALLY want to correct them. Have a lovely day, Leslie!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay!! I am glad that you are of the same opinion about the tee shirt. I think of you as being one of the kindest, most considerate women I know, so I felt better that you, too, thought Tennessee should have been spelled correctly on the official school tee. Was feeling like a big old Grinch mentioning it.
Penny Struebig
So many wonderful things to be thankful for on your list! I’m so with you on the spelling of Tennessee on the shirt. I mean, I’m all about creativity but the spelling of that word should be correct in my opinion. Thanks for linking up to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! Have a great week.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Glad I am not the only one who thinks Tennessee should have been spelled correctly. I feel like a bully or meanie for even suggesting it but it matters!
Dara
You have tons to be thankful for! I would want Tennessee to be spelled correctly on my shirt too. I wonder if they chose to do that on purpose.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I wish UT had just slipped another S into the word Tennessee, keeping with the original design, but just spelling the word correctly. Maybe they didn’t notice?
Shugunna Alexander
What a wonderful thankful list. I can relate that sometimes you just don’t have it in you to think about how grateful you are when sometimes things or situations are happening around you that aren’t making since. Yet, in your list all the most important things were found, your love for your family!
I can’t say much on spelling, lol you’ve been to my blog; my grammar and spelling need work. I like the Tee, I wonder if they deliberately kept the misspelling of the word to see if anyone would either notice or to grab your and other’s attention to talk about the little artist? 🤔
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so clever! I hadn’t thought of the misspelling of Tennessee as intentional! But that’s a possibility. Thank you for providing a different perspective.
Amy Johnson
It looks like you had a lot to be thankful for this month. I don’t know about the T-shirt. I’m not sure if it was intentional or not.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Tis the season for gratitude and thanksgiving. I go back and forth about the tee shirt but truly think the university should have slipped another S in the word Tennessee, in keeping with his design, but to ensure the word was spelled correctly.
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com
Hi Leslie! Thank you for sharing your “gratitude list” with all of us AND reminding us of it’s power. It got me thinking for sure. And as for the spelling. I think that it would have required changing the students art…and for that reason no, I don’t think it should have been corrected. Although I think the school should post a disclaimer to all purchasers if that was their intent. Selling the t’s and not explaining that is obviously problematic. I hope you are having a good AND thankful weekend. ~Kathy
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hi friend, thankful for your visit! I enjoy the Thankful Thursday posts so much. They are easy to write because everywhere I look, I am blessed. And grateful to be so fortunate.
Rebecca Jo Vincent
OH my word – you win the thankful thursday for all the things you were grateful for. I love an overflowing list!!!!
& that Tee – I GOTTA GET ONE – I saw it on our news here about the story of that & just love how it has just been growing &growing in support of that little guy who drew that design!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, friend. I have so many blessings. Your Thankful Thursday posts give me a chance to reflect on how fortunate I am.
Erica/Erika
I like the sound of “Thankful Thursday” although I strongly suspect you are thankful every day, Leslie:) I zeroed in on the homemade bread and the ice cream. Yet, exceptionally thankful about your friend, Lauren.
Re: spelling, Leslie. Even when I Google, or Wiki or Thesaurus, I will find various spelling for the same words. Also, Canadian versions of words.
Let your beautiful and thankful thoughts continue.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so kind, Erica/Erika. Thank you for the sweet comment. I try to be thankful and appreciate but there are days when I can be a real grump, I’m afraid. I was so proud of my homemade bread this time. Have struggled with making it so that it comes out as tasty as my mother’s always was. But these loaves were pretty close. Now to do it again!
Glad to be reminded there various ways of spelling the same word. Like color and colour, huh? I have thought too much about fav. And tend to beat myself up about the silliest things. Time to move on.
How would you spell frig? Tee hee!
Bojana Krienke
I’ve been considering incorporating a gratitude journal into my life the last couple of months. I think it’s the fact that I have been struggling to find a new balance and have had many emotions, that I wonder if making gratitude a part of my day may help me focus on all the good that I know I have.
