Popinjay: Famish

'fam - ish

- to suffer for lack of something necessary

Popinjay: Betrayal

Betrayal

be - 'tra (-e)l \ noun

Betrayal's root is betray, which comes from the Middle English word bitrayen — meaning "mislead, deceive." Betrayal has to do with destroying someone's trust, possibly by lying.
Synonyms:  perfidy, treachery, treason, knavery, subversiveness.

Perfidy

'per - fe - de \ noun

The noun perfidy means "deceitfulness" or "treachery," so it's not just being mean, but deliberately betraying a trust. The Latin root of perfidy is made up of per, or "through," and fidem, or "faith." So in order for perfidy to happen, there has to have first been a sense of faith in place, which was then broken or betrayed.

Popinjay: Guilty

guilty

: responsible for committing a crime or doing something bad or wrong

: showing that you know you have done something bad or wrong

: feeling bad because you have done something bad or wrong or because you believe you have done something bad or wrong

Gratitude

grat - i -tude

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation

the quality of being thankful

readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness

Comaraderie

Camaraderie

ca-ma-ra-de-rie

: a spirit of friendly good-fellowship existing among comrades

Hibernate

hi - ber- nate

1.  To pass the winter in a dormant or torpid state.

2.  To pass the winter in a dormant condition with metabolism greatly slowed down

i have a tendency at this time of year to begin hibernation

to curl up under a blankie and remain

motionless

even as my body slows down, so does my mind

as the blood thickens and slows

moving in dredge-like fashion

so do my neurons

my brain gets

sluggish

and sadly uninterested in processing new information

always an introvert

during hibernation i spike the introvert levels

Popinjay - Hollow

Hollow

1. Having a cavity, gap or space within
2. Deeply indented or concave

I found this in California.  Walked through it to find a cliff that ended in the Pacific.  It was one of those serendipitous moments you never forget.  Breathtaking.

Popinjay - a little Michelle Pendergrass Magic.

Popinjay - Blue

With blue being our Popinjay this week, I was going to dig around for an old photo of my daughter when I dropped her off at Clemson for her first year of college. I had taken a telling photo of her on her new bed, staring off in a sad, droopy style, almost hugging herself. The picture screamed emotion, mainly a girl feeling rather blue.
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But on my way to the photo archives, I noticed this photo from last week and found it so. . .
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blue

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Popinjay: Humble

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Humble - having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.

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It was in Europe where I learned of a humility that was not self-deprecating or that which breeds a martyr. A pure humility. An awestruck humility. The sheer age and history of Europe humbled me. The luxury of the architecture created in times of few and costly resources humbled me. The churches developed under the Baroque influence were amazing! The historical pride, knowledge and generosity of the people humbled me. This photo is, if I remember correctly, from Prague, where I literally hit the ground running. There was so much to explore in Prague! I left for Europe as a proud American (we are the world!!) and I returned very humble. We most certainly are not the world, nor do we know much about it.

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Popinjay...a little Michelle Pendergrass Magic
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My posts on Prague, Prague II, Germany, Vienna, and much more in the travel section.

Popinjay: Strong

Strong\ mentally powerful or vigorous, especially able or competent; of great courage, powerful in means of prevailing, well supplied.

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What an appropriate term for our Popinjay this week! Strong. That is my daughter all around. Strong because she just graduated law school as a single mom. Strong because she finished top in her class -- her last exam needed a 77 to pass and she got a 110. Strong because when she was a child we had to memorize Dobson's "The Strong Willed Child" in order to raise her. Strong because..... she is. She stinkin' IS. She is everything I ever dreamed of being. She is Strong. Here's to you, my beautiful daughter, as you decide whether to be a stay-at-home mom, a sweet, supporting wife, or an influential, aggressive lawyer that seeks to stand up for abandoned children. You go, girl!!

Popinjay: Extravagant

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ex-trav-a-gant
Exceeding reasonable bounds

Going beyond usual bounds; unrestrained

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My son, Edisto Beach, 2010
photo credit: Eden Wooten, his girlfriend

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Popinjay. A little Michelle Pendergrass magic.

Popinjay: Silent

Si-lent
making no sound

quiet

still

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not inclined to speak

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I am energized by silence.

motivated

inspired

seduced

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Popinjay - Eclectic

ec-lec-tic
noting or pertaining to works of landscaping produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client.
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photo credit: marjorie sliker

Popinjay - Smooth

What could be smoother than those soft yellow petals?
I know you want to touch them.
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Popinjay - Dangerous

dan-ger-ous
1. involving or filled with danger; perilous
2. being able or likely to do harm

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This was my last bike.
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I would head out to it when

I was tired of my own voice.
Take a bead on the northern plains

And just roll that power on.

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{heavy sigh}

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Popinjay. A little Michelle Pendergrass magic.

Popinjay - Caged

Caged - confined, enclosed
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The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

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Popinjay: Selfless

Selfless

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Michelle's Popinjay for this week is Selfless. I've spent a considerable amount of time visiting Nana at the nursing home this past week so maybe that's why this photo comes to mind when I think of the word "Selfless."
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You see, on first thought, Selfless makes me think of the caregivers. The ones who repeatedly, tirelessly visit the shut-ins, denying their own agenda, goals, desires. The ones who visit regardless. Consistently, even when it hurts, even when it costs. Even when it frustrates. Even when it feels unappreciated.
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But then I thought about Nana and the others who require the care of the caregivers. And the term "Selfless" took on a new meaning. Self Less. Less Self. Nana can't decide for herSELF what to eat for dinner. Nana can't decide for herSELF when to bathe or wash her hair. Nana can't decide for herSELF when to visit someone. Nana can't decide for herSELF when to watch her shows or where to set her AC temperature. And when there is no personal choice, no self-consideration in your daily routine, isn't that really Selfless?

Poppinjay - Domestic

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Do-mes-tic

Of or relating to a country's internal affairs

Produced in or indigenous to a particular country

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Early September is when we begin to see the white of the cotton in our part of SC. For a month, the green in the field will continue to fade until it looks like a blanket of white and you want to keep it that way forever.

You may drive past again and again just for the view.

Then the brown starts peeking through and you must harvest. As more brown speckles the field, it becomes easier to let it go and harvest.

The view is just not as delicious.

So we harvest.

Then harvest again.

And probably wearily harvest a third time.

Plow.

Rest.

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Popinjay...a little Michelle Pendergrass Magic

Popinjay - Abnormal

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This week's Popinjay is "Abnormal." I am using this definition:

ab-nor-mal Deviating from the normal or average. Unusual.

Exceptional.

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I found these ladies in San Francisco, somewhere around Union Square, I think. I'm pretty sure they are the ladies I met in a botique -- their personalities are exactly as portrayed in these photos. F.U.N.

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Popinjay...a little Michelle Pendergrass Magic

Poppinjay - Confident

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Con-fi-dent / 'kan-fed-ent adj characterized by assurance, full of conviction, having strong belief or full assurance, having no uncertainty about one's own abilities.

• Trustful
• Self-reliant
• Bold

I am a stranger to confidence.

Confidence mocks me.

Eludes me.

Dances close

And Dissipates.

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Confidence is the friend

Who charms

When no one else is looking.