Discussing Semantics

Kristos Anesti!

2010-04-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Or, in English, Christ is Risen!

The correct response is Alitos Anesti! Or, Truly He has risen!

I wish you and you family a fabulous, blessed, Pascha day!

I’ll be back with regular posts starting tomorrow…oh, and one more surprise tomorrow as well…no, it’s not at ALL what you think.

Thursday Thesaurus-Frustrated

2010-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

That’s what I am with our representatives so I thought that it would be a great word to look at the many different ways to express today:

balked, crabbed, cramped, crimped, defeated, discontented, discouraged, disheartened, embittered, foiled, fouled up, hung up on, irked, resentful, stonewalled, stymied, through the mill, ungratified, unsated, unslaked, up the wall

My favorite is that last one, up the wall! Yeah, that explains it right about now. I only want them to listen to the voters, is that too much to ask?

Word Count Wednesday-32410

2010-03-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again! This week’s word of the day is really making me laugh my a** off right now.

Why?

Glad you asked!

See, I am NOT a Sci-Fi fan by any means…as a matter of fact I steer AWAY from these things. I really don’t get it.

My husband, however, is a HUGE Sci-Fi fan…as is his family. It’s seriously a bit scary at times.

A little while back we got my MIL her first Blue Tooth ear piece. BEFORE she got one she hated the things…drove her batty! Now that she has her very own…well, let’s just say that she rarely takes it off, even when she isn’t using it.

Why? She says it makes her feel like a

borg is a fictional hostile alien hive-race in the "Star Trek" series, noted for "assimilating" defeated rivals, fist introduced in "The Next Generation" TV series (debut fall 1987). Their catchphrase is "resistance is futile

I always figured that it had to do with something geeky like that but I never really knew for sure until today when I typed in the number for the day and this word turned up…yep, I married into a particularly geeky family!

So, anyone want to try using the word in a sentence?

Phobia Monday-Court Cases

2010-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

I really hope that no one in congress have:

Liticaphobia is a phobia that means fear of lawsuits

The lawsuits are flying after last nights vote. Someday the people we elect into office will actually do what they are supposed to do: represent those who elected them into office; not do what they think they should do.

We aren’t stupid people and we have a constitutional right to be heard, not have our decisions made for us.

God Bless this country.

Friday Phrases-Noses

2010-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Years ago when I was just out of college and was working as a teacher in a toddler classroom, I worked with a woman who really had something against me. I’m not sure exactly why, but she really looked down her nose at me…LITERALLY!

The funny things was that I am 5’7” barefoot and she had to be around 5’2” at most. When I talked to my supervisor about it she almost laughed for a second because of the image of someone so much shorter than me looking down her nose at me.

She had a way of lifting her chin just so that it was very demeaning. My supervisor talked to her about it but it never really got superbly better…it got more manageable, but not better.

look down your nose at is a phrase that means to think that someone is less important than you or that something is not good enough for you

Have you ever had anyone look down their nose at you? Literally or figuratively…or both!

Thursday Thesaurus-Tiny Meal

2010-03-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

I only picked this word because I am currently having one as I type this. I was trying to think of a good word to use, looked at my bowl of popcorn (tried popcorn and found there were no matches) and decided on snack.

Other words for snack are:

bite, bite to eat, break, eats, goodies, grub, light meal, lunch, luncheon, midnight snack, morsel, munch, nibble, nosh, pickings, piece, refreshment, tea, tidbit

Now, I’m off to finish my nosh of chipotle popcorn (yes I said chipotle popcorn and it is better than I could have dreamed).

What’s your favorite tidbit?

Word Count Wednesday-31710

2010-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! I hope you have a lucky day!

Now that we got that out of the way, how about we look at the word for today:

sills is a noun that means a horizontal timber, block, or the like serving as a foundation of a wall, house, etc.; OR the horizontal piece or member beneath a window, door, or other opening; OR a tabular body of intrusive igneous rock, ordinarily between beds of sedimentary rocks or layers of volcanic ejecta

It is also a mountain range in the Sierra Nevada range and is an American operatic soprano and manager who joined the New York City Opera in 1955 and was its general director from 1979 to 1989.

So do you remember what to do now? Leave a comment using the word in a sentence…go on, I’m waiting!

Phobia Monday-Time Change

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am going to be like a zombie today...I can barely keep my eyes open and I just woke up. I hate changing the clocks. It's amazing how one measly little hour can throw me completely off.

That being said, if I were to develop a phobia, I would develop something like the fear of changing clocks in the spring for fear of losing sleep and sanity! I couldn't find one like that. I must be a completely unique case. I'll donate myself to phobia science and make millions! What do you think? No?

Alright, then just for that I'm going to pick two very appropriate phobias for today:

Chronophobia is a phobia that means fear of time

Chronomentrophobia is a phobia that means fear of clocks

Since we know that the fear of change is tropophobia maybe I can make up my name for my phobia of changing time twice a year...how about chronotropophobia!

