Words you like and dislike...

I wanted to congratulate Hope this morning!  She became a first-time grandma to little Navaya Serenity Nicole last night at 1:47 a.m.  I know the feeling of being up all night and receiving that tiny bundle.  It is still so fresh in my memory =D!!  Welcome to the Grandma's Club, Hope!!  Go give her and the new mama a congratulations if you are able!!

I got more creative submissions to "Wordplay" than I had expected!  I am really pleased!  It seems that the words that were picked for your favorites and least favorites were ones that gave you positive or negative mental images.  I found that interesting.  I thought that a lot of you would give me words that  you liked the "sound" of, how they rolled off your tongue - that you enjoyed "hearing" in your ears.  That wasn't necessarily the case.  Here are the two lists, in no particular order, from no particular person...


  Favorite sounding words              Least favorite sounding words
     mama                                                     crash
     daddy                                                    murder
     baby                                                      hate
     cacophony                                              loser
     symphony                                                stupid
     cherish                                                   retard
     beloved                                                  venom
     sunshine                                                 sod
     lullaby                                                    treachery
     everlasting                                              deceit
     Lord                                                        phony
     Savior                                                     a con
     soulmate                                                  thievery                                      
     friend                                                     a blackballer
     love                                                         a cheat
     harmony                                                   a liar
     loyalty                                                     a loser
     genius                                                      a drug dealer 
     original                                                    a drug addict
     true to self                                              shame
     challenger                                                bad
     redeemer                                                 indifferent
     angel                                                        mean
     winner                                                      cruel
     peace                                                       vindictive
     honorable                                                 ignorant
     kind                                                          phlegm
     generous                                                   illness
     gracious                                                   surgery
     memorable                                                armed
     loyal                                                         bomb
     dependable                                               war 
     hodgepodge                                              shock
     flabbergasted                                          explosion
     bonanza                                                    pervert 
     boomerang                                                racist 
     compassion                                                abuse   
     gentle                                                       abortion
     kindly                                                       cancer  
     warmth                                                      depression
     joy                                                            deceived
     supercalifragilisticexpialidocious              lard
     Google                                                      vomit
     Adirondack                                               nasal
     Hoover                                                      urine
     Coolidge                                                    fart
     Ohio                                                          skinny
     Alabama                                                    hygiene
     rambunctious                                             rash
     twinkle                                                      bladder
     spirited                                                     blubber
     chartreuse                                                 pallid
     magenta                                                    finicky
     azure                                                        rat
     celery                                                       scab
     taupe                                                        rancid
     crimson                                                     fear
     burnt sienna
     lovely
     sensual
     voluptuous
     spiritual
     hot
     exciting
     stud
     plump
     good
     connection
     sweet
     pumpkin
     cupcake
     pink
     sugar
     absolutely
     vivid
     jazz
     hush
     willow


Thanks to everyone who participated!  If you would like to see entries from Penny and Chuck for this "Wordplay" pay them a visit.  They put a lot of thought into this particular game.

For those of you who are wondering about my sister Krissy, she is hanging in there.  She is hurting, but she is always a fighter.  She had a tumble down the stairs and hurt her arm.  She has to wear a sling for awhile and then go to physical therapy.  We aren't sure when she will be able to type for an extended period of time.  If anyone wants to send her well wishes, pay her a visit.  Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!  Enjoy one another and your day! xox

Tags: Wordplay with Val, wordplay

"Wordplay with Val"!...

                                       

In a survey conducted in 2004 by the British Council which asked more than 40,000 people around the world to rank the most beautiful words among a list of 70 words found MOTHER first, followed by PASSION, SMILE, LOVE, and ETERNITY.

A poll of American writers, poets and critics listed these words as their favorites:  HOME, CHATTANOOGA, MELODY, NOBILITY, VERMILION, GRACIOUS, PAVEMENT, LOVELY, HARBORS OF MEMORY, NEVERMORE, VIOLET, LAKE, LAUGHTER, WILLOW, and LOVELY

The ten worst-sounding words in English, according to a poll by the National Association of Teachers of Speech in August, 1946 are:  CACOPHONY, CRUNCH, FLATULENT, GRIPE, JAZZ, PHLEGMATIC, PLUMP, PLUTOCRAT, SAP, and TREACHERY.

Do you agree with these?  Do you have a favorite sounding word or words?  Are there any words you dislike the sound of?  List them in the comments section.  You can use this site for suggestions.  If you do this as an entry in your journal, please come back and leave a full entry URL so that we can go back and read your entry.  Thanks!

My answer:  Going back and reading through these lists, I basically agree.  I actually like a couple of words on the worst-sounding list.  I like the sound of JAZZ and CRUNCH.  I think one of my very favorite sounding word is HUSH and that isn't on the lists.  I also love the sound of WILLOW.  The word LOVE sounds very beautiful to me as well.  What about you?  Do you have any favorite sounding words?  Least favorite sounding words?

