{Words}: Potentates

Do you ever get words stuck in your head?

I do.

Sometimes it drives me crazy.  I'll wake up in the morning and think "espionage!" and it will run through my brain all day.  Singing songs does not help.  Thinking other words does not help.  I just get stuck on a word until it has run it's course.

Apparently, as a toddler learning to talk, when I'd hear a new word I'd go isolate myself in a corner and repeat the word over and over until I felt I knew it.  I have no recollection of this, but considering the way I still chew on words, it does not surprise me.

A word that has run a few courses through my head since June is "potentates."  I saw Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost multiple times over the summer while working for the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and as a result got to watch the Spaniard spit out potentates in the same way night after night.

So since it's stuck in my head, I'm going to share and get it stuck in yours.

potentates (n.): a person who possesses great power, as a sovereign, monarch, or ruler.

Happy Monday.  Have a good week!

~K

Words for the Week

Time for some good words I came across recently.

harangue:

(n.) A lengthy and aggressive speech.

(v.) Lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner.

homiletic:

preachy.

Not sure I'll be throwing either one of those into a conversation any time soon, but each deserves some attention regardless.

Happy summer (officially)!

~K

A Better Vocabulary

I've been up north babysitting the kids of my parents' neighbors, and it has been a long week away from Preston.  I get to go home today and reunite with him, and I'm as excited as a kitty on milk delivery day.

So while I skedaddle down I-15, chew on these words I had to look up during a recent reading:

Proclivity:  A tendency to choose or do something regularly

Vapid:  Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging

Happy Wednesday!

~K

Review

I think it's time for another new word.

Today's word is berceuse.

It is a musical composition similar to a lullaby, usually in 6/8 time.  How's that for a turn?

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I'm changing jobs for the summer, and so when I ordered a sandwich at the restaurant where I work I told the chef to make it extra special.  This is how he do:

It's the Bacon Cheddar Chicken for you local peeps.

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We had a wedding up north last weekend, and so we got the chance to spend a few days with my parents and siblings.  Everyone spent each possible moment outside to enjoy the gorgeous weather. (Good thing since yesterday it snowed up there :\  Bummer!)

I had an enchanting moment while lingering around my parents' little pond.  A lady duck flew in and began wading.  Apparently she's been hanging around the pond, and her mate often joins her. We sat staring at each other for a moment, and then I tipped my head sideways.  She tipped her head sideways, too.  I thought it was a fluke, so I did it again.  And she did it again.  I'm not kidding, this went on for at least two minutes, the two of us looking at each other and tipping our heads.  Finally, I called to my nearby family to come see.  But as the stories go, something enchanting like that does not perform on command; when the others walked near she turned her back and hid in the plants.

Lucky for me, however, she let me glimpse her personality.

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Also, check out my mom's exercise habits:

Chocolate chips on the elliptical rider.  Naturally.

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Lastly, here are some photos from the last week.  I'm so happy the blossoms are out.  (And crossing my fingers they don't all blow away in this wind.)

Hey, You Snoutfair, You.

I read a list of 18 obsolete words/phrases today (found here).  My my how much we've changed.

Two of my favorites:  "snoutfair"--a person with handsome countenance (and my new nickname for Preston); and "with squirrel"--pregnant.

Also, "curglaff" happens to me at least twice a week.

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We vacationed in Mexico for spring break.  Post on that coming soon!

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We have friends in town this weekend for the WAC gymnastics championship.  Every time we get together I realize how blessed Preston and I have been in making good friends in college.  We're even more blessed that they still enjoy college gymnastics as much as we do.

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Lastly, I've decided that one of my favorite colors is that of the yellow grass between Beaver and Fillmore, especially in the winter as it sits against the white snow.  Thank heaven for sight and color.  Oh how I love color.

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Happy Weekend, Friends.

Reckless Abandon and an Open Palm

I learned a new word this week.

Pestiferous:  constituting a pest or nuisance; annoying.

Thanks dictionary.com.  You're an asset.

Gems from the week:

Being able to finally kiss Preston again after his week long battle with the flu
Good times with my work friends
Ben and Jerry's

Also, check out this amazing gal from over yonder in the Midwest.  Love her blog.  Want to read her book After Nathaniel. Cling to her every word.  Especially this set:

"Love with reckless abandon and an open palm."

~ Kristina Clemens

I've shared this quote with many of you.  Yes, I'm still obsessed with it.  No clenching and holding back for fear of loss.  I'll love hard and then submit.

Here's to another neat week.

~K