"And I Quote...The Sequel"

CACOGRAPHY

2010-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

April 20, 2010

Cacography
\ka-‘kä-gre-fe\ n 1: bad spelling 2: bad handwriting*

I am a spelling fanatic. In school, there were not many subjects that I cared about the way I cared about spelling. The English language always mystified me and it still does to this day; there are so many words that are not spelled the way one would think they are based on the pronunciation. Studying for spelling tests was a waste of time for me, the words just speaking to me and somehow finding their rightful place on the page.
Whenever individuals fall victim to cacography, it really pisses me off, for lack of a better phrase. I understand that not everyone is adept at the ever elusive spelling skill, yet simple words that have no chance ever of being confused with something else are written incorrectly, almost as aliases that are used to cover a hidden meaning…

*letters “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

BUTTRESS

2010-04-28T07:48:00.001-07:00

April 19, 2010

Buttress
\’be-tres\ n 1: a projecting structure (as of masonry) that supports or stabilizes a wall or building 2: something that supports, props, or strengthens*

The country of Haiti is still struggling three months after the tragic earthquake that shook their world upside down. Buildings and homes have been demolished, leaving the country to look like a no man’s land. People have still not been found and families have been divided. There are people who are skeptical as to whether or not Haiti will ever be able to resurrect their communities let alone their infrastructure.
From tel-a-thons, clothing drives, bake sales to doctors immediately hopping on a plane to donate their time and services, the U.S. along with other countries has been a positive force and a buttress in lending a hand to Haiti in order to rebuild their country so that it can thrive even more with their vibrant culture.

*letters “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

GARRULOUS

2010-04-24T13:28:00.001-07:00

April 18, 2010

Garrulous
\’ger-e-les\ adj 1: pointlessly or annoyingly talkative 2: wordy*

I have accepted the fact that I talk a lot. I always have and probably always will. However, it is very rare, (unless I am inebriated or extremely exhausted) that my diatribes are looked at as being void of value. There are people though who conjure questions out of thin air knowing damn well the answer could have been derived through another medium, or individuals who just let their gums go wild without ever reaching a point. These people and I are not in the same category; or at least I hope not.
I have encountered many people in life that all have their own weird and/or unique quirks. There is this one woman whom I see on a regular schedule whose conversation consists of purely nothing of interest to anyone. Her garrulous personality makes me cringe every time she walks in the door and I purposely find some other task to occupy my time; alas that does not even deter her, her constant verbiage giving the term verbal diarrhea a whole new meaning.

*second and third letter “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

IMMURE

2010-04-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

April 17, 2010

Immure
\i-‘myur\ v 1a: to enclose within or as if within walls b: to imprison 2: to build into a wall; especially : to entomb in a wall

I have always loved literature. I prefer the more contemporary pieces to what could be considered, “classics,” however I do have a sincere appreciation for any type of writing as it is such a genuine depiction of the author and perhaps what he or she has experienced in his or her life. Edgar Allan Poe is one such example. He is a brilliant writer, one that makes you shiver with his eerie relationship with a raven, his undying love, or the ticking that is immured inside a wall…

CONTUMELY

2010-04-24T12:57:00.001-07:00

April 16, 2010

Contumely
\kän-‘tä-me-le\ n : harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also : an instance of such language or treatment*

I really don’t like pestering people for money. However within the past two years, my motto has become “times are hard,” and if I am owed a certain amount for whatever services I may have rendered, I am entitled. I will never forget one of my most nightmarish jobs right out of college. It was for a woman whose head was everywhere except where it needed to be which was developing a sound structure for the organization she was in charge of and getting her new assistant (me) well acclimated to my job responsibilities.
In a total of four weeks, I had only worked for her twice and at the end of November, I knew it was over. It, (for my sanity) had to be. I sent her two copies of my resignation letter and a copy of the hours that I had worked. I expected my money in full and for the both of us to carry on with our lives (hers however dysfunctional it may have been, mine considerably less) and that would have been the end of the story…hey, I never said I wasn’t naïve.
Three months later, I still had not received my money and was peeved beyond belief. I decided to become a pest. Lord knows, I had mastered this trait in other circumstances. After several voicemails and emails, I was left a nasty message from my former boss; her contumely obvious. I was not deterred from my goal and three weeks later, I received my money in full. As unpleasant as that scenario was, I learned something valuable; as nasty as people can be and even if you get cursed out, fighting for what’s right never gets old.

*letter “e” is upside down, creating sound of “uh”

LUFTMENSCH

2010-04-24T12:44:00.001-07:00

April 15, 2010

Luftmensch
\’luft-‘mensh\ n : an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income

I would never want to be labeled a luftmensch, especially at this point in my life. I work hard, I earn money that could be a lot more yet is just enough to pay my bills and I rarely live life on the wild side so if I want to dream, dammit I will dream. I have never relied on my parents or others for money while I sit and daydream about things that have the potential of never happening; I am in fact the opposite, many people have instead labeled me a pessismist. Yet, I still think about creating a better life for myself in the future and for my family through my dreams…I am jolted back to reality by a kid screaming in the waiting area…

ATTITUDINIZE

2010-04-24T12:35:00.001-07:00

April 14, 2010

Attitudinize
\’a-te-‘tü-de-‘niz\ v : to assume an affected mental attitude : pose*

I have often been told that I am not a good liar and that my emotions can be read clearly all over my face. I believe that may indeed be true to a certain extent. I am often found attitudinizing my thoughts as they cross my mind, a habit that has often gotten me into trouble. In college, I came across many individuals who thought their advice was the best advice and to take anyone else’s would be foolish. I knew that to listen to people’s opinions was a smart action, however there was a always a situation when I knew that to not listen to my gut would be just as foolish.
I managed to get through my four years at La Salle without any major damaged relationships yet I had weeded out those people whom were full of it (to say the least) from my life. A year later, I was invited to an annual event that I had been responsible for in college and when coming across one individual whom I had not favored, had no qualms about showing that I was less than thrilled to be in her company once again. I was told to “fix my face,” yet the emotion acted as though it were frozen on my features. I half smiled (that was as good as it was going to get) and headed straight for the wine.

*letters “e” are upside down creating sounds of “uh”

FLOUT

2010-04-24T12:23:00.001-07:00

April 13, 2010

Flout
\’flaut\ v 1: to treat with contemptuous disregard : scorn 2: to indulge in scornful behavior

“It’s only because we’re responsible for you, that’s all.” I can’t tell you how many times I have uttered that phrase to the many children that infiltrate my job day in and day out. This phrase, often accompanied by “don’t wait outside, stop running, don’t go in a studio without your instructor,” (usually said breathlessly as all one sentence) are just a clear representation of how children are not disciplined and how apples fall perilously close to the tree.
One night in particular, I was at the front desk, waiting impatiently for the last class to begin as it would be the clear signal of the end of the night. A father came in to pick up his daughter and trotting behind him was his little boy cutely clad in his dinosaur pajamas. I inappropriately misconstrued the pajamas as a not so accurate depiction of the kid’s personality. Little Johnny was racing up and down the benches in the waiting area and when laying his eyes on the monitor showcasing each class’ occurrences, dashed quickly inside one of the empty studios, asking his dad to watch him on the T.V. I rolled my eyes and muttered “here we go again,” under my breath.
I calmly got his dad’s attention and mentioned that kids were not allowed in the studio because they may accidentally get hurt. Instead of apologizing and quickly whisking his kid out of the room (as I would have done had it been me), he sneered at me and gave me lip. I thought to myself, “here we go again.” I explained it was just policy and yet somehow, that didn’t seem to make a difference. To add insult to injury, the kid (you know the cute kid clad in dinosaur pajamas?), started egging me on as he ran in and out of the studio faster and faster, blatantly flouting our rules.
I eventually gave up and resigned myself to the fact that if indeed the kid got hurt, it wouldn’t be my night spent in the emergency room. Somehow, that made me feel better and I went back to my work.

MYRMIDON

2010-04-24T12:07:00.001-07:00

April 12, 2010

Myrmidon
\’mer-me-‘dän\ n : a loyal follower; especially : a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously*

I believe that there is nothing wrong with doing what is asked of one’s self. To not follow orders and directions clearly almost always leads to some sort of catastrophe that enables blame to be assigned and responsibility never to be assumed. However, while possessing attributes that can be characteristic of a myrmidon, I also believe that perhaps it is ok to question; especially if said actions are not ones the individual believes in or knows for a fact will not be beneficial. It’s pretty safe to say that questions may often be considered an insubordinate action, resulting in hard feelings of the other party that is more often than not higher up on the corporate ladder. While I am an advocate of following the rules and living up to not only other’s expectations but personal ones as well, I do think that going against the flow in a tactful and respectful manner is appropriate if not downright necessary.

*letters “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

IRENIC

2010-04-11T18:45:00.001-07:00

April 11, 2010

Irenic
\i-‘re-nik\ adj : favoring, conducive to, or operating toward peace, moderation or conciliation

For most if not all of my life, the Middle East has been an unsettling part of our world. There are many aspects that are associated with this characterization, (extremists, religious fanatics, terrorists), however perhaps the most disturbing reason as to why the countries in the Middle East are in constant conflict is the actions they take against one another.
From the war in Iraq to the battle between Israel and Palestine, innocent people are being killed and it seems as if no solution is near. As an ally, we felt the urge to step in and aid those countries, help them establish a solid infrastructure and stable economy, sometimes at the cost of our own country and our people. It is ironic to this writer that more irenic forms of communication and plans for peace are not the first option, how war seems so much easier. It’s a shame that pride and strong will stand in the way of reaching an agreement that perhaps is an easier and more affordable elucidation.

SKULDUGGERY

2010-04-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010

Skulduggery
\’skel-‘de-ge-re\ n : underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; also : a devious device or trick*

One of my favorite films as a kid was Clue. I loved the mystery genre, thriving on the “whodunit” aspect of various books and movies. This particular film did not only satisfy my insatiable urge to figure out who had committed the egregious crime, but it made me chuckle with its witty humor. Let’s just say the infamous quote “it was so and so in the Billiard room with the candlestick,” makes its way into my conversation whenever something has gone missing…
Clue is the story of a group of dinner guests who convene at a mansion located in an isolated area. The evening’s travels are accompanied by a severe storm, which sets the eerie scene perfectly. As the guests arrive, the audience thinks that it will be an average night; a five course meal, good company. However, we are led astray in our thinking, watching as the events of the evening unfold. We are surprised because the skulduggery that will have been revealed to us by the end of the film would never have been predicted…

*first three letter “e’s” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

ABSINTHE

2010-04-11T18:19:00.001-07:00

April 9, 2010

Absinthe
\’ab-sinth\ n : a green liqueur flavored with wormwood, anise, and other aromatic herbs that is illegal to produce in many countries

People often find illegal things irresistible; the allure of going against the flow, breaking the rules, easy. When I say illegal things, I mean trivial components in life, not anything on the murder spectrum (although there are fans of that sport too). I believe in college, the attraction of underage drinking was primarily due to the feeling of being “bad” sip after sip; the “will I get caught,” factor lingering in the background, making anyone and everyone eager to do what was so blatantly wrong. Drinking can be fun if done responsibly and there are definitely tasty drinks that allow inhibitions to be eradicated. I enjoy a social drink every now and again, light with only a slight taste of the alcohol within which it is mixed. I know for certain that the dangerous and (only recently) legal Absinthe would definitely not make its way into my drink.

HOBSON'S CHOICE -(disregard prior posting)

2010-04-08T20:51:00.002-07:00

April 8, 2010

Hobson’s choice
\’häb-senz-‘chois\ n : an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative*

In fifth grade, we had a class pet. His name was Patches and he was a tri-colored guinea pig. As all young kids do, I thought he was the cutest thing and I couldn’t wait for my turn to take him home. Little did I know that weekend would be a catastrophe. Let’s just say gerbils and Barbie cars don’t mix.
Everything was going well so far. We (ok, my mom) diligently cleaned out his cage, we (alright alright, that was my mom too) fed him and I petted him. I even played with him and thought it would definitely be cool if Patches was the first ever guinea pig to take a ride on top of my brand new Barbie convertible. Patches got stuck, became sick and died a few days later…I think it’s safe to say my delicate reputation had been permanently tainted among my peers.
A few days later, after being tormented relentlessly by the kids in my class, and one boy in particular, I came back from recess to find a note in my desk. It was from the kid behind me who always teased me. The note stated that he was sorry he blamed me for killing Patches and that even though he still believed it was my fault, it wasn’t (three words: fifth grader’s logic). I later found out he had been presented with a Hobson’s choice of either apologizing to me or losing recess for the rest of the year. Three words – fifth grader’s motive.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

HOBSON

2010-04-08T20:51:00.001-07:00

NODUS

2010-04-08T20:32:00.001-07:00

April 7, 2010

Nodus
\’no-des\ n : a complication or difficulty*

Reading has always been an enjoyable activity for me, never one that was filled with strife, relatively relaxing (unless it was for a school assignment) and an excellent form of escape. However, there are always those one or two (or three) books that are the antithesis of beneficial reading. I must say I am now enduring one of those problematical pieces.
For the past two months, I have been reading a fictional piece that has represented itself as worthy to read. Whether that be attributed to the author or the fact that “New York Times Bestseller” is scrawled along the top, I perhaps will never know, however I do recognize that perhaps the inscrutable plot with the just as enigmatic characters has made this particular book an incredible arduous task to complete. My nodus associated with getting absorbed by the novel has inhibited my ability to properly review it when it is finally finished, leaving my captive audience disappointed…ok who am I kidding, no one reads my damn blog…anyway I digress…
I love to read and be mystified by what might or might not happen next. However, anticipating the next move of the protagonist or swooning over the gorgeous villain even though he’s evil and will cut you up and serve you to your mother, varies greatly to a book that is so drenched in details that the main focus is lost – reaching an ending!!

