Sooo Very Tired...

Today's word:

somnolent: (adjective) over-tired; desperately needing sleep [som-nuh-lint]

Don't forget to incorporate the new word into your working vocabulary. Write it in your journal. Slip it into your blog. Use it on your spouse for a really good reason to sleep in tomorrow. "Oh, Honey, the doctor says I suffer from excessive somnolence and need complete bed rest until noon!" I guarantee the more you process it, the more you'll remember it. This is one of my favorite words because it describes me most of the time. Personally, I like to use it in sentences such as, "I feel somnolent after a long day at work." Or, "I might get up and fix dinner, if I weren't so darn somnolent right now."

(Now we shall see my husband's ADD rubbing off on me) Somnolent reminds me of a definition poem I wrote as a junior in high school. I was up doing homework pretty late, and one of the assignments was a four-lined rhymed poem which had to define something... it was 1:30 in the morning, so I wrote mine "On Being Tired":

There's a dullness in the way I move.
My adrenaline ceases to flow.
Into bed I would have dove,
If I didn't move so slow.

Anyway, the root som is the same one you find in insomnia, Unisom, etc. You can change the word to a noun or an adverb by adding the appropriate endings (somnolence, somnolently) -- for those who like the whole "part of speech" thing.

Sorry for the long-windedness. At my house, writing is the most talking I can get in edgewise all day. :)

Warding off Alzheimer's

I heard somewhere that learning new words on a regular basis is good exercise for your brain. Good enough to help in fighting off Alzheimer's and other mind issues. Learning new vocabulary -- including new languages -- is a good way to make your mind stronger and more resilient. Another nice addition to that, I have found, is people tend to think you're more intelligent when you use big words (even when you're not). :) That probably makes some of you question whether I really am as intelligent as you originally thought, or if it is just my vocabulary talking, doesn't it? You may never know!

When I was a senior in high school, we had to write our senior wills. I thought it would be funny to put really big words in it, so I looked up a few. My first line read something like this: "I, Laura S -----, being of somnolent body, exiguous mind and incredibly expatiated vocabulary, do hereby bequeath the following to the following ...."

Yes, I would have thought I was a nerd too, if I hadn't fit in so well with the athletic crowd. According to Dave Ramsey's classifications, I would be a free spirit instead of a nerd. You are welcome to draw your own conclusions. ;)

Anyway, in an effort to help you exercise your own mind, I'm going to teach you some new words (I promise they'll be appropriate for class). This is an idea I got from a couple of my friends... Sense & Sensibility and The Potter and the Clay, so you can blame them.

We'll start with:

expatiate: (verb) to expand or enlarge

In order for you to really learn this word, it is critical you put it into your working vocabulary by USING it regularly... in your speech, in your writing, in your thoughts, etc. Things like, "It looks like we are going to need a few more things from the store. I had better expatiate my shopping list." Or "In order to fit everyone at the table for Thanksgiving dinner, I'll have to expatiate the table with the extra leaf." Even better -- "After Thanksgiving dinner, I had to expatiate the waist line of my pants, so I could breathe more easily."

Let your kids hear you use the new word enough they assimilate it into their own working vocabularies or at least know what you mean when you say it. There won't be a test at the end, but it'll be interesting to see how many people start picking up these words.

The Lighter Side

I get the sense my academic posts are too heavy for this blog, so I thought you might enjoy a few of the snapshots from QB's family birthday celebration this past weekend (especially some of those featuring her father). :)

Alphabet Challenge

This is a cool assignment I do with my freshmen every year (this year the 7th graders are doing it). I've done it as well, and I enjoy going back through and reading it every once in awhile.

Here are the directions:

1. You make a list of all the letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper.

2. For each letter of the alphabet, you brainstorm three or more words which can be proven autobiographical (i.e. names of places you've lived, visited, or want to go; names of people with whom you associate/to whom you are related; words which describe you or your life in some way; memories you have of events, people, places, things; etc.). The rule is anything you write about has to be autobiographical.

3. About once a week or so, write a one-page memoir about one of your words. Choose only one word from each letter list (the one you can write best about). Begin each by saying something along the lines of "A is for Alaska," or "S is for sisters". I had my students do a drop cap with the letter on their final drafts. It looks really cool all typed up!

4. Write one memoir for each letter of the alphabet.

When it is complete, you'll have a 26 page autobiography. If you're a scrapbooker, you can find photos to go with each memoir and create a beautiful portfolio. If you'd like to see mine, just ask! :)

One idea I've had is to adjust it for my own children. Have them either write or dictate a short paragraph or a couple of sentences about each letter, then draw or find pictures they can use to illustrate their autobiographies. It'd be interesting to see what they remember and think about their lives so far.

Memory Lane

I got this from Shawna. Looks like fun... just be nice to me. ;)

Here are the directions:

1. You comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, you re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I will assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.