David Crook and I went to Butterfly Wonderland again in October, and here are a few of my photos. Enjoy!
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Thanks, Massage Envy
Massage Envy is superb. And an absolute lifesaver. I have chronic back and neck issues, and being able to be treated by a team of skilled people has helped me keep my business going (I sit at a computer every day, often for long periods of time).
I have been with Massage Envy Park West since it opened, and the Avondale 99th Ave facility before that. On an average, I have a massage, which I call my Physical Therapy, at least once a month. In all this time, I have had many different Licensed Massage Therapists, male and female, and every one of them has treated me with respect and professionalism.
Recently there’s been a lot of negative publicity about Massage Envy, and my heart breaks for every person who was not treated appropriately. Such incidents change lives forever. At the same time, I know there must be many therapists who’ve had to face cancellation after cancellation because of what a small number of perverts have done.
These innocent professionals have spent years saving to go to school, which is costly. And many have had to move to a metro area to go to school and have had housing expenses in addition to tuition and materials. Most held down at least one part-time job while going to school, and school is tough. (I wonder how many are still paying off student loans.) But these men and women have dreams, goals, and they were willing to sacrifice to meet them. Many of them are now dealing with a significant slowdown, and as an independent contractor, I can relate.
Massage therapy is one of the most remarkable wellness therapies I’ve experienced. It’s time for me to go on record and say “Thanks!” to all the Licensed Massage Therapists who are skilled, talented, dedicated, professional, and 100% ethical. You’re making life better in a stressful world!
Discreet or discrete?
Sometimes life gets complicated. Especially if you’re writing something and you choose the wrong spelling and the book isn’t edited and it is published for millions of people to see.
On the other hand, it proves you are human. But there is so much help available that you can find answers to almost anything regarding writing or spelling. I recently read a good novel that used “discrete” instead of “discreet,” and promised myself I’d blog about it to help others.
Discreet
You are discreet when you show self-control in your behavior. You don’t call attention to the situation. If you need to leave the room to visit the bathroom, you make a discreet exit. At least I hope so, because probably no one is interested in where you’re going.
If you watch Downton Abbey, you’ll understand what it’s like to be discreet. Almost all the gossip is done discreetly, except when the screenwriter wants to create tension.
Discrete
When you think “discrete,” try to think “separate,” “distinct.” If you think of society, you think of it as a discrete “whole” or “entity” created of individual agents. You could think of a birthday cake created with discrete items: M&Ms, chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, candied fruit, etc. On the other hand, you might say the cake had lots of goodies in it.
There’s also something mathematical about “discrete,” but I either got low grades or flunked mathematics, so I’ll just say that in math, discrete has to do with finite or countable sets of value. Or something.
How to use a colon in writing
Have you ever been confused about when to use a colon as opposed to, say, a dash?
When using a colon, think of “as follows.”
A colon can introduce a series of elements or amplify what came before the colon.
Note regarding “as follows”: this applies to run-in lists. If you’re creating a vertical list (maybe using bullets or numbers), the best way to introduce it is with a a complete grammatical statement.
Example: All applications must include the following documents:
A colon can be used between independent clauses (acting a lot like a semicolon), BUT use rarely, and ONLY to show that the second clause illustrates or expands the first.
And occasionally, you can use a colon instead of a period to introduce a series of sentences.
Example: She had several choices: She could…long sentence. She could….second sentence. Or she could…third sentence.
Just keep in mind that generally you want to use a colon to give a sense of “as follows.”
Guidance from Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (6.59)(6.123)
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