Word of the Day: Ebullient

It’s Thursday and the day is moving slow… Ugghh!  I wonder if it could be any slower.  I keep looking at the clock and thinking to myself, when will this workday end?  I think I feel that way because the weekend is almost here and I have family in town that I want to spend time with.  Yet I have to get my work done and so here I am typing away to my faithful readers.  I do love it.  I’m just complaining because I can.  Isn’t that how it usually goes?  I really do love you all and I enjoy my work completely, but I think I have a little summer fever and need some well-deserved sun.  Anyhow, let’s get down to business and talk about why we are here today.

Word of the day… I bet some of you thought that I had forgotten.  But not this lady, I will never forget the word of the day.  Sure we may skip a day here and there, but never too many days in a row.  Besides, what am I going to do with all of those submitted words from my valued readers?  I have to get them the word of the day and so we press on.

Misty Roller, one of my wonderful Facebook fans and readers, submitted today’s word.  Thanks to you, Misty,  for submitting the word ebullient.  What a beautiful choice of words.  

Our definition comes to us from our online source at www.thefreedictionary.com

ebullient [ɪˈbʌljənt ɪˈbʊl-]

adj

1. overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement; exuberant

2. boiling

[from Latin ēbullīre to bubble forth, be boisterous, from bullīre to boil¹]

ebullience , ebulliency n

ebulliently  adv

I love this word as it is such a great word to use in a sentence.  It has always made me feel intelligent when using it and a little warm and fuzzy around the edges too.  Great word, Misty… keep them coming…

That is all we have for today; finish off the rest of your day being completely ebullient and have a great time.

That is all I have for now, so until we meet again remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Enter to win a Kindle

Hello all you wonderful people!  Well, it’s another wonderful day in the neighborhood and I am in great spirits.  Just a couple of more days until the weekend, when I get to spend time playing in the sun with my children.   I have planned a great BBQ with all the trimmings.  What about you?  Make sure to tell us what your plans are for the 4th of July.  I would love to read all about it.  Anything you want to talk about is okay by me.  You can even tell me all about your favorite 4th of July recipe or which type of fireworks you prefer.  I don’t care, just drop me a line and let’s chat.  For future reference, I love sparklers.  I have since I was little and now that I can enjoy them with my daughter, they’re even better.

Enough about the celebration of our independence; we need to move on to a more serious topic.  I need your help.   That is right, I need your help.  It has come to my attention that I have been deficient in requesting that my wonderful readers submit a review of the book The Immortal Lost onto the websites at AMAZON.COM and at BORDERS.COM .  It is important for us to have reviews and if I have not asked before, I am asking now.  Please take the time to log on and give us your personal review of the book.  Thanks.

As an incentive, I will do something that I swore I would never do.  I will give each individual who logs on to Amazon or Borders and gives a review a free chapter of the next book in the series, Dark Days.  In fact, I will give you my favorite chapter, where Abbadon goes dark evil psycho and decimates several of his own minions.  It also has a few very interesting tidbits on both Alessar and Dylan.

So take me up on this once in a lifetime offer.  We need reviews and we really need you to give them.  The fact that I hate giving out spoilers should be incentive enough for some of you.  Just to be able to say “Ha, I read that before anyone else did” should make your day.  I know that it would make mine.  As much as I hate doing it, I will in this instance, because I need your help.  And just to make sure that you have enough incentive I am going to go even one step farther and give each person who enters a review at Borders or Amazon a chance to win the next Kindle we will be giving out in December.  It’s as easy as pie… All you need to do is log on to Borders or Amazon to tell us what you think and you are entered for this great prize.

