Random Thoughts, Part 6
Posted: Monday, September 28, 2009
by Dianne Lehmann
Artisan Jewelry from SyZyGy
Oh no. Here we go again.
Some of you who read Random Thoughts, Part 5 might remember I mentioned a back door neighbor who talks incessantly and so loudly that she sounds as if she were in our kitchen. Well, just this evening my stalwart and ever on the look-out husband, Bernd, traced another one of our annoyances to Ms. Loud, as we affectionately call her.
It has just been getting worse and worse as time has gone by. My guess is that she has become desensitized to the fragrance and in an effort to smell herself at all times has had to put on more and more of the product. At some point I should think the cost will become prohibitive. A bottle a day habit would have to be hard to manage. I just hope I can survive until then. Or maybe she will just find something cheaper and even more obnoxious.
Not so Random After All
In a fit of pique, Bernd typed "perfume toxicity" into a search engine and we were both quite appalled with the result. One nice thing, though, apparently we are not alone in our sensitivity to fragrances. There is a veritable plethora of information about the toxic affects of, and toxic ingredients in perfumes and other fragranced products, and people complaining about it. Try a search for yourself and see.
One site talked about testing for toxicity by putting a small, very precise amount of a particular fragrance on a cotton ball, placing the dosed cotton ball in a closed container with a cricket and timing how long it takes for the perfume to kill the cricket. If it takes two minutes or less, then it is considered toxic. Or something like that. I don't recall the precise details because it was fairly upsetting to me ... and probably for the cricket as well.
I'd known for some time that fragrance manufacturers put insect repellents in their products because people complained of being mobbed by insects, but I never dreamed that it would kill insects ... well okay, crickets are not all insects, but you get my drift. I had to stop reading articles because it was just scaring me too much.
Things I Don't Understand
There are a lot of things, really. I don't get computers at all. I can use one, but I don't understand them and probably never will. Once upon a time I understood how my car worked, but I was young and cars were simpler and internal combustion isn't all that hard to comprehend. These days, though, even cars have computers in them and I've already admitted that I don't understand computers.
So here are a couple more things:
Why are those things that people put over the front ends of their cars called bras? They aren't holding anything up. Instead they protect the front end of the car from dirt and rocks and so forth. So shouldn't they be called "bibs?" Some of you with excellent memories might note that I have asked this previously. Well, I haven't received an answer yet and so I'm asking it again.
Why will I never learn to turn onto my side just before I'm about to fall asleep. Instead, I continue to lie on my back, my mouth falls open, I snort out a good snore and wake myself up. Invariably, it then takes me at least a half an hour to fall back to sleep. At least the second time, I'm already lying on my side. I'm not that stupid.
If moonshine is an alcoholic beverage, what is starshine?
Why do we move our heads from side to side to indicate "no" and up and down to indicate "yes?" When did the habit of emphasizing a "yes" with a "no" shake of the head come into use and why? Hey, that sounds like a good question for the new Question and Answer feature on SearchWarp dot com.
Things I have Learned recently
You should never, ever try to whip out an article at 11:00 p.m. on the night before the day you need to submit it.
Javelina (collared peccaries or wild pigs) do not really care how much you shine your flashlight on them, how close you are, how big your husband is or much of anything else for that matter. They just keep right on walking through your back yard, intent on their nightly rounds in search of good things to eat.
Baby javelina are just about the cutest things going. The adults aren't so bad either, though many might not agree with me.
I am never going to change the world. Not sure I'd want to anyway. I'd probably just mess it up even more.
If you want to wake up well rested and refreshed in the morning, you really should get to bed at a reasonable time.
