I fell asleep sometime after 4:00 a.m., last night/early this morning. My fault as I stayed up reading the new library book! Then, I woke up at 7:00 a.m. and couldn't fall back asleep! So, I decided to get up. I brushed my teeth, had a cup of tea, replied to blog comments, and decided to continue reading one of the books I am currently reading. Yes, "books", plural! Three books, to be exact!
The book I read this morning was one of my daughter's text books when she was at university. She decluttered it from her bookshelves and I kept it to read it. It is one of several books I have on my shelves waiting to be read. I don't necessarily want to continue to keep them, but I didn't want to declutter them before I have read them, either.
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| Day 6 Book Decluttering |
I am glad I read that book because, I learned several new words! Some, like "numinous" (from Latin
numen meaning god) and "hierophany" (appearance of something sacred) were explained in the book and I could then work out the meanings of "hierogamy" (sacred marriage), since I knew that "hiero" meant sacred or holy. I could also figure out the meaning of other words like "anthropophagy", although "cannibalism" is the more common word. But, words like "ontology" (study of being), "apodictical" (absolute truth), "soteriology" (theology of salvation), "syncretism" (assimilation of different religions, practices), "catamenial" (pertaining to menstruation), and "peregrination" (traveling, often by foot), I had to look up to know the definition. They are all words I am not likely to use in everyday conversations or daily blog writing ("Today's evening peregrination around the block led me past the donut shop!"), but, I learned some new words, and that's a good thing! I could almost feel the brain cells firing up as I learned the new words! LOL.
This book is now in the donations bag.
I really haven't felt like doing any housework, these past few days. My weekly cleaning schedule is off the schedule, again! But, this afternoon, I forced myself to dust and I watered the indoor plants and the back yard. I also went through more of my mother's files. Today, I tossed the sympathy cards I had received from colleagues and friends (after first discussing it with my daughter, who didn't want to keep any of it) and some tax-related paperwork.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Learning new words
- Educational books
- Afternoon naps
- My daughter's lack of sentimentality
- A very understanding and supportive friend
Friday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop for more cat food
- Clean the kitchen
- Tend to the garden with M
How was your day, today? Did you know any of the words I listed above? Or are they all new to you, too? Do you like learning new words? What have you planned for tomorrow?
That looks like a book I would like!
ReplyDeleteI was talking to my daughter about The Handmaid’s Tale new season (I’m not going to let her watch it, because some of it is vile), and I automatically used the term “archetypal”.
She didn’t know what archetypal meant, and I didn’t know how to explain it, so she looked it up.
That's good that she looked up the meaning of the word, Akasha. It's funny how we know the meaning of a word, but find it hard to explain it to someone else, isn't it?
DeleteYes. I want her to read Jung now, but I doubt she’ll take it that far. Maybe someday.
DeleteShe might be a little too young, still. Wait a few more years. Maybe when she's 15 or so. :)
DeleteI like learning new words. I have several dictionaries, some even in the kitchen. But I tend to forget them after a while.
ReplyDeleteToday I practiced single crochet. The piece started getting smaller and smaller, so after 4 rows I watched a YouTube video and realized that I hadn’t started with a new chain at the beginning of each row. (Sigh)
I’m not sure what I will do tomorrow. I even forget the days now. This morning mom had to remind me that today was Friday! I’m in full vacation mode.
Good to hear that you are in full vacation mode. That means you are really relaxed. Do you feel like the days are longer when you are in Sri Lanka? That is how I used to feel, when I went back on holidays. That time slowed down for me.
DeleteWell done on practicing your crochet! We all make mistakes when we start learning something new. You Tube is a very good when it comes to tutorials, isn't it?
I am afraid that I've given away most of my dictionaries as I rely more and more on online dictionaries, these days. I do have a set of Reverend Carter's English-Sinhalese/Sinhalese-English dictionaries, which were a gift to me from an aunt, because my mother's grandfather (her father's father) helped to compile and edit them. The two set volume was originally given to my aunt by her mother and my aunt gifted them to me in memory of her brother who was my step-father (all carefully written out on the title page!). I have a copy of Malalasekera's English-Sinhalese dictionary, too (I am thinking of offering that one to the temple).
I knew peregrination but that's the only one. Do you think you'll remember your new words?
ReplyDeleteWe've had lots of rain today so my garden has, thankfully, been watered for me. My cleaner turned up so the house has been done as well.
I haven't done much today, just a little time on the piano and some reading. Tomorrow is band practice so I'm saving my energy for that.
I will probably forget most of them, over time, Eileen; if I do remember any, it would probably be peregrination, because I already knew the name Peregrine (I just didn't know the meaning of the name).
DeleteI'm glad your cleaner was able to come and do the house for you and the rain watered your house. Playing the piano and reading sound like an ideal way to spend a rainy day. All I've done so far this morning have been to wish my daughter a safe flight (she's off to Maryland to attend a conference) and reschedule a doctor's appointment at the request of his office! Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
You are doing well to toss those sympathy cards as they are sentimental. It reminded me that I also have some which I probably should part with.
ReplyDeleteThose words are really a mouthful, aren't they? I like the way that certain Latin or Greek words can tip us off to meanings of other words that include them, but I certainly can't imagine ever using the ones you discovered. Good for you making the effort to look them up!
Thank you, Bushlady. The sentimental stuff is hard to part with.
DeleteThe words are interesting aren't they? The book was published in 1959, so there are some terms in there that are no longer in common use, such as Annamese for Vietnamese, just like Ceylonese is no longer used and has been replaced with Sri Lankan. Sometimes, there's a whole history and geography lesson in a word! :)
I think you will remember these words longer than normal because you took time to write them in your blog post. I, on the other hand, read them and have already forgotten them. However, I think I could get many of them in context.
ReplyDeleteNot only did I write them in my blog, but also in a note book! I think the physical act of writing them down helps to reinforce the learning and retaining. :)
DeleteI knew more than half of them. I studied Greek and Latin, as well as Japanese and Spanish.
ReplyDeleteThat's so great that you knew so many of those words! My daughter studied Japanese and Spanish (as well as a little French), and she taught herself a little Latin, on her own, but I am afraid I don't know any of those languages!
DeleteWill you donate the book to me if I pay the postage? Linda
ReplyDeletepparsimony@yahoo.com Remember there is a pp in the email address.
I will be happy to send you the book (you don't have to pay me the postage), as long as you don't mind the fact that this book isn't in pristine condition. It was a text book, bought used, and has been underlined quite a bit in the first couple of chapters with a purple marker. :) I will email you to get your address. If you still want the book, let me know, and I'll mail it to you, next week.
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