I suppose those who gossip could be said to have a sense of rumor.

Good Thursday morning to you on this May 17, 2012. Why don't you drag up a chair and let's sit for a spell? I've heard that one all my life. The word spell sure doesn't seem to fit based on its usage today. I did find from one source that this word 'spell' tracked back to its first recorded use in 1706, had the meaning of an indefinite period of time. Well, that makes perfect sense. Join me next time when we will delve into the deeper meaning behind the same type of greeting, "We'll just sit, visit, and shoot the breeze." Of course that might lead us into a further investigation of "chewing the fat" or even, "chewing the cud". I think I heard what you said. Yes, I most likely do have other more important things to spend my time on but those were front and center as we kicked off our little rendezvous for today. Of course I know you are likely familiar with another use of the word spell other than its connection to vocabulary. "Hey, want to take a break? I'll be glad to come and spell you for a few minutes." That's actually a proper use of that word as a verb based on the British-English definition where it has to do with allowing someone to take a break or a time out for rest. See there. You can now say that you learned something from my blog today, that is, if you didn't already know these things.

I know what you English majors are thinking. You have often thought about using my blogs as a textbook of 'How Not' when it comes to grammatical usage. That's okay with me because I've always wanted to help out wherever I can. My wife reminds me often that while my blog on any particular day might be interesting or funny or inspiring but she also often adds, a little long, or a little wordy. And, she is absolutely correct! I've done those exercises where you write a paragraph and then see how many words you can delete without messing up the message. To be perfectly honest, I never cared for that too much. It shows. I know it does. I still write an article every week that I publish in a handout for my Bible Study Class. The article is a summary and commentary reflecting my thoughts on that week's passage. I write it pretty much using the same style that I use in writing my daily blogs. A few years ago a lady gave me a great compliment even though she may not have realized it. She told me that when she went back and read some of those handouts from past lessons, she could actually hear my voice as she read. Bingo! That's it. That is exactly what I try to do when I send out my blog each day. I know it's a one way type of communication but I still like to think about it as if we are sitting and talking. With me doing most of the talking? Yeah, that's another area my wife says I need to work on. Man, it's always something.

I remember many years ago when WYSIWYG became a reality within the computer world. That acronym stands for 'what you see is what you get' and it reflected a major upgrade where you could prepare something on a screen, format it, change it, and basically see it exactly the way it would appear on a printed page, slideshow, or some other means of presentation. That might not seem big to you but I was around when it wasn't that way. You would put together your materials and then begin the process of trying to format them for print. It was a pain, but with WYSIWYG much of that went away. You might say I have adopted that WYSIWYG approach to my daily blogs. They could be better on any given day and often I find myself wondering about some of the stuff I've written. However, at the same time, I am fairly impressed with the consistency of the fundamental themes I have embraced when I go back and read some of those from five years ago. I know many subjects that I write about are controversial and I am aware that my views are not always welcomed by the majority, but, here again, WYSIWYG, and that coupled to it being The View From Here, and, this catch all as well: It is what it is. Finally, I always like to remind myself and everyone else that on matters of right, wrong, truth, or error, God has the final say, period, end of story. Meanwhile, I will continue to keep on keeping on and if I get weary perhaps you could come and spell me for a spell. Have a blessed day and may God bless each one. Amen.          .....More later.