NaNoWordSprints Prompts from April 2020 (Part 1)

Here are the prompts I tweeted out on NaNoWordSprints during April 1-15 for Camp NaNoWriMo!

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April 1, 2020, 8:00pm-12:00am (UTC-8)
Postcards, Part 1

10 min	#933 – Devana, Slavic goddess of the spring	Russia
20 min	#1026 – The fool	Switzerland
30 min	#770 – Bookshop	Guernsey
10 min	#636 – Two cats	The Netherlands
20 min	#912 – We are good friends	Taiwan
30 min	#976 – White and red	Estonia
10 min	#1009 – Castle	Japan
20 min	#585 – Weaving and crafts	Malaysia
30 min	#1071 – Bridge	France
5 min	#153 – All in a row	Belgium

 

April 2, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Cultural Associations with Color, Part 1

10 min	red	warmth, life, blood, love, destruction
20 min	yellow	sun, wisdom
30 min	green	vegetation, growth, jealousy
10 min	blue	infinity, deep water, peace, purity
20 min	white	innocence, divine, harmony
15 min	black	resurrection, fear of the unknown
30 min	purple	wealth, nobility
10 min	pink	romance, sweetness
20 min	orange	energy, vitality, caution, courage
15 min	brown	comfort, stability, practicality

 

April 2, 2020, 8:00pm-11:00pm (UTC-8)
Common Phrases, Part 1

10 min	taking up space
20 min	makes no difference
30 min	very strong opinions
10 min	reputation established
10 min	mind-blowing revelations
15 min	emotional transformation
30 min	treasure in the trash
5 min	center of a dispute

 

April 3, 2020, 12:00pm-2:00pm (UTC-8)
Shakespearean Phrases, Part 1

10 min	“As good luck would have it” — (The Merry Wives of Windsor)
20 min	“Brave new world” — (The Tempest)
30 min	“Break the ice” — (The Taming of the Shrew)
10 min	“Conscience does make cowards of us all” — (Hamlet)
20 min	“Crack of doom” — (Macbeth)

 

April 3, 2020, 8:00pm-12:00am (UTC-8)
Cultural Associations with Color, Part 2

10 min	gray	balance, neutral, maturity
20 min	gold	success, status, generous
30 min	beige	dependable, boring, conservative
10 min	silver	glamorous, high tech, graceful
20 min	turquoise	spiritual, healing, sophisticated
30 min	sky blue	freedom, self expression
30 min	light green	calm, soothing, refreshing
10 min	burgundy	rich, refined, expensive

 

April 4, 2020, 7:00pm-10:00pm (UTC-8)
Unusual Words

10 min	argute	shrewd
20 min	gasconade	extravagant boasting
30 min	previse	to predict an event
10 min	scofflaw	someone who flouts the law
20 min	dwaal	a dreamy, dazed, or absent-minded state
30 min	logomachy	an argument about words
15 min	thrutch	a narrow gorge or ravine

 

April 5, 2020, 7:00pm-12:00am (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 1

10 min	against all odds
20 min	at cross-purposes
30 min	between a rock and a hard place
10 min	borrowed time
20 min	break the mold
30 min	change someone’s mind
10 min	come to someone’s rescue
15 min	dark horse
30 min	deer in the headlights
5 min	elephant in the room
15 min	fight fire with fire
30 min	fool’s bargain

 

April 6, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 2

10 min	get this show on the road
20 min	go down in flames
30 min	handwriting on the wall
10 min	head over heels
20 min	hit the ground running
30 min	in the limelight
10 min	jump on the bandwagon
15 min	know no bounds
30 min	like a duck to water
5 min	more than one bargained for

 

April 6, 2020, 8:00pm-10:00pm (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 3

10 min	now or never
20 min	on the cusp
30 min	peel the onion
10 min	play by ear
20 min	push one’s luck

 

April 7, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 4

10 min	return the favor
20 min	scratch the surface
30 min	short temper
10 min	slip through the cracks
20 min	special delivery
30 min	take it or leave it
10 min	up to eleven
15 min	vertically challenged
30 min	where there’s smoke, there’s fire
5min	x marks the spot

 

April 8, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Interesting Words, Part 1

10 min	kalopsia – the delusion of things being more beautiful than they really are
20 min	toska – a dull ache of the soul, a sick pining, a spiritual anguish
30 min	abience – the strong urge to avoid something or someone
10 min	lissom – thin, graceful
20 min	sibylline – mysterious, cryptic
30 min	esperance – hope
10 min	sirimiri – a light rain, a fine drizzle
15 min	zemblanity – the inevitable discovery of what we would rather not know
30 min	rantipole – to be wild and reckless
5 min	psithurism – the sound of wind in the trees or rustling leaves

 

April 8, 2020, 8:00pm-10:00pm (UTC-8)
Interesting Words, Part 2

10 min	exulansis – the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because others are unable to relate to it
20 min	morii – the desire to capture a fleeting experience
30 min	sonder – the realization that each random passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own
10 min	absquatulate – to leave abruptly without saying goodbye
20 min	cockaigne – an imaginary place of extreme luxury and ease

 

April 9, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Interesting Words, Part 3

