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Goals: Start slowly
Inch by inch We are about to create a healthy checklist. Before we begin constructing a checklist, keep this in mind. I built a checklist to give myself the life I wanted to live. I want this for you, too. I want you to live the life you want to live. I truly...
Word of the Day #86: Anomaly
Anomaly Something differing from the usual pattern. A peculiarity, an abnormality. A deviation from the normal. An outlier. Synonyms include aberration, deviation, oddity, and rarity. Anomaly comes from the Greek words ἀν (an), meaning “not” and ὁμός (homos)...
Goals: Healthy
When I write my own personal goals, I base them on Benjamin Franklin’s model. “Early to bed, Early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Over the next three chapters, we will build a healthy goal, a wealthy goal, and a wise goal. Since Mr. Franklin started...
Word of the Day #85: Atavistic
Atavistic An atavistic trait is a trait you picked up from your ancestors. It skipped a generation, or two, though. Your parents did not have this trait. Atavistic traits disappear for a time only to show up later. For example, “He has an atavistic temper. It...
Word of the Day #84: Arachnoleptic fit
Arachnoleptic fit: The wild fit you throw right after you walk through a spider web. Arachnoleptic fit is a made-up word. My mom sent it to me. It’s a useful made-up word though. I nearly wiped out once after biking through a spider web. I threw an arachnoleptic fit...
Tip of the Week #272: I Did Not Read the Terms of Service
If you are like me (and, I know I am) you likely do not read the terms of service. We are supposed to read the terms of service. We know we should. But, do we? Speaking for myself, I admit, I rarely read the terms of service. Lawyers write the terms. The documents...
Goals: Pick Something
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter three: _______________________________________________________________________________________________...
Word of the Day #83: Saturnalian
Yesterday, I posted the word Saturnine, meaning gloomy. Oddly enough, today's word has the exact opposite meaning. Saturnalian: Riotously merry, overindulgent How did these two similar words end up with opposite definitions? Saturnine meaning gloomy, derives from...
Goals: Get Ready to Accomplish More
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter three: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Get...
Word of the Day #82: Saturnine
Saturnine Gloomy, grave, scowling. In the Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, Nikabrik refuses to join in the celebration. He stands off to the side with a sullen, saturnine look. From the Roman name for the god of time, Saturn. Yes, the planet is named after...
How To Stay Fit as You Age
I just turned 50 last month. My kids think I am old. I don't think I am old. Oh well. For some time, I have been fascinated by people who defy the odds. This morning, I realized I needed a place to collect the stories that inspire me. With that in mind, I am...
Goals: Post Them Where You Will See Them
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter three:...
Word of the Day #81: Normandy
While in France, my students and I visited the Normandy beaches, site of the D-Day landings. We left Paris and crossed into Normandy not long after. Several students kept asking when we would reach Normandy. I realized they thought the beaches were Normandy. ...
Goals: Pick One
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter three: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Pick...
Word of the Day #80: Rapport
Rapport A relationship of mutual trust and respect. A close and harmonious relationship in which people like, understand, and respect one another. English borrowed this word directly from French. But, in French, rapport is a report. I suppose this is because we...
How To Use This Site
I received this question: Can someone tell me what I am paying and to what we may have access? I signed up a while back and we never really figured it out… Here is my reply: I only charge per family… not per student, and not per class. A subscription grants access...
Goals: Speeding Things Up
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter three: _______________________________________________________________________________________________...
Tip of the Week #271: How to Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees while Traveling
If you're going to travel, try to avoid paying foreign transaction fees. These days, there are credit cards that will eat the fees for you. Years ago, while attempting to learn Greek, I moved my family to Greece for a while. Back then the Greeks liked cash. I had a...
Goals: The Power of Writing Your Goals Down
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter three: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ The...
Word of the Day #79: Duplicate
The Latin verb “plicare” means “to fold.” From plicare, English derives many words. Words like replica, complicate, and duplicate. Duplicate: a copy, something additional of the same kind. She had a duplicate key made before leaving on vacation. Duplicate comes from...
Goals: Why You Must Write Them Down
A simple formula When you set goals write them down. This is critical. Many of us have vague goals we set every New Year's Eve. We call these goals New Year’s resolutions. We laugh a few weeks later because we have hit none of our resolutions. “Oh, well,” we...
Word of the Day #78: Replica
Replica A reproduction, a duplication, or an accurate copy of a work. A replica is often smaller than the original work. From Latin replicare, “to go over, to repeat.” The Latin prefix “re” means “again”. The Latin verb “plicare” means “to double up, to fold.”...
Goals: What if I Fail?
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ...
Word of the Day #76: Chyron
Chyron In my mind, at least, this word falls into the category of “Oh, I had no idea there was a word for that.” A Chyron is a set of graphics or words at the bottom of a television screen. A chyron may also be a caption. It may be fixed or in motion. Sometimes...
