Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Pendragon – Wordplay Wednesday™ 08/29/18


Flash in the Pan 

Let your imagination fire up with this week’s Wordplay word! Do you know anyone who is all flash and no flame? Your new secret word for them …

PENDRAGON (pen dragʹɘn) n. – supreme chief or leader; a title used in ancient Britain. [WW #179]

Interestingly, pendragon is not relegated to the archaic or obsolete bin in the dictionary. So, what we have here, is an amusing way to refer to oh-so-many faux leaders who, like dragons, love to flash their flames with little to show for it.

Its very reference to dragons makes one wonder why more isn’t offered in its definition, to denote a certain type of leader—at the very least, one to be respected for fierce, forbidding, or even cruel leadership.

On the other dragon wing, one might also envision a commanding yet benevolent ruler, if we’re to believe in legends and fairy tales. Could its origin have derived from “pensive dragon”? A fun and fanciful mashup.

Pendragon is a great word for fact or fiction, but of course, use it wisely, sparingly, and with tolerance, for with dragon in its origin, it still holds a certain enigmatic majesty.

Word Challenge: PENDRAGON.* Although you may want to apply this word with disrespect and derision, it would be sad to besmirch the reputation of the almighty ancient dragons. Perhaps playfully, or with grudging admiration is called for, as you fit pendragon into your week of powerful writings.

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost, simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

                       
* BTW, Pendragon can be a surname or reference any number of books and TV series titles, so do be solicitous of your usage. However, with Halloween on the moon’s horizon, you may be interested in a costume

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon, … The Psychedelic Seventies!

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Bombinate – Wordplay Wednesday™ 08/22/18


A Word to Explode Your Writing 

Nope. We’re not gonna blow anything up.

Riddle: There is no bomb … no B-52 bomber … no bug bomb …not even a photo bomb. Yet, the Internet still bursts with it. Think hornets’ nest …

BOMBINATE (bämʹbɘ nāt’) vi. to make a buzzing sound. (n. bombination). [WW #178]

I often turn the sound off when reviewing news and social media on the Internet. And, even silently, five to ten minutes of visual noise at a time, is about all I can take. Why?

Incessant, insistent and obnoxious activity bombinates our senses all day, every day, like a stirred-up beehive, even without sound. It reverberates with inane and often, just plain ignorant, silent noise

With each new controversial topic posted every millisecond (and way too many podcasts and videos), the Internet bombinates without relief, 24/7. It’s up to us to limit our time on it, for the sake of our sanity, and our writing.

And are we ever away from it? How often do you sit in silence? If the answer is never, give it a thought. If you “can’t hear yourself think” for the noise of it—always reaching for your phone? … checking your fave social media?—it’s time for a break from the grid.
Bombination assailing your ears and eyes unceasingly, rivals the dreaded tinnitus that bombards our auditory senses, for the unlucky who suffer from it. Just like tinnitus, there is no cure, and very little respite. Sigh.

Word Challenge: BOMBINATE. Take an off-the-grid challenge, as you fit bombinate into your week of buzzy writings.

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

                  
@PenchantForPen

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon, … The Psychedelic Seventies!

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

QUIESCENT – Wordplay Wednesday™ 08/15/18


Too Busy to Think? Meditate.

Some people who have never tried meditating, think it’s a practice in which you must sit alone in total silence, and go into some type of weird body-mind-spirit-soul inner trance.

Sure, it can be that. It can also be a half hour of soothing music* while you still your mind, or a full day, communing with nature.

For most of us, however, we struggle to find five minutes of peace. You know what? That’s okay. Use it. Super-short meditation breaks are great for your mind and body.

It’s the essence of meditation that gives you a mental break. Close your eyes, shut down your thoughts, and be …

QUIESCENT (kwī esʹɘnt; kwē-) adj. – quiet, still, inactive. [WW #177]

This week’s word is most likely in use by creative writers for its elegant length and unique definition in place of common, uninspiring words we all know. 

Imagine a quiescent morning at the edge of the Grand Canyon, with only the hushed chatter of nature dancing on the air of a glowing dawn.

In our world of incessant noise, find “your place” of quiescent peace to think, dream, plan, write, or simply, be.

It’s that place where you can sit alone** for five or ten minutes, or an hour—the noise may still be there, but your personal distractions are not—the rest fades away. Only your peace of mind is present and quiescent. It’s good for your soul.

Word Challenge: QUIESCENT. Before you begin working or writing, or when stuck in the middle of it with a noisy mind, take a short break and meditate. It often helps to take four to eight deep breaths to still your mind***. There are no rules; no right or wrong way, just look within for your peace, as you fit quiescent into your week of enlightened writings. Ahhhhhhh.

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

                       

*  "The Grand Canyon Suite" by Ferde Grofé: For pleasure, turn your speakers up, it begins very slow and quietly, like the dawn … for meditation, keep the volume low.
** It can even be in front of the computer; though not around electronics is recommended.
*** Breathe in through your nose, hold for 2-3 seconds and expel through your mouth.

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon, … The Psychedelic Seventies!

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz