xenolithic

Xenolithic adj. Geological descriptive terminology of a foreign, rocky material that has fallen into, or become embedded into, magma before it solidifies. Much later, when seen in microscopes or visible ground exposures, the appearance is strikingly distinctive; often of a different color or texture when compared to the surrounding material. Thus,xeno meaning strange or foreign or alien, and lithic, meaning rock or rock-like substance, was combined to describe these aberrations.

The word xenolithic is now used as an adjective or adverb to describe a substance or article or situation or action that is strikingly out of place or extremely unexpected based upon common experience and expectations.

Charlie's funeral was strange indeed. But it wasn't the ministers from different faiths chanting in their native tongues, or the multiple mistresses that openly wept above his closed coffin that caused me pause, no, it was the xenolithic sight of the fully costumed clown, in the corner with the widow, making balloon animals for her little girl.

Zenning Out

Zen Out or Zenning Out, a deeper form of zoning out. In zoning out, you become absorbed with your own thoughts and inner world, but in Zenning Out you become totally absorbed with the world around you in an almost trance-like state. The world around you looks or feels more real, substantial, and vivid. This can occur after one experiences a trauma, or after someone has purposely chosen to be more aware of their surroundings until the stimuli of the world builds up into a cathartic response within the person. You may also Zen out unexpectedly and it is a very wonderful experience.

At the fairgrouds, I noticed Mallory was staring quietly at the amusement rides, as if lost in thought. I asked her what she was thinking. She said, "The lights, the sounds, it is all so clear and crisp. Even the air smelling of corn dogs and popcorn seems more real."

I said, "Mallory, you're zenning out."

"What's zenning out?"

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