Okay, I hope that I have peaked your interest and that you are significantly intrigued with what is going to happen in the second book, Dark Days, that you jump online and give us a review of The Immortal Lost. I would greatly appreciate it, and so would my editor and publicist, Cindy. We are working hard to bring you the best of what we have and hopefully in the near future we will be showing up at a convention near you…

As for now that is all that I have, so have a great week and we will chat again tomorrow. Until then remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

4th of July

Hello all of you wonderful people. Just wanted to check in with all of you out in cyber space and see how things are going. We have a major Holiday coming up, which I am sure all of you are aware of.  I am just wondering if we really understand the significance of this day, not only you but also everyone within this great nation.  Our forefathers fought for rights that we sometimes forget or take for granted, which makes me wonder are we expressing to our younger generation just how important this day really is?

I recently met a wonderful woman who lived a life of persecution for several years within her own country because she fought her husband for the rights that you and I would feel were owed to us as citizens of these United States.

Her name is Felicity Okolo and she was abused, not only by her husband and his family, but the system that she lived in.  She had no rights and was desperate for not only herself, but for her children too.  After reading her book on her life experience, I am shocked and awed at how strong this woman was. Her book, by the way, is Who Stole My Power?  She has another book coming out called It is My Life and I’m in Charge.

Her first book gave me a little more perspective on how wonderful I do have it. Here in the United States of America, we are free. Yes, you heard me, we are FREE!!!

Free to practice our beliefs, free to earn a wage no matter what our sex is, and free to do just about anything we wish from speech to religion. It amazes me that we still live in a world where archaic behavior is still tolerated.

Tell me what you think about the 4^th of July and how you feel about it!

Tammy of New York had this to say…

“The Fourth of July is a time when all who are in America should celebrate our freedom, pride in America and love for our country. I get so emotional when I hear our songs and see our country standing with love and respect.  America is "HOME OF THE FREE AND THE BRAVE". Remember those who have fought for our freedom in the past, before we were even born, to right now when our babies are fighting for us.  Celebrate our ability to go where we want, when we want.  Women are of value here.  We don't have to live in fear.  Thank you for allowing me to share my pride in my country.”

We celebrate the historic event of our country’s independence each year, in celebration of the birth of a new nation.  In fact, you could say that the 4th of July is the birth date of America.  It has come to represent the freedoms we call human rights that this country was founded upon.

I love this day and I truly enjoy celebrating with all of my family who has served in the military in an effort to protect our great nation. So on this upcoming Monday, July 4^th, 2011, remember to take time and be thankful for the freedoms that we sometimes forget.

That is all for now. I do hope that you have a great week and remember to pick up a book and Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Curiosity

Hello all!  I am back from the weekend in Tulsa, OK and I have to say that I had a wonderful time.  Just like I alluded to in Friday’s blog, I knew I was going to have a great time and I was right.  How about you?  What was your weekend like?  Give me a shout out and we will chat.  I would love to hear all about your weekend… Drop a line here or on Prime Immortals on Facebook and we will chat.

Okay, I am ready to get busy with our regularly scheduled programming.  Okay, wait, I meant to say our word of the day!  Yeah, that’s right.  That is a sign of way too many years in broadcasting.  

So today’s word comes to us from the curious Ms. Dawn Schipman, location unknown.  It’s always interesting when I get requests with no information from the inquirer.  Yet that is just okey dokey in my book!  You hold on to that privacy, I totally get it.  Anyhow, let’s move on to the word of the day.  Today’s word is Curiosity…

Our definition comes to us from our online source at www.thefreedictionary.com 

cu·ri·os·i·ty  (kyr-s-t)

1. A desire to know or learn.

2. A desire to know about people or things that do not concern one; nosiness.

3. An object that arouses interest, as by being novel or extraordinary: kept the carved bone and displayed it as a curiosity.

4. A strange or odd aspect.

5. Archaic Fastidiousness.

We have all been curious at some point in time and we probably will be again.  Just remember that old saying, curiosity killed the cat.  So be careful and use your head.

That it all I have for today.  I hope you all have a great day.  Until we meet again on this wonderful world of cyber space, remember to Read On!!!

