Chaos is amongst my list of ‘C’ words this week. Very, very fitting too given my life at the moment.

In no particular order:

Poor old sick mum, my very first book edits, my national conference registrar job gearing up on March 1 when registrations finally opened, RWA blog editor, e-Loop moderator…. I could go on.

Phew! No wonder I have that Linda Blair 360-degree head spin thing going on.

But I WILL NOT give up my Leap Year Word journey. Besides, I found some great words this week – both new and old favs, starting with…

caldron: n. a large kettle or boiler (perhaps ‘a caldron of emotions bubbling over’ might work for you.)

cavalier: adj. haughty, disdainful, offhand (he had a cavalier attitude)

celerity: n. speed; swiftness (used to compile this week’s blog post!)

censorious: adj. severely critical, fault-finding (pls don’t be! I should be in bed sleeping right now, not posting this!)

certitude: n. a sense of absolute conviction; certainty (that’s me!)

chafe: v. 1. to warm by rubbing 2. to irritate; annoy (also me! 🙂

chaos: n. utter confusion or disorder (me at the moment!)

chiffonier: n. a high chest of drawers (so much better than a tall boy and my new stand-up writing pod. I will post a pic soon.)

chimerical: adj. 1. unreal; imaginary 2. wildly fanciful (sleep!)

chivvy: v. to harass; worry; nag (what my conference team-mates probably think I do!)

And last but certainly not least, a long-time favourite of mine (well ever since I was going to be the next Danielle Steele or Nora Roberts. Yes… it has been a round a long time…)

chignon: n. a large rolled arrangement of hair worn at the back of a woman’s head (and a favourite in every second romance fiction novel back in the 70’s and 80’s, and always at the nape of the neck!)

Well, I’m outta here for this week.

‘C’ you next Sunday.

Okay, okay, so I’m late. I have a good excuse. I spent the week celebrating and thinking that I might will be a tad busy this year (following my bonza news last week). I actually contemplated giving the whole ‘Leap Year of Words’ idea away. But then I saw it — the word. It jumped off the page as I opened my dictionary.

BISSEXTILE

bissextile: adj. containing or denoting the extra day of leap year.

Yes, it’s a bissextile year and the 29th of this month is bissextile day. It must be a sign to keep going with my dictionary odyssey (and I am into signs in a big way these days). So… here we go.

Bird of passage: n. 1. a bird that migrates seasonally. 2. a restless person; one who does not stay in one place for long.

blatherskite: n. one given to voluble, empty talk.

blowzy: adj. dishevelled; unkempt (blowzy hair)

Bogan shower: n. a dust storm.

boggarbri: n. any of several rather weedy herbs of inland Australia.

bon vivant: n. a person who lives luxuriously, especially one who enjoys the pleasures of eating and drinking.    Hmmm!!!! 🙂

bookish: adj. 2. stilled; pedantic.

boss-eyed: adj. having a squint.

botheration: interj. a mild exclamation (and an Aussie one which is handy given I am encouraged to avoid Americanisms in my writing – damn, dammit, darn!!)

braggart: n. one given to bragging.  adj. boastful (which was me this week, but I’m allowed. Your first book contract only comes around once.)

brio: n. liveliness, spirit, vivacity.

Well I’ll ‘B‘!!!!! I’m finished with ‘B‘s, ending with a couple of Aussie words…

Bushman’s clock: n. kookaburra.

bushcraft: n. the ability to live and travel through the bush with a minimum of assistance /equipment.

bushie: n. person – generally uncultured and living in the bush. (not to be confused with… bushy: adj. full or overgrown).

Now I’m bushed and off to bed.

Bye.

Back next week.

C U in the ‘C‘s then.