Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
Infloofigent (floofinition) – Having or showing knowledge about animals.
In use: “He hadn’t read many books, and didn’t have any college or university degrees (hell, he’d barely made it out of high school), but everyone agreed that he was remarkably infloofigent, able to talk about animals and their habits, needs, and behavior more intelligently than anyone else they knew.”
We’ve been watching His Dark Materials (HBO), and mostly enjoying it, although the story feels like it’s rushed more than the books. But then, that’s why I prefer reading (and writing) books. I can indulge in my imagination more, and let matters (and story) expand and flow with fewer constraints.
Lin Manuel Miranda is playing Lee Scoresby, aeronaut, friend of Irok (the armored bear) and protector of Lyra (one of many). Sam Elliot played Lee in the first movie, The Golden Compass. Sam aligned more with how I saw Lee in the novel, so I thought he was casting perfection. Nevertheless, Lin does a damn fine job (not surprising for someone as talented as Lin).
Here’s the kicker and the point to this whole post: a man who looks like Lin Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby just walked into the coffee shop. After I stared at him, watching his passage across the coffee shop (which he noticed) (it seemed to disconcert him), I had to go outside and check – balloon? Large white bear in armor? Gyptians? Flying witches?
No; just Lee, sneaking in for a cuppa…and perhaps here for a secret assignation.
Who the hell knows?
(The weirdest thing: after he came in…he disappeared…)
Impressions crept in on her, darkening her mood. His cell-like room felt dryer and hotter than she remembered the Sahara being. Negativity spiked from him like blackberry bramble thorns. When he spoke, words lurched out like they were freight cars in a train that didn’t have the engine for its load.
Unflooftested (floofinition) – Objects, locations, or people who have never been exposed to animals once they’ve been acquired as new.
In use: “She worried about her new black sweater and how it would fare; Kathryn had two cats and one dog, and the sweater was unflooftested.”
He knew their faces, knew them well,
saw them every day.
When they weren’t present on their appointed time,
he always wondered about their fate.
They never looked at him,
when he was looking at them,
and never shared a sound;
not hello, good-bye, or how’s the weather,
their lips were sealed against verbs and nouns.
They were his daily companions,
he knew them well,
saw them every day,
and knew the gulf between him and them,
and wondered why it wouldn’t go away.
Exfloofvert (floofinition) – 1. A person who is outgoing or overtly expressive when they encounter an animal. 2. An outgoing or overly expressive animal.
In use: “Little Bit was waiting for him when he opened the door and entered. The two, who’d been reticent since he’d left that morning, became joyous exfloofverts as Bit purred and meowed, and he laughed, stroked her, and told her how pretty she was and how much he’d missed her.”
Salflooftations (floofinition) – greetings exchanged by people and animals upon seeing and recognizing one another.
In use: “When he returned home each day, he’d open the door and find the ginger tabby and yellow lab in the living room, close to one another, but not touching. He’d say as salflooftations, “Hey, guys, I’m home. Obvious, right?” The dog would chuff, “Wou,” and the cat answer, “Chyew.” They’d then get up, stretch, and meander over to sniff him for the news.”
You stare beyond me
to where, I can’t know or see
But I wish I knew
Michael Seidel, writer 