The closest book to me when I sat down to write this was my own. Since I’m not ready to start quoting myself in any shape or form, I decided to go with the next-closest book–my trusty old thesaurus. Yes, I know Stephen King says don’t use one when you’re writing, but in my defense, I only use it when I have a word on the tip of my tongue that I know what it means but I can’t quite spit it out onto the screen.
Which is a good thing, because my screen would be DISGUSTING! So my thesaurus is there to save my laptop, plain and simple.
You’re welcome for the visual.
Bite me, Stephen King.
…
No, don’t.
ANYwhoo, where was I?
Oh yeah. The word I pointed to.
Ghost.
That’s actually the main word, but the actual word I pointed to under the word “ghost” was either “phantasm” or “semblance.” I’m not sure which one it was: I either have fat fingers or the print is small. Let’s go with that last one.
On the surface, these two words seem to have nothing to do with one another. I’ve always loved the word “phantasm.” It sounds to me like an extra-exciting way to say “ghost.” Maybe it’s the “ph” sound … that, for me, has always made for an interesting way to spell things.
Fun fact: when I was a teenager, I wanted to call my firstborn child “Phred.”
Anyway, the word “phantasm” should be in the news more at the moment, what with that woman who claims to be engaged to a ghost …
Yeah …
So! “Semblance.” Anyone? Let’s look it up in Merriam-Webster.
semblance
sem·blance | \ˈsem-blən(t)s \Definition of semblance
1a: outward and often specious appearance or show : FORM
//wrapped in a semblance of composure— Harry Hervey
b: MODICUM
//has been struggling to get some semblance of justice for his people— Bayard Rustin
2: ASPECT, COUNTENANCE
3a: a phantasmal form : APPARITION
4: actual or apparent resemblance
//her story bears some semblance to the truth
Who knew? I certainly didn’t before this morning. I love the word “apparition,” too.
Here’s a song by Canadian, Matthew Good.
Okay, wanna hear something really weird?
Of course you do.
I took the time to listen to the song (because I love it) and while the screen was black I could see the reflection of the screen in my glasses with the black rectangle in the reflection, making it seem like I was
stuck in my own machine!!
Freaky!
Watch the video … it’ll make sense.
And that’s my phantasm for the day.
Thank you. I’m here all week. Try the veal.
This post that I’m slightly self-conscious (ha!) over now is part of Stream of Consciousness Saturday. (I MADE IT ON TIME! GO ME!) If you’d like to join in the fun and read all the other posts, go to the following link and find all the particulars. https://lindaghill.com/2018/11/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-3-18/
November 13, 2018 at 12:52 pm
I need a thesaurus to help me remember words I WOULD use in conversation. Like “house” or “ribcage” or “hat.”
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November 5, 2018 at 7:25 am
Freaky about the video! Wow! 😀 scary!
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November 6, 2018 at 9:55 am
Isn’t it? 😛
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November 4, 2018 at 9:29 pm
I like specter — and no veal for me, thanks 🙂
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November 6, 2018 at 9:56 am
Tacos?
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November 7, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Don’t mind if I do! 😛
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November 3, 2018 at 10:18 pm
I realized after I posted my”Point” and read some of the other blogs that I totally missed the point. HaHa. I went back and reread what I was supposed to do – oops, sorry. But it was fun.
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November 6, 2018 at 9:59 am
As long as you had fun, that’s the main thing! 🙂
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November 3, 2018 at 9:36 pm
I love both phantasm and apparition. Thanks for posting this song too. It is a good one.
I did a play on words when writing the post on Facebook the other day about the half hour talk show I do with my brother on Monday in London Ontario. I said, in honor of Halloween this past week, that we were ghosting the show. Cheesy perhaps, but I liked it. I enjoy talking ghosts any old time, Halloween or otherwise.
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November 6, 2018 at 9:59 am
That’s so cool! It must have been fun!
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November 3, 2018 at 9:10 pm
Not everybody can have a mind like Stephen King. A thesaurus is a handy tool for the rest of us. I enjoyed the song and watching my reflection in the black.
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November 6, 2018 at 10:01 am
I wonder if the person who uploaded the video knew the black screen would be so appropriate. 🙂
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November 6, 2018 at 4:46 pm
🙂
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November 3, 2018 at 8:47 pm
“Bite me, Stephen King” I snort laughed at that line. I was thinking what does HE know anyway?? A lot about writing … I guess … way more than me anyways. LOL! I always thought a thesaurus was our friend.
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November 6, 2018 at 10:05 am
I think the whole idea behind it is to not use words you wouldn’t in conversation. I do use a lot of big words though … 😛
Happy to have given you a laugh, my dear. 😀
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November 6, 2018 at 11:12 am
😊
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November 3, 2018 at 3:59 pm
I *love* a thesaurus. I’m guilty of keeping that tab open all the time, often because my brain does that thing where it freezes just short of remembering a word. Hey, it works.
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November 6, 2018 at 10:07 am
Right? It’s a useful tool for those of us who often experience brain farts. 😛 hehe
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November 3, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Ph words are always interesting. Nice job, Linda. It seems that you’re early today. I hope that’s a good thing.
Have a great weekend and thanks again for this weekly challenge.
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November 6, 2018 at 10:45 am
Thanks, Dan! It’s the first weekend I’ve had with Alex at his dad’s in a month. That has a lot to do with it. 😛
And you’re so welcome, my friend. 🙂
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November 3, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Be sure to tip your server!
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November 6, 2018 at 10:46 am
Right! Because that would be me. 😛 😉 😀
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November 3, 2018 at 1:04 pm
I have a few “apparitional” photographs where I was trying to shoot through a glass window, but my “ghost” shows up in the reflection. I have found them useful when writing about ghosts 🙂
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November 3, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Oooh, good idea! Have you managed to make the camera disappear out of the shot?
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November 3, 2018 at 12:31 pm
It is interesting what happens when you have an audience to read your stream of thought. This was enjoyable to read and seeing myself in my own machine was frightening.
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November 3, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Thank you, Hélène. And yes, it is kind of discombobulating, isn’t it?
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