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

ADSCITITIOUS

2010-04-06T19:25:00.001-07:00

April 6, 2010

Adscititious
\’ad-se-‘ti-shes\ adj : derived or acquired from something extrinsic*

I think I give relatively good advice on relationships perhaps because I have an adscititious outlook on the situation. I am not sure why I am able to dispense advice like a Pez dispenser shoots out candy, but I am often the one shedding my opinion on what could be done. I am not currently in a relationship and so maybe it is easier for me to give an objective side to a story, hoping it will help everyone involved. I often think of medical professionals such as psychiatrists who can help their patients but when confronted with a problem within their family, the advice they were sharing the hour before is for naught. I like to think of it as having more at stake; perhaps my advice is just not good enough to cure whatever is wrong in my romantic life, but then again maybe there is nothing worth curing… ;)

*letter “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

PLUMPLY

2010-04-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2010

Plumply
\’plemp-le\ adv : in a wholehearted manner and without hesitation or circumlocution : forthrightly*

I have never been good at being completely and totally honest. I don’t mean that I make it a habit to lie to people, however, I have a hard time expressing my opinion for fear of encountering opposition or confrontation. I was taught that it is not always what you say but how you say it and that I could be honest without hurting someone’s feelings. I’ve definitely gotten better, however, it is still work in progress.
During college, I met many individuals who were like me, shy about letting people know how she or he really felt. Strangely, though, my fellow counterparts were not with whom I surrounded myself; basking in the energy and company of people who didn’t care what others thought; exhibiting themselves as young, bright women who could assert themselves plumply without thought or reservation as to what would be said about them or how it would make others feel. Obviously, they had a hard time living according to my mother’s adage as well…

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

TINTINNABULATION

2010-04-04T19:13:00.001-07:00

April 4, 2010

Tintinnabulation
\’tin-te-‘na-bye-‘la-shen\ n 1: the ringing or sounding of bells 2: a jingling or tinkling sound as if of bells*

You know it’s the holidays when you get out of your car in a parking lot to do your shopping and you hear the unmistakable tintinnabulation of the Salvation Army bell. You contemplate getting back into your car and slinking away, making a run for the front door ignoring all requests to give funding or easing into a crowd with hopes of not being noticed. These attempts are not because you don’t like to give to people in need especially during the holiday season, but because at that precise moment, you have no change on you. But, alas, you take it like a woman and march with your head held high, look the poor, freezing Salvation Army representative in the eye and promise (that’s right, you promised) a donation when you come out. He or she nods (you think the nod means he or she understands you when in actuality it is code for “sure, that’s what they all say”) and you feel good inside. This feeling lasts until you get in the car to head home when you suddenly remember you forgot to wedge your dollar bill into the bucket. As punishment, the ringing of the bells is constant in your ears…

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

SIC

2010-04-04T19:01:00.001-07:00

April 3, 2010

Sic
\’sik\ adv : intentionally so written – used after a printed word or passage to indicate that it exactly reproduces an original

“That’s totally sic!” That phrase has been implemented within the English language and like many slang terms, has absolutely nothing to do with the actual meaning of the word, sic. During this verbal adventure, I have learned many new things and the actual gist of this word and its use within our literary world is quite interesting.
When adding the term sic in a piece, usually following another person’s quote, it implies that what was said was the actual quote and not a mistake made by the person writing the article. Once again, there are individuals who do not agree with using this term as it is said to possibly “call attention to someone’s error or to deride the language of a less educated person” (Page-A-Day Calendar by Workman Publishing). I think using a three letter word to cover one’s own ass is totally….(yup you guessed it) sic!

VIRTUOSO

2010-04-04T18:48:00.001-07:00

April 2, 2010

Virtuoso
\’ver-chü-o-so\ n 1: a person skilled in the fine arts 2: one who excels in the technique of an art or other endeavor; especially : a highly skilled musical performer*

In college, I focused dually on film and journalism. In addition to writing, I loved acting and thought if the drama club wasn’t necessarily my nice, I could go to class for three hours and watch drama, love, comedy and many other genres unfold before me on the big screen. However, as great as film is, my one true love is none other than theater.
Any chance I have to see a broadway show I am the first one in line (preferably at the TKTS booth; times are hard). Theater makes me feel alive. I thrive on the actors’ energy, the way they light up the stage with their passion. Supplementing the acting, is the music (I’m a sucker for musicals – Phantom being my favorite). The virtuosos that inhabit the orchestra pit really add flavor and pizzazz to the environment and make the theater itself feel like a home away from home for me. Any show would not be successful if not for the individuals behind the scenes, from the director to the set designers. These people permit the show to happen and happen well.
All the different aspects of theater make me giddy with excitement and raring to go when a friend mentions yet another show we must see.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

GUERDON

2010-04-04T18:35:00.001-07:00

April 1, 2010

Guerdon
\’ger-den\ n : a reward or recompense*

Many writers struggle; to keep the ideas brewing while trying to get them accepted by publishers and the general public is a task with which writers are very familiar. I have often considered myself a writer and have realized that to harness my passion is a gift in itself and will enable me to develop my talent more deeply as time goes on.
Perhaps every writer’s dream is to become published; whether it be self-publication or through the ever elusive “agent.” To some the process of getting one’s work out to his or her audience defines him or her as an author; to others, it is just a means to an end. For this particular writer, the main guerdon would be that specific moment when I lay my eyes upon my work in print. It would be that moment that would define me and my hard effort in perfecting my craft; putting in many hard hours/days/months of writing, doing research, dealing with rejection after rejection. For me, it will be that moment…

*letters “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

VALHALLA

2010-03-31T20:40:00.001-07:00

March 31, 2010

Valhalla
\val-‘ha-le\ n 1: the great hall in Norse mythology where the souls of heroes slain in battle are received 2: a place of honor, glory, or happiness : heaven*

When I was eight years old I was assigned a special project in school. We were given the option of either reporting on the history of The Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. I figured the majority of my classmates would pick The Statue of Liberty; not because she was more interesting but because it was February and she was the first stop on the freezing cold ferry ride across the Hudson – I decided to sacrifice and went with Ellis Island.
It was a bitter cold day, yet I was shivering with excitement. My mom had agreed to take me (after all I was only eight) and I was looking forward to spending the day with her. We boarded the ferry and made our way to the famed halls of Ellis Island. Despite my nausea (I was never good with boat rides), I tried to enjoy the seemingly endless trip across the river.
As we made our way off the boat and into the Great Hall, I was immediately back to normal and ready to tackle the different parts of the museum being featured in my project. After getting all the crucial information, my mom and I made our way outside and came across the wall. At first, I was confused until my mother explained that it held the names of all the people who had immigrated to this country and who had made their way through the daunting halls of Ellis Island. We walked down a bit further and my mother stopped. She was staring at her grandparents’ names on the wall. I thought it was cool (after all I was only eight) yet let my mom remember in silence.
I have not been back to Ellis Island since yet I do know that I have a deeper reverence and appreciation for the men, women and children who graced the halls with their presence, culture, history. They may have been frightened and confused at the unknown circumstances they found themselves in when they came to this country, yet many years later, their presence, culture and history rest on a valhalla for all to see.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

BUCOLIC

2010-03-31T20:24:00.001-07:00

March 30, 2010

Bucolic
\byü-‘kä-lik\ adj 1: of or relating to shepherds or herdsman : pastoral 2: relating to or typical of rural life

I have become a pro at either dodging the inevitable “where do you see yourself in five years?” (specifically centered around career) question or artfully creating an answer that only I know to be utter and complete bullshit. I am not usually adept at avoiding these more often than not awkward situations, so it is definitely fair to say that I spend the majority of my time lying…
However there is one question to which I know the answer; that being where do I see myself living, settling, raising a family. I used to be certain I would make a life for myself in a city. Growing up only a half hour outside what could arguably be known as the greatest city on Earth, I developed a deep sense of appreciation for the energy, the grandiose ideas of success often accompanied by city life. Yet, as I grew older, and experienced commuting into the city (even though it was once a week, it was still exhausting!), I realized that a bucolic lifestyle would suit me just fine and that perhaps I could still take advantage of the great experiences a city had to offer knowing I was returning to seemingly less crazy haven at the end of the day.

MARTINET

2010-03-30T19:01:00.001-07:00

March 29, 2010

Martinet
\’mär-te-‘net\ n 1: a strict disciplinarian 2: a person who stresses a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods*

I first tried getting into the famed scriptwriting class sophomore year. It was not until my second semester senior year that I finally made it into the class. I was so psyched and couldn’t wait to further my knowledge about a topic that I knew nothing about yet was certain it was something I wanted to implement into my career somehow.
The first day of class, after reading the syllabus, (after a while they all started looking alike), we were introduced to the scriptwriting phenomenon. My professor made it perfectly clear that we could have the best idea in the world but if we pitched it in the incorrect format, we would “have it thrown back in our face.” I was scared yet curious…little did I know…
Our professor turned out to be a format martinet, constantly marking us down due to wrong format. It was discouraging yet it trained our eyes and enabled us to be better at the craft we so desperately wanted to master. We dreaded getting our papers back, yet craved the red marks, proof that we were yearning to do better and that perhaps even though we were not skilled artisans in scriptwriting, we were well on our way…

*second letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

GOSSAMER

2010-03-30T18:46:00.001-07:00

March 28, 2010

Gossamer
\’gä-se-mer\ adj : extremely light, delicate, or tenuous*

It had been a great day. They had met in the city for lunch and then went to the Central Park Zoo and walked around Battery Park for the afternoon. She had brought along her camera and was like a kid in the candy store; wanting to capture every delectable moment. He was mesmerized by her and her calm, easy-going demeanor and when seeing her face light up after taking a great photo or laughing at something humorous he had said, he wanted to spend many more such days with her.
Claire was nervous. She hadn’t seen Adam in such a long time and when he called her saying he was in town and that he wanted to meet up, she felt a giddy sense of excitement. Agreeing to meet him at the ice cream shop, Serendipity, Claire started planning her outfit right down to her jewelry, even though this blessed event was a week away.
Adam’s throat was dry when he picked up the phone and dialed Claire’s number. He wasn’t even sure that this was still the right one. As soon as she answered in her sing-song voice, Adam knew what he had known to be true all along; he was in love. They talked for hours and he eventually asked her to meet him in the city next week for lunch. He was beyond excited, and nervous.
The sun was setting and Claire and Adam were heading to Grand Central to say goodbye. As Claire turned to walk toward her track, Adam grabbed her and whirled her around to face him. There was such passion in his eyes and Claire knew he was going to kiss her.
The gossamer kiss was soft and graceful yet made Claire tremble. Even though it was simple, it was still loaded with passion and enabled both Claire and Adam to blush. They broke their embrace, smiled at each other. Adam pushed a wisp of hair out of Claire’s face and grazed his thumb against her cheek. They then both turned and headed home.

*letters “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

PREDIAL

2010-03-30T18:31:00.001-07:00

March 27, 2010

Predial
\’pre-de-el\ adj : of or relating to land or its products*

I have always loved the idea of a home surrounded by a large amount of land, somewhat ensconced among wheat fields and only a short distance from a body of water. I love hearing the sounds of nature and knowing that when I am in my home, I am at peace.
My cousin’s house on the island of Barbados epitomizes a predial domain. It is encased by wide gaping acres of land, and is a great playground for her dogs. The house itself is bright red with blue shutters and upon entering, her guest is in awe at each room’s different color. There are usually warm and welcoming smells coming from the kitchen or ice clinking in a glass at their built in bar. Outside, fresh mangos are ripe for the picking and the gravel in the driveway lets her know someone has arrived.
The beauty of this home is astounding and relaxes one the moment he or she steps foot on the property.

*third letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

OSTRACIZE

2010-03-30T15:10:00.001-07:00

March 26, 2010

Ostracize
\’ä-stre-‘siz\ v : to exclude from a group by common consent*

I have always had a soft spot for kids who are ostracized by their peers. Experiencing this feeling of hopelessness and not belonging has allowed me to empathize with kids who currently go through it. I know that one day, these kids will stand up for their right to be heard and to be accepted within the group from which they are rejected.
It is known that many of these kids will seek alternative measures to belonging; being permanently ostracized has caused them great pain and the desire to “fit in” no longer appeals to them. These alternatives (suicide, violence in schools, drugs) should never be considered a solution due to the result of disruption it brings to our society. Let’s help these kids flourish not only in school, but with each other as they are members of our next generation, yearning to make a difference any way they know how.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

KUNDALINI

2010-03-30T14:56:00.001-07:00

March 25, 2010

Kundalini
\’kun-de-‘le-ne\ n, often capitalized : the yogic life force that is held to lie coiled at the base of the spine until it is aroused and sent to the head to trigger enlightenment*

I am never averse to trying new things; this becoming my mantra when asked if I wanted to try a yoga class with my co-worker. I was hesitant but thought I might as well, I have nothing to lose and it won’t hurt me. Let’s just say that it is definitely not my favorite form of exercise.
I walked into the classroom and was greeted enthusiastically by all the participants. I thought to myself that it wouldn’t be too bad and that whatever misconception I had about yoga had been just that – a misconception. I rolled out my mat and as we entered the first position, I remember thinking, “I am never averse to trying new things.”
An hour and a half later, I was dripping wet and frustrated that I couldn’t pull my leg through the opening my arm had created by grabbing my left foot let alone attaining Kundalini. I smiled when looked at and nodded when asked if I was ok. I have never watched the clock more intently.