HR  Phillips

Pay It Forward

Hello all of you spectacular cyber space travelers. It’s Friday and you know what that means.   I’m off on a plane to a new and wondrous location.  In about forty-five minutes, I’ll be up in the air traveling to Tulsa, OK.  Watch out Tulsa, here I come.  That’s right, you read correctly.  I wrote it you read and I stand by it.  Tulsa, OK is a wondrous location.  I have someone to back me up on this statement.  She is my good friend and cohort in writing, editing and just general all around fun.  Cindy K loves Tulsa too.

Granted, I have only been there one time and my work was not all that great, but it was still beautiful country.  The sky at night was breathtaking and the people are super sweet.  I am truly looking forward to seeing a few new faces in the crowd, and searching for those faces I have had the honor to have already met.

What do I mean by that?  Well, I met a very sweet couple by the name of Cynthia and Thomas Hansen who I have been working with over the phone.  They are clients of mine whom I am attempting to help with their health and pain management.  Over the last nine months we have really gained some ground and a friendship has blossomed.  That is why I love my job.

You never know who you’re going to meet and how that relationship may grow into a great friendship unless you put yourself out there.  I have many new friends just by taking the time to do something that I call paying it forward.

I am a devoted Christian and I know Jesus is my savior.  Yet I also believe that we make the energy that we chose.  Karma, if you will.  What you put out there always has a way of coming back.  So remember to pay it forward and enjoy life.  It is way too short to be squandered.  Look at me; I have been blessed time and again.  The proof is there in my children and the fact that I am still alive and standing here today.

Take the time to smell the roses and watch your kids or grandkids play.  I always refer to my father’s words when he would spend too much on a tractor and my mother would get upset. “Don’t you worry, Ma! We’re alright.  You know you can’t take it with you.”  My mother would shake her head and that would be the end of it.  Which leads me to the following saying that I live by, “You won’t be remembered by what you have, but by the deeds that you have done.”  Pay it Forward!!!!!

That is all I have for today.  I hope that you enjoyed the blog today.  Sorry for not putting in a word of the day, but sometimes I just write what I am feeling… Happy is the emotion of the day. Hope your day is the same.

Until we meet again remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Eccentric

So the week goes on and so does the work.  Many days I stare at my computer and wonder why it is that I go to work every day doing the same old thing and thinking to myself “What the heck am I doing here?”  And then it hits me.  I like my job…

Sure, there are a lot of people out there who would say I am crazy, but I love what I do.  I have a job where I work with people on a regular basis and help them each and every day, taking away their pain and putting them back on the track to health and wellness.  I travel and meet people that I would otherwise never have an opportunity to meet.

A side benefit is that I can write anytime that I’m not busy working with my clients.  It doesn’t happen very often, and I’m usually too busy.  It can make for a very long day and the only thing that may change it is the way a person appreciates the help you have just given them.  It will change how you look upon your day.

Of course, I have bad days too.  That’s how the blog began, with one client unhappy and using me as the punching bag for his verbal abuse.  Yet, I survive.  Words can hurt, but they can heal too.  All it takes is a happy client, which by the way I have several of, to turn my frown upside down and give me the strength to work just a little harder for the client who is needing more assistance.  Maybe I can help him and change his outlook on life for the better…

Alright, now that I have that off my chest and have got the fingers limbered up, let’s do a little writing for the word of the day.

Today’s word of the day comes to us from the beautiful and very talented Brenda Hovdens of Rapid City, SD.  She has chosen the word eccentric.

Great word choice, Brenda.  I believe you have submitted before as well, so keep them coming and you just may win that Kindle E-Reader in September.

Our definition comes to us from our online source at www.merriam-webster.com

ECCENTRIC

1 a : deviating from an established or usual pattern or style <eccentric products>

b : deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways <an eccentric millionaire>

2 a : deviating from a circular path; especially : elliptical 1 <an eccentric orbit>

b : located elsewhere than at the geometrical center; also : having the axis or support so located <an eccentric wheel>

Well, I think that we have all been around a few eccentric people in our day.  If you have a story of someone you know or maybe you yourself are eccentric, share your story with us.  