Tip of the Week #270: How To Stay Healthy As You Age
I recently turned fifty. Didn’t mean to. It just happened. If you are young and able (and I know many readers of this email are) I highly recommend you stay healthy. Make health a priority. Do whatever you have to do. It makes a difference as you age. Do not...
Word of the Day #75: Obviate
Obviate To make unnecessary, to do away with, remove, prevent, or eliminate Obviate comes from the Latin word obviare, meaning to act against, to act contrary. The Latin preposition ob, means to stand against, instead of. Via means road or way. To obviate then, is...
Goals: Where Do I Get Help?
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ I need...
Word of the Day #74: Perennial
Perennial: enduring for a long time; lasting; in plants, having a life cycle of more than two years. Perennial comes from two Latin words. Per means through and annus means year. Thus, perennial plants endure through the years. They filled their garden with...
Goals: No More Boredom
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ No...
Word of the Day #73: Blitz
Blitz: 1. a sudden overwhelming attack, especially from the air. 2. An intense campaign, as in "The new company conducted an advertising blitz to draw in customers." As a verb, blitz means to attack, destroy, or conquer Synonyms include: assault, bombing, onslaught,...
Tip of the Week #269: How to Easily Set Yourself Apart
The average American reads less than four books a year. According to this site, maybe even less: https://irisreading.com/how-many-books-does-the-average-person-read/ I recommend you be different. Become a habitual reader. I frequently encourage my students to become...
Happy to hear it!
"My girls have been using your Visual Latin curriculum for two years now. Thank you for all that work. My youngest, after only 6 months, took the National Latin Exam (Intro to Latin level) after learning only through Visual Latin and earned a Magna Cum Laude...
It’s true. Four hours a day writing tests. And other questions answered.
I received this series of questions: Hi there - As a way of introduction, I am fairly new to homeschooling. Last year, was our first year of homeschooling and we used Classical Conversations. My son is going into Challenge I (9th grade). I would like to have his...
Hitting your Goals with Checklists
We are now going to take our goals and turn them into checklists. We will do this with each of our goals, healthy, wealthy, and wise. Before we jump into the checklists, I am going to recommend a book. Years ago, I read The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right...
Word of the Day #72: Mercurial
Mercurial: Flighty, unpredictable, changeable, full of fire or vigor, lively, quick. You never know your place with mercurial people. They are unpredictable. We can also use mercurial to describe items related to the metal mercury. I like the old name for mercury,...
Two types of goals
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Two...
Word of the Day #71: Apotheosis
Apotheosis In the old days, the Romans worshipped their political leaders. Thank goodness we don’t do that anymore. Oh, wait a minute… Anyway, their leaders would sometimes become “gods”. There was a verb for the process. Apotheon: to deify, to make someone a god....
Goals: Exactly How to Set Them
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________...
Word of the Day #70: Antediluvian
Antediluvian Antediluvian is a word we use to describe the period before the Flood described in the book of Genesis. Ur, for example, was a city in antediluvian times. We also use antediluvian as an adjective to describe something hopelessly old-fashioned. For...
Goals: Focus on Helping Others
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Focus...
Word of the Day #69: Ersatz
Ersatz: A shoddy substitute; a replacement of inferior quality. A synthetic material instead of natural material. From the German word for replacement, substitute, or spare: ein Ersatz. Synonyms include counterfeit, phony, false, fake, imitation, and spurious “The...
How to Choose Your Goals
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ We are...
Word of the Day #68: Euphoria
Euphoria: a feeling of well-being, elation, intense excitement, or happiness Euphoria comes from the Greek prefix eu (well) and the verb phero (I carry, bring, or bear). In the absence of euphoria, you may be feeling the opposite, dysphoria. Dysphoria, from the Greek...
Word of the Day #67: Memorial
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. On Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who have served our country in the armed forces, and in particular, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial comes from the Latin word Memoria, which is, interestingly...
Word of the Day #66: Babeldom
Babeldom - a noisy state of confusion and chaos resembling Babel from the book of Genesis. A confused mix of voices, languages, or words. The first part of this word (and, yes. Babeldom is a real word.) comes from the name of the biblical city, Babel. The second...
Do not wait for motivation
Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter one: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Do not...
Tip of the Week #268: How to Become the Millionaire Next Door
The late Dr. Gary North used to send out a tip of the week every Saturday. In fact, I got the idea from him. Years ago he sent out a tip on budgeting and finance. He said no one had ever told him this stuff. Here's Dr. North: What is the attitude of self-made...
Word of the Day #65: Eucharist
Eucharist: the Christian sacrament of Holy Communion, the bread and wine used in Holy Communion. This word made its way into English after a long journey through Greek, Latin, and French. In Old French, Eucharist was eucariste. Before that, in Latin, it was...
Word of the Day #64: Debonair
Debonair: charming and carefree; suave; gracious; urbane; nonchalant; having sophisticated charm Just think of the guy at the desk in the Word Up! series. Man... is that guy debonair! Debonair comes from the old French phrase de bon aire. De bon aire in Old French...
Goals: Act
Last year, I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter one: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Act...