About Me:

Aloha! I'm Wendy Kennar. I'm the mother of a seven-year-old son and a wife living in Los Angeles. I was a public school teacher for twelve years until a chronic medical condition made it necessary to leave my teaching career.

I've always been described as "quiet" - really, I'm just biting my tongue. I've got lots to say, and lots of thoughts to share, I just prefer to write them. That's the purpose of this blog. Each Wednesday, I post a personal essay offering my observations and thoughts.

A few fun facts about me: I've wanted to be a writer since second grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Jones, made me a "book" with a yellow construction paper cover. I have never learned to whistle, have always preferred sunflowers to roses, and have spent my life living within the same zip code.

Through the years, my writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, United Teacher, GreenPrints, L.A. Parent, DivineCaroline.com, RoleReboot.org, XOJane, and Brain, Child Magazine. Additionally, my personal essays have been included in several anthologies, including: The Barefoot Review, Beyond the Diaper Bag, Lessons From My Parents, Write for Light, Being a Grown-Up: A User's Manual for the Real World, Ka-Pow!, How Writing Can Get You Through Tough Times, Breath and Shadow, The Grey Wolfe Storybook, and Sisters Born, Sisters Found.
I am a regular contributor at MomsLA.com, and you can also find me at Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Feel free to comment and share my blog with others!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wacky Words

Words intrigue me.  The twenty-six letters that my son and I sing form an infinite number of combinations. These combinations make words.  Words that cause pain, words that uplift, words that encourage, words that affirm, words that terrify.  In the midst of these countless words, I have found a few that just don’t sound pleasant.  Their pronunciations are in direct opposition to their original meanings, and quite frankly, it bothers me. 
  1. Stupendous.  A word that is used positively, to compliment something extremely impressive.  However, the word sounds much like “stupid” - a negative word implying a lack of knowledge and/or common sense.
  2. Hospitable.  A word that means friendly and welcoming.   Yet, when I hear that word I think of “hospitals,” and “spit” neither one usually associated with being  very friendly and welcoming.
  3. Cyclical.  While this word has mathematical definitions, it also means occurring in cycles or repeating regularly.  However, when I hear this word I think “Sickle Cell.”
  4. Smock.  Generally, this word refers to an apron or covering one wears to protect the clothes underneath.  Except, I hear “smock” and automatically think “smack.”  So while a smock could be helpful and something one would seek out, a smack is not.
  5. Uranus.  This poor planet.  I’ve heard two alternate pronunciations of this word, neither one very flattering.  One sounds like “your anus” while the other sounds like “urine-is,” neither one a mental image I need.
My Dear Readers, I’m curious if you’ve got any words you’d add to the list.  Feel free to include them in your comments!

4 comments:

  1. You make us think.It is weird to hear words sounding so differently from what you would think they mean.You certainly have a way with words.I love reading your work.I love you and I am very proud of you.
    love,mommy

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  2. The subject of this weeks blog is a tough one for me. I tend to dwell in absolutes, such as math. Words with the rules of I before E except after C has always been a challenge for me. My comments for this week have not only been a challenge but thought provoking. I enjoy reading your blog. Your Mother & I are very proud of you.

    Love, Dad

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  3. Honey,

    Sorry for the late reply this week.

    I love your writing and I am proud of you for sticking with it even during tough times.

    Love,

    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  4. Extraordinary- is supposed to be great and wonderful, except it sounds like you are extra ordinary.. lame..
    I miss you

    ReplyDelete