I love words...

About the only thing that I did not do today was laundry!  I started out with a list of five tasks and ended up with a list that had nearly quadrupled!

Some of the things I did were personal tasks, such as writing letters to my bank and my insurance company, paying bills, and filing.  Some were cleaning tasks, to get the house ready for Becky's visit. I also went to Walmart for groceries and Panera for bread.  And I made brown sugar oatmeal cookies, tea, Gatorade, and bacon bits.  My goal was to have everything that needed doing done by midnight, so that all I have to do until Becky's plane lands tomorrow is rest.  Plus, I didn't want anything nagging me whilst she is here, like those letters and bills.  And I was tired of being dive bombed by the hummingbirds because the feeders were low!

Needless to say, I am weary.  But I am weary much of the time.  I am bloody exhausted all of the time.  And I am fatigued often.

I love words.  I love how there are so many different words for what is essentially the same thing, but is not the same in the meaning you are trying to convey.  Okay ... that was clunky, but I am tired.  I mean that I love that we have "beach," "shore," and "coast."  All three can be the same place, but not always.

I used to collect words in my word book, and I wish I still did.  But I am tired.  And struggle with brain fog.   In the past, I would keep sticky notes on the covers of my books and write down the words I didn't know as I read.  I define "don't know" as being unable to define it for another person.  So often, I glean basic meaning from the context and thus understand the sentence, but the truth is that I do not really know the word.

In thinking about words and my adoration of them and my lack of word study of late, I started using the definition feature on my Kindle.  So, for example, last night I finally learned what a halberd is.  I knew it was a weapon, but now I know it is a combination of a spear and an axe and what you often see in fantasy movies.  Thus, when someone is described as throwing a halberd as a spear at a door, I now understand the extra strength it took to throw something not designed for throwing and have it hit your preferred target.

I love words.  I love when folk use a goodly variety of words instead of depending on the tried and true.  I saw an interview with David Tennent once where he said it would be churlish if he did something.  Then he had to define churlish for someone there.  Of course, if you do a quick Google, you would see that it means "rude in a mean-spirited and surly way."  But he was speaking more of being boorish.  But not quite that.  Really, I haven't found the word that comes closer to what he meant because he was saying that to complain in the situation was wrong because of all that he has in his life being David Tennant and being on "Doctor Who."  I often think of that interview and how that I love that he used the word "churlish," and that I love thinking about what word could better fit what he was trying to say at the time.

I love words.  Sometimes I love words because of how they sound.  For example, one of my word book words is "alacrity."  I love saying the word, but I also love the meaning; eager willingness is what I memorized.  Google tells you it means brisk and cheerful readiness.  I cannot decide which way of defining "alacrity" that I like best.  Both inspire the imagination ... at least my imagination.  The first two words I deliberately learned on my own, when I was in high school, were "plethora" and "microcosm."  I worked those two words into as many college essays as I possibly could ... and felt so very proud of myself when I did!

I love words.  I bond with my dear friend Mary over a love of words.  We've never really plowed through exchanging favorite words, but I know that any time I want to geek out over a word, I can share my excitement with her.

I love words.  I love the words I've learned and oft use them repeatedly, such as "fervent" and "frenetic and "fillip."  Of course, from there, you will see that I also love alliteration, but that is an entirely different topic.    Unless, perhaps, the point of bringing up alliteration is that I also love words about words.  "Alliteration" and "onomatopoeia" being chief amongst them!

I love words.  I spend the day plowing through a list of tasks, but thinking about words, because I have been struggling to find the right words to talk about my concerns with Monday.

In therapy, I often search for the right word that will strike a chord with my therapist.  I think she thinks me a bit odd, but most of the time when I hit the right word, she stops and takes it in, suddenly understanding what I am trying to say.

I love words.  But I also loathe them.  There are some words that are too ... big ... for me to speak or hear or even think.  I cannot bear to touch them.  And there are words that I would like to carve from my vocabulary (usually a vocabulary acquired from another person).  For example, I would like to eliminate the word "nasty" from my daily vocabulary.  I cannot think of an environment in which that word would be welcome in my ears.  It is spoken in my family.  If I never hear the word again, I will be deeply, immensely grateful.

Anyway, in case you haven't noticed, I love words!