*first letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

COZEN

2010-03-30T14:25:00.001-07:00

March 24, 2010

Cozen
\’ke-zen\ v 1: to deceive, win over, or induce to do something by artful coaxing and wheedling or shrewd trickery 2: to gain by artful coaxing or tricky deception*

One of my favorite television shows to date is Dawson’s Creek. Even though it could very well be considered a teen soap, choc full of teenage angst and drama, many of my life lessons and advice have derived from the various episodes (all of which I have on box set). There was one particular character featured in the earlier episodes who purposely set out to hurt people and manipulate situations in her favor. I still shudder when I hear the name Abby Morgan.
Abby’s character was an individual who came across as vindictive and mean yet who had personal demons of her own to fight. She often cozened her classmates with dishonesty and falseness just so she could get her own way; however the audience notices that perhaps Abby is never truly happy even when she gets what she wants- thus reiterating what we (the nice kids) were taught: you definitely do catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

*letters “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

SISYPHEAN

2010-03-30T14:13:00.001-07:00

March 23, 2010

Sisyphean
\’si-se-‘fe-en\ adj : of, relating to, or suggestive of the labors of Sisyphus; specifically : requiring continual and often ineffective effort*

There are different afflictions that plague various people. One such affliction that has always been a hindrance to me and my academic career has been that of mathematics. I have never acquired a taste or a talent for this monster of a subject and thus have never succeeded in mastering it.
The Sisyphean attempts at trying to become a mathematical mastermind has almost always (ok, forget the almost) left me dazed and confused and more often than not, back at the proverbial square one. I have had extra time after class with teachers, tutors, diagnostic tests; none of these measures have inhibited my inability to wrap my brain around numbers and their convoluted meanings. The effort in conveying the written word however is always continual and everything but ineffective…

*second and fourth letter “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh”

VELLEITY

2010-03-30T14:02:00.001-07:00

March 22, 2010

Velleity
\ve-‘le-e-te\ n 1: the lowest degree of volition 2: a slight wish or tendency : inclination*

I speak about plans for my future; to friends, family, people I don’t even know well. However perhaps the mentality I employ is, if I vocalize my dreams, they will just magically come true. Call it what you will- idealism, naivete, or maybe just plain laziness.
There is nothing I want more than to succeed; whether that be through getting yet another higher education degree, starting a better job, or moving into my first apartment. Possibly because I do not act upon these desires, yet just recite them, they could be considered just mere velleities-seeds of hope and aspiration that have no chance of growing if not nurtured diligently.

*first and third letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

PROFFER

2010-03-21T19:04:00.001-07:00

March 21, 2010

Proffer
\’prä-fer\ v : to present for acceptance : tender or offer*

Lately honesty seems to be dead and buried specifically among our politicians. Every time I hear of a new individual who is cheating on his wife, trying to cover up the latest scandal or acting illegally on behalf of one of his or her staff members, I shake my head and realize this is probably why some people don’t vote.
From Elliot Spitzer and his involvement in the prostitution ring to our present Governor Patterson, the idea that when one gets a title, he or she stops doing the work is strongly brought to fruition. I have always stated that whatever happens behind closed doors within a public figure’s private life in no way impacts me, however the moment hypocrisy becomes part of the deal, my trust and loyalty have been severely diminished if not totally eradicated.
A few weeks ago, on the front page of one of the newspapers, I read an article (in the form of a mock letter) mandating that Governor Patterson proffer his resignation. I think it was a great and ballsy attempt to get the public to see that it may not be just this individual’s idea that a politician should be a figure of positivity but society’s at large.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

DUPLICITY

2010-03-21T18:51:00.001-07:00

March 20, 2010

Duplicity
\du-‘pli-se-te\ n: the disguising of true intentions by deceptive words or action*

She had finally fallen in love. He was kind, smart, altruistic and above all a perfect match to her personality. They complemented each other well and knew that there was such a thing as “long-term” for them. During what was commonly known as the “honeymoon phase,” they would spend countless hours together and never tire of each other’s company. There was no awkward moments, no conversations with endless lulls, no harsh words. They had their disagreements and often butted heads, but always respectfully and never without an apology for unkind exchanges. There was no sign of duplicity within the relationship and both she and he were satisfied with their choice for their life partners.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

GRAVITATE

2010-03-21T18:42:00.001-07:00

March 19, 2010

Gravitate
\’gra-ve-‘tat\ v 1: to move under the influence of gravitation 2a: to move toward something b: to be drawn or attracted especially by natural inclination

Grocery shopping is the bane of my existence. Not only do I have to allot myself enough time to get to the store (the one near me is filthy, thus forcing me to travel out of my way), but I also have to create a list, remember my bonus card and try not to succumb to the mounting anxiety in regards to my finances.
I usually go early in the morning so that I can fully concentrate without the crowds and in enough time to make it back for work. Food shopping, while not overly pleasant has been a rather quick experience for me. I enter the store, work my way around the back while grabbing what I know is in short supply, while occasionally glancing at my list.
However, because I have been recently trying to adopt a healthier approach to eating and maintaining a well-balanced diet, I am training my eyes not to roam, my body not to gravitate toward the members of the eatable community that have been deemed “unhealthy.” I still am a sucker for tortilla chips and spinach dip though; that is a weakness that will perhaps never be redeemed.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

CAVIL

2010-03-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

March 18, 2010

Cavil
\’ka-vel\ v : to raise trivial and frivolous objection*

I was never a reality T.V. junkie. I am sad to say I have become one as of late. My guilty pleasure (and it does shame me to say this), is the series of the Real Housewives. All of them. These women are ridiculous, their lives are ridiculous and so are their spouses (some of these husbands need their own show). Shall we say drama?
There is always some sort of conflict and after a crazy day at work, sitting down and bearing witness to these dysfunctional lives makes me feel a little more at ease that my life is really “normal.” These women are the queens of high society yet cavil so much that the majority of the hour spent watching this ludicrous nonsense revolves around cat-fights and tears. My how I love it!
Ahh Real Housewives of NY is about to come on…wonder what production will ensue during another charity auction?

*letter “e” is upside down resulting in sound of “uh”

UBIQUITOUS

2010-03-18T20:52:00.001-07:00

March 17, 2010

Ubiquitous
\yü-‘bi-kwe-tes\ adj : existing or being everywhere at the same time : constantly encountered : widespread*

I have always loved the color green. There is no set reason as to why this color makes me happy; it just does. Today, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, there were ubiquitous articles of clothing sporting this awesome color.
While at work, I smiled at the little children coming in, getting ready for dance class, being allowed to wear their green sweaters and leg warmers. I complimented a young boy on his t-shirt with a green tie printed on it. I tried to sound grateful and not horrified when a mother offered me her green polka-dotted scarf to wear because she noticed, as did I (for the first time all day) that green was not a color that had been a choice in my wardrobe selection that morning…let’s just say my cheeks were not green (as that would have been a sure sign of illness), but a rosy red from having my fashion faux pas be so blatantly noticed.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

PILGARLIC

2010-03-18T20:42:00.001-07:00

March 16, 2010

Pilgarlic
\pil-‘gär-lik\ n 1a: a bald head b: a bald-headed man 2: a man looked upon with humorous contempt or mock pity

“It’s ok, he has no hair.” That was the running joke in my house whenever my dad looked befuddled at our latest joke or side comment. It wasn’t as if he had completely no hair or a receding hairline, he just had this wispy middle accompanied by thick hair on the sides…an unusual mix if you ask me.
My dad wasn’t always a pilgarlic (and no that’s not a rude name), I have seen pictures of his younger days in the islands and on the ships; his smile always escorted by a full head of hair. I spent the better part of my years (when I wasn’t teasing him) wondering why the hair had disappeared. It never looked odd to me yet I could not come up with a good enough reason, although old age had crossed my mind, but my dad was always a sprightly kind.
Over the years, we had our disagreements and arguments and we most certainly did not see eye to eye on many issues. However we could both concede that the absence of my dad’s hair was a pretty funny occurrence and was a permanent whipping boy for all of our jokes.
It never occurred to me that perhaps my dad’s hair loss had something to do with me…

LITOTES

2010-03-15T21:05:00.001-07:00

March 15, 2010

Litotes
\’li-te-‘tez\ n : understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary*

I have seen many complex words and definitions during the course of this project, however I must admit this particular definition had me shaking my head, befuddled. For people who do not like exaggeration, expressing themselves through the use of litotes could definitely be deemed appropriate.
I associate litotes with an inability or unwillingness to show emotion or be overly expressive. After working an entire Saturday after having no sleep, when asked by my mother if I was ok, I responded by saying I wasn’t as awake as I would have liked when I wanted to scream and say that I was beyond exhausted.
When it’s that inevitable time of the month and I am the last person humanity wants to interact with, I characterize my volatile behavior by saying that I’m not in the best mood today when deep inside I want to utter expletives and rip a person’s head off for looking at me.
Litotes are those weird forms of expressions primarily found and utilized in the English language. It’s pretty interesting…(by that I mean It’s totally wicked cool!)

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

VICTUAL

2010-03-15T20:51:00.001-07:00

March 14, 2010

Victual
\’vi-tel\ n 1: food usable by people 2 plural : supplies of food : provisions*

Throughout this verbal voyage for the past two months, I have encountered many intriguing words and their meanings. I have tried to fit them into my life by using them in my personal stories and into the lives of others by attempting to make them easily relatable. The history surrounding the idea of victuals is quite interesting and the irony of the word’s origin makes me satisfied.
Victual (as the definition above states), is a word used to describe supplies of food or provisions. Despite the environment in which an individual receives food, the act of eating results in nourishment therefore sustaining members of society regardless of the way they are obtaining said meals; soup kitchens, shelters, school holiday breakfasts or even at your breakfast nook in your home. Nourishment is crucial to survival.
The irony appears when looking at the origin of the word; victual deriving from the Latin noun victus, which means nourishment (Page-a-Day Calendar by Workman Publishing). The word victus has given birth and nourished a new form of the word, which in turn conveys the meaning of giving back and providing nourishment. Perhaps if we adopted the attitude of paying it forward in life, we not only would be supplying good deeds but possibly receiving something more out of it instead.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

DENIGRATE

2010-03-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

March 13, 2010

Denigrate
\’de-ni-‘grat\ v 1: to attack the reputation of : defame 2: to deny the importance or validity of : belittle

I like to believe that I am the type of person who stands up for what I believe in even though, at times, it may not seem like the most popular choice. I have fought for a myriad of things in my life from programming to the implementation of the study of a particular culture and the journey (while more often than not, arduous), taught me what it is to believe in something and to be willing to pass that on to my fellow leaders.
During my junior year of high school, I was appointed to serve as the editor of the newspaper. Shocked yet happy, I promptly took on appropriate duties and worked hard to prove myself. As the year went on and certain situations occurred, I found myself in a convoluted dilemma that required me to stand up to the moderator in hopes of demanding some respect for the stance I had taken on a specific issue. The exchange between teacher and student did not go over well and if I had thought that it would all blow over, I was sadly mistaken.
The following year I had applied for a position within the National Honor Society. Due to an accumulation of various factors, I had been turned down. I scheduled a meeting with the head of the board and inquired as to why I had not been accepted. She explained the other factors, and then proceeded to tell me that I had received an unfavorable recommendation from one of the board members. A feeling had settled in the pit of my stomach and even though I knew, I wanted proof.
Indeed I was right! The letter was from that teacher who had been “disrespected” the year before. Not only was the letter harsh, it was an unflattering depiction of what she thought my character consisted of; denigrating my integrity for the rest of the board to peruse. I was mortified! Never in my whole life had I been treated that way by an adult; someone who prided themselves on being a positive role model for her students and who taught Religion for heaven’s sake!
I may not have been granted an opening in the National Honor Society, however I still believe that the action I so strongly believed in and stood up for was not for naught. I’ve learned not everyone will always agree with what one has to say or do, but that should never serve as an obstacle to not asserting one’s convictions.

CHIN-WAG

2010-03-14T20:34:00.001-07:00

March 12, 2010

Chin-wag
\’chin-‘wag\ n, slang : a conversation or chat

I love conversing with people. I am an extroverted person by nature and to engage in chats (despite their relevance to my everyday life), enriches my experience getting to know that person. I love all types of dialogues, whether they are debates, spiritual revelations or just chin-wags in a Starbucks. Men and women’s ability to interact with each other is what makes us able to establish relationships and maintain them; the tool of communication perhaps being the most important catalyst in achieving this goal.

MORDACIOUS

2010-03-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

March 11, 2010

Mordacious
\mor-‘da-shes\ adj 1: biting or given to biting 2: biting or sharp in manner or style : caustic*

There are many people in this world with varying personalities. There are those individuals whom you love to interact with and then there are those who rattle you and make your eagerness to help quickly diminish by the second. More often than not, these individuals are mothers; creatures of a different breed, creatures that have an innate ability to protect their offspring and to make your life a living hell if you threaten their copasetic balance.
It was a crazy Thursday at work and due our policy, a little girl whose mother had not arrived to pick her up yet came to sit with me behind the front desk. I was so busy, I barely noticed her or the phone constantly ringing off the hook…
I finally had a minute to breathe and the phone rang yet again. I contemplated ignoring it this time, however something told me to answer it. On the other end, a mother was panicked and was talking a mile a minute, worried sick that she wasn’t there to pick up her beloved daughter. I tried to calm her down by reassuring her that Susie** was indeed behind the desk with me. Well, apparently she didn’t really care about Susie’s whereabouts but more about yelling at me, because she ripped into me like I was a murderer demanding ransom for her beloved child.
I quietly put this mordacious monster in her place and hung up the phone; ready to be done with babysitting Susie and answering irate phone calls.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

**name changed

ADULATE

2010-03-14T20:06:00.001-07:00

March 10, 2010

Adulate
\’a-je-‘lat\ v : to flatter or admire excessively or slavishly*

The lights are flashing brightly, so brightly that I have to remind myself not to close my eyes. People are calling my name and in between the brilliant flashes of the cameras, I see what seems like millions of hands waving at me, trying to get my attention. I am walking arm in arm with one of the most handsome men on the red carpet and his smile is just as dazzling as the flashing lights.
I am wearing a dress specifically designed for me by Oscar de la Renta; a sleek black halter with small to large Swarovski crystals decorating the low front and back of the gown. My hair is upswept into a French twist and I feel confident and posied; beautiful.
I smile for my last press photo and head over to the hosts from Access Hollywood who are so intent on adulating me on my appearance that they forget the real reason as to why I am there; my performance. I thank them graciously and blush at their adoration. I whisk my date away and manage to find my seat inside the huge arena. This is what I have dreamt about…

* letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

KITCHEN CABINET

2010-03-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

March 9, 2010

Kitchen Cabinet
\’ki-chen-‘kab-nit\ n 1: an informal group of advisers to one in a position of power 2: a cupboard for use in a kitchen*