That is all I have for now. Have a great day and remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Temptation

Today is a wonderful day to start out a new exercise program.  I’m not too sure if it is the right program for me, but hey, you never know unless you try.  For those of you who know me or have taken the time to read my blog every day, you know that I exercise everyday in Zumba classes.  Every weeknight that I am at home, you can catch me dancing, jumping and pumping to the hit songs of Rihanna, Eminem and many more.  I absolutely love it.  Yet I am just not keeping the weight down.  So as an added benefit to my daily routine, I have included walking 2 miles each night.  Maybe this will do the trick.  Who knows?  If anyone has a suggestion on how to get rid of a little unwanted weight, let me know.

So let me lead you into familiar ground with our word of the day.  Temptation is the third word submitted by Suzane J. and what a great word it is.  Keep them coming, Suzane; you are giving yourself just that many more chances at winning the Kindle.

For those of you who are new to the word of the day contest, please take the time to submit a word on the blog, Prime Immortals Facebook page or even the contact site on our webpage, www.primeimmortals.com .  You will then have the opportunity to win a Kindle e-reader in September’s drawing.  Each individual who has submitted a word will have their name placed into the drawing for his/her chance to win.  The more words you submit, the greater your chances.

Thanks again, Suzane, and I have to say the word is perfect for today.  Temptation is an awesome word and it is around us at all times.  From the beginning of time, with Eve and the apple to today with my daughter and the chocolate bar that clearly belongs to one of her brothers. There is always a price to pay with the word temptation, yet I can see the word as something even more; possibly a greater good?

If the temptation of a new career were not there, I would still be broadcasting TV.  I am much happier now than I was back then.  So as you can see it, works both ways.  Temptations don’t have to be bad.

Well, I say we go to our definition coming to us from our online source at www.bing.com/dictionary

temp·ta·tion

1.  desire for something bad: a desire or craving for something, especially something considered wrong "yield to temptation"

2. incitement of desire: the incitement of desire or craving in somebody

3. cause of desire: somebody or something that tempts somebody "too many temptations for me here"

As I stated before, temptation is an awesome word and can be used in text a variation of ways. Yet in most situations, the definition above is most common.  Tempt yourself at doing what it is that you love.  

That is all I have for today.  Until next time, remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Platitude

Hello to all you wonderful people this morning taking the time to read my blog.  I hope that all is well in your world and that each and every one of you had a great weekend.  I can truly say that I was until somewhere along the way my sweet little daughter got herself a bit of an ear infection.  I think it started out as swimmers ear, which can be very painful and then turned into a double ear infection.  This, of course, completely ruined her fun for the Father’s Day weekend.

A good friend of mine pointed out that I have been having a lot of sickness in my household.  I don’t believe that we are, but with the number of children I have and the fact that they are dare devils and outdoors fanatics, it is no wonder I have my share of ear infections and broken bones. Only two broken bones over the last six years.  That’s not too bad, considering that my four children are completely insane when it comes to the riding of bicycles and other forms of transportation.

I also have the only seven year old daughter for miles that actively chases down her twelve year old brother in the hopes to pummel him with her fists over some slight that he managed to get her with.  Oh well, it is called the joy of motherhood and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  

Who knows what will happen tomorrow?  I sure don’t, but I do know this.  My kids, with their skinned knees and multiple bruises, are happy to be out there in the fresh sun and air, having a great time fighting with each other and making memories that will last forever.  I would like to not have the ear infections.  Yet I couldn’t stop Miss Ella from swimming even if I tried.  She is my little fish…

Well enough about my family, let’s get to the blog family and discuss the word of the day.  Miss Jamie Menning Regier submitted the word platitude.

Great word, Jamie, and hopefully I will be able to do it justice in this blog.  Platitude is a word I have been familiar with for some time.  Any writer worth his or her salt should be aware of the definition for fear of ever having their writing being described in such a way.  For those of you who are not familiar with the word, the definition is below.  Today’s definition comes to us from our online source at www.thefreedictionary.com

plat·i·tude

n.

