Things you shouldn't have to plan for...
Jul. 10th, 2003 10:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moominmuppetOpening the backdoor, letting the dog out, and discovering ten minutes later that the entire side fence is missing.
I'm really starting to dislike our new neighbors. There's been a house being constructed next door all winter. It's been incredibly obnoxious. They dug under our driveway, and half the width of it was unsafe to drive on for months. They've cut down our trees. They've complained about us. We've been parked into our driveway by their construction crew's vans, repeatedly. I'm not even going to bother bitching about the construction noise (Becca works nights; it hasn't been pleasant for her). This fence thing, though, is supremely annoying. It's entirely likely that it was actually on their side of the property line or something. But, knowing that the house next door has three apartments, all of which have dogs, and all of which release their dogs into the back yard, wouldn't you think to notify the neighbors in question that you're about to remove half their fence? Maybe before doing it? Luckily, Jax didn't get too distracted. He came (from two houses down) when Becca called him. Hell, it might actually be polite for them to notify us regarding how long we can expect this to be the state of affairs. I tried asking the guys who were out working this morning when I was leaving for work, but they didn't speak english, and I didn't have time to wait for the supervisor to wander over. Maybe Becca'll find out. *Graaar*
On the positive side of things, I woke up from very pleasant dreams this morning, which has put a nice spin on my day.
Today's Word: Noctilucent (Adjective)
Pronunciation: [nahk-tê-'lu-sênt]
Definition 1: Shining or luminous in the night.
Usage 1: The noun for today's adjective is "noctilucence," which usually refers to marine
phosphorescence due to noctilucae (singular: noctiluca), bioluminescent microorganisms in the
ocean.
Suggested Usage: Beyond the bright lights of the city, the nights are illuminated by noctilucent clouds, waves, beaches, and celestial orbs. However, let's stretch our imagination to a noctilucent comment in a murky conversation or a noctilucent idea that produces a new song. There may be other sources of noctilucence, too: "When the clouds had absconded with the sky, Winfred was amazed that the noctilucence of Frederica's face required no assistance from the moon."
Etymology: This word is based on Latin noctiluca "moon, lantern," a compound containing nox
(nok-s) "night" + lucere "to glow, shine," hence "night-glow." The Latin word nox, noctis comes from the same root as English "night," German "Nacht," French "nuit," Russian "noch'," Sanskrit "nakti," and Greek "nux." The ancient root for "light" is also found in many Indo-European languages: English "light," German "Licht," Russian luch "beam," Italian "luce" from Latin lux "light." (The mysterious Tamisaac of the YD Agora correctly spotted today's word some time ago as one of the most beautiful in the English language on both sides: sound and meaning.)
I'm really starting to dislike our new neighbors. There's been a house being constructed next door all winter. It's been incredibly obnoxious. They dug under our driveway, and half the width of it was unsafe to drive on for months. They've cut down our trees. They've complained about us. We've been parked into our driveway by their construction crew's vans, repeatedly. I'm not even going to bother bitching about the construction noise (Becca works nights; it hasn't been pleasant for her). This fence thing, though, is supremely annoying. It's entirely likely that it was actually on their side of the property line or something. But, knowing that the house next door has three apartments, all of which have dogs, and all of which release their dogs into the back yard, wouldn't you think to notify the neighbors in question that you're about to remove half their fence? Maybe before doing it? Luckily, Jax didn't get too distracted. He came (from two houses down) when Becca called him. Hell, it might actually be polite for them to notify us regarding how long we can expect this to be the state of affairs. I tried asking the guys who were out working this morning when I was leaving for work, but they didn't speak english, and I didn't have time to wait for the supervisor to wander over. Maybe Becca'll find out. *Graaar*
On the positive side of things, I woke up from very pleasant dreams this morning, which has put a nice spin on my day.
Today's Word: Noctilucent (Adjective)
Pronunciation: [nahk-tê-'lu-sênt]
Definition 1: Shining or luminous in the night.
Usage 1: The noun for today's adjective is "noctilucence," which usually refers to marine
phosphorescence due to noctilucae (singular: noctiluca), bioluminescent microorganisms in the
ocean.
Suggested Usage: Beyond the bright lights of the city, the nights are illuminated by noctilucent clouds, waves, beaches, and celestial orbs. However, let's stretch our imagination to a noctilucent comment in a murky conversation or a noctilucent idea that produces a new song. There may be other sources of noctilucence, too: "When the clouds had absconded with the sky, Winfred was amazed that the noctilucence of Frederica's face required no assistance from the moon."
Etymology: This word is based on Latin noctiluca "moon, lantern," a compound containing nox
(nok-s) "night" + lucere "to glow, shine," hence "night-glow." The Latin word nox, noctis comes from the same root as English "night," German "Nacht," French "nuit," Russian "noch'," Sanskrit "nakti," and Greek "nux." The ancient root for "light" is also found in many Indo-European languages: English "light," German "Licht," Russian luch "beam," Italian "luce" from Latin lux "light." (The mysterious Tamisaac of the YD Agora correctly spotted today's word some time ago as one of the most beautiful in the English language on both sides: sound and meaning.)
