So... How'd Your Day Go?

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Originally Posted by JustRob

I was just thinking what an odd expression that is. If there were a plague, and that isn't so frequent an occurrence nowadays, it would probably be much harder to avoid than social media. In fact my angel and I don't really indulge in social media at all, present company excepted, and that is merely by omission rather than active precautions. No, I think The Plague would be a very different challenge to overcome. Perhaps we need a new superlative expression for modern times.

"I avoid social media like ................" Anyone have a suggestion? "Falling pianos" comes to mind for some reason. "Acid rain" maybe? Maybe we need a thread for this.

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I was going to say chlamydia, but then I use that term 4 or 5 times a day.

I wrote a random baseball quote web page over the weekend. If you like a quote, you can tweet it with a couple of clicks.

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Originally Posted by bobo

Well, if you don't like the word 'plague', which according to my dictionaries aren't out-of-date at all, as it clearly can mean a nuisance, a torment, a bother etc. - then what about using 'pest' instead ??
You'll probably say the same thing, pest is an oldfashioned illness, but nevertheless, both 'plague' and 'pest' can be used today about the above continual troubles and distresses - and further, even it's somewhat long since we (at least in the 1. world countries) had both diseases, the odd thing is, that everybody seems to know what it is supposed to mean - in the abstract form at least :-)
Sorry, hope I didn't ruin your day :icon_compress:

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Originally Posted by Darkkin

Plague and pestilence have become synonyms for the emotions their physical consequences can evoke. Thus a noun becoming an adjective or a verb.

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To be pedantic, which seems to come easily to me, I did say that it was the expression, rather than the word, that bothered me. Using the definite article and capitals thus, "The Plague", seems different from simply using the word "plague" in a more general sense. I think that's what triggered my reaction. It's amazing how the smallest detail in the way that we write something can potentially change a reader's perception of it. "The Plague" can conjure up quite distinct images in a reader's mind. I claim to have been "plagued" by thoughts from the future, but they haven't involved anyone calling out "Bring out your dead!", not so far anyway. At my age I could get very worried if they did.

I'm in a weird mood today. My anxiety tells me I should be bummed out and cynical, but on the flip side, I'm not letting myself feel that way.

Today I added a flourish to our trip to London on Thursday to see a show and attend a talk at the Society for Psychical Research. I contacted the theatre and arranged for my angel to be served Pimms and chocolate ice cream in a reserved spot in the royal circle bar during the interval. Well, why waste one's imagination writing down one's ideas for unknown people to read when one can employ them to bring happiness directly to the people who really matter? Any entertainment that I have given to WF readers is just spin-off from my efforts to keep those closest to me happy over the years. Cran always says that reality is what matters most, but so long as WF is a genuine reflection of the real people behind it then there can't be too much wrong with it.

A poem given to a loved one, a children's story told to children, a joke told when spirits need to be raised, and an event organised when an occasion merits it, these are the real benefits of a creative mind. Don't always commit these bursts of inspiration to the fictional world of literature. Make reality a better place as well.

P.S.
Come to think of it, how often does a writer see their reader smile for real?

I interviewed for a volunteer instructor position and they want me but have no place for me. It's because of my vision and the associated transportation issues. I can work from home. But they don't have any positions for remote instructors at this point because all of the schools signed up are accessible to "normal" people. So I may not be working for these folks till 2018. Kind of a bummer.

Well Esc, it's that time of the year again to cut, split, and put up half a dozen cords of wood for next winter. If you're thinking of visiting, now would be a good time :-) For relaxation, you could also help clear some of the raspberry brambles in my natural garden.

My son had his Junior ROTC awards tonight. All he got was some lousy "participation award" that pretty much everyone else got. He works hard and is a real good kid. He deserved more.
A cadet he's real close with got a ton of awards and recognition. That probably hurt the most. There wasn't much separating the two of them. The brass just liked her more.
I think he understands the politics in this crap. My son is honest, reliable, and everyone likes him. But that gets you nowhere in today's world.
I don't know what to tell him. I want to tell him expect more in the future, because life is unfair and goodness is shat upon.
But I'm the adult, and that means lying to him and blowing sunshine up his rear. Because the truth is too ugly to face.

Teach him to suck up - or let him himself discover the system.
It's not enough to be good in himself, he has to do something to make the others feel good about themselves - even the not so good - voila !!

I just had a dream I was the president of the United States, and kept asking Merkel if she were doing OK. The news referred to me as 'Insecured Commander in Chief'.