Vocab #8

abeyance - temporary inacitivity, cessation or suspension
ambivalent - having "mixed feelings" about someone or something; being unable to choose between two (usually opposing) courses of action
beleaguer - to surround or beset, as with troubles
carte blanche - unconditional authority, full discretionary power
cataclysm - any violent upheaval, especially one of a social or political nature
debauch - to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce
eclat - brilliance of success, reputation, etc.
fastidious - excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
gambol - a skipping or frisking about, frolic
imbue - to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.
inchoate - not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary, just begun
lampoon - a  sharp, often virulent satire directed against an individual or institution; a work of literature, art, or the like, ridiculing severely the character or behavior of a person, society, etc.
malleable - capable of being extended or shaped by hammering or by pressure from rollers.
nemesis - something that a person cannot conquer, achieve; an agent or act of retribution or punishment
opt - to make a choice; choose
philistine - a person who is lacking in or hostile or smugly indifferent to cultural values, intellectual pursuits, aesthetic refinement, etc., or is contentedly commonplace in ideas and tastes.
picaresque - pertaining to, characteristic of, or characterized by a form of prose fiction, originally developed in Spain, in which the adventures of an engagingly roguish hero are described in a series of usually humorous or satiric episodes that often depict, in realistic detail, the everyday life of the common people
queasy - inclined to or feeling nausea; uneasy or uncomfortable; squemish
refractory - hard or impossible to manage, stubbornly disobedient; resisting ordinary methods of treatment
savoir-faire - knowledge of just what to do in any situation; tact

Since Dr. Preston has given me carte blanche over how to do my vocab sentences, I opted to create a story. One that speaks of my nemesis that beleaguers me at every turn. One that makes me queasy at just the mention of his name. I know you may be wondering about my abeyance but have no fear. I will reveal his name soon enough. I just don't want to cause a cataclysm. Rather savoir-faire if I say so myself. His name is.... Hamlet. *Shudders* Just the mention of his name sends waves of regurgitation through my mouth, but no matter. Onward, to the story at hand. So there was a man named Hamlet. A refractory man, much in the same vein as R.P. McMurphy, but a man none-the-less, unlike others gamboling about like Bambi in the forest. One you would more closely associate as an erudite than a philistine. He is a decisive man, ambivalent towards nothing. However, he is not fastidious to the point of being unfair or a complainer who is never satisfied. He is generally malleable, willing to change his outlook based on the evidence provided. His eclat precedes him. He imbues confidence into those who support him. However, this story is not some picaresque lampoon intended to ridicule anybody. No, this will be a drama for the ages! The only problem is that this drama is in its inchoate phase. And I refuse to have it corrupted by acts of debauchery found in most dramas today which, while putting me back, will allow me to maintain my moral sanity.

Midterm Reflection

A) What went well?
I believe that, per the midterm, my performance was very exceptional. Other than List #2, I didn't feel like I missed any of the vocab. Overall, my studying strategy was very effective, sans List #2. I knew almost all of the words thrown at me and didn't feel completely overwhelmed at any singular point.
B) What didn't go well?
Overall, I wish I could've had more time to practice studying vocab, as it showed on my performance on List #2. Other than that, there really isn't anything I can think of that didn't go well.
C) How much of the content will stick with you?
Hopefully, a good portion of the words will be ingrained in my brain for years to come. However, that is something that only time will tell.
D) What can you learn from the experience to improve for next time?
Hopefully, next time I will have more time to practice studying vocab, that way I can perform even better than I did on the mid-term.

Dear Ophelia

Considering that both your father and your brother have warned you against the love of this prince, do you not suppose their is reason in their beliefs, that perhaps your feelings for him and his towards you were but a mere aberration? That this is perhaps a harbinger of things to come and that he is disingenuous in his feelings towards you? That maybe he is a master of beguiling young girls such as yourself? I do not wish to stigmatize your affections for him, and perhaps his for you, but you seem rather dogmatic in your assertions that he has made his feelings known to you. Men especially are chronically known for being mercurial in their affections towards women. I understand that you have fervid feelings for him, but cautious optimism is key. My advice would be to quietly inquire about this prince's feelings towards you, and demand nothing but the utmost truth. If his feelings for you are honest, use it to palliate your brother and father. However, if they are not, and you used cautious optimism, you have avoided a potential quagmire and won't be so devastated as to do something like drown yourself.

Midterm strategy

For the vocab midterm, my strategy is to have a list of every vocab word we've used this year, and then try to create a story using only the vocab words. No definitions, no help, nada. Just a list of every vocab word and my brain. However, knowing me, it will probably be irrelevant due to me having chronic bad luck when it comes to definitions in vocab tests.