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78Life Without Grammar: A New Babel
I’m one of the rare perfectionists some call grammar Nazis. The more I see commas in between subjects and predicates and apostrophes to indicate plurals, the more I shake my fist and cry, “What do they teach in these schools?” Everyone is writing differently, disregarding all the rules. It’s the nature of language to change. But if everyone changes in different directions, it’s chaos. It’s like the confusion of language at the Tower of Babel.
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75Common Comma Confusions
Comma misuse, like apostrophe misuse, is a plague that drives me crazy. I’m not the only one, but I’m in therapy to overcome the trauma (just kidding). The purpose of a comma is to indicate certain kinds of pauses. I say certain kinds because, although comma usage is sometimes optional, one cannot use one just whenever one would choose to take a breath.
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75My Childhood Poetry
This article is about me—not the current me, but the little me. The me who created an illustrated book of poetry at age 10. I recently rediscovered this treasure and have begun publishing some of the poems within.
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75Apostrophes for Dummies
I’m a stickler for correct punctuation and word use. It seems like the rest of the world is not. Read some of the basic rules for use of apostrophes, with examples, peppered with humor. First in a series.
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73Gabriel: Remembering an Exceptional Cockatiel
It's said that one should not replace a lost pet too soon, because it will never live up to the first pet's memory. Even after many years, I cannot find another bird like Gabriel. Read how remarkable he was!
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71Vampires: Folklore vs. Fiction
Test yourself to see if you know which traits of this revenant are from folklore, which from literature that authors and filmmakers created later, and which fit both.
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71Imaginary Lover: First in a Series of Love Stories with Poems
This is the first of a series of love stories told in prose and poetry. My first love poems were about someone I invented who was very real to me and very dear. Sometimes we have to step outside ourselves and look in to get--and give--the nurturing we need.
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70The Lighter Side of Vampires
“Dracula Sucks,” reads a bumper sticker I’ve seen around town... Did you know that vampires can be downright hilarious? From the obsessive-compulsive habits folklore's tradition to modern novels and films, sink your teeth into your own funnybone with these examples. Accompanied by original color cartoons.
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69Cats I Have Loved
Cats who have owned my family and me have invaded our home and hearts, been snuck in as stowaways, made us laugh, and even inspired poetry. Why do cats make such special pets?
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66Love Me Blind: Imaginary Lover 2
Matthew returns in this second installment of my series of Love Stories with Poems--eventually to be replaced by someone more real and loving than could ever be expected.
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