solosater

I’m adding another interesting conversation from Channel Baldur this time (thank you Baldur for allowing us access [nope, I didn’t ask]).

This discussion was started when Robin (after making excuses for not finishing her homework;-) said: I have this other quirk where I have to read the end of a book before I read the book itself. I just don't really like surprises (even peeked in my mom's hiding place before Christmas as a kid!) So I will read maybe one or two chapters to get to know the characters, etc. Then I skip right to the end to see if I feel like the book is worthy of my time. If the ending sucks, the book goes unread. Sometimes I'll read it anyway, but actually, it's only happened a handful of times that I found the ending so distasteful that I didn't read the book. Regardless, I am the only person I have ever met who has this strange habit.

*marius replied: Robin, you've made a perfect end to my day! THANK YOU!

Here's how my day started: All of my life I have wondered why NO ONE ELSE is ever bothered by that wicked fluorescent lighting that rules our lives. So, this morning, sipping tea, I find out those lights bother Solosater too! And in much the same way they bother me! Hooray, I am NOT alone!

Fast forward to end of day and I discover I am NOT the only one who reads the end of a book to find out if I want to read the whole thing!!!

I also read a few chapters first, then read the ending and if I like it, I read it all. Have been doing this forever! Spouse says this is cheating and I tell him it beats the suffering he goes through when he's not sure if he likes a book or not. : )

*Baldur said: Baldur absolutely cannot stand fluorescent lighting, when going shopping I try to remember to bring my sunglasses into the store with me, even if there weren't needed outside.

All goes fairly well until the inevitable flickering gets noticed (It's best never to look up at these devices). Once you pick out the flickering one you cannot remove the pulsing from your vision, even aisles and aisle away this faint 'disco' effect is still there.
Then I end up noticing other discordant light fluctuations that are not synchronized with the first one. It's maddening. Plus you can actually still notice this effect through closed eyelids.

This cannot be healthy.
It is no wonder that sales help in stores are often very irritable.

I cannot read the ending of a book first.
If indeed the story is horrible the book is gone by the end of the first chapter.
Baldur donates a LOT of books to charitable causes, as well as giving them to Matthew of Shrewsbury.

*Robin got off the subject a little (but it ended up being kinda’ funny, in an alliterative way) when she said: Robin is disappointed to see no planned trips to Boise by Baldur, to help a sister out. Guess I'll have to trudge along myself through all this mess, then eat some crappy concoction of leftovers. Woe is me.

*Baldur’s reply may indicate a need to join us here on our crazy forum.

* Baldur said: Blame Baldur but breezing by Boise breaks banks (Baldur's been broke).

Cooking crappy concoctions can cause creative cooks ceaseless consternation. Combine cream, cornstarch, curry, chopped chipotles, chickpeas, carefully cook causing cream's custardlike consistency. Cook cavatelli. Coat cooked cavatelli completely, creating a creamy curried casserole. Chopped chives cover casserole.
Consume!

*Yeah he needs to stop by!

*Robin said: marius, I'm delighted and surprised to find the one and only other living human being who reads the end of the book first, like I do! It makes my friends crazy for some reason. They will go to a movie and I'll ask them how it ends, too. They just refuse to indulge me EVER! I wonder why this bothers people so much. I don't give away endings to others or ruin their fun, so why must they ruin MY fun by NOT giving away endings?! Glad to know that somewhere out there I have a kindred spirit regarding this!

*Then I called them all Mixed Nuts! And told them: My stepfather is always trying to tell me about movies he's seen and always (ALWAYS) says he won't tell me anything important but then he tells me the whole story, and he's so caught up in it you cannot politely cut in and say "Hey, you're telling me the whole story!"

I try to avoid him for a couple of days after they've gone out to the movies!

*Dragon said: Robin, I tend to read long series of books and I wonder what you would do with them. One of the series I've been reading since high school (good God has it really been that long?!) is 16 books strong with at least 1 more on the way despite the author promising that the last book would be the actual LAST book. It also jumps back and forth through several timelines in each book. I think you would have a hard time with reading the end first there. I love it so much I've read it about 20 times, I could just about recite it by now.

*Then Robin replied: Dragon, no way I could read that series. In fact, I read some of the Harry Potter books, (last page first, of course) but ultimately, as they kept growing in length, I lost interest. I look at 900 page book and just find it too daunting. I might read a hundred pages in one day, then not have an opportunity to pick the book up again for a month. So I like a quicker read. And I can't stand too many characters either. I get them all confused. Especially if their names start with the same letter. Stick a Mike and a Mark and a Matthew in the same book and I'll never keep them straight. I read this book by Jodie Piccoult...My Sister's Keeper...many years ago. It not only jumped from character to character, but from year to year. So one chapter would be a daughter in 1980 and the next chapter would be the mother in 1987 and the next chapter would be the brother in 1975 or something. It made my head hurt.