I have a “thing” about open cabinet doors, specifically in the kitchen. They bug me. They bug me so much that when I lived with my parents, my dad would purposely open all the kitchen cabinet doors just to push my buttons; and oh, did it work. There’s nothing wrong with me, I swear, I just like the sound of a door shutting. Perhaps it is its message of finality, or perhaps it’s paranoia, you choose.
One day I was making a sandwich and went to replace the bread in its rightful place. I shut the cupboard door and went about my merry way. About an hour later, upon entering the kitchen, I noticed the cabinet door was open. I quickly put my back against the wall and scanned for a predator lurking nearby in the shadows (ok, my best friend’s fears are rubbing off on me) and when assured that no one was going to leap out at me, approached the cabinet with caution. I shut the door and it opened again, this mundane activity, taking place for what seemed like forever until I got the point that it just wasn’t meant to be.
That door is still open and sometimes I still check behind the shower curtain for that so-called predator…

* letter “e” is upside down creating “uh” sound

TORPOR

2010-03-14T19:32:00.001-07:00

March 8, 2010

Torpor
\’tor-per\ n 1: a state of mental and motor inactivity with partial or total insensibility 2: apathy or dullness*

My two year college graduation anniversary is approaching. I have welcomed change and have been willing to secede to circumstances of which I am not in charge; letting them mold and dictate my life. It has been very easy to remain in my present situation and to establish routine for myself, for routine is how I operate best.
However in this instance, routine can become a dangerous foe, creating a malignant torpor that will stagnate my growth as a potential professional woman. It has been profoundly effortless to grow accustomed to my present living and working conditions and while I am not happy in either, the ability to remain stuck often wins over the ability to seek other opportunities.
I have discussed the job market and unfair state of affairs with friends and family, bitched and complained, everything short of shouting out loud (ok, who am I kidding, I’ve definitely done that too), and unless I can shake the omnipresent feeling of frustration, the monotonous schedule that has become my “daily routine” will continue and hopes of eradicating the vicious cycle will cease to exist.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

ILK

2010-03-08T19:49:00.001-08:00

March 7, 2010

Ilk
\’ilk\ n : sort or kind

I am searching for a place to belong, a company that wants my talent instead of my counterpart’s, a man who wants my brain instead of my looks, eventually a family who wants my love and support instead of just my income. I am looking for a place to call my own, to nurture it and let it grow on its own while allowing others to contribute to its growth. I am waiting patiently to come across that inevitable “in,” to become established while still being able to remember my roots.
While I search for a place to belong, I want to avoid becoming trapped and labeled as a member of an ilk that is no longer recognized by the future generations; that has faded and is no longer useful…

CRAPULOUS

2010-03-08T19:30:00.001-08:00

March 6, 2010

Crapulous
\’kra-pye-les\ adj 1: marked by intemperance especially in eating or drinking 2: sick from excessive indulgence in liquor*

Drinking has never really been a main staple in my life. I like the occasional social drink here and there but to have a crapulous interest in exhibiting topsy-turvy behavior due to repeated intoxication is definitely not my idea of a good time.
There were many kids when in college that drank excessively and that had a good time doing it. Their actions could’ve been a result of many reasons; finding themselves in an environment in which they could finally let loose not fearing being severely grounded by their parents, trying to forget a problem whether it be a break-up, a bad grade or a roommate situation, or it could be just due to the fact that they like to get drunk for absolutely no reason at all.
Whatever reason it be, I knew I hated sitting next to the kid who was so hung-over that a shower was not a possibility therefore reeking sweat and booze. I remember thinking to myself, what’s fun about that??

*letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

PENCHANT

2010-03-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

March 5, 2010

Penchant
\’pen-chent\ n : a strong and continued inclination; broadly : a liking*

As I have grown older, my tastes have changed; I have developed new hobbies such as fine-tuning my photography, maintaining my blog, and cleaning my house more than once every three months. Although, there is one penchant that has always been a part of my life and will probably continue to ease my stress by allowing me to enter into different character’s worlds.
I love to read. I have always loved it, the first piece I remember being a short story of Rohl Dahl’s and reading it aloud to my dad while sitting at the kitchen table awaiting my breakfast. I was five. Reading has been like a second home to me, permitting me to escape in to fictional worlds and, (as I got older), circumstances and environments that couldn’t be more real and that I was grateful to not have had encounter them before I was ready.
Dr. Seuss thrilled me with his rhymes and when I grew tired of his childish games, I settled for sitting on the edge of my seat with R.L. Stine in my hands, awaiting the next thriller in the Goosebumps series. My literary journeys soon encompassed more mature storytellers such as Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson. Within the last two years, my passion for absorbing the written word has progressed and now I love quirky novels that may not have been featured in the local magazine but that which make me laugh, cry or deeply ponder life’s dealings.
As I grow older, I know that my ability to obtain knowledge through someone else’s views will continue to evolve and enable me to get lost on the streets of Germany or in the labyrinth of the Catecombs while trying to decipher a hidden message…

second letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

byzantine

2010-03-08T18:56:00.001-08:00

March 4, 2010

Byzantine
\’bi-zen-‘ten\ adj 1: relating to Byzantium or the Eastern Roman Empire 2: often not capitalized : intricately involved and often devious*

The movie Up in the Air was by far one of the most brilliant films I have ever seen. Not only was the plot rich, but the characters and their independent quirks really enriched the movie and my viewing experience. One of the main characters, Alex, played by Vera Farmiga, was what one could consider a flirt, yet also a go-getter, knowing exactly what she wanted; one of those things being Ryan Bingham, (played by George Clooney).
Throughout the film, Ryan and Alex develop a byzantine relationship; both of them meeting up during their travels. Ryan is a complex man who has little time for relationships and the work that goes into them, yet he finds himself falling for Alex. In addition to the many different innuendos and themes tastefully reflected upon within the movie, the complications of a love affair intensifies both the atmosphere at the movies and the way each character views his or her ties to each other.

*first letter “e” is upside down producing sound “uh”

Dead Hand

2010-03-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

March 3, 2010

Dead Hand
\’ded-‘hand\ n 1: an alienable possession of property by a church or corporation 2: the oppressive influence of the past

It’s hard to let the past fade. Even though it is logically behind us, it is never really gone; constantly affecting our actions and the way we live our day to day lives. There are great aspects of our past, memorable birthday parties with all those great gifts, the first dance where the cliché of boys opposite girls really did exist; graduating high school and then college and starting one’s life. These are all positive parts of one’s past, however in addition to the positive, there is almost always a corresponding negative.
I was, what you would consider a happy child, laughing, making corny jokes that only my parents laughed at, attending sleepovers. However the smiling was often a façade. While my life at home was blessed, I was not popular; trying unmercifully to “make friends” and failing horribly. Grammar school was a nightmare that often resulted in crying fits at home and the never ending phrase, “why don’t they like me?”
That part of my past, however much of a dead hand it was, has enabled me to move forward in each of my relationships and while it does sometimes rear its ugly head, I am slowly realizing that while it is hard to let the past fade, perhaps we owe it to ourselves and our future relationships to at least try.

RECTITUDINOUS

2010-03-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

March 2, 2010

Rectitudinous
\’rek-te-‘tü-de-nes\ adj 1: characterized by straightness or moral integrity 2: piously self-righteous*

I’ve never been a fan of people telling me what to do. You sometimes have those children who listen to directions well and who just go with the flow; not I. I was always opinionated and keeping my opinion to myself just was not good enough, I had to share it with the world! Even though I still exhibit traces of my former self, I have decided to shed that skin because to be looked at as being abrasive and loud is usually not a good character depiction.
Being rectitudinous in a negative way is definitely not something I strive to be. I make mistakes just as everyone else does and I do not want to add hypocrisy to my list of well-liked attributes as well. There are many things that I know I believe in and that I know, in my heart are right, yet to fight with those individuals who perhaps are a smidge ignorant is not my job and will add agida to my life instead of enriching it. What do we really gain by acting as though we are better than others? A spot in heaven? Probably not, for it was said that whomever was without sin, cast the first stone…

* first, second and third letter “e” is upside down, producing sound of “uh”

CLEPE

2010-03-02T19:53:00.001-08:00

March 1, 2010

Clepe
\’klep\ v: to name or call

The majority of my serious contemplation of life and its dealings occur in the shower. There is nothing better than standing under the hot water, looking out the window (which I feel is necessary in all bathrooms) and letting the steam wash away any stress, replacing it with ease…ok so I definitely digressed on that one… Anyway, the other morning while engaging in this favorite pastime of mine, I realized that I could not remember Jessica Alba’s daughter’s name. I have a very good memory (especially when it comes to stars and their personal lives) and I was flummoxed as to why this piece of information was so elusive to me. I eventually recalled her name (Honor) and realized that the actual reason I was upset was not only because I could not remember her name but because it was one of the few names of a famous offspring that was just about bearable, therefore retaining it should not have been that difficult.
I do not, for the life of me, understand why members of the acting/modeling/singing/designing/Hollywood in general community feel it necessary if not imperative to clepe their children, Apple, Hazel, Jermajesty, or any other means of addressing that can be confused with an STD or could easily be representative of a society that has not progressed.
I really think name books should come with a warning label on them: do not name your child solely based on creativity. Merciless teasing will ensue!

FULGENT

2010-02-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

February 28, 2010

Fulgent
\’fül-jent\ adj : dazzingly bright : radiant*

I had died and gone to heaven. The fulgent light that was emanating from my surroundings was almost blinding. It took me a while to get used to it and when I did, I tried to form words to describe how I was feeling, but to no avail. I was enveloped with a sense of calm, and every time I looked in its direction, I felt light-headed. I moved and it moved, encasing me in its warm beams. There were no other people around, which I did think was weird for heaven, but hey I had been told that each person’s heaven was different so I forgot my uneasiness at being alone and continued to bask in the light’s brilliance.
I felt myself sliding back to reality, perhaps back to Earth. I didn’t want to go, I wanted to stay here forever! The light made me feel so good! I woke out of my daydream by the light’s voice, “Miss, may I help you?” I raised my eyes and caught a glimpse of heaven one last time.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

OBEISANCE

2010-02-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

February 27, 2010

Obeisance
\o-‘be-sens\ n 1: a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow 2: acknowledgement of another’s superiority or importance : homage*

One show that I like to watch on occasion is the Bounty Hunter. I love the husband and wife team who look so rugged and epitomize their profession perfectly, and who are real people, dedicated to making their society a safer place by bringing perpetrators to justice.
During the course of the show, the Bounty Hunter and his team prepare you for the worst. They give you hard facts of the crimes these individuals have committed, they suit up; wearing bulletproof vests, carrying weapons to protect themselves. You are fearful for them, wishing them the best while simultaneously being grateful that you’re on the other side of the television screen.
As the episode unfolds and you are taken on a journey to find and capture the “perp,” you are slowly becoming anxious and wish that the end would just hurry up and come. You do not want to encounter a criminal that is dangerous; an individual that even your mother’s warnings did not train you for. You hold your breath as the Bounty Hunter and his team bust down his/her door, weapons drawn and as he/she raises his/her hands in obeisance, you realize that despite their violation of a law implemented to protect you as a citizen, the fear is gone, for they, at this precise moment are human beings just…like…you…

* superscript letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

PARRY

2010-02-28T19:59:00.000-08:00

February 26, 2010

Parry
\’per-e\ v 1: to ward off a weapon or blow 2: to evade especially by an adroit answer

The winter is becoming too much for me. I hate snow (I mean ok sure, it’s pretty to look at, but shoveling and rock salting makes me wholeheartedly resent it), I hate the fact that I have to add ten extra minutes to my departure time to “layer up” for fear of frostbite, and I hate, hate, hate how the inclement weather conditions that often accompany winter postpone plans that have been scheduled for months! While I do not care for extreme heat or taking freezing showers just to cool down, summer has definite more appeal than the biting cold of our bitter friend.
There is one aspect of summer, however that never ceases to aggravate me; the incessant buzzing of our bloody-thirsty friends. As I was getting bitten when I was young, my mother tried to make me feel better by saying that my blood was sweet, therefore attracting many more mosquitoes. I rolled my eyes at her and tried to parry the annoying beasts with a flick of my hand. As I grew older, the methods of prevention became more severe. I graduated from flicking to spraying the daylights out of them with OFF! Or poisoning them with scented citronella candles. This past summer I didn’t have too many bites, maybe they have learned their lesson, or maybe they are quietly plotting how to overcome the ultimate goal of the …FLY SWATTER!

CONVENTICLE

2010-02-28T19:44:00.001-08:00

February 25, 2010

Conventicle
\ken-‘ven-ti-kel\ n 1: an assembly of an irregular or unlawful character 2: an assembly for religious worship; *especially : a meeting for worship not sanctioned by law 2: a meetinghouse*

Recently, I have been trying to solidify my journey of faith by attempting to attend Mass more frequently. For the past few years, my quest to become closer to God has been an arduous expedition; filled with uncertainties about how people close to me would view my renewed interest, skepticism about the Catholic Church and members of the congregation threatening to ruin my determination to cement my beliefs once more, and the underlying concern that I was phony for practicing such ideals when this could all be considered new to me. I was in search of implementing spirituality and common decency and respect in my everyday life and had hopes that this time it would be different.
I knew that to seek God was a serious task and that it deserved my utmost desire and determination. I tried many things, yet each simple mission I set aside for myself to complete would sit unfinished; the Bible passage never being read consistently every night, the last spiritual journal entry being three months prior, never attending Sunday Mass. I attribute the lack of achievement of each of these to fear; fear of not welcoming the new person I might become as a result of incorporating a new element of faith in my life.
It was my senior year of college and as a requirement for a group exercise within the organization of which I was a part, we had to attend a service and/or mass at a church every Sunday. It was the second Sunday and our destination that morning was St. Rose of Lima Church in West Philadelphia. It was a beautiful service and I really enjoyed the familial atmosphere within its walls, which was evident in the music and the convivial mood of the parishioners. It wasn’t until the Eucharist, however, that I felt like my place had been carved for me. I was so moved and really felt as though I were home; this being the first time that I felt as though I were in the right place at the right time.
I left the conventicle that morning feeling light in my heart and even though I no longer reside in Philly, that morning will always be special to me. It was a morning that started out ordinary but ended with a step closer to what I had been looking for all along: spiritual fulfillment.

