Facebook memories can really knock you off kilter sometimes, you know what I mean? One minute you’re scrolling through and seeing your friend’s plate full of blueberry pancakes and then you get the memory notification and you are knocked in the face with the past. The day Ryan Cauble passed away. The Idaho aspens thatContinue reading “norah jones.”
Category Archives: Coffee
overwinter.
[oh-ver-win-ter] verb (used without object) to pass, spend, or survive the winter. This guy doesn’t just pass, spend, or survive the winter; he thrives, rolls in it, gulps it up, and basks in it. We could all learn a thing or two from him. He never complains about the low temperature. He surveys his surroundings,Continue reading “overwinter.”
Tannenbaum.
[tah-nuh n-boum; English tan–uh n-boum] noun, plural Tannenbäume [tah-nuh n-boi-muh] (Show IPA). English, Tannenbaums. German. a Christmas tree. It was a very Idahoey, wintery, Christmasy thing to do, so we poured hot dark coffee in thermoses, brought my last Cold Mountain into the cold mountains, and trudged through the snowy forest to find the perfect Tannenbaums. It was only $10 for a permit to go intoContinue reading “Tannenbaum.”
corybantic.
[kawr-uh–ban-tik, kor-] Adjective frenzied; agitated; unrestrained. Labor Day weekend at the saloon was hoppin’. People loved not laboring and they waited over two hours to eat prime rib. The nights were long and I was exhausted and Pal was ready for adventure. Finally, Kelly and I had a night off. “Wanna hike to Heart Lake?”Continue reading “corybantic.”
titivate.
TIT-uh-veyt verb 1: to make smart or spruce. 2: to make oneself smart or spruce. My cozy cabin is brown, brown, brown. The walls, the carpet, the couch. The porch, the firewood, the boots on the floor. I love it, but a girl can only take being surrounded by so much brown before she hasContinue reading “titivate.”
hoi polloi.
[hoi puh–loi] plural noun the common people; the masses (often preceded by the). Sometimes it’s nice to embrace being one of the hoi polloi. It’s easier at times to just blend in, to put your earphones in and keep quiet while in an airport or on a plane. Flying is full of ups and downs. For me, not just geographically but emotionally, too, especially ifContinue reading “hoi polloi.”
wafflestompers.
[wof–uh l-stom-perz] Plural noun ankle boots with ridged soles, used especially for hiking. I feel very lucky to now have many people in my life who will strap on their wafflestompers and go on an adventure with me and my polar bear. About halfway through the hike, they start brainstorming about what they want for brunch. Waffles hopefully. Some place where breakfast is servedContinue reading “wafflestompers.”
bonhomie.
[bon-uh–mee, bon–uh-mee; French baw-naw-mee] noun frank and simple good-heartedness; a good-natured manner; friendliness; geniality. Frank and simple good-heartedness. I type this out and just sit and stare at it with a smile. It warms the cockles (as Trish would say). Frank and simple. Not overanalyzed, not complicated, just old-fashioned good-heartedness. Assuming the best about people. Letting benefit defeat doubt. Holding doors, buying coffees, shoveling snowyContinue reading “bonhomie.”
kerflooey.
[ker-floo-ee] adverb, go kerflooey to cease functioning, especially suddenly and completely fall apart; fail. I don’t wake up easily. Alarms make my skin crawl. So I’m thankful for an evening job. I wake up because my body feels ready for it at 9:00, knowing there’s fresh snow everywhere. I get out of bed, start boiling the water, and get a fire going by the time theContinue reading “kerflooey.”
spoonerism.
[spoo-nuh-riz-uh m] noun the transposition of initial or other sounds of words, usually by accident, as in a blushing crow for a crushing blow. Dord of the way! The fow is snalling and I bapped on my stroots and walked to Barstucks for a cup of coffee, a Bristmas Chlend. Mmm. Up to twelve inches are expected and I’m going to have to sluy a bed! A bright sled red.
beth of fresh air 