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Today’s word is tenebrous. According to dictionary.com, this word means dark and gloomy, as in ‘a tenebrous cave’


I wonder if it could be used to describe me before I met Primula. You see, I used to be a tenebrous bear, until I met Primula. When I fell off the shelf and accidentally found myself joining her for a sing along, my whole life changed – instead of being tenebrous, I was suddenly light and bright, like Primula. I realised life was GOOD.

And it is, still. So don’t be tenebrous.
Be happy!

A new word for you (and me): objurgate.

According to dictionary.com, this refers to the act of scolding or rebuking sharply.

I didn’t know that I was objurgating, but recently two of the toy soldiers were having a disagreement near my shelf. Their arguing woke me up and, I must confess, I got very snarly.

“Go away!” I snapped. “I don’t want to see you here.”

Later, when I’d woken properly, I felt quite bad. Those soldiers were obviously in need of a sympathetic ear. It may have been that I could help with their problem by being a rational third party. So I sought them out and apologised for my brusque words. They accepted my apology and also agreed to settle their differences.

Next time I’m woken, though, I’ll try not to objurgate. Instead, I’ll attempt to figure out what is needed from me, and to act more calmly.

Today’s word of the day at Dictionary.com is beneficence – the practice of doing good, or an act of charity. So, I figured having learnt a new word, I’d try putting that word into action. So, to show some beneficence. Hmm. I looked around the toyroom. Toys were playing, toys were snoozing, toys were chatting. Who could benefit from my beneficence?

Then I saw Primula, the most giving and caring of all the toys. Giving and caring and sharing are what she’s all about – so perhaps it was her turn to be on the receiving end. I raced over to a group of stuffies (stuffed animals for those of you not in the know) and whispered my suggestion. Then we crept across the toyroom to where Primula was busy tidying a shelf.

‘Ahem, Primula,’ I said. ‘We have something for you.’
“For me?” Primula was surprised.
‘Yes. You are always so busy helping us that we want to do something for you.’ I turned to the other toys. ‘Now one, two three.’

And what do you think we did? We launched into a song. One of Primula’s favourites – Don’t Worry, Be Happy.

Soon, Primula was joining in, which was lovely, but still, I think she most enjoyed hearing all of us sing for her, and she certainly ahs had an extra spring in her step ever since.

Beneficence. When was the last time you tried it?

My friend (and official biographer) Sally came back from Perth with a new word for me. Sally had been listening to Erin Brockovich, and according to Brockovich, it’s her favourite word. The word?

Sticktoitive (adjective) tenaciously resolute (also spelt stick-to-it-ive)

Brockovich recounted the story of her mother always using the word whenever she was finding life hard. ‘Where’s your sticktoitiveness?’ her mother would say. Brockovich eventually told her mother to stop using the word – because it wasn’t real. Hah! Her mother made her open the dictionary – and sure enough there it was.

Anyway, as soon as Sally told me this tale I reached for the toy room dictionaries. It wasn’t in the Collins Australian Dictionary, but it is there Websters College Dictionary, which comes all the way from the United States. The word has US origins, which is why it’s there, I guess.

I think it’s a great word and a great way to live life. If Primula had no sticktoitiveness, she wouldn’t have persevered in getting this bear to sing. And if I had no sticktoitiveness, I wouldn’t have mastered the art of typing – keyboards are NOT paw-friendly.

Are YOU sticktoitive? If not, why not try to develop some sticktoitiveness in the areas of your life you find challenging?

Sheila at Wands and Worlds tagged me with a meme that asks for nothing but the names of five nonkidlit blogs that I read. That seems pretty simple--and blog related--so here goes.

I definitely go to artsJournalpublishing every day. This isn't technically a blog. This page on publishing just looks like one. AJ has blogs elsewhere. I like this place because it directs me immediately to articles in other publications. I find lots of good stuff here, particularly book articles in British publications.

I still go to Blog of a Bookslut every day. This blog doesn't have as many offerings as it used to have because one of its contributors (Michael?) left. It still has frightening attitude.

I started going to BookLust because Patricia Storms was an illustrator who worked on children's books, and she's Canadian. I thought I should be paying attention to illustrators, plus I do try not to be ethnocentric. (I've got family members who will say there are other things I ought to be worrying about.) Storms does other types of illustration, and her blog turned out to be more general. She often makes me feel artie.

I started going to Bookseller Chick because I felt I should be paying more attention to marketing. I am a very weak marketer. Well, of course, very soon after I started visiting her blog, her store closed. Now I keep checking in to see what she's going to do. Will she get into publishing school? Will she take a temp job?

I occasionally skim Pub Rants, which is a literary agent's blog. Again, I am lousy at marketing, and I keep thinking going here will help. But I rarely have time to do much reading here. Marketing is always the thing I blow off when I'm strapped for time. If I have a choice between reading about the battle over Anna Nicole's baby and reading about marketing, I will always choose the kid.