*Then I said: Oh, I hate it when more than one of the main characters' names start with the same letter, I can't keep them straight at all.

Funny that we don't have that problem itrw, it must have to do with the fact that we can actually see the characters in our own lives and don't rely solely on a name to identify a person.

*Dragon said: Robin, I suggest you never attempt to read any Robert Jordan. If he bothers to name a person in one of his books they will inevitably become a major player later in the series. I started keeping notes to keep track of who was good or evil, dead or come back from the dead (possibly with a different name and gender) and who was where. My note system in itself is completely impossible to decipher unless you have me there to guide you through it.

*Baldur said: I am glad there are so many bits of reference online. If Baldur is reading Anne Rice or Marion Zimmer Bradley it's impossible to keep every character in every book tucked into my memory.
It's about time to read another bit of Anne Rice, I have been rationing her books or I will have read everything and have nothing left to surprise me.

*And of course matthew then said: I advise dropping them all & focus more on reading Radio Baldur transcripts...

This has been a public service announcement...

The views expressed here do not reflect the views of Think Draw, Radio Baldur Inc or it's host...

Oh wait... yes they do...

*Proving once again that he needs to join us here as well.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Forum Additions. I’ll keep you posted!

Baldur

Baldur's brilliant bylines become better by broadcasting.

solosater

solosater says, “Stolen stories save solosater some sanity!”

solosater

I'm trying to catch up to Channel Baldur.

I've a long way to go.

marius

I did enjoy the new additions to the "dry sockets thread" solosater! Thank you!

Busy weekend here, so I skimmed and will have to catch up whenever I've done the upcoming social things AND had required amount of down-time and yoga and walks to balance it out. : )

Baldur

Shameless solosater shall seemingly steal some serendipitous (score 7) storytelling.
Somehow silly syllables starting similarly seem skillful.
Since someone should stop, say something serious.

solosater

I can make my little toe go in circles!?

How's that for serious?

And 10+ for score 7!

solosater

One night a hundred years ago when I was just a kid, my family was hosting a bunch of kids for a movie night at our house. After the movie was over, we turned on the lights and were all sitting around talking and out of the blue, my brother quite loudly says, “Eww! Look what she’s doing with her toe!”

Of course everyone looked

Then those who were not completely sicked out by the evidence of feet in the room (everyone but my brother, my mother, and one girl who had a crush on my brother and so had to find feet disgusting) took off their own shoes and socks and tried to make their little toes go round in circles. No one else could do it.

I’ve done it for as long as I can remember and never thought anything of it. I’m better with my right than my left but then I do it with my right without thinking (I’m shoeless most of the time). I still pull it out at really slow parties and it’s always a hit (with everyone who are nor sickened by feet).

solosater

-nor+not

marius

And a very good morning to all! (Noon, or afternoon?, to Login).

Solosater ... Funny, funny story! What do your other toes do when little toe is going in a circle? Are they motionless, move just a little, or do they talk badly about the little toe for showing off? tee hee hee

marius

Also, Solo - you wrote: "Funny that we don't have that problem itrw!" This was in reference to problems when too many characters in a book have the same first initial to their name.

I get 10 points for figuring out what itrw means (in the real world) and another 10 points because I DO have that problem itrw.

This summer I met two women at an event and both their names started with a "J." When I saw them the next time, I knew their names had the first initial of "J" but could not remember the names. When I saw them the third time, I knew one was Jamie and the other Judy, but which was which? Mercifully, they've been very nice about it.

Also have a problem with three letter names: I can remember the person has a three letter name, but which one? There's Bob, Rob, Jim, Ron, Don, Jon, Sam, Sue, Jan, Pam, ... it's endless. However, unusual 3-letter names I do remember: Joy, Gay, Cam, Mel. Hmmm.

Login

I have a problem with names - full stop. When introduced to a stranger, I forget their name within minutes. It seems very rude but I just can't help it. There must be a trick to retaining the names of new aquaintances in ones memory ... does anybody have the secret(s)?

lynnspotter

Yes! Write it down. I am horrible a names unless I use them constantly!

solosater

I look right at a person after being introduced and repeat their name and then say, "I'm gonna' forget that!" and for some reason I don't. I do the same with appointments, if I have someone from the office call to remind me, or if I ask my mother to remind me, EVEN IF THEY DON'T, I remember. If no one is planning to remind me, I forget.

