Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Cockalorum

"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small parcel."

~John Ruskin

This past week, Donald Trump shared, that he is the most powerful person whose ever walked the planet. I would say that counts as him being a cockalorum;

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Prat

 

"All slang is a metaphor, and all metaphors are poetry."

~Gilbert K. Chesterton

Hey, just sayin! 

;)

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Forplaint

 

"Never tell your problems to anyone... 20% don't care

 and 80% are glad you have them."

~Lou Holtz

Forplaint is a rare and obsolete Middle English word

 meaning, "wearied with complaining."

Forplaint used in a sentence... 

Trump's constant complaining about everything from what he deems the fake news, to how unfair it is that the congress doesn't just hand him billions for his stupid ballroom, has left me more than a little forplaint.

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Kakistocracy

 

"If dogs are governing the county,

 what can you hear every day other than but horrible barking noises?"

I would say that's just about right, wouldn't you? I was introduced to this word by, Robert Di Nero, when he appeared on, Nicolle Wallace's podcast, The Best People, With Nicole Wallace. I shared about this episode a while back, but it bears repeating, it was one of the best, timeliest, and relevant podcasts episodes I have seen this year! Watch it! Take it in! We have to demand better from the elected leaders, who have a paycheck because of us!

 From the top on down, they work for us!

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Snollygoster

 

"Don't gobblefunk around with words."

~Roald Dahl

The BFG

I came across this awesome word several months ago, and I meant to do a post about it, but somehow there was always something else to talk about. Well, today is Saturday, and as a rule they tend to be kick back and relax kind of days, so here is something to think about... but not too seriously!

Does the word, snollygoster, remind you of anyone?

Used In A Sentence... Donald Trump is quite the snollygoster!

See Merriam Webster for full definition and word history.

No Words

"To be poor and be without trees, is to be the most starved human being in the world. To be poor and have trees, is to be completely rich in ways that money can never buy."

~Clarissa Pinkola Estes

The Faithful Gardener: A Wise Tale About 

That Which Can Never Die 

I'm feeling really quiet. Another day of aftermath, from another day's tragedy. I have no words about the words of others, which tend to drown out words of comfort. Words of respect. Words of compassion and words of remembrance. Sometimes I think we have finally arrived at the point where, there is just nothing left to say but, ironically, it takes words to covey that you have no words.

#4 Leaf Of The Day

October 4th, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Quiet

~Me

Stress, Friendship And Knowing Yourself In The Time Of Trump

"Reality is the leading cause of stress

 amongst those in touch with it."

~Jane Wagner 

It's been almost two months since my last post. That's an odd realization for me, because I pretty much blogged every day this blog existed, up until a couple years ago. The big move, and all the subsequent drama kept me busy, and emotional, so a lot of the time I was too tired to post or simply didn't have the will. This past autumn I felt better. I got out with the camera and resumed my Leaf Of The Day project, and I thought I might be getting back to some emotional normalcy, and then the election happened and once again I found myself in the depths of despair, and I am finding it really difficult to climb back out.  

There was a day when I would use my blog to fight through the political and day to day life nonsense. I welcomed opposing opinions, and looked forward to the debate. Patrick, if you're reading this, you know what I mean. LOL. You and I could go on and on and it would get heated but eventually we would shake it off, maybe even take a breather from each other's blog till the dust settled, but in an appropiate amount of time come back and pick up where we left off... good friends. And I am pleased to say to this day that if I ever needed someone to remember me in their prayers, I could ask you, and you would be there without reservation. For that I will always smile and be grateful when I see you on my Twitter timeline.

I've made a lot of causal friends over social media. Whether or not we keep in touch, doesn't matter so much because we all have real lives outside of the Internet. If I haven't seen someone for a while, and they pop in to say hello, it's always nice to pick back up. I like this distance to a certain degree. I have tried to not let my worlds collide. I am a private person. I rarely share my address, or phone number, and I don't speak much about what my day to day life is like because it feels so personal. I am happy in my real life. Happy marriage. Three amazing cats that keep me laughing, and my hubby and I now own our own home for the first time in our marriage. Life is should be good. But it's not. Not at all.

I am not prepared to blame the depression I have been fighting all on Donald Trump, but I have to say... he doesn't help, in fact, he scares the living SHIT out of me on a daily basis, and on the days I get up not scared, he either pisses me off or embarrasses me to the point I find myself apologizing to the world on Twitter, and begging the forgiveness of clearer thinking countries, which is strange because I didn't vote for him, so why do I feel I have to apologize? But in any case... I do. And I do.

A couple days ago, I did something I've never done before, I blocked a Twitter pal. Yes a republican, but he is a lot more than that. He's quite talented. Funny. Intelligent. Kind. Compassionate, and a lot more nice things I suspect. Don't get me wrong, we weren't best friends, or "go to" pals, but I genuinely liked him and admired his photography skills. I hoped to learn some things about photography from him, they way I learned from Steven. I was kinda lost after Steven died, so to make a new friend who I could share similar fondness for photography with was really nice, even if we only talked ocassionally. I hope that makes sense.

