words... (and punctuation, too!)

when people say “ataken aback”
as in, “she was really ataken aback by my question”
...yeah…

take it easy on the commas lately

it’s working….IT IS!

I am wondering does anyone know of a good pocket or otherwise petite dictionary that actually has words in it? I like to carry one around with me and don’t see the point in a dictionary that defines words like “a” or “hot” or “ask” but leaves out gems of which I don’t actually know the meaning. So, I suppose I am looking for an intermediate to advanced vocab level dictionary. Does such a thing exist? I suppose it’s difficult to discern what can be left out… but still, come on. Stupid people don’t use dictionaries because then they wouldn’t be stupid—just inquisitive.

I currently have the Oxford word mini-pocket. It’s nice, but only about 1/3 of the words I look up are actually in it. Really only works in the case of assigning precise meaning to fuzzy words that everyone sort of knows but not really.

winnowed
jounce
niggling
truculent
intransigence
cloy

bonus: I have been able to use a couple of obscure words culled from the past few months in my fierce facebook scrabble games!

they didn’t quite fit with the entry, but i think this is a good move anyhow.

extemporizing
peremptory
caterwauling
subterfuges (J.B.)
sauterne
turgid
dilatory
caravansary

“descended from Dukes of Buccleuch”
“Teutonic migration knows as the Great War”

pattern: I’ve seen a few repeats… they’ll keep popping up, I assume, until I commit them to memory. so be it.

“The knowledge of all that he betrayed
Grew till it was the same whether he stayed
Or went. Therefore he went.”

my new notebook.
i love it.
but i haven’t written in it yet.
afraid to. afraid it won’t be as good, fulfilling as finding the perfect notebook initially was.

here goes…

...Pretty!
What is? Brand new? Well that’s not the way I think of you.
You’ll touch me, in a minute; but that’s not what I want to do.
We are two strangers,
We might never have met.
We can talk forever, I understand what you said.
But I’m…not in love.
What does it take to fall in love?
Do people really fall in love?

...Happy!
Is there time for this? Is this responsibility?
Girl time, boy time, is that the difference between me and you?
I won’t ask any questions,
Who needs to make a new start?
I choose to believe you,
I said before that I can’t.
...’Cause I’m not in love.
What does it take to fall in love?
Why would I want to fall in love?

...Feeling!
Take it easy baby…Don’t let your feelings get in the way.
Some day, I believe, we can live in a world without love.
I can answer your questions,
If you won’t twist what I say.
Please respect my opinions,
They will be respected some day.
Because we don’t need love.
I believe that we don’t need love.
There’ll come a day when we won’t need love.

-talking heads

we have:

squiffed

Pronunciation:
\ˈskwift\
Variant(s):
or squif·fy \ˈskwi-fē\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
origin unknown
Date:
circa 1855

: intoxicated, drunk

going to have to start using this one. “I was a bit squiffy last night…”

43 things is different today. Can’t say that I like it. Not used to it yet. I liked how archaic the old one was. I’m afraid. I’m afraid of change!!!!