The Right Approach

November 20, 2014

Some medical trivia for you: “Because I want to test for that brown belt, and I’m in a time crunch, here” is NOT considered a good reason for postponing surgery; but “I have non-refundable plane tickets” IS.

I guess you just have to find the right approach.

Make It Real

November 20, 2104

I was watching an episode of “Hawaii Five O” while I was in some physical discomfort; and I decided that torture scenes are much more effective when you’re actually feeling pain yourself.

Maybe that will be the next thing in movies—currently they’re working with seats that move during scenes of upheaval; and I think that long ago I read something about experimenting with smells (or maybe I made that up).

If people got poked or zapped during the torture scenes, they might think inflicting pain was less cool, and hence the demand for those scenes might drop, and our level of civilization might increase.

(Just think how much less amused the Romans would have been if the lions had gotten to jump into the stands instead of just killing the gladiators.)

Just a thought.

Light Reading

November 29, 2014

If you’re tired of reading meaningful books (I never read any, so I wouldn’t know), read Hallelujah Train by Bill Gulick. It’s just good fun.

(Note to HJ at Hilarey.com: I didn’t steal your idea; I was thinking of this post this morning before I ever read your post. I guess we’re just on the same wavelength—again.)

Skin Care

November 14, 2014

Have noticed that my skin is getting that dry look that so many women who are trying to stay thin get. I used to speculate that it was either because they were stressed, or that eliminating fat in their diets by drinking skim milk and not eating butter could affect their skin.

The thing is, I don’t know if my skin is getting dry because I’m going easy on the dairy (temporarily) or because it’s a result of being sick.

I need some volunteers to let me know how eating full-fat dairy affects their skin. If I’m right, the dairy industry and the cosmetics industry can square off over whose product REALLY helps keep your skin moist. That oughta be good!

(Think of all the studies that could be funded by one side or the other. And if they pay the study participants, the effect on the economy could be tremendous!)

Blue Christmas

November 14, 2014

The radio that starts the Christmas songs in November started them today.

The first song I heard was the one from Band Aid: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Started listing in my head all the gloomy Christmas songs there are. There’s actually a pretty fair number!

Veterans and Other Special People

November 11, 2014

I once had a neighbor, an elderly man, whom I mainly saw when he was out mowing his lawn or using his snowblower. He'd always be smoking a cigar, because his wife wouldn't let him smoke in the house. We'd smile and wave, and that would be that.

One day I was at the local history museum, and saw an article about Frank. Seems he had been a Commando in World War II. (If you don't know what the Commandos did, look it up. They were a pretty impressive bunch of guys.) He was taken prisoner, escaped from a German POW camp that had a hellish commandant, returned to action and was captured again. He was sent to a different camp; but it was run by the same horrible man. I can't even imagine what his feelings were.

The thing is, Frank didn't brag. As far as I knew, he was just a nice guy whose wife wouldn't let him smoke cigars in the house.

A lot of people, not just veterans, do amazing things that they don't talk about. So the next time you find yourself next to a stranger, treat him or her as if they have done something wonderful.

Who knows? Maybe they have.

That Science Fiction Stuff is Real

November 11, 2014

I have conclusive proof that force fields really do exist:

There is apparently one around every wastebasket and laundry hamper in my house, judging by all the stuff lying just outside the baskets!

A Nice Turn of Phrase

November 1, 2014

I coined the phrase “Aggressively boring” yesterday. I was referring to my wardrobe, but it occurred to me that it might be useful for other situations, too.

I’ve listened to speakers who were aggressively boring; some decorating styles are aggressively boring; and, although I never saw it, I understand that “The English Patient” might have fallen into that category as well.