Wednesday Weird and Wonderful Words

In a Queue:

1. bibliophile

noun: one who loves books and reading

Passing on the love. Margaret Mary reading The Hobbit. (upside down,
but, hey, everyone has to start somewhere. See how she's got the posture
and disposition already mimicked?😄  )

2. discombobulate 

verb: to confuse 

These two (Fr. Philip and Gabe). Whom our youngest child
(William)  discombobulates on a fairly regular basis, bless his heart.

3. halfpace

noun: that landing at the top of a flight of stairs where you have to turn to take another flight of stairs.

What we need right here at the RV door!
(Hoping Gabe will build us a small set of 
stairs  this summer with a landing so we can
 get in this door while carrying a toddler or an umbrella
 without putting everything down and having to maneuver
ourselves up and in...)

4. jentacular

adjective: having to do with breakfast

'Nuff said.

 5. kakorrhaphiohobia 

noun: the fear of failure

A healthy thing in proper doses, kakorrhaphiohobia keeps us motivated -- concerning everything from saving our souls and raising good children to reading recipes carefully and not giving your husband a haircut when you're tired and cranky

Not my husband -- because I refuse to cut his hair when I'm 
tired and/or cranky.  Kakorrhaphiohobia. And just plain old mercy.

.

6. kerfuffle 

noun: loud and boisterous behaviour

My favorite kind of kerfuffle -- though more loud than boisterous --
 in the basement of the Church after Sr. Evangeline's acceptance as
a Novice (CMD) in March. So noisy you can't
hear a word anyone says -- but it's OK. Ya lipread. Or
just enjoy the bliss of seeing all their smiling faces.

7. lackadaisical - adjective: unmotivated

8. lollygag - verb: to be idle or lazy

Dawsey. Lollygagging after a long weekend of being constantly loved up
(house guests and parties with Monica's family after Fries family graduations Sunday)
--  too lackadaisical now to even protect the house from the mailman. 

9. quire

 noun: a pack of paper, usually around 25 pieces; less than a ream.

It's a fascinating thing, what people tend to hoard during hard times. Last year I think we were all drawn up short (snort) by the run on toilet paper at the beginning of the China Virus Plandemic. A different kind of paper than that which is bought in quires, but a vital thing is toilet paper, no denying it. He who controls the TP controls the world. (Charmin: "Muwahaha!") Fast Forward to May 2021: at the very mention of possible gasoline shortages, everyone runs and fills up their gas tanks. (We did!) Fuel is vital; a two mile line is worth the wait! But, my Dad, who lived through the Depression, always stayed stocked up on paper -- writing paper -- quires and quires of writing paper (and bins of Ivory soap) stored under our house -- probably to this day. I'm guessing these were things he especially valued and missed in his childhood. Tells you a lot about my Dad, huh? Does anyone buy loose leaf paper any more or is that a relic of a bygone era?

(For the record... We also have bins of paper and notebooks and journals and school supplies. And books.  And soap. And toilet paper. And gasoline. And ammo.)

10. ulotrichous

adjective: having curly hair

Or nowadays in all the rain and humidity here in Iowa, what is more generally frizzy hair -- in a pony tail. 

Out of ten children, we have only three who are actually ulotrichous besides me: Paul, Sr. A., and Sr. E. -- and Sr. A might be considered more wavy than curly; she's right on the border. We have  only two with wavy hair: Fr. Philip and Michelle (though you'll never see Fr. P's hair long enough to know it's wavy). Out of the grandchildren so far, I'd say there's only one who's a true curly-top: Margaret Mary (Dominic's older daughter)! I have to get a picture of her Shirly Temple curls to share! But Lilly's hair (Paul's youngest) is very wavy, just this side of curly and Daria and Claudia (Michelle's #1 and #3) have some nice wave, too. Jury's out on the babies (Sophia, Quinn, Clara, and Chloe); they needa grow some more hair before we can tell! All our grandchildren are gorgeous, though, of course💖, no matter how ulotrichous they are or are not!

* Anyone who wonders: I have both Sr. Antonia's and Sr. Evangeline's ponytails (that the bishop cut off at their entrance ceremonies) in little velvet bags in a glass cabinet where we safeguard our saints' relics. I also have one of Sr. E's little dangly bangs curls in my jewelry box (because I asked for one especially and Sr. Johanna was sweetly understanding, of course). Do I mind that I'll probably never see their curls again? Not a bit! Their heavenly Spouse sees them and keeps them for His own. How could I ever complain about that?

11. xertz 

verb: the act of gulping something down with haste.

I'm invariably half finished with my meal before Dan gets
this far. (Not much exaggerating.) I admit it; I am a xertzer.
Especially when I'm really hungry -- and the food smells so good!

* Photo taken at Boxer BBQ in downtown Council 
Bluffs, IA. Great barbecue, great atmosphere,
great service -- No masks to be seen anywhere!
Highly recommended!