Hey, why is Jenni in her room with the blanket over her head begging the world to JUST....LET....ME....SLEEP...CRUEL...TIME....MASTERS!?

Why didn't you here? She has chronotropophobia!

It works, doesn't it?

Thursday Thesaurus-STOP

2010-03-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it’s Saturday but, remember that hiatus I took? I must have forgotten what I was supposed to do. To be honest, I LOVE Thursday Thesaurus; almost as much as Word Count Wednesday…that one is fun, too.

I picked the word stop for today. Let’s look shall we?

bar, barricade, blank wall, block, blockade, break, break off, brick wall, cease, cessation, check, close, closing, conclusion, control, cutoff, desistance, discontinuation, ending, fence, finish, freeze*, grinding halt, hindrance, layoff, letup, lull, pause, plug, roadblock, screeching halt, standstill, stay, stoppage, termination, wall

Just thought that might be helpful in expanding your vocabulary. Did it help?

Friday Phrases-Quack, quack!

2010-03-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I hear the phrase all the time. I know what it means. But really, who ever came up with this phrase in the first place:

get your ducks in a row is a phrase that means to get one's affairs in order or organized

There really isn’t anything concise or consistent anywhere that I’ve researched to say where it first began or what it really relates to. Is it ducks following a mama duck? Hm, they don’t travel in the straightest of lines, so I’m not sure if that’s accurate.

Is it the ducks in a shooting game? Really? Get your ducks lines up so you can knock them all down and OUT of order? I’m inclined to think not.

Is it duck pins from lawn bowling? This seems to be the most popular idea, but I’m still not sure.

What do you think is the origin? You could make up your own as well!

Fat, Lazy, Glutton

2010-03-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you go over here today you will find a post that I wrote that inspired today’s word:

sedentary is an adjective that means characterized by or requiring a sitting posture; OR accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to take little exercise; OR abiding in one place; not migratory; OR pertaining to animals that move about little or are permanently attached to something, as a barnacle

Yes, that was the lifestyle I lived before…I’m done being sedentary; although every once in a while (VERY RARELY) it’s nice to take one sedentary day…helps a person to refocus on the important things in life!

What about you? Have you ever been sedentary?

Wednesday Word Count-31010

2010-03-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

It’s always fun for me when I type in those magic numbers for the word count posts. I never know what is going to pop up. It’s like playing the slots. You know something is going to pop up, but will it be worth nothing, worth a little, or will it be a jackpot?

It’s really a lot of fun! This week I got a jackpot, I think.

bulkhead is a noun that means Nautical. any of various wall-like constructions inside a vessel, as for forming watertight compartments, subdividing space, or strengthening the structure; OR Aeronautics. a transverse partition or reinforcing frame in the body of an airplane; OR Civil Engineering a partition built in a subterranean passage to prevent the passage of air, water, or mud; a retaining structure of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete, used for shore protection and in harbor works; OR Building Trades a horizontal or inclined outside door over a stairway leading to a cellar; a boxlike structure, as on a roof, covering a stairwell or other opening

I like this word. It’s fun, isn’t it? There are so many different form for it; it’s not a word that you see often, but you know it exists. So, since the majority of you out there probably rarely get the opportunity to use this word, why don’t you use it today in a sentence!

Afternoon

2010-03-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I did a training on a Saturday morning. The training was from 8am to 12pm. The session was split into two 2 hour time frames so I understand the mistake.

What mistake?

On several of the evaluations that I collected in the comment section they said something to the effect: "The morning was great, the afternoon was a bit long."

afternoon is a noun that means the time from noon until evening; OR the latter part

Okay, I give, "the latter part" would mean that they might be correct. However, I would bet anything that they really didn't mean "the latter part". I'm just saying.

What do you think?

Phobia Monday-Forgotten or Forgetting

2010-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have the WORST memory in the world. I’m serious! Have you not heard the stories?

Well, let just say that I’m lucky to not have today’s phobia

Athazagoraphobia is a phobia that means fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting

Okay, I’m not afraid of being forgotten, I’m really not. Sure, I am a blogger who only has SIX blogs that I keep up with writing, a twitter, and facebook page ; but I’m not afraid of being forgotten. I know that everyone’s lives will go on if I were to disappear.

However, the forgetting thing? Well, I’m not afraid of forgetting, probably because I have so much practice at it. If I did, though, I might be rocking back and forth with a dazed look on my face right about now.

So, how’s your memory?

Get your mind out of the gutter

2010-03-07T13:42:00.001-08:00

Today’s word:

masticate is a verb that means to grind or crush with or as if with the teeth in preparation for swallowing and digestion; to chew; OR to crush or knead (rubber, for example) into a pulp

An interesting word, don’t you think? So, let’s play a bit today. Leave me a comment below using the word masticate in a sentence!

Did it again

2010-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

There has been a word that I have heard repeated several times recently. It is used in a way that I have no problem knowing what it means, but I have only heard it be used regularly over about the last 5 years or so.

