Me, Myself, and I

This post does not refer to any of you. I just need to put this out there hoping that maybe someone who really needs it will see it and there will be one less incorrectly used pronoun in this world. You see, lately I have received a glut of emails in which the writer uses "myself" when they really mean "me" or "I." Every time I read it, I cringe a little. Normally, I let it slide. I realize that I am a grammar nerd and not everyone knows or cares to know when to use lay or lie, or that one feels bad, not badly (unless there is really something wrong with their sense of touch). (No, seriously, I'm such a word nerd that I had a dream recently about explaining the difference between "proved" and "proven.")

First and foremost, never use "myself" in place of "I" or "me"--ever!! Myself is a reflexive pronoun and needs to reflect the subject. In technical grammar terms, reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, itself, etc) are objects and used in these instances: 1) when the subject and the object are the same ("I hate myself for loving you."); 2) when the object of the preposition refers to the subject ("Sisters are doing it for themselves."); or 3) to emphasize the subject ("I do The Rock myself"*).

So, what's the answer to the question "Who is coming to the meeting?" "Joe, Steve and I are coming to the meeting." Not Joe, Steve and me?? No. Me is an object, as in "I bought coffee for Joe, Steve and me." Wait, no; that's Joe, Steve and myself. Were you paying attention? I wasn't. Okay, um...."They bought coffee for Joe, Steve and me." Yeah, that works.

Oh, and while I'm here--when listing people, "you" always comes first (and then rolls over and goes to sleep--hee hee), and the speaker comes last. So, who is going to the conference? You, Billy Bob, Shirlene, and I are going to the conference.

Special thanks to Joan Jett, Annie Lennox and Tim Curry for their excellent examples. Thanks for letting me get it off my chest and not explode at people with Masters degrees.


*Punctuation crisis!! Do I need a comma before "myself"? I want to put it there but I'm not sure. Argh. Annika? Anyone? Damn, I'm usually so good at punctuation. I blame stress at work.

I have edited this post about 10 times now. I really shouldn't post when I'm tired and cranky.

You are all sweet as pie

Thanks for the kind words and puppy links yesterday. I was just having one of those Dancing as Fast as I Can moments and I really needed support. You all came through in spades!

Today, the dam broke and I ended up crying at my desk, which could have something to do with the severe back pain I'm experiencing but probably more to do with the pain in my ass, if you know what I mean.

Love you, mean it!

Tell me something good

My time and mental capacity have been strained beyond scientific possibilities this week--and it's only Wednesday! I cannot formulate a cohesive thought (no really, someone else wrote this for me).

Will you guys make me feel better? Tell me a funny story. Send me a link for puppies. I love puppies! Tell me I'm pretty or smart or pretty smart. I just need to be in a better place mentally than I am right now if I'm going to survive the week without bloodshed.

Lying is OK.

BPA, PBA, APB--Easy as 1, 2, 3: SIGG bottle update

My nephew, The Roy, did some research (it was right under my nose) and found that SIGG liners did indeed contain BPA (prior to August 2008). Here is a letter of apology from their CEO, Steve Wasik. Sincere or not, I appreciate the gesture. The company is also offering an exchange program in which you may return your old bottles for newer ones with the safe lining. This is more than other manufacturers have offered.

If you own SIGG bottles, look inside. Is the liner dark gold? That's an old one. The new liner is lighter color. In the interest of full disclosure, there has been evidence that the new liners are not as high quality as the old ones and may flake off. Also, if you purchase a SIGG from a third party online retailer (not from SIGG itself or in stores) you may end up with an old liner as there are still some out there.

I guess the bottom line is--Go with the Stainless Steel for complete peace of mind. I'm probably going to stick with my SIGGs and exchange my old ones, although I don't know if I can get the same designs, which makes me sad.

I love their cheese, too.