* first and second letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

INFIX

2010-02-27T20:32:00.001-08:00

February 24, 2010

Infix
\’in-‘fiks\ n : a derivational or inflectional affix appearing in the body of a word

The universal “they” say that the English language is the hardest language to learn. From words with different meanings and spelling yet same sound such as the infamous “they’re, their and there,” words that are not spelled the way they sound such as “cough” to grammatical additives such as suffixes and prefixes, the English language is a convoluted conglomerate of a myriad of facets that perhaps do make it the most impenetrable form of communication out there. (you catch my drift?)
As an individual who has always loved the written word, (both reading and writing it), and a stickler for correct usage of grammar, I never favored learning the different nuances of grammar. I specifically remember when, in seventh grade, we were asked to take out our grammar books, a unified groan swept across the rows of our classroom such as the universal wave does at a baseball game! We loved reading stories in class, becoming different characters, but boy did we despise English grammar!
For me, one of the lessons that I hated the most was that of the brother-in-law/sister-in-law category. I particularly hated this because when making this specific phrase plural, the “laws” were never pluralized, the “brother” and “sister” were (rightly so, they are the living things after all) causing what I now know to be an infix. I still to this day have trouble with this and have to mentally remind myself the rules of the game.
I absolutely love the English language and believe that it is rich with its details of salacious syntax. However, it seems that no matter how much I declare my love for the language, the notorious “brothers-in-law,” will always be my verbal nemesis!

COALESCE

2010-02-23T21:27:00.001-08:00

February 23, 2010

Coalesce
\’ko-e-‘les\ v 1: to grow together 2a: to unite in a whole : fuse b: to unite for a common end : join forces 3: to arise from the combination of distinct elements*

Recently, I saw the acclaimed Avatar. I must say James Cameron is still capable of wowing his audiences thirteen years later, still keeping us riveted and glued to our seats. The movie was very well done (a little confusing in the beginning) and the main character quickly becomes our hero (and every woman’s fantasy). We were enabled to not only view the film but appreciate it for the masterpiece that it is.
The specific reason I loved the film was due to the many innuendos that were sprinkled throughout the story. I appreciated the harsh yet somewhat accurate demonstration of some members of the Armed Forces. I was grateful that the bond between man and nature was represented as something that may be lost presently but which can always be found if sought enough.
The love story for me was the best part because it showed that two people from completely different worlds could make a life together and work at being happy. The two main characters were able to put aside their differences to make a life for themselves despite the hate and ignorance they frequently encountered. It also symbolized that one day, perhaps relationships could be born of what really matters instead of superficial aspects.
This film coalesced very nicely; the characters were entwined with each other, which allowed the audience to be able to relate to them and see them as members of society that is more often than not opposed to change.

* letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

POINT MAN

2010-02-23T21:07:00.001-08:00

February 22, 2010

Point Man
\’point-‘man\ 1: a soldier who goes ahead of a patrol 2: one who is in the forefront; especially : a principal spokesman or advocate

Parkinson’s is a debilitating disease that afflicts approximately between 50,000-1,000,000 people (www.parkinsoninfo.org). It is a disorder that affects the neurosystem, causing difficulty moving and functioning on a day-to-day basis. The financial facet of living with Parkinson’s is immense and takes a toll on not only the individual faced with battling it but their families as well.
There are many people (ranging from celebrities to ordinary members of society) who are fighting to establish heightened awareness and who are working tirelessly to fund research to find a cure. However, there is such one person who has really delved into the efforts, based on his personal fight: Michael J. Fox. Whether you loved Fox as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, Michael Flaherty on Spin City or the young boy in Back to the Future, it was always Michael’s ability to make his audience laugh and relate to his character.
When Fox went public with news that he was battling Parkinson’s Disease in 1991, the nation rallied around him and within the next nineteen years, Fox would continue to not only fight his personal nemesis, but to act as the point man; raising awareness through education, a public appeal to Congress and his own struggle. Michael J. Fox launched his own foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation which has raised almost 176 million dollars in research since its inception in 2000.
Michael J. Fox has been an amazing example and testament to hard work to achieve one’s goals, educate others and to keep believing.

To learn more about Parkinson’s Disease, go to www.parkinsonsinfo.org . To make a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, go to www.michaeljfox.org.

IMPERTURBABLE

2010-02-21T20:14:00.001-08:00

February 21, 2010

Imperturbable
\’im-per-‘ter-be-bel\ adj : marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness : serene*

Serving on an executive board of an organization had its ups and downs. I, along with my fellow e-board members, were able to enlighten our peers about race relations, provide laughs, deep conversations and lasting connections. I met with administration almost daily and more often than not, walked out of our meetings with a headache.
I am a very vocal person and when an event’s location was changed because of a shortage of outlets on the main quad or a speaker was hindered in his/her presentation due to a fear of disrupting the antiseptic universe the higher-ups had created, I made it known that I was upset, (usually in the office with the door shut and the blind drawn).
My president though, she was often imperturbable; affected by the usual unfortunate turn of events yet ready to weather the storm with a calm demeanor and determined attitude. We often butted heads and sometimes didn’t understand each other however that is one thing I will always admire about her, she was able to light a fire under someone by using her own powerful flame instead of extinguishing all possibility by getting hot under the collar. It was only when we were home, after a long day’s work trying to make a difference, that she let herself feel; all the while rebuilding her strength for the next day’s journey.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

SOIREE

2010-02-21T19:57:00.001-08:00

February 20, 2010

Soiree
\swä-‘ra\ n : a party or reception held in the evening

She looks at herself in the mirror and smiles. She knows she is attractive in general but on this night, she is really impressed by her fierce sense of style. The sleek black pantsuit fits her like it was made for her, the Mandarin collar accentuating her long neck that hosts a beautiful tear-drop pearl necklace. As she slips her feet in to her beaded, Parisian-style flats, she slides one more pin into her hair to make sure it will stay in place. She grabs her purse and heads out the door; determined to turn heads.
Tonight is her night; she will stand out and make her presence known. It has been too long since she has attended a soiree of this prestige; highly esteemed members of the upper echelon of society will be in attendance. She looks great, she feels even greater and she knows that by the end of the night, she will have made it hers.

LACHRYMOSE

2010-02-21T19:45:00.001-08:00

February 19, 2010

Lachrymose
\’la-kre-‘mos\ adj 1: given to tears or weeping : tearful 2: tending to cause tears : mournful*

I’m sitting in front of the T.V. and my favorite Kay commercial comes on (for those of you who know me, you will know which one I am referring to; for those of you who don’t, you’ll know as soon as you see the commercial, because it’s just brilliant, unless you don’t appreciate true corniness that is) and I melt. I don’t really consider myself an emotional person, (the occasional unfair circumstance or sappy rom com aside); however there is one period of time during my life that I am a bucket of tears teetering on the brink of major spillage; that time that us women know and love….
When it is that time, I am an emotional mess. I hear a soft melody with harmonious tunes and I tear up, I see a mother reading her youngest daughter a story at work and I tear up, I watch Wedding Central; yup that’s right, I tear up. I think it’s safe to say that my tear ducts are being more than properly utilized. All the lachrymose activity results in irritation at being so damn sentimental which results in more crying; I tell you it’s a vicious cycle!
I have one warning to all men, when a woman is crying for no damn reason, it’s either because she is insane or going through what you are lucky enough to not have to experience; however this one woman’s emotional roller coaster could be a combination of both; by the way, straight jackets might make it worse.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

NOCEBO

2010-02-19T11:52:00.001-08:00

February 18, 2010

Nocebo
\’no-‘se-bo\ n : a harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient.

I am (according to many) a hypochondriac. I get one little ache or pain and I am immediately sitting in that waiting room (right along with the patients who have whopping cough or blood coming out of a specific orifice) ready to be told that I needn’t have worried; it’s nothing. Most often than not, I tend to rely on my friend reverse-psychology – I tell myself it’s nothing, it usually turns out to be serious and vice versa. There was only one time when I thought a nocebo given to me for my asthma was making me jittery based on my nervous mindset that this was my first asthma attack. Needless to say, the nurse came in a few minutes later, took one look at my ashen face and then decided to inform me that the medicine in the nebulizer tended to make patients jumpy. I knew it wasn’t solely the “psychological condition of the patient.” I had just simply been uninformed…

HOARY

2010-02-19T11:34:00.001-08:00

February 17, 2010

Hoary
\’hor-e\ adj 1: gray or white with or as if with age 2: extremely old : ancient

Throughout my life, I have been witness to many museums. They have turned out to be the bane of my existence. I don’t know whether it be the ultimate quiet (I’ve always fancied myself a talker) or the inability to stand at a particular exhibit and/or picture and try to “find its meaning” that really irks me. I appreciate history, art and anything else that needs to be preserved in a glass case, yet going to a museum on a Sunday afternoon is not one of my favorite pastimes (ok, maybe if its free…).
Perhaps another reason as to why my love for museums and all things included is nonexistent is my failure (and I’ve always been good with words) to pronounce or understand the scientific names of said skeletons found in some random archaeological dig. I’m half Italian; that being said, any words with too many consonants is not exactly going to find its way into my vocabulary very easily. It is ironic how these ancient and revered artifacts can be described by the word hoary; a word that is itself so simple; the complete antithesis of what the convoluted explanation says on the plaque in front of the exhibit.

PUTATIVE

2010-02-19T06:03:00.001-08:00

February 16, 2010

Putative
\’pyü-te-tiv\ adj 1: commonly accepted or supposed 2: assumed to exist or to have existed*

Many people have called me idealistic (and realistic, and pessimistic never optimisitic..hmm…). I often employ, (what could be considered) a “too good to be true” mentality to the way I live my life; treat others with respect and they will surely respect you, always act professional and you will get the result you desire, fight to the death for what you believe in and the situation you thought was impossible will remedy itself. Perhaps I do live in a dreamlike state but then again why can’t a girl dream?
I also try to act the way I want to raise my children one day; when dealing with one such evil employer (and yes she was evil), I thought to myself, I need to persevere because when it comes time to share this story with my kids, I want them to know you always stand up for your morals and values even if sometimes the result is not what you desire. It is sad for me to think that what should be accepted as the right way to conduct oneself in society is often looked at as being idealistic and what is occurring (how young people speak to their elders, how violence is substituted for civil disobedience, how disrespect is implemented subconsciously through example), is nothing if not putative. I want my children to exhibit a clear sense of right and wrong and to one day exhibit maturity by realizing that they want the same for future generations.

* letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

LOCOFOCO

2010-02-19T05:44:00.000-08:00

February 15, 2010

Locofoco
\’lo-ke-‘fo-ko\ n 1: a member of a radical group of New York Democrats organized in 1835. 2: a member of the Democratic party of the United States*

“Social Studies” (as it was called in grammar school) was never really my strong suit. I did well when I applied myself yet found that the amount of memorization was too overwhelming for my brain, it was just like science, way too much remembering was required
From what I do remember and what is commonly displayed throughout present political occurrences, a rivalry has always existed between the two parties. Many Republicans have more often than not been stereotyped as staunch right-wing individuals who do not typify the liberal label; most Democrats on the other hand are advocates of topics that are what I like to call “eye-brow raisers.” (It is important to note that not all members of either of these parties agree with all policies or stereotypical beliefs). It is safe to say that Republicans and Democrats do not often see eye to eye.
A subject that I did do particularly well in was Spanish and was taught that the word “loco” meant crazy. So imagine my surprise when I noticed that Democrats in the mid 19th century were labeled as locofocos. Thinking it was somehow related to the Spanish meaning, I chuckled and thought if I were a Republican, this would definitely be appropriate.
However, I was wrong. According to Page-A-Day Calender by Workman Publishing, the word locofoco is derived by two Latin words that are joined: loco (which can be interpreted as meaning self-propelled but which actually means place) and fuoco, which means fire in Italian. In 1835, a few Democrats had learned of a scheme by their foes to hinder their meeting by extinguishing the gas lights. As soon as the plan was brought to fruition, the locofocos struck the matches therefore ruining their rival’s plan of sabotage.
After reading this, I chuckled and thought to myself, if I were a Republican, would I have thought of that?

*letter “e” is upside down and creates sound of “uh”

BELIE

2010-02-15T11:18:00.001-08:00

February 14, 2010

\bi-‘li\ v 1a: to give a false impression of b: to present an appearance not in agreement with 2: to show (something) to be wrong : contradict 3: to disguise

Halloween was never my favorite holiday. As a kid, I loved (yea you probably guessed it), Christmas! I wasn’t a demanding child, but I loved getting new toys and gadgets every year. However, even though Halloween wasn’t up there on my list, I do remember most of my costumes, made by my gifted mother.
I had been your average cat and witch and was getting tired of those mundane costumes. The previous year I had been possessed by Raggedy Anne; that costume taking my mother forever to make (I will never forget her stitching red yarn to the top part of her pantyhose to make a wig). It was a big hit and I did not know I was going to top it off. My mother came up with the idea of a hobo, or bag man. At first, I wasn’t too thrilled at being a man for Halloween, but then slowly, the idea started to appeal to me and I wound up being dressed in a trench coat, hair stuck under one of my dad’s caps with dark make-up on my face, acting as dirt, carrying three bags. I thought it was brilliant and really hoped that I would be truly belied underneath this carefully constructed disguise. Not five minutes into the party I heard, “Hey Katie!” Ahh well, you win some, you lose some.

HASTILUDE

2010-02-15T11:02:00.001-08:00

February 13, 2010

Hastilude
\’ha-ste-‘lüd\ n : a medieval joust : spear play*

Being to England many times, my family and I had been privy to many things royal. We had explored various castles, being able to really implant ourselves in the environment in which kings and queens had lived and ruled. From Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace, we were able to get a true sense of the lives of the highly esteemed leaders of this great British nation.
Another great facet of English culture is a hastilude. These jousting competitions are purely fun and can get a crowd riled up and raucous, cheering for their favorite team. One trip to England, my parents thought it would be a great idea to go to a medieval jousting event. I was young and brought a sense of innocence to the day; being alarmed at two individuals trying to poke each other off a horse with a long pole. My father explained it was all make believe and I relaxed a little.
The event was great and I had aligned myself with the blue team and was thrilled when they won. I was hyped from the electric energy of the crowd and begged my mom for a Haagen Dasz ice cream bar – yum! She agreed (it was a really good day all around!) and so off we went to the ice cream truck to purchase my tasty treat. As I bit into the bar, I noticed a blue wire embedded in my ice cream and immediately resulted to action. I threw the ice cream bar across the field and started to cry perhaps because I didn’t get my dessert after all and not because my innocence had been tarnished by a crude act. Nothing my dad could say then could reinstate the fun memories of the event we had just witnessed nor soothe my anger at being jipped a scrumptious ice cream bar…isn’t it interesting how kids can put things in perspective?