Reading your list of good things made me so happy. Thank you.
bosbodaciousblog. blogspot.ca
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Bojana, welcome!! So glad to have you come by and leave such a thoughtful comment. I really find that thinking of a few things everyday to be thankful for helps me end the day on a positive note. When I close my eyes, I am remembering the good that happened. The blessings that day brought my way.
If you are interested in a gratitude journal, may I gift you one? Please let me know. Journaling every day helps me sort through my life and my emotions, too. You might try even a quick bullet journal.
Laura Bambrick
Oh shoot! I’ve been spelling fav (I mean FAVE) wrong too! Shame on me! Now I know better! It’s so smart to go through all the things you are thankful for! It makes you a more positive person I think. And it makes everyone who reads this post more positive and thankful for their lives too!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
What a precious comment. Thank you! I always write my Thankful Thursday posts for myself but when someone else can find something to take away from my post, I am doubly blessed.
Anne/The Cajun Couple
Hi Leslie,
I love your list…so thoughtful. I am mostly thankful for my family and dog, Spot. But I am finding that blogging has me paying more attention to how blessed we are. It’s the little things but they all add up to something big. I am thankful to have “met” you and the friendship you have given me. 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, my darling friend. I don’t know how you found my little corner of blog world but I am so glad you did. We have been buds for several years now and I feel like if we met in real life, we would be fast friends in person, too.
Thank you for stopping by and for being my friend. XO
Donna Connolly
Hi, Leslie – I’m wondering if I have been hiding in your spam or trash folder.
I know that I read and replied to this post (I commented on how the Urban Dictionary allows for ‘fav’). If not in your trash, perhaps my previous message is still floating someone in cyberspace.
I admire your positive attitude and your gratitude for all things big and small. It is very contagious!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for your kind words. I do not understand why some comments are held in ‘pending’ and others appear immediately on my blog. But there are a whole lot of things I don’t understand about WordPress and blogging. Ha!
What I do know, is that I appreciate you coming not once but twice to encourage me and lift me up. Thank you, sweet friend.
jodie filogomo
It’s an interesting conundrum Leslie. And I can see both sides. But maybe we give creative license to the spelling since that’s how the student spelled it. It’s not about the spelling maybe, but about the message??
You made homemade bread?? OMG…I need to do that. It’s always so special.
XOXO
Jodie
Mica
Oh that’s so cool you got one of those tees! it was even in the news here! I think it’s a sweet idea, and while it would have been nice to have it spelled right, I like that it would be true to the original design, the little kid must be so proud! 🙂
Hope that your week is going well! 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Mica, thank you for somehow discovering teensy corner of the blog world, and for leaving me such a sweet comment. Heading over to visit you now. Always glad to make new friends. So surprised that the story about the little boy and his tee shirt design made the news in Australia, too. Goes to show we all love a heart-warming story.
Deborah Stinedurf
So much to be thankful for! I love that tee so much. When I saw the story it made my heart happy. I’m torn on the spelling of TN though…I can see the rationale for not changing it, but I can also see why maybe they should have fixed it…
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Awww, Debbie, I am tickled pink that you stopped by and left me such a sweet comment. I love my Tennessee tee but just which the name of the state was spelled right! Doesn’t make sense for an institute of higher learning to spell their own name correctly!! Thank you so much for visiting!!
Jill
So many things to be thankful for! I need to start doing this and keeping a list! I’m on the fence with the shirt. Maybe Tennessee was misspelled on the original, maybe they should have changed it. Either way, it is such a sweet story behind it!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I have a new gratitude journal just for November and the days leading up to Thanksgiving. So excited to start with it tonight. Hope you will just set a little notebook by your bedside and start writing your gratefuls and you will be hooked!! Thank you for your friendship!
Sylvia | Grace for a Gypsy
Great list of things to be grateful for. I am working on a list of things I am grateful for too. It will be a post later this month. Thanks for linking up with us at the GATHER OF FRIENDS LINK PARTY 9. Pinned
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Sylvia, for pinning my post and for your kind comments. Looking forward to your gratitude list!