I am going to list everyone's favorite and least favorite words in about a week.  I am excited to see what the lists will be!  Thanks everyone!  Hope everyone is having a good start to their week!  Hugs, Val xox

Tags: Wordplay with Val, wordplay

Happy Birthday, sister!...

Yesterday was my little sister, Deirdre's, birthday.  Deirdre turned 40 yesterday (I hope you didn't mind me telling, honey!).  She lives down in Florida which is about 2,000 miles away from me so I hardly get to see her anymore and I miss her sorely.  Deirdre and I were very close because we shared a bedroom until I turned 18.   Deirdre and I were lucky as there were just two of us.  My other three sisters had to share the other bedroom and my brother the third.  Deirdre and I had alot of special bonding time growing up.  Even when I moved into my own room at 18 and she at 16, I used to go sleep on her floor some nights because I missed being with her.  I MISS YOU, DEIRDRE!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!  I LOVE YOU!!!  May you have a wonderful, ,joyful, healthy, special year!!!  Love, LAV xox

                    

Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday dear Deirdre
Happy Birthday to you!!!
And many more!!!

Photo Hunt, good news!

I haven't done a decent entry in a long, long time.  I was sick for three weeks.  Three weeks of a stomach virus.  I lost ten pounds.  I am sure I will gain it back quickly.  My immune system seems to be lacking.  I think it's my fibromyalgia.  I started feeling better January 1, but it is taking a long time to get my strength back.  It feels like I lost all of December.  I really didn't have much of a Christmas or New Year's celebration.  I did meditate on what Christmas means to me throughout December and the Christmas journal Krissy and I participated in really was special to me, so thank you Krissy!!!  I do hope that she and I can collaborate on future journals!

I got some FANTASTIC news about two weeks ago, but didn't want to share it with anyone until I was positive that it was going to come through - positive that it was really in the works.  Chelsea and her fiancee and my little grandson are moving from Florida up to my state (Pennsylvania)... just one block away !!!  Now how cool is that!!?!!  This is a grandma's dream!!  I was able to find them a suitable, vacant apartment one block down the street and they are having the owner hold it for them until late February/early March!  The owner is a kind Amish man who will, I am sure, be a very good landlord.  Chelsea has already gotten her old job back and her fiancee will be job-hunting as soon as he gets here.  I will do some free babysitting (as health allows).  I am sure they will get on their feet quickly.  Yep, Grammy is so excited you are coming to be near her, Josiah!!  And Mama is happy you guys are coming, too, Chels and Desi!!  See you guys soon!!

This leads me to this week's Scavenger Hunt.  The subject is "our baby pictures".  I do have two new pictures of Josiah that you all have never seen.  He is just over three months old in these pictures.  He is 4 1/2 months old today.  I am sure he is bigger now.  Chelsea called me up last week, mid-week, to let me hear Josiah laugh and giggle.  It was priceless!  I was laughing and smiling all day after hearing his wonderful laugh.   Here is Josiah dancing...

                   

And Josiah after a bath...

                      

Here is a picture of Chelsea as a baby.  I would guess she is eight or nine months old.  Do you think there are any similarities between her and Josiah?

                            

Finally, my sister Grace has changed the name of her journal and has posted a new entry if you would like to go read and say hello!

I do hope everyone is having a good and relaxing weekend!  Take care! xox

Tags: Photo Scavenger Hunt with Krissy

100th Hunt Participants!...

Photo Scavenger Hunt #100

The subject for this week is:  Show us a photo of a milestone in your life.  If you are unable to scan old photos, how about a Christmas or New Year's celebration photo.


    

This week's Hunt was great fun for me!  I was able to view grandbabies, milestones, artistic endeavors, holiday cheer, wedding photos, all kinds of happy photos!  It was truly a CELEBRATION!!  It was truly fitting for Krissy's 100th Photo Hunt!!  I wanted to thank the following journals for participating this week!!  Please visit their journals and  see their milestone or celebration!:

     Mark's Daily Journal
     Photo Trek
     ALMOST Paradise
     Caregivingly Yours  (for explanation of photo
                                       see comments section.)
     My Photo Journey
     Ye Olde English Posy
     Footprints in the Sand
     Linda's World

Weren't those very happy!!?!!  Please visit Krissy at Sometimes I Think today to see what next week's Photo Scavenger Hunt subject is.  While you are there shout her out a congratulations on a job well done for these past 100 weeks!!  Thanks, Krissy, for getting us to take out our cameras and having us share our worlds with one another!!  It's been great fun!!  May you have many more weeks and years to come with your Hunt!!  Love you, sis!! xox

                   

Tags: Photo Scavenger Hunt with Krissy, photo scavenger hunt, photography