Anyway, when the 2016 election rolled around my friend and I would exchange the occasional barbs about left verses right and we would sometimes have some heated exchanges about our various perspectives, but it usually ended cordially, but after Trump won things felt different. In me. I don't really blame my friend for his opinion, but it all feels so irrational from the other side. It feels like when I am trying to make a point, there is no point in trying because they simply won't see or understand whats trying to be conveyed. I don't expect folks in my orbit to feel exactly like I do, but for GOD'S SAKE it feels like rational thought is dead, and has been replaced with willful ignorance. 

Understand... I am not saying that is how my friend behaved. No. But I said to him recently... "... listen, we are never going to agree on Donald Trump, his policies, his behavior or anything attached to this administration so we might as well just know that now. We just aren't." My friend agreed. We laughed a little and kicked the idea around of perhaps one day battling it out over drinks. LOL. And I left him with the request that he drop by my Twitter feed once in a while, when he isn't there to tell me how completely wrong I was. LOL. Maybe he could just come by and say "Hi... hows the weather." Again. It was a joke, meant lightheartedly, and he accepted it as such.

Well, the other day he did just that. He came by and left me a link to a Facebook post about an otter. I was adoreable. I liked it very much, and it touched me that my friend was trying to reach out. So, everything should be perfect... right? Well, timing is everything. I saw it just as Donald Trump was holding his idiotic press conference about the U.S. exiting the Paris Accord. So, I am watching a nice video about a fuzzy sea creature that my republican pal sent me, and wanting to kick my television in and scream MUTHERFUCKER at the same time. It was NOT good timing.

Something in me died. I felt it. I looked at my friend's face and knew in that moment I had to block him. Not so much because of him, but because of me. I knew that humans being humans I would one day, once again, engage with my pal in a political debate and I would go too far. I would say something dreadful that I couldn't take back. Words have meanings, and when you say something awful, out of rage, but mean it anyway, people get hurt. I don't want my friend to become the face of all the trolls who hunt me down after I leave a comment about the SHITTGIBBON we have in the White House. I don't want to take my anger, pain, frustration, fear, OH MY GOD FEAR, out on him with words I might actually mean one day.

I don't like hurting people.

I have been hurt so badly, so many times, you have NO idea.

I would rather just close the door.

And NOT say something I can't take back.

Stress in my real life, bleeds over into my virtual life, and vice versa, since Donald Trump decided to fuck our democracy. There was a time when I could handle both, but I am not doing that well right now. I am working on it, but when you can't sleep at night that doesn't help you make good decisions. I know it will all work it's way out in time. Impeachment seems likely or at least possible. Perhaps making the mortgage payments will get easier. I will learn some method of dealing with my fear of nuclear holocaust. Folks will begin waking up and realizing Trump only cares about Trump. My back will always hurt, but maybe a better medication or exercise will come along to help me deal with it. I don't know, but if my life has taught me anything it's the that ... "this too shall pass" ...is an absolute. It will pass.

But in the meantime the journey gets

 lonely and a little sad at times.

Mood: Sad

~Me

 

Another View Of Thursday's Sunset

"A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of it's going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east."

~John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

I am not feeling particularly verbose tonight, so I will just let the sunset speak for itself! And oh what tales it could probably tell!

~Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

I Know, Right?

"For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice."

~T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Have you heard? Well, if you are over 30, there are some common words and phrases you shouldn't be saying, because, well, you are too old! If 30 is an unseemly age to utter the word, AMAZEBALLS, can you imagine how completely icky it must be for a young one to hear a person of my... YIKES... age (51) to use it? Now, to be fair here, I learned that word, like all the other kids did, from the Internet, Twitter to be more specific! And I didn't learn it from someone younger than myself, thank GOD, I learned it from Danny Devito! And the way I feel about it is, if it is good enough for Danny, then it is good enough for me, but on the other hand, as social decorum goes, I usually try to carry myself with a certain bit of dignity. When I read an article late last year, on the website Lifescript, titled, Top 10 Things You're Too Old To Wear, I took all my message t-shirts, and put them in a big pile I like to call, "I am Too Old To Wear You In Public, You Are Now Gardening Shirts." Frankly, message t-shirts were the only items on the list of to 10 bads in my closet! I guess as a fashionista... I was doing pretty good at keeping it real!

But when it comes to words and phrases, well, once again, I am being reminded that time does indeed march on, whether I want it to or not, and along with time, comes age. So, it's time to create another big pile, albeit a metaphorical one, of things that should never be said by a woman, or man, with gray roots! And that's fine, but really, do I have to give up AMAZEBALLS? (Whine). I really liked that one! AMAZEBALLS, AMAZEBALLS, AMAZABALLS! Sigh. Well, okay, I guess that one isn't terribly lady-like, so... okay... I will give that one up! But I refuse... flat out refuse... to give up "I know... right?" I LOVE that one, and say it several times a day as I find myself in disbelief about one thing or another, and that phrase usually sums up my perplexity quite nicely! What's a girl to do? I know what I am capable of, and I know I will not be able to successfully give that one up! I am not going to even try, but when it comes to the others on the list, I can live with it! 

