THEY'RE HANDS NOT WANDS

I woke up this morning intent on pounding out an outline for a short story I have swirling around my head… but the momentum seems to have faded. I fight with writer’s block.

I will my fingers to relay a stream of magical brilliance onto the keyboard… ...waiting… ... ...still waiting....

Nothing.

“WE'RE HANDS, NOT WANDS!!!” They shout at my disappointment.

I am mentally bruised and battered. Left in solitude to regenerate lost brain cells. I look to the dog for sympathy, but the only time that dog shows any interest in how I’m doing is when I break for a snack.

*BREAK*

I sit and eat my favorite ghetto dessert/meal, sugared butter toast, while staring at the blank page before me.

Nothing.

So in lieu of script writing, I do what comes natural: I eat and blog.

BLK PEPPER SOUP

Last night, hunger defeated sleep and insisted I stagger into the kitchen and concoct a "midnight snack" (literally).

In my daze, I foraged through the cabinets and found a can of tomato soup: easy, warm and satisfying. My culinary pursuit was moving along masterfully, until I heavy-handedly added the pepper (an equivalent of 3 heaping table spoons).

Flavour: Pungently spicy pepper with a hint of tomato

Verdict: Unpalatable

Lessons: Do not cook when groggy AND Do not attempt to eat culinary mistakes.

This meal provoked bizarre and disconcerting dreams about: 1.decaying tuna fish in my high school locker 2. Senior high school Lodge trip with eerie Stephen King sensation 3. Biding old high school mates farewell, carried out by an adult recognition that I will NEVER see these people again.

NOT INTERESTED

I'm in a list making mood.

On today's list: WORDS THAT I AM NOT PRETENTIOUS ENOUGH TO USE

tergiversation (tuhr-jiv-uhr-SAY-shuhn), n.
1. to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject.
2. falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language.

Tergiversation comes from Latin tergiversatus, past participle of tergiversari, "to turn one's back, to shift," from tergum, "back" + versare, frequentative of vertere, "to turn." The verb form is tergiversate.

bloviate (BLOH-vee-ayt), intransitive v.
to speak or write at length in a pompous or boastful manner.

fecund (FEE-kuhnd; FEK-uhnd), adj.
1. Capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful; prolific.
2. Intellectually productive or inventive.

Fecund comes from Latin fecundus, "fruitful, prolific." The noun form is fecundity.

tintinnabulation (tin-tih-nab-yuh-LAY-shuhn), n.
a tinkling sound, as of a bell or bells.

diaphanous (dy-AF-uh-nuhs), adj.
1. Of such fine texture as to allow light to pass through; translucent or transparent.
2. Vague; insubstantial.

Diaphanous ultimately derives from Greek diaphanes, "showing through," from diaphainein, "to show through, to be transparent," from dia-, "though" + phainein, "to show, to appear." It is related to phantom, something apparently sensed but having no physical reality.

lissom (LISS-uhm), adj. (also lissome)
1. Limber; supple; flexible.
2. Light and quick in action; nimble; agile; active.

punctilio (punk-TIL-ee-oh), n.
1. A fine point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or procedure.
2. Strictness or exactness in the observance of formalities; as, "the punctilios of a public ceremony."

Punctilio comes from Obsolete Italian punctiglio, from Spanish puntillo, diminutive of punto, "point," from Latin punctum, from pungere, "to prick."

supernumerary (soo-puhr-NOO-muh-rair-ee; -NYOO-), n.
1. A supernumerary person or thing.
2. An actor without a speaking part, as a walk-on or an extra in a crowd scene.

adj.
1. Exceeding the stated, standard, or prescribed number.
2. Exceeding what is necessary or desired; superfluous.

Supernumerary is from Latin supernumerarius, from super, "over" + numerus, "number."

NEW YEAR'S CHALLENGE

A. Learn to speak pirate
B. Learn rest of the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne
C. Learn to play air guitar, air drums air saxaphone and air cello
D. Learn to tap shuffle

E. Start all conversations with double entendre
F. Start a conga line
G. Start maneuvering downtown through underground passages only
H. Start adding Egg Nog to all recipes
I. Start an angry mob
J. Start awkward moments

K. Be Guitar Hero II champion (after perfecting art of air guitar)
L. Be friends with bran
M. Be a one woman band
N. Be cool with knowledge that parents still have romantic nights
O. Be an honest liar.... umm... storyteller.
P. Be a bigger smart-ass

LOOKING FIFTY AT SIXTY

My Mother, the New Year's Baby! Born six decades ago on January 1st and still looks youthful and marvelous.

Happy Birthday Mamacita!

Thank you for the designer genes. (YES, it does always have to be about me... my blog, my thoughts, my life!) :p