*letter “e” is upside down and creates sound of “uh”

WATERSHED

2010-02-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

February 12, 2010

Watershed
\’wo-ter-‘shed\ n 1a: a dividing ridge between drainage areas b: a region or area drained by a particular body of water 2: a turning point*

It was getting overwhelming. They wanted to meet, but hadn’t yet, creating marks on the surface that were noticeable to others and that couldn’t be erased without force. They weren’t big fans of getting cleaned up nicely so that their appearance was note-worthy, they had spent their whole lives going against the flow and that worked really well, why change it now? I personally was getting frustrated. I wanted to do something about their awkward relationship, needing to remove myself from their destructive behavior as their actions reflected on me. It wasn’t until sophomore year of college that I knew I needed to do it; I had known it all along but was too afraid of the pain that would ensue. I looked in the mirror and the watershed had come so I did it: I plucked my eyebrows.

* second “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

COMPUNCTIOUS

2010-02-15T10:10:00.000-08:00

February 11, 2010

Compunctious
\kem-‘penk-shes\ adj 1: arising from remorse or regret 2: feeling remorse or regret*

Sally was not one of those people who was mean-spirited. She often characterized herself as being a giving and altruistic person; constantly making sure others were comfortable or helped instead of herself. Sally loved serving the community and usually could be found raking leaves in a nearby park on a Saturday afternoon or dishing up hot soup to homeless men and women in the soup kitchen a couple of blocks from her house. She had a steady boyfriend – Mike – and they were inseparable, until one evening when Sally was on her way home from work.
As Sally drove down her street she passed Mike’s apartment and was about to pull into his driveway as she noticed a car that belonged to their mutual coworker, Mary. Sally could not understand why Mary was in her neighborhood so late when she had been off that day and when she lived twenty minutes away. Deep down in her heart, Sally knew what had happened (or what was happening rather) and decided instead of engaging in an awkward confrontation tonight, she would go home, get some sleep and come up with a plan to ruin Mike’s life forever. (Oh, and Mary’s too).
The next day at work, Sally put her best face on and marched into work wearing a huge smile. It was not until a few hours later when Mary and Mike arrived, that Sally could not fake her happiness anymore. She locked herself into the employee’s bathroom and cried for an hour.
After her mini-breakdown, Sally ran into Alex, her coworker in the office. She suddenly realized to herself, what better way to ruin Mary and Mike’s reputation than gossip? She rushed up to Alex and mentioned she had something juicy to tell her. Alex raised her eyebrow (obviously interested) and the two of them returned to the employee bathroom to chat.
A couple of hours later, Mike came up to Sally. Sally immediately tried to grasp Mike’s hand and pretend like she had never seen Mary’s car in his driveway. Mike quickly dropped his hand and glared at her. Sally feigned surprise (really well) and was flabbergasted by his outburst. Mike ultimately accused her of spreading vicious lies about him and Mary and how she should have kept her big mouth shut. Mike stalked off after his tirade and left Sally standing behind the check-in counter dazed and confused.
Days later, instead of feeling happy that she had successfully carried out her plan, Sally felt compunctious and decided she should try to remedy the situation. She walked over to Mike’s apartment and after several sharp raps on the door, Mike was standing in front of her and before she was able to stop herself, she admitted the whole thing was intended to hurt him and Mary because she herself had been hurt by their actions. Mike listened genuinely and also apologized for verbally berating Sally the previous day. They shook hands and returned to their lives, never to see or speak to each other again.

*letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

ASTUTE

2010-02-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2010

Asttute
\e-‘stüt\ adj 1: having or showing shrewdness and perspicacity 2: crafty or wily*

I have always prided myself on having the capability to be a good judge of character, observing personalities and how different people interact with one another. I try not to judge others too quickly resulting in a wrong perception, but I let my instinct guide me in the choices I make when it comes to incorporating various relationships into my life. Even though I have this capability, I do not necessarily characterize myself as being an astute person, sometime lacking political aptitude or even mental sharpness. I do possess common sense yet am often distracted about the many things in my life that if not present, would allow me to focus on those facets that perhaps needed more attention.
While in college, I had the pleasure to meet and get to know several individuals who definitely had the skill of being focused in all areas of their lives, both personal and professional. From leading large organizations and giving mind-altering speeches, to engaging in political debates and being voted to become the newest member of a board, these people utilized their talent to make the most of tough situations, to win said debate or to get their peers and followers to notice that in order to effectively move others to action, one must be dedicated to educating oneself through experience first.

* letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

HORS DE COMBAT

2010-02-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

February 9, 2010

Hors de combat
\’or-de-kon-‘bä\ adj or adv : out of combat : disabled*

It is ironic that my Page-A-Day Calendar by Workman Publishing should mention a car in the “Did You Know” Section for this particular word. I have definitely felt stranded and desolate without my reliant mode of transportation for the past week, but alas, it is not about me, but my beloved Acura.
It was a couple days before Christmas and I was on my way up to my parents’ house in the Poconos. It is a very long drive on a day when one’s car is operating impeccably, so this day, when my car started to emit troublesome rumbling noises, I just relied on prayer to get me to my destination safely. For the next week, amid the holiday cheer and celebration, my car was not the top priority. Perhaps it should have been.
Each week, the noise steadily grew worse and I knew that I could put it off no longer and that it was time to bring my car to the shop; every time this thought materialized however, it was followed by the ever famous talent of procrastination and the car never made it up the street to the mechanic’s.
A few weeks ago however, things came to a screeching halt – literally. I was asked to work in Stamford and during the drive my car was anything but quiet, the noises being nothing out of the ordinary. It was not until my drive home that my brakes completely failed and I had to resort to driving at 10 miles an hour with my hazards on; I felt like my father when he’s about to make a left turn! I knew it was time to get the car to the shop, grappling with the fact that not only would this mean that the car would be hors de combat but that my life would be as well.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

SPINOUS

2010-02-10T20:43:00.001-08:00

February 8, 2010

Spinous
\’spi-nes\ adj 1a: having spines, prickles, or thorns b: slender and pointed like a spine 2:difficult or unpleasant to handle or meet : thorny*

As I’m sure all little girls are at one point in their lives, I was a ballerina. Some girls go on to study this beautiful art form for most of their lives, going on to graduate from a conservatory, teach or become prima ballerinas. I on the other hand did not make it my life’s passion, however it was an activity that I enjoyed and took great pride in the fact that I could do step ball change when no one else could.
For the past year, I have come to find myself in the company of many dancers, working at a dance studio doing administrative work. While there are a myriad of genres of dance that take place at this studio, it is the ballet students who really capture my attention with their fluid grace and their beautiful posture. They definitely make ballet look like effortless motions when in fact it is a strict atmosphere that demands concentration and commitment.
I do not always understand dance language or the stringent schedules dancers have to abide by. I do not always understand (but do respect and appreciate) the hard work and dedication it takes to perfect this elegant passion. I find myself often comparing my current environment to scenes from the famous movie “Center Stage,” wondering if those things really do happen. I often find myself behind a veil of ignorance yet know that when I eventually see the spinous foot of a ballerina with an arch that is unbelievable, I temporarily forget my ignorance, enraptured by the sheer beauty of what is unfolding before me.

*letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

CRWTH

2010-02-07T19:53:00.001-08:00

February 7, 2010

Crwth
\’krüth\ n : an ancient Celtic stringed instrument that is plucked or bowed

The great thing about traveling is getting to absorb all the different aspects of diverse cultures; the warm personalities and delectable food of Italy, the rich history and pride of Prague, the laid-back attitude of the Caribbean, the age and influence of England. These countries are only a few of a great many nations willing to share their customs with anyone who is willing to embrace them.
The great thing about taking on this exercise about writing a piece a day based on a word, is that I am privy to learn and acquire a wealth of information that is useful if not in my daily job search than in day-to-day conversation. The phrase, “ you learn something new every day,” is definitely utilized when taking on this verbal adventure and while also visiting a new environment.
The word crwth, (however difficult to pronounce) is indigenous to Wales and can also mean a “swelling or bulging body.” It is humorous to me that a word that given its appearance would best be used to describe the latter, can also refer to an instrument, a conduit through which beautiful sounds can be made. I hope to make it to Wales one day, to hear the sounds of this instrument about which I am presently writing in its native homeland.

CRWTH

2010-02-07T19:53:00.000-08:00

SUBSTANTIVE

2010-02-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

February 6, 2010

Substantive
\’seb-sten-tiv\adj : having substance : involving matters of major or practical importance to all concerned*

When I am reading a good book, I get lost in it. I delve into the plot like an Olympic diver, I become friends (or foes) with each character, enjoying the detail that enables me to get to know them on a personal level. I love page-turners as well as pieces that make me ponder. My tastes have changed over the years; being a devoted fan of anything thriller; James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark, Lisa Jackson, just to name a few. Now I find that I love books that are represented by the content as well as a famous name, books that are truly substantive.
My favorite author, without a doubt is Isabel Allende. I was privileged to get an inside look at her talent during college when I was required to read Daughter of Fortune. I instantly fell in love with her writing style and knew that the foundation and material within the novel was born from a woman who had so much to give and share with her audience. Her books are moving; characters speaking to her readers through their actions and sometimes-heartrending decisions. Allende’s books have a core that is more than finding a killer or trying to find the secret to life’s success, her books are a clear embodiment of stories yearning to be shared, to not only make an impression on the individual reading it but to motivate him or her to be an individual of substance.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

JAPE

2010-02-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

February 5, 2010

Jape
\’jap\ v : 1: to say or do something jokingly or mockingly 2: to make mocking fun of

Nicknames can be great tools to wield affection. I have many for my friends, some of them have a story, some of them don’t, but each of them sticking and being used interchangeably; all except one. Goody Gillman.
It was junior year in high school and we were making our way to English class. Ordinarily, I loved English and that class in particular as we finally had a teacher who was invested in her students, yet this year was hard as the Regents was looming on the horizon waiting to ruin our lives and brains forever. (ok, I know I tend to get dramatic sometimes). I digress; my good friend and I were climbing the stairs and chatting away about the latest books we had read, mine being a thriller by Mary Higgins Clark, hers being the newest installment in the vampire LeStadt series. We entered the classroom and continued our riveting tales of child kidnappers and sucking one’s blood just for pure joy when our teacher cleared her throat and began class. We were to pick up where we left off in The Crucible (yes ladies, swooning over Daniel Day-Lewis is now allowed).
Ms. V. had just assigned roles to a few of us in the class; learning is always more fun when it’s interactive. We made our way through the introduction of the characters and as we came to the women, we noticed that each was addressed as Goody so and so. We all thought that was so weird and were chuckling among ourselves when, to quiet us down, Ms. V. presumed to point to my friend sitting in the front seat and say “It’s as if I were to call you Goody Gillman.” Well I found that so funny, I started to laugh and for the rest of the day, I japed her (in good fun of course). Goody Gillman, do you know the rest of the dance for rehearsal, Goody Gillman, are you buying lunch today, Goody Gillman do you want a ride home? Goody Gillman- until she smacked me.
All I have to say is, when my friend gets married and my affectionate verbiage is retired, it will make me tear, however she will always be Goody Gillman to me.

OLIGOPSONY

2010-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

February 4, 2010

Oligopsony
\’ä-le-‘gäp-se-ne\ n : a market situation in which each of a few buyers exerts a disproportionate influence on the market*

I was never well-versed in economics; being required to take it in high school and having that with political science as my only two options in college was highly depressing and frustrating because I warmed to neither one, picking “poli sci,” just because it was the lesser of the two evils, however even I know that this economy is a very tricky place to earn a living to support one’s family or even to provide sole financial support.
One of the few pieces of information I learned while in economics class (when I was actually paying attention), was what a monopoly was and what it entailed, it being the sales of a product being solely controlled by one company. This piece of information took me a while to process and even now, it sometimes throws me for a loop, so imagine my surprise and dismay of course, when I saw what the word was for today. An oligopsony is slightly different and provides more leeway as to the price of the product and the buyer’s market. Let’s just say economics still isn’t my strong suit and it often causes much hesitation when conversations center around the economy. Maybe it’s the familiar sound of each word that confuses me or maybe it’s just the sheer denial of the true state of whatever “opoly,” “opsony,” or economic catastrophe we encounter next.

First and third letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

EARWIG

2010-02-06T20:17:00.001-08:00

February 3 2010

Earwig
\’ir-‘wig\ v : to annoy or attempt to influence by private talk

I have never believed that kids are bad; just socially and environmentally conditioned. I regard this as a very mature attitude to adopt considering my history with my peers. Children, especially now are led to believe that it is ok to treat one another horribly, the reason often varying and more often never valid. There are always followers, but more importantly, there are a healthy dose of leaders, those young minds ready to be negatively influential and to earwig about anyone or anything that crosses their path displeasingly.
These kids may all have stories, some of which are too unfathomable; their ability to put others down is clearly a way to achieve a sense of self-worth and a high self-esteem. Whispers in the classroom before the teacher arrives, in the locker room as they dress for gym, in the bathroom when they think she can’t hear them and in the cafeteria on the dreaded lunch line, these are all places where the vicious rumors live and breed and where the power of ear wigging is handed down generation to generation.
She walks out of class and behind her she hears, “Wow, she really knew how to solve that math problem, that’s so cool…” If only that dream could be real.