The word? Recidivism. As in, the recidivism rate of sex offenders is more than 88 percent.

recidivism is a noun that means repeated or habitual relapse, as into crime; OR the chronic tendency toward repetition of criminal or antisocial behavior patterns

The problem with that statistic stated above is that it isn’t accurate…it may be MORE. The problem is that all repeat crimes don’t get reported.

It’s a sad statistic and one that the courts need to look at very carefully. These are the people that need to be put away for life…not 5 years. These are the people that get out and repeat crimes and kill innocent people; and those innocent people tend to be young women.

So, what do you think of recidivism?

The Hiatus Ends!

2010-03-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

I'm back! Did you miss me? I have missed blogging but it was a necessary hiatus. What? I should define that word? OKAY!

hiatus is a noun that means a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc; OR missing part; gap or lacuna; OR any gap or opening; OR the coming together, with or without break or slight pause, and without contraction, of two vowels in successive words or syllables, as in see easily; OR a natural fissure, cleft, or foramen in a bone or other structure

Phew! That felt good! Oh, and if you want to know, the plural of hiatus is hiatuses...sounds funny to me, but I like it!

Either way, I'm glad this hiatus has ended! I am back on track! Almost...now I have to go unpack boxes!

See you all tomorrow! Oh, you are MORE than welcome to leave me some comment love! I've missed it SO much!

Is this thing on?

2010-02-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, apparently it still is! I'm here just checking in making sure you are all around. It's been crazy busy and I promise to get back to daily posting in March...once we're all moved into our new place...once I'm done running back and forth between two places every night...once I'm done with multitude of projects at work...March 1st is the light at the end of my tunnel...THAT is the day that I am looking forward to...now, off to get more things done...I'll check in again soon, promise!

Blunder Answer

2010-02-14T20:20:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned before, I just had to laugh when I read this:

“As a thank you for allowing us to photograph your center, a complimentary framed composite will be given to you free of charge.”

The sad part? Someone in the room with me as I was laughing asked what was funny, I read it to her, and she gave me a blank stare…she couldn’t figure out what was funny about it.

So, did you figure it out? I know you did! Some of you commented on it. A complimentary framed composite is free…don’t need to say a complimentary is free of charge; it kind of is explained in complimentary!

(on the moving front, I made a dent today…as small one, but a dent!)

On the move

2010-02-13T12:30:00.001-08:00

We are counting down to our move. Posts will get spotty for the next couple of weeks. I promise to do my best, but this move has to take the majority of my time.

I will do my best to check in occasionally, but starting March I will be up and running again!

Weekly Blunder-2.12.10

2010-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

This was in a brochure (very nice and fancy brochure) that was delivered to one of our centers the other day. I had to laugh when I read it:

“As a thank you for allowing us to photograph your center, a complimentary framed composite will be given to you free of charge.”

So, tell me, what’s wrong with that statement?

Thursday Thesaurus-Time

2010-02-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Call it what you will, it is FLYING by me way too fast right now. I seriously can’t slow it down and have way too much to do.

Other words for time:

age, allotment, bit, bout, chronology, clock, continuance, date, day, duration, epoch, era, eternity, extent, future, generation, go*, hour, infinity, instance, instant, interval, juncture, lastingness, life, life span, lifetime, many a moon, moment, month, occasion, pace, past, point, present, season, second, shift, space, span, spell, stage, stint, stretch, tempo, term, tide, tour, turn, week, while, year

Word Count Wednesday- 2101

2010-02-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Too good to pass up! This is the PERFECT word for this blog. Are you ready for it?

definition is a noun that means to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid; OR the formal statement of the meaning or significance of a word, phrase, etc; OR the condition of being definite, distinct, or clearly outlined; OR sharpness of the image formed by an optical system; OR the accuracy of sound or picture reproduction

Ignore the fact that I dropped the zero in 10. It was a mistake to begin with but then the word popped up and I was giddy about it so this is the word you get.

Definition is the definition of this blog!

HA! I love this! Okay, your turn to use the word in a sentence. Use the comments below!

Don’t avoid this post…

2010-02-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

…it’s not a sneeze, but it sounds like it:

eschew is a verb that means to shun, to avoid; OR to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid

This is another word that I just like the sound. Say it five times fast and it sounds like you’re sneezing. Go ahead, try it, I’ll wait!

Bless you! Oh, you were just saying eschew 5 times…hee, hee! This is so much fun!

Phobia Monday-Sing with me!

2010-02-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well, if you’re melophobic you probably won’t. Actually, if you have melophobia then you most likely are no longer reading this post for fear that I am going to break out into song.

melophobia is a phobia that means fear or hatred of music

Really? Someone can actually have a HATRED of music? I can’t imagine. I can’t even imagine the fear of music either; although it must be true or else they wouldn’t have made a word up for it.

So tell me, do you know anyone who has a fear or hatred of music? Want to sing a song with me? What’s your favorite little ditty?