Get It, Literally

I am pretty anal when it comes to spelling, grammar and diction. I am aware that I tend to annoy people with this behavior but I can’t help it. Some, on the other hand, just keep mum out of fear or concern that they might upset me.

I am sure that like I, you and everyone else have anal-retentive tendencies too. You may freak out when the toothpaste tube is pushed from the bottom and not from the top. Others may be very particular with organizing things, arranging them in distinct order. Even my friend tissue-blots excess grease off her pizza everytime we eat out. Can you blame me if it drives me crazy when people spell or speak poorly? I am not alone, as I am aware that many people share the same anal-retentive behavior as I do.

A book that really caught my interest is the Xlibris release “Literally Speaking (A Journey in Two Words” by Jennifer Hughes. This self-published book is an artistic compilation of clichés (trite expressions which have lost real meaning), idioms (vernacular inclined to a geographical area), homophones (words that sound alike but differ in meaning) and euphemisms (a means of expressing something instead of its literal meaning).

Loaded with catchy illustrations, Literally Speaking (A Journey in Two Words) takes you into an ongoing journey to language in a simple and fun approach. In this book, you will find the literal answers to your otherwise figurative questions such as the meaning of the phrase “chicken strip” or what in the world “beer battered shrimp” means, literally speaking.

Engage in the informative and the delightful in this book. It is bound to make you get it (pick it up); get it (understand it); get it (buy it) and literally get it (you do it).

Check out the Xlibris website to get a copy of Literally Speaking (A Journey in Two Words).

Love on Paper

Do you keep love letters?

I have had my fair share of love letters in my lifetime. I don’t clearly remember the very first time I got mine. All I know is that it was from a boy whom I really liked in fifth grade. It was scribbled in pencil on a piece of intermediate paper.

I recall with fondness how one cutesy love note bore more cutesy love notes which led to something cutesy – more popularly known as puppy love. Alas, my mother read all the letters stuffed in my school bag and crumpled them into a huge ball of rubbish. Unfortunately I was too young to know the importance of stashing these precious scraps away from queer eyes.

I was 17 when I had my first boyfriend. He also wrote me love letters, which he’d usually hand me to my surprise. His letters didn’t say much, but were enough to make me swoon and fall even more in love with him at that time. I still have them, hidden safely somewhere.

My second boyfriend, who was sweet in every way, used to write me love letters with so much passion and creativity. One he had smothered in his great smelling perfume, another he had embellished with rose petals and tiny little beads and so on, never mind the bad poetry. (grins) I'd write him love letters too, with the hardest attempts at making mine more passionate and creative than the ones I received from him. I didn’t get to keep all love letters he had written for me, as I burned some of them after a bitter breakup.

I also keep letters from some admirers. I hardly ever read these notes but on instances when I pore over them, it never fails to flatter me knowing I have, in a way, experienced what it’s like to be adored.

In a world where everything is just a click away, love letters are slowly dying; its beauty nearing a halt. Hand-written confessions of love and affection are being conveniently replaced by email, text messaging and other techie means possible.

However, compared to these modern ways of expressing one’s feelings, the beauty of love letters lies in its surefire ability to draw emotional response. It can make you giggle, swoon, cry tears of joy or even embarrass you. Not to gloat, but I can only imagine how you’d react to one of my love letters which reads “What can I do? I’m deeply in love with you. I love you so much. ” Ha. I welcome whatever your response is, thank you very much.

If there is one thing I have learned about love letters, it is to keep them, or at least some of them. Love letters are a stark reminder of how you became someone’s inspiration. It is a written record of someone who poured his time and effort to weave words out of pure emotion, and it doesn't matter whether or not he is a gifted writer. Years from now, you will come across these letters and remember that at some point in your life, somebody loved you; that you were special in someone's life – even if the relationship is gone.

A book that caught my interest on the subject is the Xlibris release Love letters from the ‘60s by Chris Miller. This self-published book shows the bliss of first romance nurtured through love letters, which were written by a young Manhattan girl named Sally Logan to her boyfriend. Her love letters were intertwined with her weekly goings-on in the sixties – think Thunderball; Bob Dylan; the Mustang; space shots; Vietnam, race riots and many others. Love Letters from the ‘60s takes you back into the reverie of your first romance.

It's been a long while since I last received, and wrote, a love letter. It really makes me wonder...

Check out the Xlibris website to get a copy of Love letters from the '60s.

Image Sources: http://middlezonemusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/love-letters.JPG; https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=32850

FACT: Dog Owners Live Longer

You may not know it, but in US households, there are actually more pets than homes. Another interesting fact is that there are actually more pets than people in the country as well.