It really is a good idea to proof read your article. Spell checkers only take it so far.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Great article Dianne!I'll have a go at answering one of your questions:'Why do we move our heads from side to side to indicate "no" and up and down to indicate "yes"?'My best guess off the top of my head would be that the "up/down" movement for yes evolved from mating / greeting behaviour - a sort of nuzzling behaviour to say hello in greeting, or "how YOU doin'?" as a precursor to mating. This would indicate "positive disposition" and so naturally become linked with "yes" when we started talking.Similarly, the "left-right" movement for "no" might have come from wary / challenge behaviours - when encountering a stranger or potential predator creatures often weave their head side to side in warning / readiness, and thus the "left/right" movement became linked to negative disposition, and thence to the spoken "no".That's my two cents anyway, and I haven't researched it so its very likely complete nonsense :)I agree about the proof reading. There's a very annoying extra full stop near the beginning of my Pronunciation article, doh!Thanks for writing!Hi Ben.Thanks for the insight into the yes/no thing. I think there's a very good chance you are right on the money with what you wrote.I'm really bad at actually taking a look at how my articles turn out on SearchWarp. Sometimes odd things happen in the upload. I just do my best to have them in the best shape I can when I submit them.Thanks for taking the time to comment and answer one of my many questions.Dianne
hi dianne,it's refreshing to read something that is cute, funny, and educative at the same time. ....I don't recall the precise details because it was fairly upsetting to me ... and probably for the cricket as well.... hilarious.i like this article. it was different, and that's a good thing.Hi Sue.Thanks! Maybe I should try writing in the middle of the night more often. :) Glad you enjoyed it.Hugs,Dianne
Very nicely done. I think that thing at the front of a car is called a 'bra' because mostly men put them on, and it sounds sexier than 'bib'. Moonshine is from when they used the light of the moon to make the brew (they made it at night to hide it), and starlight is too dim.I think, anyway. Thanks for sharing these thoughts, I liked them.Hi Michael.Thanks for the insight. I have to agree that "bra" is a lot sexier than "bib." But why do cars have to be sexy? There's another one for you. :)Have you ever been out in the desert in the middle of a moonless night with only the stars to see by? I have and it's amazing. But I do get the whole moonshine thing.Thank you, Michael, for reading and answering.Dianne
Enjoyed your article very much, especially appreciate your humor. Thanks for sharing.Linda DHi Linda.You are welcome for the sharing, but actually I can't seem to help myself. Humor is what makes life bearable, don't you think?Thank you for reading my ramblings and taking the time to comment.Dianne
This was a good chuckle - I can relate to the 11 PM comments too and it is only 7:40 - morning comes early in Colorado! MarijoHi Marijo.Morning comes early in Arizona too. I'd love to hear more about where you live in Colorado and how you like it.Glad I could give you a chuckle!Thanks for reading and commenting.DianneMiddle of a mountain meadow outside Colorado Springs about 1 1/2 hours - LOVE it - snow comes and usually goes here - not like Minnesota where I was raised AND our high this summer was 73. More than 300 days of sunshine a year and wild flowers - might send you some! MarijoWow Marijo, that's sound just about perfect. Can I come live with you? :) Pix, now I need pix! You know, maybe you could share an article with us about what you love about where you live.Thanks for the quick reply.Dianne
Ohhhh Miz Dianne~ You just crack me up at every turn. Have you started your book yet???? You know, the world could use a book (written by you). I think it'd be the funnest thing ever!Have to answer that last question: "why do cars have to be sexy?" Come on! You KNOW the answer to that, right? Ya know I love the men folk..but let's face it, "sexy" is what men are most fond of ... in terms of how most are wired (ok guys. don't get your shorts in a bunch. you know it's true.) And 'sexy' is not the only adjective used to sell vehicles. Ever seen a truck commercial? They use the word "aggressive" all the time. A truck...aggressive? How's that again?Lastly, your late night writing...here's my 'two cents' on that: brilliance, talent, genius (all qualities you possess!) have no clock. If this piece is any indication of what you may consider something not to submit...I say you reconsider. Your genius is ever-present...and it may just be more so late at night because you're not "thinking clearly". Which is where your Genius lives!Hugs, Bella~Hi Camille.You must be my staunchest supporter. I do appreciate the encouragement. I had a small panic attack (well a really wee one) at about 10:45 p.m. when it was time to get in bed and I realized I'd completely forgotten about an article for my column.As for cars being sexy or aggressive ... honestly, I just don't get it. I like the styling of some more than others, but realistically they are just a way to get around quickly. Frankly, I've never understood the need for more than one purse or why watches have to be fashionable. They are also just tools. Am I broken? :)Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed my article. I'm always happy when I can amuse.Hugs and lightness,Dianne
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