1. A trite or banal remark or statement, especially one expressed as if it were original or significant. See Synonyms at cliché.

2. Lack of originality; triteness.

Well there you have it folks, the definition of platitude: lack of originality; triteness…  Harsh word, but still important in the world of writing.  So for all of you inspired young nubile minds wanting to put pen to paper, I say go for it…  Don’t worry about the platitudes, cliché and commonplace tired expressions that you may or may not write.  At least make the attempt.

That is half the battle, you can only get better with practice, or so I am told.  If it is something that you want, then make it happen.  Writing is an expression of the writer.  Express yourself. Wait, was that a cliché?  Oh well, I guess anyone can do it…

That is all for now. Thanks and remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Father's Day Weekend

Well, it is Monday morning and all is great on this home front.  I had a wonderful weekend with my family and we celebrated Father’s Day with several well deserving dads…

I am happy to announce that we will most likely be doing another show and book signing in Omaha, NE this upcoming July.  Once we have finalized the details, I will make sure to post them here and on our Prime Immortals Facebook page.

Just a friendly reminder to all of you out there in cyber space, if you still want to submit your essay for the $500.00 drawing, your time in running out.  We are already in the middle to end of June and the essays are due in August.  So get busy and get them in.  As of right now, we only have a few entries and the odds are getting rather good for them.  Throw your hat into the ring and give yourself a chance.  You never know, you may just be a winner!

I also wanted to touch base on our word of the day contest.  We are getting several words and they are all great, but I need more.  Five days in a week and I need words to fill them.  Sure, I can come up with the words myself, but the point is that if you do it you have a chance to win the Kindle in September.

So submit a word for the contest and see if you win.  It really is not that difficult to do.  There is no limit to your choice of words.  You can go with slang, foreign, medical or even a simple little word like YES!!!  However, please refrain from using profanity or anything along that line.  Not only do my children read this blog, so does my mother.  Don’t want to get into unnecessary trouble, now do we?

Just a little update on the book itself for you; we are seeing great reviews coming in from all over the country, but we would love to hear what you have to say.  It is important to share what you think so we can grow from your impression of the book.  The series is complete in its outline and I know where it is going.  Yet that doesn’t mean we can’t change things to make the series a little longer.  Instead of four books, we could maybe squeeze out another and give the readers what they want.  Just another thought in this writer’s head…  Anyone interested in putting in his or her two cents?  Let me know your thoughts and maybe we can write something together!

That’s all I have for now, so before you go to bed tonight, take a little time to pick up a book and read a few chapters.  If not chapters, then pages and if not pages, a few lines.  Keep illiteracy at bay and remember to READ ON!!! 

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Muse

Yeah!!!  It is Friday and the weekend is just getting started… I love it when I get to plan a weekend at home with my family.  I usually travel weekends, but not this weekend.  It’s Father’s Day weekend and I have planned to have a great time.  I do hope that all of you out there in cyber space are planning something wonderful for the fathers in your lives.

My children and I are planning a BBQ with all the fixings for the big day.  My daughter has already made her gift and is in the process of creating the perfect card to go with.  She is such a little artist.  So if you have some plans that you would like to share, drop me a note and let me know all about them.

It’s Friday, so I am going to keep this short and sweet.  Today’s word of the day comes to us from a father and good friend, Travis J. of Minneapolis, MN.  He has submitted the word “muse”.

Our definition comes to us from our online source at www.thefreedictionary.com

Muse  n.

1. Greek Mythology Any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science.

2. a. A guiding spirit.  b. A source of inspiration.

3. A poet.

What a beautiful word.  It’s not a word you would see in any of my writing, but it should have a better standing in our daily vocabulary.  Yet I know that in today’s society we tend to use words of slang more often than words of beauty.  Muse is one of those words that you would find in a book like Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence.  It is a book of beauty and devotion.

I write for pure entertainment, excitement, adventure and drama.  I love the book Lady Chatterley’s Lover.  I always get so sentimental when I read it, but when it comes to today’s readers it is hard for them to grasp the true meaning of the book before they get bored and set it aside.  That is why a stimulating book like the Prime Immortal Series gets such great reviews in today’s market.  Time changes all things, even the entertainment that we chose to enjoy.