It is no surprise why more and more people are owning pet dogs these days. Aside from the usual companionship that dogs give, studies show how they can provide health benefits as well. This spells good news for existing dog owners as well as those who are thinking of getting a dog as their pet too. Here’s how owning a dog can help you live a healthier, happier and yes - longer life.


Reduces risk of heart problems. Studies show that dog ownership can actually do wonders for your heart, with rates of survival for pet owners with heart problems higher than those who did not have a pet companion. This is because contact with pets can trigger relaxation response. More recent studies also show that survival rates of pet owners with cardiovascular problems are higher than those without pets.

Simply put, pet-owning people may less likely die than those who do not, with the effect of owning pets independent of the extent of heart diseases.

Believe it or not, pet ownership ranks as the topmost contributor to recovery among patients with heart diseases. Interestingly, this ranks higher than factors such as a spouse or family support. Pet ownership is considered an important factor in assessing a patient’s prognosis for long-term survival.

Reduces blood pressure. Certain studies also show that owning a pet dog can lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels as well as triglyceride levels.

Reduced visits to doctors. Pet owners have been found to have lower stress levels than non-owners. They are also noted to have lesser visits to their doctors as well.

Lowers Stress Levels. Pet interaction, such as with dogs, can lower the hormone cortisol, which is responsible for triggering stress levels in people. The ability of pet dogs to lower overall levels of stress perhaps account for many of their life-extending characteristics. For instance, a zealous dog can actually give a pet owner the opportunity not just to bond with him but also to get exercise as well.

Speeds up healing. The way a dog shows affection can actually speed up the healing process of individuals who may have physical injuries. In fact, a pet dog’s companionship can actually be good for overall physical strengthening as well.

Moreover, several studies show that dog companionship leads to lower feelings of loneliness especially for many senior patients being housed in nursing care institutions. This is because old aged fellows tend to have an increased need to be loved, accepted and to belong. Pets such as dogs or cats can give them the love and companionship that they need at this point in their lives.

Simply put, owning a dog, or any other pet is not only beneficial to a person’s feelings as well as sense of well being - they can also greatly contribute to a person’s longevity than those who don’t. Reasons may usually be attributed in psychological perspective, such as a decrease in levels of depression and loneliness, stimulating exercise, and enhancing nurturing and gaiety.

To say that dogs can contribute to longer life in humans is not all plain psychobabble. Studies have proven them so. I guess you now have more reasons to get a furry friend of your own.

Now you know why they say a dog is man’s best friend.

Having worked for the last fifteen years as a Dog Control Officer in Dutchess County, New York, author Marge Pizzutti shares what she knows and what you need to know about dogs in this Xlibris release. This self-published book is a collection of true dog stories that are sure to touch your heart, tickle your senses, inform and simply amaze you. Dog Tails also even contains humorous chronicles of the author's encounters with wild animals and cats as well.

Check out the Xlibris website to get a copy of this book.

Image Sources:

http://thedogtrainingformula.com/; http://www2.xlibris.com/

An Angel's Passing

Too often, many people who are affected with a terminal illness are not prepared when confronted with the idea of death, let alone accept their fate. They are usually shrouded with clouds of anger, denial, despair and fear about what would seemingly lurk ahead. Leading a normal life can be very difficult for those suffering from a terminal illness, including their loved ones too.

It takes a lot of courage to accept one’s fate especially when dealing with a chronic sickness. This has inspired Susan Lee to write down a story entitled ‘An Angel’s Passing’.

Having worked in an Arizona school homebound program for special and ill kids, Lee’s novel takes you into the life of ten year-old Meggie Cabot and her struggle with leukemia.

While many other patients find it difficult to deal with this dreaded illness, young Meggie took her fate in stride instead and embraced the condition she was in. She has learned that her sickness should not define her life and that it should not get in the way of her living normally.

Meggie Cabot’s journey not only inspires, but helps one understand that being terminally ill does not have to hinder you from still leading a happy, normal life. Her story shows that you can still live, laugh and learn more if you learn to wholeheartedly accept your condition and look at it with a bright eye.

A smart, heartwarming and well-told novel, an Angel’s Passing has gained favorable reviews by many readers. Lee is happy and proud that Meggie Cabot’s ordeal has touched the hearts and opened up the minds of many people.

Death is not the be-all and end-all of everything. It doesn’t always mean a loss. In fact, it is just the beginning of something new. People affected with terminal illnesses, as well as their loved ones, should understand how important it is to embrace and accept things as they come. Only then will one learn to be able to live a life truly worth living.

An Angel’s Passing can be purchased directly through the Xlibris website or Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Image source: https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=521

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