Last year, I switched from using plastic bottles here at the office and around the house as well. I used to use the same water bottle for a few days, then toss it in the recycling bin and get a new one. I didn't like using so many plastic bottles, even though I was reusing them, so I switched to a reusable sport bottle that I washed daily. Then, I started hearing about leaching chemicals and while I'm not overly concerned with that, I decided to look into PBA-free alternatives. I have always loved the SIGG bottles for their colorful designs, but their cost was somewhat off-putting. I coveted them every time I saw them in a catalog or at the Whole Foods. Ah, the Swiss--they make great things, from their gaseous cheese to their multifunctional cutlery. I finally broke down and bought one. Then another and another, so I now have about five of these lovely bottles around my home and workspace. I fill them up and take them everywhere, plus I have one on my nightstand for those midnight thirst attacks. Yep, I love me some SIGG.

Recently, however, there's been talk about the lining in the SIGG bottles. Since the company doesn't want to divulge what the coating is made of, stating proprietary reasons, no one is completely sure it's PBA free. Of course, they aren't sure it's NOT either. Several sites that I frequent have recommended switching to stainless steel bottles, which don't need a lining (Sigg bottles are aluminum). I have been thinking of making the switch. One company will even give you a discount if you send them your used SIGG bottles. Stainless is more expensive, you see.

Today, while watching the receptionist desk, I asked the UPS man "Anything for me?" as I do every day. Instead of his usual response ("Got a Sharpie? I could make them yours.") he said, "Yes!" and handed me a box from the SIGG folks. Hmmm....the last order I placed was back in May. I purchases a bottle for a friend. Have I been sleep walking/ shopping? Is this why I never have any money?

Turns out their online secure purchase systems were compromised sometime between March and June, and some personal and credit card information was stolen. I knew about this, actually, because I got a letter to warn me back in July or August. I did have a problem with my card number being used, but I took care of it right away and no harm came of it. This package? They sent me a free bottle with a letter of apology. Now, I thought that was damn nice of them. They didn't have to. Our office got a similar letter of security breach from a hotel the boss had stayed in back in May and they didn't offer us squat.

So, I'm sticking with my SIGGs until someone proves definitively that the lining is an issue, because they're nice and consumer friendly. And the bottles are awesome.

Check out this bad boy

I don't know why anyone would toss this to the curb.Just check out this sweet fabric.It's a convertible, too. Sure, there are old towels stuffed in there to keep the mattress frame from collapsing to the floor, but you know, what ever works.

Also, notice the paddy wagon in the background there? See? I do live across the street from the popo.

No need for alarm

As I tweeted earlier, I must be watching too many crime shows. My neighbor's alarm went off at 5:30 and continued to beep, presumably long after I left the house at 9:30. My first thought was not, "Oh, he went on vacation and forgot to turn off the alarm," but rather "OMG, my neighbor has been murdered! I hope someone finds the body before it starts to smell." Of course, I wasn't really worried about that or I would have phoned the police. But it did get me thinking about alarm clocks. They are so annoying. When was it decided that we needed clanging bells, beeps and buzzers to wake us up? What was wrong with the lightening of the morning sky or the crowing of a rooster? Well, I know what was wrong with those things--the industrial revolution came along and people, who lived in cities and nowhere near a crowing rooster, had to get up before the sun, not to mention the graveyard shift. Still, I wondered about the humble alarm clock. Fortunately, there is a website (isn't there a website for everything?) that answered all my questions. The first bedside alarm clock was patented in 1876 by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. I've always been a Westclox gal, myself. Who doesn't love the Big Ben? I have a lovely gentle alarm clock--the Moonbeam--which is actually a replica of the original made by Westclox back in the 1940's. It just flashes a bright light and doesn't make a peep unless you fail to turn off the light.

My parents had the predecessor to the modern digital alarm with numbers that flipped down. It had a radio and a reading light, too. I loved watching and waiting for the panels to fall and reveal the new number.

If you, too, are curious about the history of the alarm clock, click the link.