urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:daisyhawkins 2005-08-14T16:04:01Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:daisyhawkins:1082 2005-08-14T15:57:41Z 2005-08-14T16:04:01Z <img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/daisyhawkins/comic.jpg"><br /><a href="http://www.cincypost.com/opinion/images/jeff071798.gif">(credit)</a><br /><br />Apparently, I've come of age to learn the family secrets. It's interesting. Scandal, mystery, and temptation are what makes secrets so interesting. But why are secrets considered so dirty? By keeping a secret, are we preserving others' conscience or our pride? urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:daisyhawkins:689 2005-08-10T04:47:08Z 2005-08-10T04:47:08Z <a href="http://www.etymonline.com">WORD ORIGINS</a>:<br /><u>August</u> venerable<br />Related to: augment, augur<br /><u>Augment</u> to increase<br /><u>Augur</u> a religious official in ancient Rome who foretold events by interpreting omens<br /><br />What is the spell that August casts over us? Why do we insist on cherishing the most intolerable month of the year? July wears off, heat and humidity sweep in, and the air conditioner becomes a loved family member. Despite this, we insist on self-improvement, enjoyment, and endless activities. Perhaps the recycled air strangles our brain cells, causing us to make silly commitments like "running again" or "getting a tan". Perhaps it is our fear of wasting. With only a month left until the axis officially tilts towards cooler weather, we feel that we must get the most from our summer. We feel that we must "stop and smell the roses" in 101 degrees. Why? Perhaps we've begun to approach life like a business deal. We want the best for our money-- and the most in our time.<br /><br />And then we have our mid-month crisis. The first cold breath of air musses our hair, sends a chill through our nerves, and puts our minds into Emergency Mode. As nasty purple goose bumps sprout along our bare forearms, we mentally begin our Fall To-Do lists. There's sweaters to unpack, school supplies to purchase, and season premieres to TiVo. Why didn't we do this when our backyards were pretending to be Death Valley? The temperature begins to drop and oh, the plot thickens! With September as our deadline, everyday is an episode of Trading Spaces. Can ambiguously gay carpenter Ty Pennington finish his $20 cabinets in time for the neighbors come home to hate it anyway?! Can you simultaneously lose 20 pounds, perfect your tan, and make an enormous sum of money by September?!<br /><br />And finally it's September. The routine falls back into place-- socks at night, showering daily, and your television schedule-- and you remember August with veneration.