From dusk to dawn

I started my day today with a discussion of words and word use (fun! really!). It came about because we were discussing the word "dusk," as in "I ran until dusk." (No, I didn't say this ... It was said by someone else much more young and fit.)

Anyhow, the conversation evolved (or devolved, depending your frame of reference) into a discussion of antonyms and synonyms. We agreed: synonyms of dusk include "twilight" and (this was my contribution) "gloaming" (love that word!). Antonyms for dusk are "dawn" and . . .??

At this point, I was a bit stumped. Maybe it's because whereas I experience dusk frequently (every day, essentially), dawn is ... something I experience only under protest or in light of early flight schedules. So, I turned to the internet while everyone else returned to work. But hey, I charge by the hour, so I figured I could put in a couple free minutes to satisfy the itch for symmetry.

What I found:
Dusk vs Dawn
Twilight vs First light
Sundown vs Sunrise (or Sunup)
Nightfall vs Daybreak

Dawn or dusk? Who knows? But look at those lovely lenticular clouds!

But then, I ran into trouble:
Gloaming vs ... what?? Gleaming? (I rather like that, but don't think it's the case.)
Eventide vs ... uh ...

And what about crepuscular light? Does that only apply to evening/dusk? If so, then what do you call the "light before the dawn?"

At that point, I had to stop and get to work, because the itch to find the right words was beginning to feel more like a rash. But I've been turning those terms over in my mind all day... and now it's long past dusk.

For love of words

Over the past few days, I've been thinking a great deal about my publisher's gift of tens of thousands of books to the Florida schools.

Then, I began to wonder, what do I do to encourage a love of and support the written word? Particularly regarding kids?

Okay, so here we go:

List at least five things you do to support and spread a love of the written word, and tag five people. (If you list something that touches youngsters, you get a bonus letter!)

1. I am a writer of fiction, science, and technology.
2. I always keep the reader in mind and craft my prose accordingly (particularly for the last two).
3. I go to schools and classrooms and talk about careers in writing/editing (being sure to mention more than just "author of books" route . . . after all, SOMEone writes the copy in a catalog, right?).
4. Over the years, I've volunteered in elementary school classrooms, helping kids who are having difficulty reading.
5. I've gone to the library regularly, all my life (so far!), and made sure my kids did the same.
6. I've been a judge for poetry and young adult fiction awards.

Wow! Two bonus letters! I pick and "S" and an "R" (for the Silver Rush)!
Okay, I'm tagging ...

1. Chester Campbell
2. Kris Waldherr
3. Adonya Wong
4. Dani
5. Marvin D. Wilson