Here is the full list...

Seven Things You Totes Need To Stop Saying If You're Over 30

1. Totes . Yeah, I am just learning of totes, and I don't think it's all that fun. I agree.

2. I know, right? Sorry, I can't discuss it.

3. Amazeballs. It's just fun, but okay, I get it.

4. Cray (Cray-Cray) I am on the fence about this one.

5. I Will Cut you/ I will Cut A Bitch. I couldn't agree more. Stupid at any age. And self incriminating.

6. Adorbs. Blech. Enough Said! Although it does remind me of Rachel Zoe and anything she wears, designs, or promotes is fabulouss! So, I have mixed feelings!

7. Feels. I agree.

What do you think? Do you use any of these popular words or phrases? Do you march to the beat of your own tune, or do you like to be appropriate no matter how much you would rather embrace the trend? 

Please, share your thoughts! Or, if you like, take the first poll of the year on the sidebar and tell me what you think! If you have a trendy phrase, from years gone by, that you adopted and still use, even though it is a bit passe, feel free to share it in the comment thread!

Tell me all about it!

"Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."

~C.S. Lewis

Mood: Curious

~Me :)

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #50: Layers

"Life is like an onion: you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."

-Carl Sandburg








EMPS #50: Layers. NOW CLOSED!
Hmmm... lookie there, three perfect leaves layered together! But wait... If you look closely you will see there are actually two leaves. A green leaf, and a gold leaf and the two, layered together, created a nice shadow on the underneath of the leaves, which gives you a completely different way to look at the photo. Which brings us to this week's assignment. So, ok, hold onto your hats, I want you to show me some LAYERS this week, and how they go together to create something different that catches the eye. LAYERS of clothing, LAYERS of cake, LAYERS of fruit in a compote. It's all good. What we are searching for here, is the end result. It's nice if it is occurs naturally in nature, but a nice still life works as well.

Extra Credit: Continuing our discussion of photography, please write a little about how you found your layers to photograph. Did you notice it by chance? Did you go searching for it? Did you tap into your creative process and create the scene? Let's continue to help one another out, by sharing how we arrive at our photos for the assignments.

**PLEASE READ**
This assignment closes next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM ET. So, you until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, it must be a link back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment. A general link to your blog, journal or website will not work. NO HYPERLINKS! Remember to check your links, as the link you leave is the one I will use. Also, please include a link back here, so other folks can find the assignment and play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS #49: Pick A Word/Pick A Color 08/03/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Suzanne... Soft = Gray

2. Jama... Intricate = Black

3. Karen... Disaster = Charcoal

4. Your EG Tour Guide... Opportunity = Orange

5. Martha... Work = Blue

6. Liz... Happiness = Yellow

Very nicely done everyone! I was happy that folks took on last week's assignment with such enthusiasm! See you next Monday!

:)
Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #49: Pick A Word/Pick A Color

"Almost all words have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see someones eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too."

-Gladys Taber


NOW CLOSED!



EMPS #49: Pick A Word/Pick A Color
Just as the title implies, this week's assignment is all about WORDS and COLORS. Here is what I want you to do... Pick a word, such as sleep, and show me a color that you think of when you think of that word. As an example, when I think of the word sleep, I think of blue. To make the assignment come together I would photograph a blue blanket or pillow. Make sense? Another example would be the word salad. I would think of green, but instead of photographing a salad, I would choose a single green leaf of lettuce to represent the color green. Maybe you feel angry, so angry you see red, so you might consider photographing a red roaring fire. Got the idea? You can choose any WORD, and any COLOR, but no archived photos this week, I really want you to do this assignment this week, so you can stretch your creativity in the moment. If this assignment seems too difficult... EXCELLENT! That means I have truly challenged you and I have done my part! ;)

Extra Credit: Write a paragraph about your experience this week with your photography. Did you find this to be a difficult assignment, or did it tap into your creativity? What did you learn from it?

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM ET. So, you have almost a full week to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. REMEMBER... it must be a direct link back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment, a general link to your blog will not work. Also, please include a link back here, so other folks can find the assignment and join us for the fun.

Linking List for EMPS #48: Landmarks 07/27/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Sherrie (Marie Webster House)

2. Vicki (The Great Cross at the Mission of Nombre de Dios)

3. Jama (Riverside Point)

4. Greg (Pilot Mountain, North Carolina)

5. Martha (Unconditional Surrender, or The Kiss)

6. Liz (Land Lines of Cheshire England)

7. Karen (Among other sights, the 4th largest building in Tucson!)

8. Mike ( Wrigley Field, Home of the Chicago Cubs)

:) I really enjoyed all the photography this week. I apologize for not commenting, but I have been a little under the weather with my arthritis. Thanks so much for your patience and understanding about that. I visited each of you, I just wasn't able to comment. I will try to do better this week. I promise!

:) See you next Monday! And hey, we have less than a month before we celebrate a full year of the Monday Photo Shoot on Ellipsis! Whoo Hooo!

-Carly