Live and Learn New Mexico!

You might think that someone like me, an educator with a degree in English, would be preaching correct grammar and spelling, holding onto traditional ways of expressing ourselves in the written word.  Lately I've been bitching about the misused apostrophe in the word "it's".  I'm not insisting, however, that we relearn it all and do things traditionally; I'm saying let's move with the times and make new rules that reflect change. Might be easier that way.  After all, once upon a time, contractions were not allowed to be used in academic writing. You could not smoosh two words together to make one, even though we did that when we spoke. That changed quickly. It was impractical not to.  We're looking at the same thing as we progress to an even more technical age. Ideas are more important than spelling. Conciseness is valued.  Most importantly, no one can spell anymore. I mean, why the hell do we continue to spell it "though", "enough"

Kahlua is about six years old now. I love her -- she's the smartest dog I've ever known, and she loves her doggie life. But she didn't always have it so good. For the first year or so of her life, she lived in the abandoned mobile home on the property next to mine. Her owners asked my son to take care of her when they abruptly moved out a few years ago. Danny would go to the mobile home each day and feed her and let her run around outside.  Honestly, the dog irritated the hell out of me but still, I couldn't stand watching it happen. I told Danny to bring her over. Even though she quite gleefully killed my chickens in a matter of days, I knew quickly that she was a soulmate. She's been with me since, reminding me every day just how beautiful life is. Because she greets every day with doggie gratitude and celebrates it in her Kahlua way...open hearted... positive...funny.