I wonder if it isn't saying the info out loud? Our memories are enhanced by our 5 senses, so by writing the info down we get 2 the touch and sight, and, though we likely already heard the info from the receptionist or whoever, by saying it again, aloud to ourselves at a later time, we get the reinforced hearing.

I'm betting this would work with names too. If you picked something striking about the person, the terribly tall one is Lucy and the one with the gap in her 2 front teeth is Leanne, (not something about the clothes or anything else changeable but something that sets that person apart from others you are meeting that you will definitely notice the next time you meet) and then tell yourself about that person as soon as you can, the next time you meet you see the terribly tall one and know that “Lucy” is terribly tall so that must be Lucy.

And I agree write it down, keep a tiny address book and even tell the person, “I’m going to write your name down so I don’t forget,” and right then make a note, “Susan Jones, chatty, big blue eyes,” now you don’t even have to remember your clue until you can say it aloud.

Some people think I’m a freak for the things I do remember and the obvious stuff I’ve apparently purged from my brain but it seems to work for me, likely because I tend to tell everyone that I’m a freak anyway when I meet them, this way they are not surprised;-) I will meet a person again after 6 or 8 months and say, “I’m solo, we met last summer. I’ve forgotten your name but I do remember you said you grew up in Washington and your mother was a school teacher.” They generally laugh and tell me their name again and it’s all good.

I also always introduce myself again, it seems to put others at ease and they often will tell me their name again without further prompting.

And on those maddening occasions when I see someone I absolutely know I’ve met but it’s completely out of context and I cannot remember who they are, I try to be first to wave or make eye contact so they will know I do recognize them, then when we are speaking I say, “ I know we met, but I don’t know when and I can’t remember your name! Help me out here.” and they do with a smile on their face.

I think we all go through this and those people who can remember all that stuff have likely not enough to keep them busy, or hey, they’re just really good with names. But assuming that the other person is at least a little nervous as well and that they likely don’t remember the name of every person they’ve ever met either, and just addressing the issue, is for me, way less upsetting than getting all worked up because I’ve forgotten something that most people forget at one time or another.

solosater

marius, on my right foot the other toes remain mostly still; they might gossip some, I'm not sure. On my left foot the other toes follow but are making noticeably smaller circles; they're likely too busy to gossip;-)

Dragon

My problem with names is related to working in a vet clinic. I often remember their pets name but not theirs. It's especially bad when I'm with my boyfriend and they expect me to introduce them. I don't think they'd appreciate me saying "This is Rover's mom" rather than their actual name. Some people I can remember because I recall their pet. Somewhere in my brain I'll say 'That's Rover Jones owner and her name is Betty' It's funny how the brain works.
On the other hand I often meet people outside of work who clearly know they've met me but can't place where. They always look at me funny when they say I've met you somewhere and I reply "Do you have a pet?"

belladonnis

Hello everyone! I havent been able to be on for awhile so catching up.

This is going to sound wierd but has anybody ever experienced this?
You know how it feels when you put your cell phone on vibrate.....well......I have that same feeling that starts in my right leg and I feel that sensation all the way to my foot! When it happens I always reach in the my pocket of my pants for my cell phone just to find it isnt there!

solosater

bella, that sounds neurological, some nerve related something, is there pain or just the vibration? Does your leg feel cold and numb or just the vibration?

I sometimes feel like I'm vibrating all over from lack of sleep or when I really have to use some heavy painkillers and as I said to Dragon before I sometimes actually shake from fatigue. It being so localized I would thing indicates a nerve being pinched or impinged on in some manner.

I don't know how bothersome it is to you but I'd tell my doctor about it one way or the other. My mother and my aunt, two uncles and now my brother and I too all have nerve and spine related issues. My mother's had three spinal surgeries, my aunt one, one uncle one and the second is looking at number two now. What you describe sounds to me (and what do I know) a lot like what they would have when the trouble was just starting.

I’m having some of that now too. They are ordering MRIs and such and for now I wait and see as it takes forever to get the authorization and results and all. I don’t mean to sound like you definitely have a bad problem but better to know than to wait and find out when it’s way to late to do anything about.

solosater

I'm NOT a doctor, I just play one on TD!

sheftali52

Belladonnis, as with solo, I'm not a doctor, but your tingling legs do sound like some neurological issue, from what I've read. You might take a look at "restless legs syndrome" as a starting point. One link is http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless_legs/detail_restless_legs.htm#135183237