Well folks, that’s all I have for today.  Take the time to enjoy your weekend and say a happy heartfelt Father’s Day to all who may be included in this wonderful celebration.

Until the next time, we chat again… remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Basorexia

Good Morning all!  It is Thursday morning and I believe the day has started out rather well.  I went for an invigorating walk with the newest addition to my family, Sir Oscar Bob Poochie!  He is a wonderful Miniature Schnauzer that has turned our lives and home upside down.  I never realized how much one could love a pet until this little man came into my life.

Sure, I have had pets before and I loved them all.  I grew up on a dairy farm and animals were a huge part of my life, making sure to care for them and always spending time with them.  It didn’t matter if it was a dog or a cat or even a pig ~ I loved them all.  Yet, with Oscar it is different.

He has obviously come into my life at a time when I needed him the most and somehow he has wormed his way into my heart and becoming a huge part of my family…  I have gone so far as to buy this little man a leather vest that says “simple road warrior” on it.  Yes you heard me… I have officially become one of those dog owners that I always made fun of.  

How could I have slipped so far so fast?  Oscar has only been with us for only three weeks and he is taken over the household.  I guess it is just in the power of those puppy dog eyes and that adorable little beard that allows him the privilege to sleep next to my head each night in bed rather than at the foot, where most dogs lie.  He is sooo spoiled, but truly loved.  

Well, that is enough on Sir Oscar Bob Poochie.  For those who are asking why would she name that poor dog such a long and strange name?  Well, the answer is simple.  I have four children and they all wanted to name him.  So, due to that fact alone, we compromised and each child was allowed to offer up a suggestion.  Eventually Sir Oscar Bob Poochie was the final result.  It’s a little bit of a mouth full, but in most situations we just call him Oscar, with the exception of my son, Caleb, who insists on calling him Sir Bob…  I did catch him the other day calling him Oscar when he thought that I wasn’t paying attention.  After all, Oscar only comes when he is addressed properly.  He is such a smart dog… Caleb will come around soon; it is just a matter of time.  

As for now, it is time to get back on track and discuss the word of the day.  Today’s word comes to us from Ben Elmlinger of Buffalo, WY.  He has submitted the word basorexia.

Okay, you got me Ben.  I have no idea what this word means.  I want to think that it is a food issue like anorexia, but for some reason I just don’t think you would make it that easy.  This is the second word this week that has got me thinking.  The first was a phobia and I had a pretty good sense of the word but this one has me baffled.  So let’s get the definition and see where it takes us.

Our definition comes to us from our online source at www.babylon.com

Basorexia

An overwhelming desire to neck or kiss

Okay, Ben! I get it!  You’re a young man feeling a little basorexic for the first time.  It will pass…  I suggest that you take up a hobby like running and leave the girls alone.  The choice is yours, but a piece of advice from an older and wiser human.  Live the life of a child for as long as you can.  It goes by fast, don’t forget to have fun and be careful.

That is all for now.  Until the next time we meet again, remember to Read On!!!

HR Phillips

Word of the Day: Loquacious

Hello again all my wonderful readers.  Does anyone know what today is?  Well, it is Wednesday, hump day, middle of the week and we made it this far day.  Only two more days to go before the weekend is upon us… Yeah!   Not to sound too terribly excited because I really am having a great week at work, but I can’t wait until this weekend when the weather is going to be wonderful and I will get to play in the sun outside all day long… even if that does mean working in the yard and catching up on some much needed weeding.

I think that my roses need a little tender loving care too.  It is just that I am tired of being indoors when the beautiful warmth of the sun and fresh air of the great outdoors could revitalize me in seconds.  I guess you could say I have a little spring/summer fever… I do hope that I am not the only one feeling this way.  I am sure that some of you out there in the cyber world are outdoor fanatics like myself; if not, you should be.

