Monday, July 27, 2015

The Frenzied SLPs: SLP Strong


 I have a reading problem! Now that doesn't mean exactly how it sounds. I love puns and double entendre, so my problem isn't truly with reading, it's with not reading.

Let me explain: like many of you, I love books. I'm partial to fiction, but I will also read nonfiction and of course, professional reads. My problem is when I read I become so absorbed in the content that I read to the exclusion of all else. This is how it sometimes goes in our house: "Mom, what's for dinner?" Me: "Cereal!" Now some may think I'm a baaaaaad Mommy, but I prefer to think of it as modeling a lifelong appreciation of reading!
Dusting...

I have a pile of great reads for this summer: The Girl on the Train, Edge of Eternity, American Gods, and a recommendation from Laura of All Y'all Need titled Shotgun Lovesongs. I decided to start with The Hobbit. I can't believe I waited this long to read it. I moved on to the The Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers. I knew I was obsessed when, in one night, I had three dreams about Middle Earth INCLUDING seeing "Frodo Lives!" written on a wall. No joke! My thoughts are forever swirling around the characters and place names in the books and I am currently nursing a slight sunburn because rather than put down my book and move to the shade, I baked in the sun. I am now fully immersed in the final book of the trilogy, The Return of the King, and I don't want it to end.
Cooking dinner...

J.R.R. Tolkien was brilliant. He was a philologist who wrote The Hobbit as an experiment with language, new ideas and concepts. I have absolutely loved reading his work, and while he firmly stated that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy were not an allegory for Christianity, Tolkien's deep faith was clearly revealed in his writing.

That brings me to "the best things I learned this summer." Words. Lots and lots of new words. Some of them I had a loose definition of from context, for instance I knew a league was a measure of distance, but not what measure. The meanings of some of the other words, I had no idea. As I read when I come across an unknown word, I look it up and then write it down with the definition in my journal (now you understand why I bought the speech nerd shirt).





Here is a little sampling:
Turves: the plural of turf (never imagined there was a plural for turf)
Wains: a wagon or chariot
Eyot: a small island
Fey: supernatural, unreal, otherworldly
Hauberk: a long defensive shirt falling to the knees, usually made of mail
Quail: to lose heart or courage when in danger, to shrink in fear
Swordthain: a noble soldier appointed by a king
Wold: an upland region of moorland
Embrasure: a beveled opening in a wall, especially for a door or window
League: a measure of distance, usually about three miles (unless of course it's a Hobbit league which is shorter)
Furlong: one eighth of a mile
Gibbet: a gallows built to exhibit the body of one who has been executed
Gainsay: contradict
Blench: flinch, give way in fear
Dwimmerlaik: a name give to the Lord of the Nazgûl when Éowyn confronted him
Vambrace: armor worn on the forearm
Fell: merciless, terrifying; an animal's hide; a moorland hill (Tolkien used this word a lot)
Dromund: a large ship
Perian: Hafling, Hobbit
Ghyll: a deep ravine

I found this wonderful site, The Encyclopedia of Arda: An Interactive Guide to the Works of 
J.R.R. Tolkien, that lists the rare and unusual words used in his works. If you haven't read these books yet, start...now. The movies truly do them no justice. In fact, since I am completely obsessed I began watching the movies with my son. After the first I had to walk away as I was becoming increasingly frustrated. My son, too, was frustrated, but with me, because I kept exclaiming, "That didn't happen! What? The Ents DID decide to become involved! They changed that! He didn't act like that!" Mack liked the movie better when I left!

Though I don't watch many YouTube videos, Nora thinks this is the perfect video to compliment my post. It's a little rough for me. Is this what people do for work?


Oh! I also learned this summer not to go for a run after two big cups of coffee, how to make ghee, and that I really would love to stay home all day and read. What did you learn over summer vacation?

Photo credits: Nora Doyle


23 comments:

  1. What a great post! I needed some laughs this morning before I start getting ready for work!!!
    I have a list of books I read on my "Life in a Small Town" this morning!

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    1. I really need to be more productive! Have a good first day!

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  2. Love the pictures! And I agree - you are a model of learning!
    All Y’all Need

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    1. I finished The Return of the King yesterday and I cried for 20 minutes; full on bawled!

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    1. Thanks, Ashley! It's a blessing and a curse (the book issue, that is)!

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  4. Always look forward to reading your posts and as I've said before, I require a Google search each time a read...just to figure out the meaning of the vocabulary. Now I have more words to learn and put to use!

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    1. HAHAHAHA! At least this time I listed the definitions! Get a word journal. It's really fun and it helps me remember the meanings!

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  5. Great job Annie! I adore your post and the fun pix! "Cereal" ~ my kids would actually eat their dinner if I tried that. Enjoy many more books in August.

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    1. Thanks, Jen! Oh I will, but after Tolkien I fear everything else will pale in comparison! I truly was inconsolable last night after I finished the trilogy ;(

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  6. Love your post and your fun pictures! Enjoy the rest of your summer and your books!

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    1. Thank you! I will definitely enjoy it. You too!

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  7. Love this Annie! So fun and creative. My reading style is one of the following-either I'm obsessive about a book or I put it away. There is no in between!!

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    1. I'm starting to think I have an addictive personality. I suppose there are worse things to become addicted to!

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  8. Learning new words is always fun-- my husband is an English major and is an avid reader, so I'm always learning new words just in daily conversation with him!

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    1. It is fun, especially when you can use them. It helps me keep my mind sharp (or at least, sharper).

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  9. I love to read too and struggle to find the time to get new reads in, but I cherish the time when do! You are funny and "yes" my boys eat cereal for dinner too! :) Manda

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    1. I'm starting to feel a lot better abut the whole cereal thing! It seems I really am NOT alone :)

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  10. OMG we leading parallel lives!! I'm the same way. My family cringes when I start a new book. It means no dinner, no groceries, no clean clothes, etc. I really should tackle that series- it's the only big trilogy I haven't gotten around to. It takes a true word nerd to keep a journal of definitions. I love that!!! I'm keeping that you tube video saved for next time someone interupts me while reading a book!!! xoxo

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    1. Go for it Mia! I might suggest, though, you engage a house cleaner and a chef for the period of time it takes to read them! The YouTube video absolutely cracked me up! That was Nora's contribution!

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  11. Annie-you've made me want to skip work this week and just snuggle in bed and read! Loved this post-so funny! Like the list of words too-it's interesting to compare what we used to read with how books are written now.

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    1. "The praise from the praiseworthy is above all rewards!" Faramir in The Two Towers
      So from a very funny lady, I am honored! Yes, I am now reading The Girl on the Train, and am missing some REALLY GOOD writing!

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