Word. Wednesday.

Wednesday's words often have their origin in not just something that encapsulates my life at the moment, but a word that plagues my inner dialogue, or one that tickles my fancy.  Today's word is a tickler.  

As I looked out over the yard strewn with storm-littered tree shrapnel, I found myself exclaiming (inside my head), "Look at all this flim-flammery!"  (Inside my head because no one was there to listen and also because I wasn't quite sure of my word usage, despite the exclamation.)

And then, I knew that today's word would have to be flim-flammery.  Except... that's not a word.  It turns out my inner dialogue does not have an inner dictionary at its inner disposal.  And I dressed the word up in a hyphen and suffix for fun.  It also turns out that I didn't really know what it meant.  Not exactly anyway.  I thought it referred to a mess, a jumble of mixed up stuff...

Here is the real meaning, per dictionary.com, whose name seems too simple to be the authoritative giver of word meanings...

flim·flam

  [flim-flam] noun, verb, -flammed, -flam·ming. 

noun

1.

a trick or deception, especially a swindle or confidencegame involving skillful persuasion or clever manipulation ofthe victim.

2.

a piece of nonsense; twaddle; bosh.

Friday Flowers

Hello dears!  My posting has been sorely lacking lately.  As I mentioned, one thing I am very "green" at, at 28 years old, is moderation.  I've been trying to walk that fine line between doing too much and too little, and lately, I seem to swing erraticly.  I've (shamefully) spent way too much of my work time this week looking at this blog.  I couldn't help it - it's simple and green and full of food and handwork and pictures...! At first, I told myself that it was okay, I was just taking my state-mandated 15 minutes breaks (for every four hours worked).  I mean, to not take them would be breaking the law, right?  It's when it goes more than slightly beyond those "breaks" that is the problem... But! one thing I really enjoyed about the blog was that almost every Friday showcases flowers the author bought for herself, or was gifted.  Seeing as how yesterday was a particularly gloomy one, gray weather and all, I took myself to the P. Chop. (they have really nice flowers, I promise) and bought some sunflowers.  And took pictures in the morning light today...

{sunflowers, green glass vase, grocery bag bunny}

{sunflower detail}

I hope the author doesn't mind, but I quite like the way she labels pictures - imitation is flattery, I hope.

A long weekend awaits.  More soon in garden, birthday and card-making fun.

On a funny note, the cashier at Panera today had a very quiet, sort of French accent... until the person in line after me.  Then his voice was much louder and much more... not French.  Maybe he's an actor and that's his second job...

Word. Wednesday.

Today's word is...

gus·ta·to·ry   [guhs-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
adjective
of or pertaining to taste or tasting

Origin:
1675–85;  < Latin gustā ( re ) to taste + -tory1

Related forms
gus·ta·to·ri·ly, adverb
un·gus·ta·to·ry, adjective

I discovered this word while reading an article about Louis Armstrong's culinary preferences. Besides the trumpet, the man apparently lived for rice and beans. Not so much my style (I prefer the black-bottom cupcakes I just finished making, but that's another post), but me gusta the word!

How do you express yourself gustatorily?

Chal-lenge! (...am I allowed to do that?)

Despite my less than stellar performance on the last challenge (the intention was there, believe me), I really like the idea of challenges.  Sheepishly, I'll admit I have a hard time turning down a good challenge, dare or very-appealing short- or long-term goal.  Despite the fact that this has landed me in the path of leeches and/or eating things one should not (stories for another day), I am a sucker for this kind of thing.  So, in the spirit of Josh and Scott (see link above) and Verity, I propose this:

The Challenge, Should You So Accept It:

Source

- Random Acts of Baked Goods -

You have two weeks from today to bake something scrumptious for someone.  To make this a little more tricky, this person/these people should not be related to you (I say this mostly to challenge myself as I live at home and I often can't get cookies out the door before mom, pops and the sis "sample" them).  Please feel free to share your recipe, take pictures of your baking process and share whom you decided to gift your deliciousness upon.

I was inspired by this blog post, and as I was reading, thought that baking might not be a thing to completely randomize, as, if someone left a box of cookies in the parking lot at my work, I would deign having myself a snack.  But you get the point. (:

Bake on, and happy weekend!!

Word. Wednesday.

         Today's word is something I've been thinking about a lot this week:

      moderation, from mod·er·ate [adj., n. mod-er-it, mod-rit; v. mod-uh-reyt] 1.

kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense; 2. of medium quantity, extent, or amount; 3. mediocre or fair; 4. calm or mild, as of the weather.

To say I have a little trouble with this would be a stark understatement.  When I started running, I decided to train for a marathon, the Boston, no less.  Until I learned you had to qualify, I thought this was a grand idea.  Why not start at the top?  And so it goes with the rest of my all-or-nothing visage on life.  I realize this can be a virtue, but let me loudly and clearly proclaim the not-so-ignorable fault of excessiveness!

I have a deep deep admiration for he who can wear a pair of jeans out, use one pair of sneakers until they're hole-y and only then get another, be satisfied at a meal without being over-full, politely turn down or turn away from foods that taste oh so good! but make one sick (in my case, anything involving sugar), read books from the library instead of buying them, sit in blissful silence without trying to fill the air and eardrums with constant vibrations and distractions, who spends money only when he has it, who is deliberate, constant, a pariah of reason and control...

I'm not sure I always want to be that person, as I also value spontaneity, the thrill of a splurge, and treating myself kindly.  However, lately, the extremes of my behaviors (mostly eating and spending) do not suggest kindness, they border on addiction.

Any suggestions?

On Moderation & Dedication...

...Well, that was going to be the topic of a rather-lengthy-here's-what's-going-on-in-my-head type of entry tonight - but work went late, I went to visit my grandpa, I attempted to "catch" my fast mom who took off for a walk without me, and my sister (unsuccessfully) tried to show me how to do a breakdancing handstand move.  So, no deep post today folks!  Just an ordinary one to let you know I'm alive and acknowledge my wabity-sabity try (Japanese people are cringing at my use of their language) at blogging every day.  I failed.  It's all good... or is it?

Perfect imperfection... can the perfectionist in me accept it?