Don’t worry, you can carry your laptop outside and get some fresh air while still being connected to the world via internet.  That is exactly what my son does.  He comes up from his man-cave in the basement of our home and spends a little time in the fresh air.  I think it helps his energy levels so that he can stay up all night playing Halo and other such games with his buddies online.   

Enough on that subject.  Why don’t we discuss the word of the day?  Yesterday we had a great word submitted by Hadley P. which did have me stumped as to its definition.  Today’s word is one that I know, but I am wondering if it is often used enough in everyday language that you, my readers, would understand it?

So let’s get to the word submitted by Kim Schneider of Rapid City, SD. She has chosen the word loquacious.  I know exactly what this word means and in fact can remember the day that I read it on my spelling bee list.  I really had a hard time back then, but it only helped in my understanding of the word today.  I, myself, can be very loquacious at times. I think it is just my personality and the fact that I love life and want to share in its joy always.  By the way, I lost the spelling bee.  The word I could not spell is irrelevant now, but please note that I have never misspelled it ever again.

Okay, let us move on to the word of the day and its definition. We take our definition from the online source at www.merriam-webster.com

lo·qua·cious adj \lō-ˈkwā-shəs\

1 : full of excessive talk : wordy

2 : given to fluent or excessive talk : garrulous

— lo·qua·cious·ly adverb  — lo·qua·cious·ness noun

So if you know me then you know that I, as well as most of my side of the family, are loquacious by definition.  We love to talk.  We love to express and share in the joy that comes from conversation.  Debating is another pastime that I love.  So I guess that it was just in my blood.

Well, that is all I have for now.  So I guess I will be chatting with you next time.  Until then, remember to Read On!!!  

H.R. Phillips

Word of the Day: Triskaidekaphobia

Hello everyone!  Well, it is a beautiful day outside and I am so very envious of all the people who will be able to spend the day outdoors and enjoy this sunny day.  I really need to get out there and join them, but duty calls and work is beginning to pile up.  So I will tighten my belt and get busy.  Maybe if I am diligent I will complete what needs to be done right away and get to spend some time in the sun.

With that being said, let’s get today’s word of the day out of the way.  Ooooh!!! I am such a Dr. Seuss wanna be… Alright, enough of that; it is serious business time.  Well, as much as I can hope to be serious…

Today’s word of the day comes to us from one of my younger readers.  Hadley P has submitted the word triskaidekaphobia.  Whew!...  Is that a mouth full or what?  Well, it is pretty obvious that Hadley has stumped me with this one.  I have no idea what the definition of this word is.  I can speculate that it is a fear of some sort because of the phobia on the end, but I will have to defer to the online source to get a true understanding of the word.

Today’s definition of the word triskaidekaphobia comes to us from the online source- www.dictionary.reference.com

tris-kai-dek-a-pho-bi-a   [tris-kahy-dek-uh-foh-bee-uh, tris-kuh-]

-noun
fear or a phobia concerning the number 13.

Okay!  That is just a little strange.  I can honestly say that I have never heard of such a fear. Then again, I am sure that there are several fears that I am unaware of.  Yet, who takes the time to name them?  Why not just say I have a fear of the number 13?  How do we get these strange words and who is making them?  If anyone has the answer, let me know.  I really would be interested in hearing how one comes to the determination that the letters placed together for this word gives us that specific definition.  It is probably something as simple as triskaideka being the Latin word for thirteen.  Anyhow, give me your thoughts.

That is all for now and I would like to say thank you to Hadley for such a great word.  Until next time, remember to Read On!!!

H.R. Phillips

Contagion Outbreak!

Contagion Outbreak is a convention with some very interesting and wonderful creatures. It was exactly what this Sci-fi author, Treky lover and other worldly believer needed to fill her weekend.  