10 min	coddiwomple – to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination
20 min	numinous – feeling both fearful and awed by what is before you
30 min	selcouth – something unfamiliar, unusual or wonderous
10 min	trouvaille – a lucky find
20 min	novaturient – a desire for powerful change in one’s life or situation
30 min	meraki – putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing
10 min	fernweh – wanderlust, an ache for distant places or a strong desire to travel
15 min	kopfkino – the act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind
30 min	schwellenangst – fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new
5 min	komorebi – the sunlight that filters through the trees

 

April 10, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Postcards, Part 2

10 min	#44 – In the middle of town	Poland
20 min	#69 – Following the herd	Russia
30 min	#174 – Celebrations	The Netherlands
10 min	#197 – Listening	Begium
20 min	#210 – Mysterious signs	Luxemburg
30 min	#236 – Lucky charms	Turkey
10 min	#269 – Shopping	Thailand
15 min	#292 – Traditional dress, costume, or uniform	India
30 min	#349 – Being cute	Belarus
5 min	#398 – Exploring the ruins	Czech Republic

 

April 10, 2020, 6:00pm-10:00pm (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 5

10 min	add fuel to the fire
15 min	apple of someone’s eye
20 min	asking for a friend
30 min	bag of tricks
15 min	barrel of laughs
5 min	best of both worlds
10 min	beyond the pale
15 min	bounce back
20 min	bubble over
30 min	bundle of nerves
5 min	calm before the storm

 

April 11, 2020, 4:00pm-8:00pm (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 6

10 min	deliver the goods
20 min	dodge a bullet
30 min	drop a hint
10 min	easier said than done
20 min	everything but the kitchen sink
10 min	fall into a trap
20 min	fit for a king
30 min	friends in high places
10 min	game face
20 min	get one’s claws out

 

April 12, 2020, 7:15pm-12:00am (UTC-8)
Idioms, Part 7

10 min	give someone the cold shoulder
20 min	go over someone’s head
30 min	grand scheme
10 min	guilty pleasure
10 min	hang in the balance
30 min	have second thoughts
10 min	hear through the grapevine
15 min	hold a grudge
30 min	house of cards
5 min	in the blink of an eye
15 min	join forces
30 min	kernal of truth

 

April 13, 2020, 12:30pm-2:00pm (UTC-8)
Shakespearean Phrases, Part 2

10 min	“Eaten me out of house and home” — (Henry IV Part II)
10 min	“Foregone conclusion” — (Othello)
10 min	“Good riddance” — (Troilus and Cressida)
10 min	“Love is blind” — (The Merchant of Venice)
10 min	“Play fast and loose” — (King John)
10 min	“Wild-goose chase” — (Romeo and Juliet)

 

April 13, 2020, 6:00pm-10:00pm (UTC-8)
Postcards, Part 3

10 min	going in one direction
15 min	finding transportation
15 min	something blue
30 min	victory
20 min	the scenic route
10 min	not the greatest idea
10 min	getting distracted
30 min	ruin
20 min	neighbors
20 min	hidden depths

 

April 14, 2020, 12:00pm-2:00pm (UTC-8)
Animal Symbolism, Part 1

10 min	bear	solitude and hibernation
20 min	bird	freedom and flight
30 min	cat	curiosity and unpredictability
10 min	crow	signs and omens
20 min	dog	loyalty and devotion
30 min	dolphin	playfulness and innocence
10 min	dove	peace and trust
10 min	fox	cunning and quick-witted
30 min	lion	courage and bravery
10 min	owl	insight and wisdom

 

April 15, 2020, 12:00pm-4:00pm (UTC-8)
Animal Symbolism, Part 2

10 min	whale	listen to your inner voice
20 min	vulture	death and rebirth
30 min	toad	transformation and change
10 min	swan	grace and elegance
20 min	squirrel	prepare for the future
30 min	spider	weaving one’s fate
10 min	seagull	seeing things from a different perspective
15 min	seal	vivid dreams
30 min	raven	magic is in the air
5 min	rabbit	make a leap

 

April 15, 2020, 8:00pm-12:00am (UTC-8)
Animal Symbolism, Part 3

10 min	praying mantis	listen to your instincts
20 min	peacock	pride and glory
30 min	mockingbird	sing your own tune
10 min	lady bug	good luck and prosperity
20 min	hummingbird	adaptable and resilient
30 min	horse	charisma and intelligence
10 min	hare	quick and confident
15 min	goose	good fortune
30 min	elephant	persistence and determination
5 min	eagle	take advantage of opportunities

Postcard #427 – Faroe Islands

I sent this postcard to myself while I was on vacation in the Faroe Islands. I remember having a heck of a time trying to find where I could drop off the mail.

Anyways, it seems somewhat bittersweet revisiting this postcard right now when the entire world is pretty much on lockdown and no one can travel anywhere. One day, I’ll visit another faraway place and enjoy what the world has to offer.

Postcard #425 – Interior with a Screen

I have not heard of this artist (Edouard Vuillard) before and I’m not really into this style of painting. And no wonder. When I looked him up, I discovered that he was a French painter in the late 19th century and early 20th century. And he was part of an art movement called Les Nabis which is like a cross between impressionism and abstract art. I like impressionism. And I can appreciate abstract art if done well. But the mix between the two–or the transition, rather–is just a hodgepodge of stuff that seems way too random to me.

Even so, I do appreciate that the sender chose this even though it’s not my cup of tea. I learned about something that I was not aware of before.

(Note: there is no stamp on this because the sender sent this in an envelope made out of a sheet of printer paper.)