To Robert, with love...(and pickins!)

So, a while back, during a conversation about words that make you cringe, we found out that our brother-in-law Robert hates the word "pickins."

Apparently, his mother uses the phrase to mean "a little bit of this and that" regarding food - usually in a casual, left-overish kind of way.

So for Robert - we had to grab this photo on our way back from our most recent trip to Vermont. (more to come on that trip soon - suffice to say, we have our car back in somewhat good running order...however, it is apparent that the clock is ticking...ticking...)

It's all meant with love, buddy.

Anyway, not to single Robert out - I must confess that the one word in the English language that makes me cringe - nay, foam at the mouth and fight a desire to poke sharp things into my eardrums - is the word "crisp."

I can't explain it.  The word simply creates a negative limbic response in me whenever I hear it.  Like George Bush or Rush Limbaugh.

I once had a great aunt who was dining with us one summer's day inform my mother that her lime jello salad with shredded carrots, diced cabbage and dollops of cream cheese was so "refreshingly cool and unexpectedly crisp."

I almost fainted.  I was thirteen.

Interestingly, most people I talk to have these "trigger" words.  I understand that the majority of women polled intensely dislike the word "moist", followed closely by "panties."

On the way home, I heard a National Public Radio (NPR for us Yanks) report on phrases/words that annoy people.  Surprisingly - or maybe not - "whatever" tops the list by a whopping 47%.

So, you know - whatever.  What word or phrase creeps you out?

Whatever.

Moisssssssssst.