Those who walked among us fall into the most creative of categories.  Not only could you see Starfleet Officer Captain Janeway walking among the horde of zombies that continually passed by in search of lord knows what, but you could also see a copious number of Star Wars Storm Troopers as well.  Darth Vader made an appearance, along with Han Solo and, of course, you could not have a Sci-fi convention without the infamous Captain Kirk… It was quite an event and I have to say for a first in the Midwest, it was done rather well.  Kudos to the staff and the Contagion Outbreak Hosts; you did a great job.  I look forward to attending next year…

Since we are talking about staff, I have to say a heartfelt thank you to Miss Hannah D and Shelby B for their great assistance during the Con.  You girls made it fun for everyone who came to the booth.  Both the young and old found you entertaining and fun to be around.  I do believe that is why we always had such a large crowd surrounding our booth.  Or could it be that I am just that good?  Yeah, it is a great book and I have the best fans out there.  Thanks to you all.

So that I don’t forget one of the other very important staff who attended the con with me, I have to say once again thank you to my son, Dylan.  When he found out that we would be attending a Sci-Fi Con for a book signing, he was very excited to help out.  Being his mother and knowing exactly how his mind works most of the time, I did not delude myself into thinking that he would really be there to help.  Yet, he proved me wrong.  He was a huge help.  Sure he would suddenly go missing in the middle of a growing crowd and would not show up for some time, but in retrospect I think it all worked out well.  He was in heaven with the Game Stop and Game On booths that were participating in the event.  He also was able to learn how to make his own Halo Spartan soldier costume from scratch.  Which is exactly what the mother of a dedicated gamer wants to see; activity other than sitting in front of the TV screen with the option of possibly getting a little dirty.

Did I mention there were several gamers there as well?  Along with a few Halo characters like the Spartan Soldiers, there was also a few Castle Crashers who joined in the fun.  And for the older Sci-Fi generation, even the table top Dungeons and Dragons game was represented though out the Con.  

All in all, it was a wonderful time and I was honored to say I participated in the first and almost assuredly to be annual event.  

Make sure you check out the pictures that I will be posting shortly on the website and you can see for yourself just how impressive this Con was…

That is all for now tomorrow we will be back on track with the word of the day.  So until then remember to pick up a book and Read On!!!  

H.R. Phillips

Word of the Day Curriculum

Okay, so it is Monday morning and I am feeling like I should have stayed in bed.  It was a very long weekend of travel and work.  I’m so sorry if I sound a little cranky, but we all have bad days.  Let’s just chalk today’s beginning as one of those days.  And I will make every effort to shake off the rest of my ill temper for the rest of the day.  Maybe I need a little of last week’s Friday word of the day… COFFEE!   Yeah, baby!   Go for the gusto of caffeine; it just may help.

Anyhow, enough on that subject, let’s talk word of the day.  Today’s word is coming to us from a preschool teacher and fellow literacy advocate in young adults, Laurie S. of South Dakota.  She has chosen the word Curriculum.   It is completely fitting for her, since that is exactly what she does every single day of the school week.

Our definition comes to us from our online source at www.merriam-webster.com

CURRICULUM

1 : the courses offered by an educational institution

2 : a set of courses constituting an area of specialization

I am almost positive that you understand the meaning of the word after reading the definition. So, I would like to take this moment to honor the teachers out there in all of our educational establishments.  Your job is one of great honor.  Even though the majority of you are not treated with the respect that you deserve, and credited as you should be.

It is why at this moment on this blog I would like to say thank you for all that you do.  Not only do I want to say thank you to those of you with certification to teach in our schools and educational institutes, but those of you who make the effort to teach with just the goodness in your heart; all of you Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, Sunday school teachers and more. Thank you.  You are appreciated.  Our future is within your hands.

I know now you think that I went all soft on you.  Okay, so I started out crabby and ended up poignant.  I better stop while I still can.  That’s all I have for today.  Help our next generation by stimulating them into reading.  Join the battle and have fun doing it.  You may be surprised what you accomplish.  If you have questions, just send me a note and we will get you started with your own curriculum and hopeful change a path not just you, but a bright new star in the world of reading and writing.

All my best and remember ~ Read On!!!

H.R. Phillips