Ruminations from the Temple

What is terrible is to pretend that the second-rate is first-rate, that you don't need love when you do or that you like your work, when you know quite well you're capable of better. ~Doris Lessing Ever felt apathy? Apathy is the type of word that I've heard kicked around a bit, but didn't really have much use for, at least in my circles. "She is apathetic to their cause" isn't something anyone would either think of me or hear me express, especially since my focus has been so tight on compassion. I suppose you could say that  I have been apathetic to knowing the full definition of the word apathy. Until recently. It has only been within the last couple of months that this word has wormed it's way into my consciousness and vocabulary from readings and various teachings.  It has been compared to words like contentment and happiness or joy - as if an opposite. But, if apathy is defined as a lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern, even displaying ...

Mucinous Cystadenoma of the Ovary Mucinous cystadenoma is a type of tumor in the cystadenoma grouping. There are four major categories of ovarian tumors: 1. Epithelial tumors (65-75%) - serous or mucinous cystadenoma/carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, Brenner tumor 2. Germ cell tumors (15%) - dysgerminoma, embryonal cell cancer, choriocarcinoma, teratoma 3. Sex-chord-stromal tumors (5-10%) - granulosa cell tumor, thecoma, fibroma 4. Metastatic tumors (10%) - uterine, stomach, colon, breast, lymphoma. Mucinous cystadenomas make up 15-20% of all ovarian tumors. They often become very large and can extend up into the abdomen. Pseudomyxoma peritonei can result if the tumor ruptures and spills its contents into the abdomen. These tumors are usually evaluated using ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI. Findings on imaging studies are nonspecific. These ovanian tumors are usually multi-septated, cystic masses with thin walls. They also contain varying amounts of solid tissue which consists of...

  incommodious , adj ., inconvenient or uncomfortable,  as by not affording sufficient space. Well, those beautiful Nordstrom stores are more than 20 feet wide now, that's for sure! Nordstrom is far and away my favorite place to shop.  Not because the prices are so good, or because I always find what I want there, but because, well...it smells good.  The employees are kind and helpful.  The store restaurant has good food and excellent service.  And, somehow, the atmosphere and attitude at Nordstrom makes me feel good about myself.  That fact alone makes it my favorite store EVER. Fun facts to know and tell your friends about Nordstrom: Nordstrom was my daughter's first word. When I was a small girl, Nordstrom was the only place Mom would buy my shoes. I got my Nordy's charge card when I graduated high school in 1983.  The number was crazy low and I quickly memorized it (I'm sure I wasn't the only one!).  This made it incredibly eas...

con'ju'gal ,  adj., of or relating to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife: "conjugal loyalty". It has been my experience that when this word is used, people kinda jump. Conjugal what? Yeah, conjugal visits...in the context of a spouse visiting their incarcerated beloved. (Just as a side note, do incarcerated women get to have conjugal visits with their men?  Or is it just incarcerated men who get to have visits with their wives?  I have no idea...but as usual, have questions.) We may have mixed views about this, right?  Well, it is not my intent to debate the issues of prisoners rights, but simply to put to bed (as it were) the misconception that this rarely used word is some sort of euphemism for sex.  (*gasp* gosh, is that the first time I've used the word sex on this blog??  It may be!)   It would seem that conjugal has anything to do with marital-related issues, not simply marital intimacy. So, here's some examples of ...

Brave, dauntless, fearless, hardy, intrepid, unfearing... bodacious, bald-faced, brassy, brazen, insolent... even daring and adventuresome - it's our newest Word of the Week :   AUDACIOUS Bertha Knight Landes (October 19, 1868 – November 29, 1943) was the first female mayor of a major American city. Landes served as mayor of Seattle, Washington from 1926 to 1928. She was born in Ware, Massachusetts to Charles Sanford Knight and Cordelia Cutter. Her father, a veteran of the Union Army, moved the family to Worchester in 1873. She attended Indiana University, where she received a degree in history and political science in 1891. After three years of teaching at the Classical High School in Worcester, Massachusetts, she married geologist Henry Landes, with whom she had two children and adopted one. She and her family later moved to Seattle.She served on the Seattle City Council 1922–1926, the last two years as council president, before becoming mayor. She died in Ann Arbor,...

fallacious , adj. , a)  containing or based on a fallacy, b)  deceitful: intended to deceive, c)  based on an incorrect or misleading notion or information. That's just not true.  No really...we do get a lot of rain here in the Pacific Northwest! But, I do not want to be fallacious, after all.  I found this article by Andrea Thompson that will dry up any falsehood about the rainiest cities in the United States.  And while Ms. Thompson's findings may measure actual inches of rain, that somehow doesn't account for all the gray, overcast, drizzly days here in the PNW.  That drenching drizzle really doesn't add up to much in comparison to the famous cow-peein'-on-a-flat-rock Louisiana rain, now does it? Do you think Seattle is the rainiest city in the United States?  Well, think again. Mobile, Ala., actually topped a new list of soggiest cities in the contiguous 48 states, with more than 5 feet of rainfall annually, according to a stud...

Defamed, characterized as undesirable and tainted, our poor Word of the Week is one of those negative words that no one wants to claim. STIGMATIZED , v., (past tense) , to accuse or condemn openly or formally; brand as disgraceful. Ouch!   You certainly don't want to be ostracized from your peers by attaining that label, that's for sure.  The houseboats of Seattle had earned that reputation early on, but have since regained quite a reputation.  Seattle's Lake Washington and Lake Union are lined with these pricey residences.  The houseboat used in the sweet and popular movie Sleepless in Seattle only confirmed their fame and put the high-end houseboats on many a lake-cruise tour itinerary. Sleepless in Seattle houseboat, yours for only $2.5 million...

Alright, now that I have my coffee and I'm waking up a bit this morning, it's more than time to enjoy our Word of the Week. A most unfortunate affair to be found in a touchy situation, I think.  Hazardous and chancy, our word is... PRECARIOUS threateningly insecure or unstable; perilous; depending on the intention of another. Sometimes you are surprised by finding yourself in a precarious predicament, but other times you know full-well that you are walking into an unsafe environment.  It would be good to be prepared for those times, especially if you are forewarned. All progress is precarious , and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem. ~Martin Luther King, Jr . Existence is no more than the precarious attainment of relevance in an intensely mobile flux of past, present, and future. ~Susan Sontag * * * * * *  ps. Inquiring minds want to know!  It would seem that the writers of these cards we are enjoying have made a bit...

click on the card to view it larger I love words.  Amusing words, juicy words, descriptive words, even 25-cent words - they are all wonderful to me.  So, when I found this most interesting set of flashcards in the used homeschool bookstore, I instantly put it on the 'purchase' pile.  A bit of Seattle history and interesting words?  Well, for this Seattle-ite, it doesn't get any better than that! Today is the first installment of a new series of posts called 'Word of the Week', taken from this most interesting collection of words.  I took a sneak-peek at all the words and history tidbits; they are wonderful words that I know you will enjoy pondering and savoring with me. The first word:  INTREPID Fearless, one without fear.  The dictionary defines it as: audacious: invulnerable to fear or intimidation; "audacious explorers"; "fearless reporters and photographers"; "intrepid pioneers" Yeah, I like that word.  Say to those wi...