IMPORTUNE

2010-02-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2010

Importune
\’im-per-‘tun\ v : to urge or beg with troublesome persistence*

I love films and I love to analyze them even more. I am an avid fan of the famous genre of “rom coms,” (romantic comedies for those who are not as familiar with film lingo), and how the simplest gesture or wittiest, flirtatious line can make those inevitable butterflies surface. I love the sappy music or the fact that almost every conflict becomes resolved. I am a hopeless romantic, but don’t tell anyone.
Despite the idealistic nature of some of my favorite movies, there are some elements of this so called fantasy that may occur in that thing we like to call “real life,” and when it does, it is even more irritating than when it unfolds on the big screen.
We have many different scenarios that come about in movies surrounding the theme of love that almost always includes an individual importuning another. Whether it be trying to right a wrong by incessantly calling the other partner in the relationship even when said partner has made it clear he/she does not want to discuss matters further as in When Harry Met Sally, trying to convince your wise relationship sage friend he’s into you when he so clearly isn’t as in He’s Just Not That Into You, or practically stalking your next door neighbor just because he saved your cat as in The Ugly Truth, begging for something that is obviously never going to happen is a waste of time that could be spent struggling to preserve ideals, eradicating warped societal standards and establishing a sound moral code not just for dating but for functioning as members of the world at large.

*letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

Theme of belonging main thread in Mary Ann Shaffer’s and Annie Barrows’ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2010-02-05T22:56:00.000-08:00

Theme of belonging main thread in Mary Ann Shaffer’s and Annie Barrows’ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I have to admit when I was first given The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I was a little skeptical; what an odd name to give a book. It was not until I was half way through that I realized this book was a treasure written by two women who really had a knack for storytelling. The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover,” really came into effect with this novel.
Shaffer and Barrows introduce us to Juliet Ashton, an accomplished writer who is trying to get her life back together immediately following World War II. Juliet can perhaps be described as being a witty author with a fiery personality that sometimes lands her in trouble; throwing a teapot at an obnoxious reporter being one such instance. However through the book, Juliet reveals herself as an individual who is in touch with all aspects of her character.
As the story unravels and we are allowed into Juliet’s life little by little, we see that even though she is a very composed and strong-willed woman, her life, just like many others, has been upended by the war; her home being demolished from a bomb. As she is attempting to put the fragile pieces of her life back together, she meets a man with whom she thinks she is in love, Markham V. Reynolds. The readers are just as smitten with him as our protagonist is and are jealous when Juliet is asked to marry him. However, we soon come to realize that Reynolds does not have a vested interest in Juliet and the infatuation thrust upon this arrogant character fades.
Through Juliet’s writing, she has touched many people and made an indelible impression among them, one person in particular. Dawsey Adams, a man who read a book that once belonged to Juliet writes a letter to her explaining how he knows of her and that he has an affinity for Charles Lamb, a famous author. Juliet and
Dawsey begin a friendship via letters and he ultimately explains the birth of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and the significance it had in each of their lives during the German Occupation. The organization came into existence one night while the group were stopped by German soldiers because they were out after curfew and Elizabeth McKenna mentioned they were members of the esteemed Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; they were reading many good books and would they [the soldiers] like to join them? Many characters are introduced to the audience including the eccentric and lovable Isola Pribby, the loving grandfather Eben and his young grandson, Eli, the matriarchal character, Amelia Maugery and through others’ testimonies, Elizabeth McKenna, perhaps the novel’s true heroine.
For this author, one specific theme stands out above the rest. Throughout the entire novel, the matter of belonging is present. Juliet tries to reestablish her life after her home is destroyed and her country is left in shambles, each member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society have a story to tell and they feel connected with Juliet; their story finally being set free; their place in a horrible time in history shared with an individual whom they may not know well yet who makes them feel like they are wanted, like they are home. Each character, displaced by war’s tragedies have found themselves on a journey; one that is able to enrich their lives by bringing an unlikely group of people together through the most effective conduit: the written word.

KOINE

2010-02-02T20:55:00.001-08:00

February 1, 2010

Koine
\koi-‘na\ n : a language of a region that has become the common or standard language of a larger area.

When someone says “I’ve koined that phrase from you,” it is implied that said phrase is now theirs to use and that, hopefully, proper credit will be attributed to founder of phrase. Koine literally means a language that has been adopted by a larger area, has taken on a life of its own and that which is being widely used by the majority of the population.
It is interesting to learn that, according to Page-a-Day Calendar by Workman Publishing, Koine was an actual language in the “eastern Mediterranean countries…until the reign of Justinian I.” Weeding out the easier grammatical components of the language and eradicating the more easily unrecognizable, a koine becomes a very useful tool in allowing members of larger communities to implement but more importantly maintain an often indigenous form of communication.

PROGNOSTICATE

2010-02-02T20:43:00.001-08:00

January 31, 2010

Prognosticate
\präg-‘nä-ste-‘kat\ v 1: to predict 2: to give an indication of in advance : presage*

While scary movies are the bane of my best friend’s existence, I truly love to scare myself. I know that sounds a little odd, but it is true; I love not knowing what is lurking ominously behind a cellar door or whom the real killer is. I love coming out of a thriller knowing that none of what I had just seen was real or had hopes of being brought to fruition. I hate movies that disable me from fully reaping the true benefit of being scared witless as I am watching them; the ability to prognosticate replacing fear and suspense.
The best and most frightening horror film I have viewed was AmityVille Horror. While seven of my childhood friends and I sat in one of their living rooms, watching the terror unfold before us while I bit my nails down to the quick, the main character attempted to make his way down to the cellar to find the cause of the disruption in his house. We all knew what was about to happen, however none of us wanted to face the facts that our worst fears just might come true: the film would end with a fade out and we would go back to our mundane lives that were more easily predicted than the thriller that was taking place on the 32 inch plasma screen T.V.

*letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

LAUDABLE

2010-02-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2010

Laudable
\’lo-de-bel\ adj: worthy of praise : commendable*

I believe that courage is present every day in big and small acts of kindness and valor. When individuals perform selfless acts, it is a clear representation of his or her character; how he or she were raised and how they incorporate his or her giving personality into his or her everyday lives.
I also affirm that not only does courage reveal itself in acts that are big but can be witnessed through situations that demand respect and enables that individual to stand up for what she or he strongly believes in; initiating meetings with the infamous “higher-ups” to make sure the job is being done right, fighting to re-establish a lost principle, giving up something that is a part of his or her life to keep one’s ideals close to his or her heart. All these examples are clear, laudable efforts to try and implement proper ways to treat people and to handle situations. I applaud people who go against the flow in a positive way and who want to make their stamp on the world the best way they know how: helpful and living their lives in God’s image.

* letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

VIDELICET

2010-02-02T07:13:00.001-08:00

January 29, 2010

Videlicet
\ve-‘de-le-‘set\ adv : that is to say : namely*

I hate cooking. Within the past year, I have had to cook my meals myself and even though I am proud of my yearning to be self-sufficient, the satisfaction of creating an edible masterpiece has still not engulfed me despite how delectable the meal is (and believe me, that is not often). I think where my problem lays is in prepping the necessary ingredients, time management and patience to make sure the food is properly cooked, (ok, so I have a problem with the whole process). I remember in one episode of Dawson’s Creek, Dawson said about his father that he loved movies in the purest sense, to watch them. That analogy suits my obsession with food perfectly; I hate producing meals, I just love eating them!
My mother was kind enough to make a recipe book for me to ensure my ability to feed myself successfully. I opened that little spiral notebook and the all the different ingredients overwhelmed me, videlicet the complicated ones, spices whose names I still cannot pronounce. I was told that to experiment was ok and even encouraged so as to be a little more flexible with each dish I manifested. So, I took my mom and aunt’s advice and decided to “have fun with it”! Let’s just say, some were enjoyable, some were not. I relegated myself to my little trusty recipe book once again and instead of having a burned dish whose components I didn’t recognize, I dulled my knife cutting chicken, charred but familiar!

* first and third letter “e” are upside down creating sound of “uh.”

DEMESNE

2010-01-29T07:32:00.001-08:00

January 28, 2010

Demesne
\di-‘man\ n 1: legal possession of land as one’s own 2a: the land attached to a mansion b: estate c: region or territory 3: realm or domain

A video game is a form of entertainment within which there are many demesnes. Get a certain amount of coins or fight the appropriate number of villains, you are set to continue to the next realm not certain of what awaits you. Life is akin to video games in a sense, we progress to each new stage in our lives waiting to see what life brings us and what strategies we can use to overcome hard courses while trying to reach the inevitable reward, whether it be money, love, friendship or materialistic items.
However, while video games are a pretty good metaphor for life’s games, there are many facets that are conveniently excluded such as magical powers (despite what some people may say), three lives, or the ever-popular pause button! Life has many various domains as well but each of those is definitely harder to survive than a video game where you get an award ceremony for completing each level successfully. The majority of the time, we are required to finish without much appreciation or recognition, the ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel slightly diminished. However, have hope because the next level will teach us new things that will continue to prepare us for the one ahead.

ONEROUS

2010-01-29T07:31:00.001-08:00

January 27, 2010

Onerous
\’ä-ne-res\ adj: 1: involving, imposing, or constituting a burden : troublesome 2: having legal obligations that outweigh the advantages*

One of the most famous Disney movies is the story of Cinderella. A story about a young girl who is subject to her horrible stepmother’s behavior after her father passes away. Cinderella is treated akin to a slave, having to wash the floors, bring her stepmother tea every morning, be subservient to her unfortunate stepsisters and maintain the household from top to bottom. The most beloved attribute about this character however, is that she manages to do all these chores with a smile on her face; being accompanied by her friends, the mice and other animals. As we all know, Cinderella eventually meets her Prince Charming and lives, yup you guessed it, happily ever after.
Cinderella perhaps is not the best example of an individual who finds herself in an onerous situation, because despite her circumstances, she manages to get everything done with a smile on her face, knowing there is something better that awaits her. Perhaps even though dirty floors need mopping, and garbage needs to be taken out, things could be much more difficult and what would we have to look forward to if we didn’t have such a hard time overcoming the obstacles that are often thrown at us?

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

NOETIC

2010-01-26T20:38:00.000-08:00

January 26th 2010

Noetic
\no-‘etik\ adj : of, relating to, or based on the intellect

I admire people who purposely put themselves in situations that are foreign to them, surrounded by people who may know more than they do about current events, the latest fashion trends, or even (as my professor once called it), useless cocktail party trivia. While it can be nerve wracking to be in the company of said individuals, the feeling of empowering your mind to absorb the noetic atmosphere in which you find yourself is kind of liberating.
I have always had a hard time conversing with kids, not only because they more often than not exhaust my patience before I can get a sentence out, but also because I have difficulty relating to people who cannot hold a conversation on an adult level. Please don’t mischaracterize me as being judgemental and shallow; I just find intellectual diatribes more stimulating than constantly trying to figure out a way to answer the next question of “Why?” coming my way.
There is a scene in Dawson’s Creek, (for a teen soap, it has taught me a lot about life), when Joey brings Pacey to a cocktail party hosted by her future alma mater. Pacey is insecure with himself, therefore allowing to partake in the evening’s events wholeheartedly and without feeling like he cannot contribute anything worthwhile is almost impossible. The feeling of being around men and women who have obtained a more abundant amount of knowledge than you but more importantly are willing to share it is mind-blowing all on its own!

Tub-Thumper

2010-01-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

January 25, 2010

Tub-thumper
\’teb-‘them-per\ n : a vociferous supporter (as of a cause) *

If someone were to ask me what one of the most important attributes an individual could possess, my answer would be, without a doubt, passion. Passion is the gateway to fighting for any cause effectively; incorporating hard work, dedication, camaraderie and a feeling of satisfaction. Passion is perhaps the most crucial ingredient needed to successfully complete any community service event, lecture, plea for funding or a change of thought initiated by a simple conversation.
My passion has been lying dormant for a very long time and it is not until I start organizing another event to raise money for Haiti Relief Efforts, get the urge to write, or stand up for myself that it makes its presence known again. I am passionate about many things, all of them impacting my life positively. Whenever I complete a project that benefits the surrounding community, I welcome the overwhelming sensation of warmth that is the familiar sense of fervor associated with a good cause and know that despite how long my zeal may remain latent, when aroused, it is a clear indicator of the true tub-thumper I am.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

COLUBRINE

2010-01-24T18:21:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2010

Colubrine
\’käl-ye-‘brin\ adj 1: relating to a snake 2: relating to a large family (Colubridae) of chiefly nonvenomous snakes.*

Recently, I have developed what might be considered an unhealthy affinity for The Animal Planet. At the risk of sounding like my mother, I find it so fascinating. There is one show in particular that really strikes my fancy; I’m Alive. This show tells the stories of individuals who have been attacked by members of different wild habitats and who, against the odds, survive to tell the tail.
The majority of attacks are colubrine. One episode in particular told the story of an older man who worked with venomous snakes. While trying to shed a Taipan, one of the deadliest snakes in the world, he was bitten and soon was dizzy and out of breath. Watching this man’s downward spiral toward the afterworld was nervewracking, especially because the anti-venom that he needed was in San Diego and had to be flown out. Ok, no problem, you say? Think again. It was September 11th, 2001; no planes were allowed to fly.
After pulling some strings and getting him the anti-venom, the individual made a full recovery. Despite the harrowing stories of adventure and chance, The Animal Planet still makes me go a little wild!

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

NOCUOUS

2010-01-24T18:20:00.001-08:00

January 23, 2010

Nocuous
\’nä-kye-wes\ adj : harmful*

At my place of employment, there are many many children; so many that it almost seems as though they are crawling out of the woodwork, (that in itself is harmful to my sanity). In addition to these little angels, are their babysitters, au pairs, grandmothers, cousins, older siblings, anyone watching them besides their mother or father. It is interesting to watch these children react to their primary caretaker with love and affection and almost repulsively look at their parents when told to stop hiding under the clothing rack.
We know of a multitude of things in the world that are nocuous to our children; strangers, sharp objects, no education, negligence, unhealthy balance of human interaction because of heavy reliance on television and other sorted electronics. Yet we cannot as a society possibly believe that having our child practically raised by someone other than ourselves is innocuous, can we? To have an important and well established career is great and well deserved in most instances, but isn’t it just as crucial to make sure our families are stable units, with children who learn to respect any adult figure and who can grow up knowing they have solid roots with parents who took them to the bathroom instead of the nanny?

