Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Of Words and Demons

Today I went to a local, used bookstore and was pleasantly surprised! The man at the register, who I am assuming owns the store, was very friendly and helpful, and he offered free coffee, soda, and wi-fi. The store ALWAYS boasts a tempting deal of buy 2, get 1 free, on top of the very low prices. The atmosphere felt very warm and comforting. Good, soft music played in the background, creating a peaceful ambiance, and couches and desks were strewn about the fireplace, lamps, and endless, hand-labeled bookshelves. The books cluttered the desks and coffee tables in an oddly reassuring fashion, and everything felt and looked like an antique. The crinkled spines of the novels stared back at me from their resting places, sometimes even masking their titles behind the wear and tear of loving abuse. Peoples' hands had flipped those pages as the reader cried and laughed over the words printed on yellowing sheets. My stroll through the store was medicinal; therapeutic. I couldn't help but feel my heart rate slow to a comfortable pace after the stress of the day, and I felt myself at home as I wandered the narrow aisles in search of a friend; a book that I could hold in my hands for hours to come, easing away stress and loneliness. Fortunately, I found three.

I am now the proud owner of "The Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty, "The Widows' Adventures" by Charles Dickenson, and "The Watcher" by Charles MaClean..

I immediately delved into "The Exorcist," and I found myself very excited since I have never seen the movie. It instantly terrified me. Now I lay in my bed and contemplate possible evils. Horrifyingly enough, my computer just started making eerie noises as I type. I may have to end my blog now... I'm fearful that the demon has come to possess my laptop, and in turn, me. What is going on? The irony of this coincidence scares me to death! I heard the noise as soon as I typed "evil." It sounded like a cricket or a tapping and a slow wind. Possibly birds chirping from far away. I pulled my laptop to my ear and sure enough, the noise issued from the keyboard. No, I am not making this up. I exited out of all windows, hoping that some advertisement had popped up or I had left some audio running. Unfortunately, the sounds persisted until I began to type again. Has the demon from "The Exorcist" truly come to haunt me as I sleep? Will he shake my bed as he did Regan's? Or has my fear brought on hallucinations? I hope it's the latter...

On a lighter subject, I have already run across a list of words to add to my vocabulary. Here they are (more for myself than anyone else):
Inchoate: Not yet begun, completed, or fully developed. Something just beginning.
-In September, the school year is inchoate. or: The inchoate season of fall.-
Hopefully those sentences worked...

Presentiment: The feeling that something is going to happen, specifically something evil. A foreboding or ominous premonition.
-Presentiment lingered around the test I had to take. or: I felt a presentiment that I would fail the test on Monday.

Diffident: Unsure about one's capabilities; insecure; lacking confidence. Or shy, timid, reserved.
-When it comes to sports, she is very diffident. or: Her diffident personality makes a bad first impression, driving people away.

Somnolent: Sleepy, drowsy, tired. Or something that brings on sleep.
-I felt myself grow more and more somnolent through the lecture. or: The somnolent work day urged me to go home and take a nap.

Raconteur: A person good at telling stories, jokes, or anecdotes in a funny or intriguing way.
-Dane Cook was born a raconteur. or: My sister is the best raconteur! She tells the best stories, embellished as they may be at times.

Insurrections: Revolt or rebelliousness against a government or civil authority.
-The insurrection of the American colonists against the British government led to the independence of the USA. (Does that work?)

Verbiage: Wordiness. A large amount of words within a speech, paper, etc...
-My teacher took points off of my essay for verbiage. or: The verbiage of her speech was somnolent. ;)

Precipitous: Abrupt, sheer, steep, impassable.
-Many people claim that Mt. Everest is precipitous. or: Mountain goats prefer to live in precipitous regions.

Proffered: An proposal or an offering.
-My boss proffered me a raise. or: I proffer my condolences.

Adulation: To admire extremely. Adore. Excessive flattery.
-His adulation for her was almost disgusting. or: Many Christians boast of their adulation for God.

Promulgating: Publish, proclaim, announce to public.
-He might as well be promulgating his affair considering how often he goes out in public with that girl.

Circumlocutions: A roundabout way of saying something. Beating around the bush. Using too many words to explain something.
-The way he speaks is so circumlocutory. It takes me 10 minutes to know what he's talking about.