As Yet Untitled

ob·se·qui·ous adj \əb-ˈsē-kwē-əs, äb-\ Definition of OBSEQUIOUS : marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness — ob·se·qui·ous·ly adverb — ob·se·qui·ous·ness noun Origin of OBSEQUIOUS Middle English, compliant, from Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium compliance, from obsequi to comply, from ob- toward + sequi to follow — more at ob-, sue First Known Use: 15th century I have no real anecdote to accompany this word, I just find it to be one of those great words that you can bandy about in a very disdainful tone, making everyone around you think that you are extremely intelligent. I was going to say, "more intelligent than you really are" but I don't think that is necessarily true. For some of you, using obsequious in everyday conversation might be an accurate testament to exactly how smart you are. For those of you who want to up your perceived intelligence quotient... Use it in a sentence!   I found the obsequiousness of my secretary to be so grating th...

I have recently become quite interested in the idea of modern fairy tales. That is, modern retellings of classic fairy tales, meant to be marketed to tween/teenage readers. It is fascinating to me that the crux of these tales stands the test of time and needs only to be updated for a modern audience. I believe that these adaptations are paving the way for a new breed of feminist, and that contrary to what some people may think, the heroines of these classic stories are actually excellent role models for strong young women. More on that to come. To that end, I recently finish reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer, the first in a quartet called The Lunar Chronicles .  It is, in a word, stellar. And it fits the mold of what I described above perfectly. Clearly this is a retelling of Cinderella , and in fact Meyer places quotes from the original story at strategic breaks throughout the book. But in this case, we are not in 18th century Europe, but Asia of the future. The book is set in a ...

The state of Oklahoma has been home to many celebrities over the years. From Brad Pitt to Garth Brooks, Okies undeniably have the mettle to grow up and become famous. Joining the ranks of these notable Oklahoma natives is one Ree Drummond, better known as Pioneer Woman . Her blog is a sensation, encompassing everything from cooking, to homeschooling, to movies, to photography. It is a veritable Valhalla of domestic pursuits, providing wonderful advice and a real sense of community. This has, in turn, spawned  two cookbooks (the second of which is being released in March), a cooking show on Food Network , and a memoir about how PW met and fell in love with her husband, who she calls Marlboro Man. It is the latter that concerns me today. Pioneer Woman's memoir, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels tells the story of her ambitions--toward what is never specifically delved into. I can only presume this is because it didn't matter what career she was going to pursue--she ended up beco...

Well, I intended to write this post yesterday, but unfortunately I am not one of those lucky women who is able to make her fortune purely through her blog. Though it is my not-so-secret fantasy. At any rate, here is the word of the week! Enjoy! In honor of the fast-approaching holiday (Valentine's Day), here is a word that encompasses the utter, debilitating pain of being in love: smite verb \ˈsmīt\ smote smit·ten or smote smit·ing Definition of SMITE transitive verb 1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand 2 a : to kill or severely injure by smiting b : to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously 3 : to cause to strike 4 : to affect as if by striking 5 : captivate, take intransitive verb : to deliver or deal a blow with or as if with the hand or something held You have probably heard the word "smitten" to describe someone who it completely twitterpated. In fact, I wanted to use the word "twitte...

I have a small, hilarious slice of life to share with you all. Firstly, you may or may not be aware of my unhealthy obsession frequent use of Amazon.com for ordering everything from books to tootsie rolls.Okay, really I just use it for books and tootsie rolls. There is really nothing in between. Or at least there wasn't, until I discovered that you could buy real food on Amazon, not just chewy candy. And then my plans for becoming a total recluse and ordering all my groceries online started. I love Amazon.com. Secondly, you may or may not also be aware that I subsist completely eat the government recommended amounts of cheese (three times a day). Let's just be honest. Cheese is what makes life worth living. It brings people together. It is my spring in winter, and my winter in the dreadfully hot summer. If I were to start a philanthropic organization, it would be to fund research for a cure for lactose intolerance, because I hate the idea that anyone should be denied the...

Happy 2012! Enjoy two new words for the price of one to kickstart a new year of dedicated blogging!  First up: PORTENTOUS por·ten·tous adj \pȯr-ˈten-təs\ 1 : of, relating to, or constituting a portent portentous foreshadowing, hints of sinister and violent mysteries — Francine Prose> 2 : eliciting amazement or wonder : prodigious 3 a : being a grave or serious matter < portentous decisions> b : self-consciously solemn or important : pompous < portentous declamation unsalted by the least trace of humor — W. H. Pritchard> c : ponderously excessive portentous phrases — R. M. Coles> — por·ten·tous·ly adverb — por·ten·tous·ness noun Use this word in a sentence!  The dead bird in the middle of the yard was portentous of much doom .  The extra weight I am carrying in my thighs is portentous of a rigorous New Year's exercise program. This word is also associated with the word PORTENT, which is synonymous with omen, or sign. Some might be...

In November 2011 something significant happened in mine and my beloved's life. The lease on our rental house ended and we were faced with the choice of whether to renew for another year (a huge commitment in the world of rentals) or to move out. The prospect of apartment/rental house hunting was less than palatable. Staying another year in the interminably cold house were currently inhabiting was downright frightening. So we reached a conclusion: we must purchase a house of our very own. I immediately panicked. Now, I had no trouble agreeing to get married. No qualms about expanding our little menagerie to include a cat. No issues with buying a car. But the idea of committing to thirty years in a mortgage and to literally tens of thousands of dollars in debt left me cold. Never mind that people do it every day. Never mind that we wouldn't be paying any more per month than we were currently paying in rent and would essentially be paying rent to ourselves, I was dry of throat...