What's with the word "amazing" these days? I am so sick of it! Any question I ask about how something looks, tastes, feels, was or, in the case of a person, is, I get the same canned answer: amazing! "It was amazing!" "The food was amazing!" "She is amazing!" The weather for this time of year, your sister's vacation to Hungary, your daughter's first-grade teacher, your new hairstylist's foiling techniqe, the sale at The Children's Place--and, of course, whoever happens to be singing for Paula--all of them, amazing.

I think our love affair with "amazing" must have something to do with our shoddy collective vocabulary (and I certainly include myself in this generalization.) "Amazing" covers it all: nice, good, fun, interesting, exciting, different, competent, even above-average. A mediocre event can even slip into the amazing category on a good day, because the person describing the event may only know one word with which to describe it (that word being the only adjective heard on t.v., especially reality t.v.; the fact that I know this may explain the shoddiness of my own vocabulary). In fact, I set this whole mess squarely on Paula Abdul's shoulders, whom I think should file a patent for the word.

Maybe we should all just 'fess up and substitute "amazing" with "awesome," the Reagan-era equivalent of "amazing." After hearing awesome! in every other sentence, we'd realize how ridiculous we sound doing the same thing with amazing! And we'd realize that when we term everything "amazing," nothing really is.

I've griped now. I feel better.

That's what I said about starting a blog: never. I thought that starting my own blog would be narcissistic, embarrassing, and all-around boring for anyone else to read. However, I would read others' blogs, and savor every juicy morsel; I just loved hearing about a day in the life of my friends, family, and yes, complete strangers. I finally realized what a parasite I've been - devouring your delish dish while serving up none of my own. So I'm taking my first step into the Great Blogosphere.

I am excited to put my random thoughts and relatively unattractive photos into the great void, and even more eager to hear and see your own. (My six-year old just walked by and told me this last sentence was rude. Of course, I explained, I meant I was excited to hear from you, not that you, or anything about you, was random or unattractive. She's way too smart.)

I'm just figuring out this blogging thing, so forgive the primitive layout and lack of exciting pictures for now (as opposed to the many exciting pictures that will surely be posted in the future??) I'm working on it!

So if you are one of the three people who may be reading this blog, feel free to leave a comment so it looks like I have friends. If you do not know me at all and somehow stumbled upon this blog, feel free leave a comment so it looks like I have friends. Thanks, and happy time wasting--er, I mean, blogging!