[foo t-loos] adjective free to go or travel about; not confined by responsibilities. Sometimes it’s 18 degrees but you have to walk the dog anyway after a long night of waiting tables. Sometimes you try to rush it and jog a bit and fall on the ice. But then sometimes you see ten bright shooting stars within ten minutes. You run back inside, pour someContinue reading “footloose.”
Category Archives: Pal
Arcadian.
/ahr-key-dee-uh n/ adjective 1: rural, rustic, or pastoral, especially suggesting simple, innocent contentment. “Foolishness? No, it’s not. Sometimes I spend all day trying to count the leaves on a single tree. To do this I have to climb branch by branch and write down the numbers in a little book. So I suppose, from theirContinue reading “Arcadian.”
ameliorate.
[uh–meel-yuh-reyt, uh–mee-lee-uh-] verb (used with or without object), ameliorated, ameliorating. 1. to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve. Sometimes I wake up on the wrong side of the bed. My bed is against the wall, so maybe I should pull it out a little so I have a better chance ofContinue reading “ameliorate.”
estival.
[es-tuh-vuh l, e-stahy-vuh l] adjective pertaining or appropriate to summer. Last night, I got off work at the saloon at 9:30pm. I said goodnight to my friends who would be there for a couple more hours, put my jacket on, and stepped outside. The sun was just setting and for the first time in what felt likeContinue reading “estival.”
puffery.
[puhf–uh-ree] noun, plural pufferies. 1. undue or exaggerated praise. 2. publicity, acclaim, etc., that is full of undue or exaggerated praise. Oh if anyone gets puffers a plenty, it’s the polar bear, Pal! He sits behind the register at the bookstore and people pour out the puffery with their words and their cuddles and theirContinue reading “puffery.”
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.”
crepitate.
[krep-i-teyt] verb (used without object), crepitated, crepitating. to make a crackling sound. A crepitating fire soothes and invigorates and mesmerizes. It is a night’s entertainment when I’m lucky. The crackle sound is so distinct and warming and goes perfectly next to a cup of tea and big fluffy polar bear. In Ketchum, Idaho, fireplaces are very common. There’s one at Java Coffee House,Continue reading “crepitate.”
willowwacks.
[wil-oh-waks] noun, New England. 1. a wooded, uninhabited area. Snowshoeing through the willowwacks can be enjoyable to the max–pack up a sack and don’t look back as you head to the willowwacks. It staves off anxiety attacks and limits chances of being surrounded by quacks. There’s not much the willowwacks lacks. These are facts and happinessContinue reading “willowwacks.”
sockeroo.
[sok-uh–roo] noun, plural sockeroos. Slang. a notable success. What might be a notable success to me might not be a sockeroo to you or Sue or Aimee Lou. I think this is something to remember and to hold true. A sockeroo for you might mean a promotion at the job you’ve had for a few years or teaching your toddlerContinue reading “sockeroo.”
paladin.
[pal–uh-din] noun any one of the 12 legendary peers or knightly champions in attendance on Charlemagne. any knightly or heroic champion. any determined advocate or defender of a noble cause. The Animal Shelter of Wood River is so wonderful. They are warm and talented and caring and Pal was treated so well there. When IContinue reading “paladin.”
