Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Eternally Recalcitrant



Anyone with half a brain, in my condition, would stay indoors today. Even the squirrels are tucked away in their snug nests. It's so cold, and even though Brother Wind has calmed down somewhat, he's still in a gusty mood - all of which makes time spent outdoors truly uncomfortable.

Add to that my discovery, after two days of work, that I didn't really vanquish that virus that was hanging around before Christmas. Or maybe this is a distinctly different cold I'm now suffering from, who knows? I'm hitting it full-on with all my herbal remedies, and holding my own (I think) but there's no denying I'm not 100% well.

So if I was smart, I would hang out indoors today, read my book, maybe do some laundry. Instead I'm headed out in a little while to run necessary errands like going to the bank, and unnecessary errands, like buying all I'll need to make a tagine chicken casserole this afternoon.

re·cal·ci·trant
Etymology: Late Latin recalcitrant-, recalcitrans, present participle of recalcitrare to be stubbornly disobedient, from Latin, to kick back, from re- + calcitrare to kick, from calc-, calx heel

1 : obstinately defiant of authority or restraint
2 a : difficult to manage or operate b : not responsive to treatment c : resistant
synonyms see unruly


Oh yeah. That's me.

23 comments:

The Bug said...

ooh - recalcitrant is one of my very favorite words! I use it to describe people, places & things. That and obstreperous. LOVELY words!

Reya Mellicker said...

LOVE obstreperous, too! And I am obstreperous, too.

Tess Kincaid said...

Put on those woolly socks and stay warm, my friend. Oh yeah! :^)

janis said...

I love the hat! I got one of the daughters a cupcake hat! She loves it! Stay warm & get well! (although a tiny bit of fresh air is good too! Just don't overdo it!)

Expat From Hell said...

For some reason, "obstinately defiant" has a nicer ring to it. In any case, I guess that's why we are all here reading your blog. We share the same attributes. Enjoy your day, and keep up the recalcitrant great work! EFH

Angela said...

My mother used to call me obstinatsch (a Low German version). I guess it made me proud, because I never gave it up. I did not kick back, but I silently did what I wanted. Still do. Happy recovery!

Rosaria Williams said...

Your body wants you to pay attention. This cold spells out the direction you ought to follow. Heed the body, oh you with latinate words. Heed.

Nancy said...

I was sick for a month! I kept thinking I was over it and it would come back. Awful stuff. Hope you feel better soon.

Ronda Laveen said...

Way to go! You just keep giving that virus the one finger salute! I'm sending strong healing waves your way. Sometimes, when I don't feel well, just getting out in the world make me feel like I am well. A nice portion of that chicken dish sounds chock full of healing too.

37paddington said...

My dad used to say to me in exasperation, "Why must you be so recalcitrant!" I remember really liking the sound of the word before I knew what it meant. Later, when I knew the meaning, I liked it even better!

Reya Mellicker said...

Rosaria you are correct that the body never lies ... you are.

Ronda, thank you for the energy! I'm back home now and staying in for the rest of the day.

It wasn't as cold as yesterday after all.

Reya Mellicker said...

I love that both of the "angels" commenting here are recalcitrant - and proud of it!! Oh yeah.

Elizabeth said...

I bet whoever lost the wooly hat is pretty sad.

Do hope you feel better soon!

Pauline said...

nothing like cumin and cinnamon to boost the immunity and when it's mixed with chicken, yum.

steven said...

reya - i like "not responsive to treatment". yeah!!! they tried but they couldn't do it!!! ain't nothin' wrong with that!!! steven

tut-tut said...

keep warm and snug; listen to Early Music and think of the hearth fires of so long ago . . .

Bee said...

You just don't see the word recalcitrant enough. Great word . . . although I hope the action doesn't come back to bite you.

I've NEVER known a winter with so many colds/flu/bugs. Everyone I know has been sick at least twice.

And one more thing: I took an (almost) identical picture today! The bird nest one . . . I think the other would be harder to imitate. Only difference being that my sky, instead of being bright blue, was like a dark bruise. By the end of my walk it was snowing!

ellen abbott said...

Recalcitrant...a word I'm sure my parents used to describe me. And it fits. hopefully your recalcitrant virus will flee from your next assault.

I just noticed that the first picture is a squirrel nest. When I stopped by this morning I was looking through the fog of a headache and a dark mood. I'm happy to report that both are lifting.

Gary said...

Sorry to hear you are battling a cold but I am confident that you shall overcome.

Happy New Year to you. Onwards and upwards.

Mrsupole said...

I am sick too and just want to stay in bed and sleeeeeeepppp. I hope you get well soon. I am gonna go crawl back into my bed now.

God bless.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

WORDS are power,
I am glad that you study WORDS and
have beautiful reflections of WORDs in life.

Happy 2010,
Sweet Dream!


http://www.jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com
welcome.

Sandra Leigh said...

Reya, I love that hat. Is it yours? I'm sorry you are sick again. Stay warm, okay? And listen to whatever music makes your heart sing.

Steve Reed said...

Lost hats and gloves always look so sad -- especially cute ones like that!