Words

Xyst (pronounced zist)
noun
   (in ancient Greek, Roman architecture) a covered portico, as a promenade.
   (in an ancient Roman villa) a garden walk planted with trees.

Ah…no. This word’s meaning is clearly, REALLY either:

A) what you put in your ultra dry sapphire martini when you’re not in the mood for olives (even when they’re jalapeño stuffed olives).
B) that unfortunate skin condition of teenagers which occasionally has the cruel audacity to resurface during the hellscape of menopause.

Liaison
(from Late Latin ligationem (nominative ligatio) “a binding,”)
noun
   1. the process of thickening a sauce using starch (flour, cornstarch), egg yolks, fat…
   2. an illicit sexual relationship
   3. a person who helps groups work together

I think this word is having to work too hard. I mean, honestly now, it’s about human relations (sexual and not) AND food? I can do a liaison with my miso dressing, have an aventure passionnée (with Jason Momoa of course) AND broker peace in the Middle East like Ralph Bunche?

C’mon, this word deserves a nice long holiday.

Low tide during yesterday's wintling walk

Mettlesome
Adjective
   full of vigor and strength of spirit or temperament.

Today is not a terrifically mettlesome day. I’d rather sit with a good book and a bowl of bon bons than brave the wind battered seawall for my walk.

Predilection
noun
   a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something.

I have a predilection for spicy Thai dishes, the writings of Charles Bukowski, hot toddies and carrot cake. My tastes aren’t terribly complicated.

Wintle
verb
   A) to sway or cause to sway from side to side
   B) to tumble or capsize

As you know, I wintle when I walk. I’m the epitome of wintleness.

Captious
adjective
   apt to make trivial criticisms; fault-finding; carping

I can be an awfully captious old thing. Fer instance, Wynonna—a great, wittily written, sometimes scary show.

• Why was the hero always dressed in skintight leather pants and crop tops? Wouldn’t that totally fuck with her ability to fight the bad guys?
• Why did they dye Wynonna’s beautiful, naturally dark brown hair a much lighter hue in season four? At least they didn’t go blonde but still…
• The show is set in the middle of absofucking rural nowhere. How is it that all the women are chicly, stunningly, cutting edgily outfitted.
• Whatever happened to Doc’s vampire ex-wife? What's the deal? She was cool.
  
• How can anyone live in the rickety, near falling down Earp barn in a northern winter?
• Why isn’t Wynonna’s hair flying around her helmet-free head as she races down the highway on a motorcycle?

OK, OK, I get it—this was fantasy, fiction, a flight of fancy but the occasional round of verisimilitude could be fun.

Intrepid
adjective
   characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance.

On this coming Wednesday at 9:30AM, I begin proton radiation therapy. I will face this like an intrepid explorer seeking adventure. Or something.