Schooled

It's that time of year again. The leaves are turning, the weather is cooler and the new school year is well underway.

I find it unfair that children get to be the only ones who get to spend most of their day in a learning environment. As adults we should continue to strive for further education. Since I do a fair amount of writing for work and pleasure (and because I am terrible with any number or math related concept) I thought it would be great to brush up on my rules of grammar and language.

After all, the art of good conversation and writing are essential for proper etiquette.

Today's grammar instruction is featured from William Strunk and E.B. White's essential guide The Elements of Style. Starting at the very beginning; I wanted review the parts of speech. Some of these have long escaped me.

• Appositive: A noun or pronoun phrase that renames or adds identifying information to a noun it immediately follows.
  
  My dog, Gatsby, has very short legs.
• Colloquialism: A word or expression appropriate to informal conversation but not usually suitable for academic or business writing. Colloquialisms are closely related to slang terms, though not necessarily as informal.
  
  Dude, where's my car?
  
• Compound sentence: Two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) a correlative (both/ and, either/ or, neither/ nor), or a semicolon.
  
  Grammar may be dull to some, but poor language is annoying to listen to.
  
• Gerund: The -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun.
  
  Writing, Teaching, Beatboxing

The Gracious Hostess

"In a perfectly managed house, a woman guest, if she so desires, may have breakfast in bed...

The perfect hostess:

The ideal hostess must have so many perfections of sense and character that were she described in full, no one seemingly but a combination of seer and angel could ever hope to qualify. She must first of all consider the inclinations of her guest; she must not only make them as comfortable as the arrangements and limits of her establishment permit, but she must subordinate her own inclinations utterly."

Emily Post Etiquette 1921

Although my establishment is much more limiting than Emily's manor, being a gracious host is important to me and can make all the difference to guests who are visiting. There are simple small steps that can be made to help a visitor feel more at ease, if not more at home.

Try to provide your guest with privacy and some space they can call their own. If you have a guest bedroom, stock it up with clean sheets and plenty of towels in various sizes. Other nice accommodations are closet space or a hanging rack, an bedside clock, reading lamp, regional magazines highlighting things to do in the area, fresh flowers, scented candles, and a pitcher and glass for water. Provide directions around the house to other necessities they may need during their stay: dishware for night snacks, iron and ironing board, remote control for the TV, and how to use the coffee pot. In the kitchen, I try to bake a few items that are easy to grab and tasty for breakfast and snacks (make sure to check with any dietary needs your guests might have though).

If you are sharing a bathroom space, discuss your morning and evening preparatory schedule with them. Offer the bathroom to your guest first, yourself second. In the evenings, try to get your bedtime routine finished early to open the bathroom up to your visitor at their convenience.

Just as you stock the guest bedroom or space, offering toiletries is a nice addition. An array of fancy soaps and shampoos are a nice treat for the retreat. Essentials like Q tips, cotton balls, and an extra toothbrush are also helpful. Kate Spade recommends plenty of Advil on hand with a note "from the hangover fairy" ~ too cute.

If you find you don't have the time, funds or space to turn your pad into a weekend bed and breakfast, keep in mind that a warm home, good food and your company are really all your guests desire.