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

REVENANT

2010-01-24T18:18:00.000-08:00

January 22, 2010

Revenant
\’re-ve-‘nän\ n: one that returns after death or a long absence *

I remember a lot of things about my grandfather. I remember his white hair and the way it used to stand up wistfully as though it were just roused from a deep sleep. I remember his ability to completely lose himself with the races, or the way he used to call my grandmother “Mum” in a way that made you chuckle or want to yell for Nana Flo to answer him just so he’d stop repeating himself. I remember his love for the islands and how he yearned to write his history down for others to read. I fondly reminisce of the way he used to smile at me when I said something that awed him or the way he got frustrated when people were still over even though it was his bedtime.
Right after he passed, I often wanted him to be a revenant; sitting in the living room in Turtle Cove watching the races welcoming me as my wearied soul entered the house, accompanying his wife of what would have been 58 years to my college graduation, reading my latest piece or eventually sending me his.
However, perhaps when we lose someone we love, it’s not their literal presence we need, it is only a reminder in the simplest of places that everything will be irie.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

INFINITESIMAL

2010-01-24T18:17:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2010

Infinitesimal
\in-‘fi-ne-‘te-se-mel\ adj 1: taking on values arbitrarily close to but greater than zero 2: immeasurably or incalculably small.*

When a photograph is taken, not only is the image viewed as it was, but a story is told to the photographer and the various audiences to which it is inspected. The story that is shared with many different people is not at all representative of the infinitesimal size of each pixel that is responsible for the ultimate end result.
Whether it be wire angels blowing their horns in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree or a statue that fosters emotion while telling tales of adventure of a new people about to set foot in a new city, photographs do not signify the pixilation or perhaps even the amount of work it took to gain the picture. It just conveys a story with a myriad of varying interpretations for all who gaze upon it.

*letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

EXCLAVE

2010-01-20T20:48:00.001-08:00

January 20, 2010

Exclave
\’eks-‘klav\ n : a portion of a country separated from the main part and constituting an enclave in respect to the surrounding territory.

When taking math in college (the first time), my professor had what most of the class thought was a British accent and indeed it was. The students who thought she had an English accent on the other hand were wrong. She was in fact British because she had been born and raised in Jersey, an exclave of Great Britain. She educated us that England was in fact an island in the country of Great Britain and that Jersey was part of that great nation as well. Does the term, “you learn something new every day,” come to mind?

BIRD-DOG

2010-01-20T20:47:00.001-08:00

January 19th, 2010

Bird-dog
\’berd-‘dog\ v 1: to watch closely 2: to seek out : follow or detect *

As a child, one of my favorite movies of all time was Harriet the Spy. I loved the way she would just delve right into a “case,” make it her own and write her thoughts and feelings about it. I wanted to write like her, I wanted people to compliment me on my detective skills. I, in short wanted to be Harriet, (or Michelle Trachtenberg playing Harriet).
Next door lived a young man, he was probably my age now and he lived in the lower level apartment with his girlfriend while his mother, (the landlady) lived upstairs. I did not learn his name right away (this would remain until one night when an act occurred that my poor ears would never forget), but when I did, he had an entirely different persona, he became an actual person to me, incapable of not being followed.
I became a bird-dog, obsessed with following him with my eyes, hand scribbling furiously in my notebook. I never got too close, because I had seen and heard his nasty temper, specifically with his girlfriend and I knew I didn’t want him turning on me. My status was perfect as it was, incognito with a notebook and a pen, peering ever so inconspicuously through the hedges.

* letter “e” is upside down creating sound of “uh”

PERSPICUOUS

2010-01-20T20:46:00.001-08:00

January 18th, 2010

Perspicuous
\per-‘spi-kye-wes\ adj: plain to the understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation *

My fear in life (in addition to all things that crawl), is that I may not articulate myself properly when trying to get my thoughts conveyed to anyone who is polite enough to listen. I often find myself in awkward situations, my thoughts never seeming to be interpreted the way I imagined. Throughout my life, I have been in situations that have required me to perfect the art of public speaking, (much to my dismay), or entailed me relaying my feelings to the other individual who was partaking of our conversation. I also often find myself asking if what I am saying makes sense; “did that make sense, because sometimes I don’t think I am articulating myself properly?” Let’s just say I get mixed reactions from that question.
Once such experience that really enabled me to get over my fear of public speaking was my involvement with the Funding Board during my time at La Salle. While a part of The African American Student League, I served on this board, an organization that allotted student associations money for various programs and/or conferences. In addition to serving on the board, I had become quite familiar with appearing before them during my earlier years with AASL pleading our financial cases. As a member of The Funding Board, I perhaps exuded the most sympathy toward the nervous wrecks who timidly set foot into 301.
During the course of the year, I was witness to some horrible presentations. There were groups who didn’t even know their own name, let alone why they needed that extra $1,000.00 for a program which they swore would “benefit the La Salle community.” I was playing a dual role; trying to balance my duty as a Funding Board member and also as an organizational representative who had sat where they had many times. I knew that because I was partial to presentation and an advocate for words, the presentation must be well-formatted, with good intention and well dare I say it, articulate?
One afternoon, after hearing a myriad of horrible presentations, a girl and two young men entered the conference room. I had seen her around the Communication building, heard of her older brother’s reputation within our esteemed program, and knew that whatever she was going to say would be well-done. Their appearance in front of the board was nothing short of confident and extremely perspicuous. I knew as soon as she opened her mouth, she was going to get my vote, just for making me listen to them. As I headed to my afternoon class, (in which I had an oral presentation), I thought to myself, would it be considered plagiarism if I took a page out of her book?

*letter “e” is upside down, producing sound of “uh”

True Emotional Artwork in Amy Bloom’s Away

2010-01-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

True Emotional Artwork in Amy Bloom’s Away

Losing something often generates many different emotions; frustration at perhaps never finding it again, confusion as to what may have happened to it, sadness from the realization that it may never be recovered. Losing something, (depending on the size and magnitude of it) can make an individual’s life all the more difficult. However, losing someone is entirely different through various circumstances, from which some people never recover yet from which some people discover new attributes about themselves they never knew they possessed, perseverance, hope, strength and a renewed sense of faith crucial to understanding the situation in which they currently find themselves.
In Amy Bloom’s Away, the character, Lillian Leyb is on a major journey. At first it is clear to the reader that Lillian has made the voyage to New York City from Russia after the horrific massacre of her family and half her village. She is determined to start a new life in a city full of promise, with “streets paved with gold.” As Lillian makes her way to her cousin, Frieda’s apartment on the Lower East Side, she is taken aback by all the sights and sounds of this vast and magical city. As she arrives, there is a woman sitting on the stoop across the street rocking back and forth while sobbing. Looking at Frieda with a quizzical expression on her face, Lillian is told that Mrs. Lipkin has been evicted, the lesson being “you don’t pay, you don’t stay,” (Bloom 8). Living with her cousin and several other roommates, including Judith, a woman who is also boarding at Frieda’s and who is often annoyed with Lillian, especially when she is woken up in the middle of the night by Lillian’s screams due to her vivid nightmares.
As her new life progresses in the big city, Lillian soon becomes the new flavor of the week of one of the wealthiest, most famous actors in town, Meyer Burstein. The affair turns into a serious relationship until Lillian is soon finding herself being swept away from Meyer’s father, Rueben, becoming his willing mistress. Lillian is subject to a completely different lifestyle than the one she has known in Russia and even in her cousin Frieda’s apartment, in which she no longer lives. There are lavish parties, the infamous, sultry club where Lillian is often seen sitting between Rueben Burstein, Meyer and their family friend, Yaakov Shimmelman, (an older man, friend of Rueben who tried to kill himself after losing his wife and child) who becomes a mentor and dear friend of Lillian’s.
Lillian still grapples with the tremendous loss of her family, including her young daughter, Sophie, which is brought to life every night through her nightmares. However, when Lillian’s cousin, Raisele arrives with alarming news that Sophie may be alive, Lillian is filled with a new hope and is determined to find her child.
Lillian sets out on a journey north, determined to eventually reach Russia and find her long-lost daughter; to reclaim her as her own. Throughout her journey, new characters are introduced to Lillian and to the reader, making their own indelible impression on both. Gumdrop, a prostitute that Lillian meets in Seattle who teaches Lillian a life lesson of her own, Mary and Martha Hornsmith, two Christian women who Lillian meets on a steamship bound for Alaska, who share their faith with her even though they do not believe in the same one, Torbjorn Jensen and Oyvind, the father and son who help Lillian prepare for her arduous journey across the Yukon. These characters are presented to Lillian to sustain her, to encourage her even though they may not know her entire life story. They are her pillars of strength, hope and faith.
There are three primary characters in addition to Lillian that stand out to this author and whose relationships with Lillian are the epitome of friendship, kindness and love. Yaakov Shimmelman, the older man, the friend of Rueben Burstein, becomes a mentor to Lillian. He coaches her and prepares her for her journey, all the while being sad to see her go. Their relationship is one Lillian will carry with her through her entire journey.
Another character that definitely made an impression is that of Arthur Gilpin. Arthur is a man who has lost his wife and with that, all meaning of life. It is not until Lillian arrives, yearning to continue on her adventure, that Arthur regains his ability to love life once again. He becomes Lillian’s protector and gets her a job at the local prison; his reasoning being that the weather is too dangerous to make the trip, however it is clear that Arthur is also very lonely and this is his chance to finally have human interaction that possibly means something. Throughout her stay at the prison, Lillian is drawn to Arthur and they develop a kind and loving relationship that enables both of them to continue with their lives and their mission of finding happiness. As Lillian is finally getting ready to depart, Arthur’s new wife, Lorena, says to the conductor, “This is our daughter,” and as she waves goodbye to Lillian, she says, “You kiss little Sophie for us,” (Bloom 183). This is perhaps the most moving part in Bloom’s entire piece, illustrating that even though Lillian is searching for a member of her real family, she has established roots with a surrogate one.
The third individual in this novel that really strikes a chord with this author is John Bishop. Initially, he seems rough and abrasive, living in a shack all by himself, relegated to solitude due to a violent act he committed. John teaches Lillian not only love but the ability to rely on other people, as it is difficult for Lillian to do, traveling alone for such a long period of time. John and Lillian develop a romantic yet short-lived relationship however, their connection conveys the power of true love to the audience.
Just as the readers think that Lillian is going to come full circle once she arrives back in Russia, they are surprised by the twists and turns that Amy Bloom reveals to them and it is more than fitting that the title is what it is; a clear representation of a journey that will take Lillian toward a new life where opportunity is apparent through every window.

CONVIVIAL

2010-01-18T08:59:00.000-08:00

January 17th, 2010

Convivial
\ken-‘viv-yel\ adj : relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company. *

There are many times in a person’s life when the environment is electrified with its happiness and convivial celebration of festivities; graduation, gathering with family for the holidays, winning a championship game, or just a simple get-together of one’s closest friends. The best situation, however that clearly illustrates the word “convivial,” is a wedding, an atmosphere that creates a genuinely happy and congratulatory mood, one that definitely incorporates “feasting, drinking and good company.”
Weddings are usually a joyous occasion (unless and every family has one, Uncle Bob drinks too much and starts groping one of the bridesmaids), where family and friends can get together to celebrate in a convivial atmosphere, the union of two people they love. Guests delight in the delicious appetizers during cocktail hour and the interesting selection of chicken or fish for their entrée, with a glass of either white or red wine to accompany the appropriate meal. Dessert is often the most anticipated part of the evening, the cutting of the cake symbolic of the partnership that has been solidified and representative of all the couple can overcome together, until the groom roughly shoves cake in his bride’s face.

*letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”

WHELM

2010-01-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

January 16th, 2010

\’welm\ v *1: to cover or engulf completely with usually disastrous effect 2: to overwhelm 3: to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge it

During my many nights while watching television, alone, eating my “tv dinners”, I often see commercials for depression. This affliction affects many individuals, especially today, when certainty is definitely not guaranteed. The word, “whelm,” has many meanings that usually have a negative connotation. Depression can easily be described by all three definitions, however the one that really sticks out to this writer is “to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge it.”
Everyone suffers from depression in a different way, but it could be said that a common characteristic is to feel as though one is invisible; that they do not feel as though they are noticed, fading into the proverbial woodwork. It could be said that people with depression feel trapped. When an attack happens, it is like they are being buried alive, to lost in their feelings to be able to shout for help. Depression can manifest itself in various ways and if bad enough, can have catastrophic results. The families of people with depression can also feel despair and hopelessness; with each crucial tick of the clock, the person they love is getting more and more lost. The image that comes to mind when thinking about depression is getting taken under by a gigantic wave, the possibility for air being reduced minute by minute that eventually, the light is gone and all hope is gone.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, please go to www.spsfv.org or call Suicide Prevention Services at 1-630-482-9696.

FERVID

2010-01-15T21:28:00.001-08:00

January 15, 2010

Fervid
\’fer-ved\ adj 1: very hot : burning 2: marked by often extreme intensity of feeling *

If someone were to ask me what is one of my favorite things to do, the answer would be without a doubt, to give back, to serve. I have always been a rash thinker, getting excited quickly when realizing that ever-familiar feeling of a new idea making my brain pulsate. This fervid feeling really started and cemented itself in college when serving with The African American Student League; specifically after arranging a community service event or giving a speech that on a topic I was passionate about.
College ended, as all things do, yet my compulsion to help people stayed with me; I just couldn’t shake the feeling that to rally around a cause whether visiting patients at the Calcutta House, playing air hockey with kids at the Ronald McDonald House, or reading to little children at our school’s nursery school, the idea of community service was no longer just an idea, it was a need.
Recently, the poor nation of Haiti has suffered a tragic natural disaster that has rocked the island and left tens of thousands people dead and even more homeless and in desperate need of aid. When learning of this catastrophe, I knew that something had to be done; I was enveloped by this tremendous urge to help and to enable others to aid in the effort as well. According to Page-A-Day Calendar issued by Workman Publishing, fervid and fervent are very similar and go hand in hand; fervid being a “warm emotion expressed in a spontaneous manner,” while fervent illustrates, “a kind of emotional warmth that is steady and sincere.” The emotion that causes my heart to swell when I know that a simple act may help one person is powerful and once this simple act is complete, it compels my heart to continue to join with others to facilitate kindness yet again.

* letter “e” is upside down producing sound of “uh”