Wednesday’s Word: truculent Wat’s it mean?

Truculent \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\ (adjective)

MSWORD’s definition:
Aggressively or sullenly refusing to accept something to do what is asked
Hostile, fractious

M-W’s Word Central:
ready and willing to fight or quarrel

Sentences:
Because there were several truculent boys in her classroom, Mrs. Baumgartner left the arduous homework announcement until the last possible moment.

Billy’s truculent attitude killed any sympathy Officer Barlow initially felt for the boy.

Wednesday’s Word: hoary Wat’s it mean?

Hoary /\HOR-ee\/ (adjective)

MSWORD’s definition:
1. Overused: old and stale from overuse
2. white with age
3. covered with pale, gray, or white hairs

M-W.com:
1 : gray or white with or as if with age
2 : extremely old : ancient

The way I’ve seen hoary used most often is thus:
Millicent awoke to find a hoary frost covering the tender shoots in her garden.
Using it in that way doesn’t seem to fit the definition very well because of the age factor associated with the word. Let’s try again.

The dog’s hoary coat and gentle eyes illustrated his long, loyal service to the old man.

The strange creatures who entered the space bar that evening were gaunt to the point of being emaciated, their thick, wrinkled hide hoary, though some of them were obviously quite young.

By her fourth book, the author’s unimaginative descriptions had become quite hoary.

Remembering the Fallen

In honor of all the heroes who have fallen for our freedom, I offer these quotes:

For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree. ~Thomas Campbell

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

Cover them over with beautiful flowers,
Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours,
Lying so silent by night and by day
Sleeping the years of their manhood away.
Give them the meed they have won in the past;
Give them the honors their future forcast;
Give them the chaplets they won in the strife;
Give them the laurels they lost with their life.
~Will Carleton

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them. ~Francis A. Walker

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~Maya Angelou

Rest in peace.

Aspen Expose and Karen White

This week on PHFT:
Monday, May 18: Tami Brothers The Phenomenon that is Twilight
Tuesday, May 19: Marilyn Baron Don't Throw Out Your Novel Like a Worn-Out Shoe
Wednesday, May 20: Debbie Kaufman Space, the Final Frontier
Thursday, May 21: Michelle Newcome, TBA
Friday, May 22: Guest Chef: Karen White

The third chapter of PFHT’s serial novelette, Aspen Expose, posted Sunday. The contest associated with it continues. Look for the links to previous chapters on PFHT's sidebar.

Karen White joins us as our special guest chef on Friday. Karen is the author of several award-winning novels, the latest of which are The Memory of Water and The House on Tradd Street. Her lyrical prose and emotionally moving stories are reader favorites. The Lost Hours, Karen’s latest book, released last month. She’ll be giving a copy of it away as well as a copy of the hard to find and out of print, After The Rain. Comment on her post Friday to be entered in the drawing. It's that easy.

Wednesday’s Word: nexus Wat’s it mean?

Nexus [nek suhs] (noun)

MSWORD’s definition:
1. A connection or link associating two or more people or things
2. a group or series of connected people or things
3. the center or focus of something
4. a specialized part of the cellular membrane that helps cells to communicate or adhere

Usage:
Sally was the nexus that held the kept the ladies social group together.
The nexus of their Center for Children was simply that everyone deserved love.

Out and About

Today I’m blogging at PFHT. The title of the piece is "Brave the Beast" and includes an excerpt of my work. Curious? Go check it out and let me know what you thought.

And speaking of PFHT, this week’s fabulous guest for tomorrow is Dianna Love, who co-author’s the BAD Agency series with Sherrilyn Kenyon. (Whispered Lies releases in 2 days!) Dianna also helped develop the Break Into Fiction workshops with Mary Buckham and co-authored Break Into Fiction: 11 Steps To Building A Story That Sells. It should be a fun day with giveaways!

How was it for you?

Question of the day...All you mothers out there - How was your special day?

I called my mama, my sister and received phone calls from both offspring (who are living many, many miles away). DS informed me the florist had a qlitch and I can expect flowers maybe Tuesday. Yay. Something to anticipate. I can live with that. Hubby made me a steak dinner, complete with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Gotta love a man who can cook, right?

Here at home, I tended my potted flowers by picking off the spent blossoms and watering them. They're coming along nicely. Provided I can find the camera, I'll post pix of them soon.

All in all, it was very low-key and relaxing.

Now, tell me about your day.