1. Xanadu – mythical land, fabulous movie from my childhood. Olivia Newton John, Gene Kelly, and roller disco. What’s not to love?

2. Xanth – fictional, pun-filled world created by Piers Anthony. It was fresh at first, then got cloying. I haven’t been keeping up with the series.
3. Xanthometer – an instrument for measuring the color of seawater. Because “blue” and “blue-green” aren’t scientific enough.
4. Xanthophyll – the substance that causes autumn leaves to turn yellow. Seasonal and everything. I like the part that makes them crunchy better, though

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5. Xebec – a small three-masted pirate ship. And we all know I love all things ship-y and tar-y.
6. Xenosaurus – a kind of Mexican lizard. I like lizards. They’re cool. Not so much with the snakes, which I prefer to admire from a distance.
7. Xeranthemum – silvery purple flowers found in the southern part of Europe. Again, we all know I like purple flowers.
8. Xerox – I know it’s a brand name, but we use it to mean “copy” so often…also, it’s fun to say.
9. Xilinous – has to do with cotton, my favorite fabric. Give me soft cotton over linen or silk any day.
10. Xiuhtechutli – Aztec god of fire and light, personification of light within darkness, warmth in cold, and life after death. Is there a vampire story here? Also, an amazing Black Phoenix perfume that has copal, plumeria, orange and smoke in it.
11. Xylocopa – carpenter bees. I’m not a bee person (my name notwithstanding), but I have an appreciation for these guys.
12. Xylomancy – divination by examining wood found in one’s path. I don’t really believe in divination, but it’s fun to pretend.
13. Xylophone – one of my former CSz troupemates was a percussionist. He managed to make the xylophone sexy, playing it with four mallets at once.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!