Where Bloggers Live 09.2026: Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

 

Welcome, friends.  This post will go live on 9/11 and I know all of us will have heavy hearts on the 25th anniversary of that horrific day.  Over the years, my daughters and I have surely talked some about where we were that morning.  Both girls were in high school that September and living at home with me.  I think they had left for school when I turned on the radio while getting ready myself and heard the first announcements.  I thought the radio station was playing some kind of prank - it was just unfathomable that something had happened to one of the Twin Towers - an explosion?  No, an airplane flew into the building?  Was the end of the world far behind?

While some states have removed teaching about 9/11 from the curriculum, I am relieved to know that it is still in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS, the curriculum Bible) for Texas.  In the words of philosopher George Santayana,

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

As this is the second Friday of the month, it is time for another installment of Where Bloggers Live.  And our prompt for today's post is 'things you'll always hear me say.'  

I've enlisted the help of some of my loved ones for this, asking PC, Lauren, Brennyn and the grands what they always hear me saying.  Thank goodness, their responses were mostly PG-rated!!

Where Bloggers Live

This long-lived blogging series was created by our fearless leader and friend, Bettye at Fashion Schlub.  Bettye explains that “Where Bloggers Live” started out kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! Through each bloggers' interpretation of each monthly prompt, we have shared our work-spaces, homes, towns, and thoughts. I kind of invited myself into the group a few years ago and have enjoyed every month's prompt and post.  

And here are the Where Bloggers Live bloggers.  Hope you will stop by to check out their interpretation of today's post.   

Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks

Bettye at Fashion Schlub

Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style

Em at Dust and Doghair

Yours truly

Sally at Within a World of My Own

Things I Say on Repeat

• "I couldn't have done that if I tried" - from Paul.  I do use this quite a bit when the handles to my purse get wrapped around the steering wheel of the car or under the brake pedal or just tie themselves in knots.
• "dadgummit" - according to Lauren.  I say this kind of in jest and usually to the grandbabies.  I might say, "Dadgummit, this poor little angel doesn't have a thing to play with!!" while looking about at all of their toys.  
• "surely not" - according to Brennyn.  Self explanatory, I am sure.  The craziness in the world just slays me lately.  I find myself saying 'surely not' frequently about something Brennyn is telling or suggesting might happen.  
• "whoa, doggies" or "ooooo, doggies" - from Lucia and Cami.  This is generally spoken after I have exerted myself.  Often during a Supernatural virtual reality workout I can be heard proclaiming, "whoa, doggies" as perspiration pours down my face.
• "I will pray for them" - according to Cadence.  She says I offer to pray for people a lot.  That touched me that she would mention that.  Or think of that when thinking of me.  
• "Happy Hump Day" or "Do you know what day it is?" - also from Cadence.  I write one of those messages to her in a text every Wednesday.  I think she thought I wished everyone a happy hump day but it is just something I do with her.  

From My Perspective

• "if we can just get through next Thursday" - sub in any day of the week, a certain holiday, occasion, or minor catastrophe.  I say this a lot less than I used to, thank goodness.  But I was always trying to look down the road to the not-so-distant future when I thought, prayed things would calm down in our lives.  I said this a whole lot when I was a single mom struggling to make ends meet.  Life has been so much gentler in the last 5 years, PTL.  However, we've been going through a little crazy I call LIFE (in all caps) around here lately.  
• "no one does their job any more" - a good, all-purpose description for much of the American work force these days - in my opinion.  
• "what in the world?" and/or "heaven help us" and/or "have mercy" - interchangeable and all work well with "surely not"
• "repigulous" - this is a take on ridiculous that PC made up in honor of the crazy things our pup Rusty the Pig Dog would do... total repigulosity.

Family Expressions

When I was a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (go, VOLS), one of my instructors-teachers-professors commented on the colorful expressions I used in my writing and speech.  I credited my Ozark Mountain mama for many of the things I said.  He wanted to know more and wound up conducting a phone interview with my mom asking her to make a list of some of the idioms, expressions she used and had grown up hearing.  If I had that list at some point, I don't have it any longer but have started a list of my own of some of Mom's Missouri expressions.  

In writing this post, I realized that I no longer use some of the phrases that peppered my speech and writing even as recently as a few years ago.  Wonder if that is because I am no longer hearing those same phrases from my mom.  She's been gone 4 years now.  

One of my mom's expressions I apparently used on regular repeat as a young Army wife in the Republic of Panama was "fat as mud."  Not sure now why I said that so much.  I really, really detest the word fat now days and never, ever use it...in reference to mud or anything else.  

But back then, I said it so often - in some context - that my (ex)husband's family in the interior of Panama asked him what 'fat as mud' meant and why I keep saying it.  You'll be glad to know that is one of the expressions I am not saying any more.

Your Turn

Are there expressions that you say on the daily?  Do you say any of the same things I say repeatedly, or maybe something similar?  Please share in a comment below.

We have run ourselves ragged this week.  Actually for several weeks.  PC's hip replacement surgery is this coming Wednesday and we have had lots of appointments and errands to tend to in preparation.  I am still doing physical therapy for my neck - yuck - so that has taken time away from being home.  This weekend, I need to get this house whipped into shape and the fall decorations put out.  

Hope you enjoy your weekend and take some time to have a little fun.  I will, too!!  Thanks for poppin' 'round to visit. 

 

Hugs and kisses,