Friday, April 28, 2000
Made it to Queens. Norm, Rasi and Lisa. Hitting Payless and then Millbrook.

Thought a lot about initiations on the way up. Yikes!
08:35 | link |

Couldn't really sleep last night. I think it finally began to hit me that Saturday I'm going to be initiated.

Running a tad late this morning. I have to pick up Norm at Rasaraja's in Queens and then we're off to Millbrook for the initiation. Spoke with Nathan last night twice. At first I thought he was going to flake, but it seems as though he will pull through courtesy of a ride from Sweet Pete.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.
04:16 | link |

Thursday, April 27, 2000

According to Meriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary...

¹ ini·ti·ate
Pronunciation: i-'ni-shE-"At
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
Etymology: Late Latin initiatus, past participle of initiare, from Latin, to induct, from initium
Date: circa 1573
1 : to cause or facilitate the beginning of : set going <initiate a program of reform> <enzymes that initiate fermentation>
2 : to induct into membership by or as if by special rites
3 : to instruct in the rudiments or principles of something : INTRODUCE
synonym see BEGIN
- ini·ti·a·tor /-"A-t&r/ noun

² ini·tiate
Pronunciation: i-'ni-sh(E-)&t
Function: adjective
Date: 1605
1 obsolete : relating to an initiate
2 a : initiated or properly admitted (as to membership or an office)   b : instructed in some secret knowledge

³ ini·tiate
Pronunciation: i-'ni-sh(E-)&t
Function: noun
Date: 1811
1 : a person who is undergoing or has undergone an initiation
2 : a person who is instructed or adept in some special field

ini·ti·a·tion
Pronunciation: i-"ni-shE-'A-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 1583
1 a : the act or an instance of initiating  b : the process of being initiated  c : the rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions with which one is made a member of a sect or society or is invested with a particular function or status
2 : the condition of being initiated into some experience or sphere of activity : KNOWLEDGEABLENESS

According to me...

¹ doubt
Pronunciation: 'daut
Function: verb
Etymology: alteration of Middle English douten, from Old French douter to doubt, from Latin dubitare; akin to Latin dubius dubious
Date: 13th century
transitive senses
1 archaic a : FEAR  b: SUSPECT
2 : to be in doubt about <he doubts everyone's word>
3 a : to lack confidence in : DISTRUST <find myself doubting him even when I know that he is honest -- H. L. Mencken>   b : to consider unlikely <I doubt if I can go>
intransitive senses : to be uncertain
- doubt·able /'dau-t&-b&l/ adjective
- doubt·er noun
- doubt·ing·ly /-ti[ng]-lE/ adverb

² doubt
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
1 a : uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making  b : a deliberate suspension of judgment
2 : a state of affairs giving rise to uncertainty, hesitation, or suspense
3 a : a lack of confidence : DISTRUST  b : an inclination not to believe or accept
synonym see UNCERTAINTY
- no doubt : 1 DOUBTLESS

scary
Pronunciation: 'sker-E, 'skar-
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): scar·i·er; -est
Date: 1582
1 : causing fright : ALARMING <a scary story>
2 : easily scared : TIMID
3 : feeling alarm or fright : FRIGHTENED
- scar·i·ly /'sker-&-lE, 'skar-/ adverb

un·cer·tain·ty
Pronunciation: -t^&n-tE
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : the quality or state of being uncertain : DOUBT
2 : something that is uncertain
synonyms UNCERTAINTY, DOUBT, DUBIETY, SKEPTICISM, SUSPICION, MISTRUST mean lack of sureness about someone or something. UNCERTAINTY may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result <assumed the role of manager without hesitation or uncertainty>. DOUBT suggests both uncertainty and inability to make a decision <plagued by doubts as to what to do>. DUBIETY stresses a wavering between conclusions <felt some dubiety about its practicality>.

We'll see how it goes on Saturday.