Silence fiend!

There are a few situations that I always dread because I never know what to say/do in them. One of them is talent shows. I think I'd like to be in a talent show. I was in one once in 4th grade. We did a dance. But ever since then, whenever the sign up sheets come around, I can never think of anything I could do for it. I think a skit might be fun. I've done skits at Girls Camp and such. I'm particularly fond of Eggs. I do have one talent I've secretly been planning on developing to stageworthiness, but if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret, would it?

Another is most embarassing moment. This invariably gets done at least 3 or 4 times a year. As a sort of ice breaker. If we've all seen each other at the bottom, there's no where to go but up, right? Yeah, um, no. I don't know if I'm just incredibly talented, or if I somehow manage to block all unpleasantness within 20 minutes of its happening, but I can't remember embarassing moments. I know I have them, because at the time, I think, "how embarassing. I wonder if I can use this for my embarassing moment" (I really do think that -- I have that much trouble coming up with one) and then later on I'll remember thinking that, but not what prompted it. But every time people ask me, and all I can say is, uhhhhhh, for some reason they all think I have some big secret to hide. I don't quite get it.

For those poor, unfortunate, embarrasingly ignorant souls who don't know what a fiend is or work it into everyday conversation, here you go.

Fiend n.

1. 1. An evil spirit; a demon.
   2. A diabolically evil or wicked person.
2. Informal. One who is addicted to something: a dope fiend.
3. Informal. One who is completely absorbed in or obsessed with a given job or pastime: a crossword-puzzle fiend.

This word is remarkably underused. Please join our word liberation cause, and feel free to donate to the Spread-the-Word fund by using fiend often and well. Happy speaking.