The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen left me absolutely cold. Hated it - long, boring and baffling.
TNP will name a very famous American prose fiction author about whom he or she has very positive thoughts indeed, and will explain why.
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The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen left me absolutely cold. Hated it - long, boring and baffling.
TNP will name a very famous American prose fiction author about whom he or she has very positive thoughts indeed, and will explain why.
Oh, without question, Henry James was not nicknamed "The Master" without reason. There are many problems in his apprentice works, many of which have been adapted for the screen if one likes that kind of thing. A lot of trans-Atlantic bullshit and whatever.
James was not a man of all seasons. In fact, I don't relate to his curious, and extremely odd anglophilia at all.
But he was, IMHO, the first and last American novelist to have, at least in his last novels, pounded the notion of what it is to be new into that thick American skull of America.
TNP prefers talking about abstract ideas to rude implementations thereof.
Actually, no. I'm usually more comfortable with the practical side of things than abstract ideas.
TNP has one major change he or she would make to the U.S. Constitution, if given the chance.
No. I mean, as far as enumerating the federal government's powers, maybe you could say something about the exact proportion of congress to do such-and-such, but my understanding is that once you start "fixing" little things to one's taste, the effects are unpredictable and it's probably better to leave it as it is.
All right, fine, TNP will say one thing that could be changed in the US Constitution without leaving wide gaps in consistency and coherence in the federal grant.
I would repeal the Second Amendment at once. People are dying every day due to a purposeful misunderstanding of what a "well regulated Militia" is.
TNP would like to visit Antarctica.
I'd like to spend time at the McMurdoo station. Probably few women of high quality to be seduced.
I can't resist:. So long as civilian peace officers are stripped of access to any arsenal, dictated by the federal government, I'd be ok with restrictions on civilian firearm use, with exceptions for hunting rifles and sporting handguns. Federal over sight could be the rule, and federal officers may be extended some access to an arsenal. Barney Fife? Not so much.
TNP thinks tv news is a horrid cesspool of loudmouth shriekers.
Too often, yes. "If it bleeds, it leads."
TNP knows and respects a particular current journalist.
Not really. I only read the WSJ once a week, and, perhaps deliberately on the editors' parts, they just report some of the facts of business in the driest of manners.
TNP thinks the most strident, opinionated people should be avoided IRL and in print. Exceptions can be made for fiction writers, but that's about it.
Yeah, I'm on board with that. Just shut up, know it all.
TNP feels that they are insufficiently grounded in The Great American Songbook.
Eh. I think I know just enough, which isn't much, and am not particularly motivated to know more.
TNP would go on a crewed mission to Mars if given the chance and a reasonable likelihood of returning safely.
Hell no. I can think of lots of people I'd send on a one-way mission to Mars, or the Sun, or wherever. Like people who play Christmas music before Christmas Day, or Jeff Bezos, or people like that. Just think about the stench of the capsule: stuffed full of neckbeards who are given carte blanche to defecate in their space pants and make endless references to the same dorky shit every day. There would be murder, and mutiny, and it would be glorious once the victor emerged, suffocating to death upon failure of an energy-gathering and distribution device.
TNP is not ever going to buy a different make or model of smartphone, unless his or her current model is discontinued. Even then, the new model would be mostly indistinguishable from the old one.
I tend to stick with the tried-and-true, and I like my current iPhone, so yes, that's probably about right.
TNP owns at least three Apple products.
If you count all the ones in my house as "owned" by me, yeah. We're an Apple family.
TNP would never buy a car without air-conditioning.
Absofreakinlutely. Nor a dwelling.
TNP expects to see fireworks tomorrow.
No. I expect to hear plenty of bullshit from the neighboring apartment complex. I hope something or someone is burned, and it better not be me or none of my shit. Good job not frightening your supposedly beloved dogs, also, you stupid cocksuckers.
TNP thinks Charles Bronson's character in The Great Escape had the toughest job among the prisoners. If not, TNP will say who did.
Having never seen the movie, alas, I just don't know.
TNP thinks I should see the movie toot sweet.
Of course! Today if possible. It's patriotic, fun, classic, and brings together Commonwealth, British, and American soldiers together. Not exactly a documentary, but it's a fun movie, although not much of a Hollywood ending.
TNP has bought chocolate milk recently (hint, it's pretty good as a mixer for whiskey).
Nah, haven't bought it in years.
TNP has bought gin recently.
Gin??? I refuse to drink gin if it short-dicks every cannibal in the congo. Well, you know, unless it's there and I can cut it with Rose's Lime Juice and some ice. That's a negative.
TNP has ever been called "captain" non-ironically and not as a slang, like "chief" or "sport" or so forth.
I don't think so, but I have been called "Colonel" (as I am one of the Kentucky variety).
TNP is celebrating, as I am, Independence Day today. Best wishes to all my fellow American Mellophanters!
Sure am. Celebrating by abstaining from food and waiting a few hours to take my next ibuprofen with milk. Or beer. Same thing, really.
TNP will take my advice and not go to a US grocery store today, for it is a madhouse. Or if TNP has already done such a thing, TNP will not be doing it again. For it is a madhouse. Not that there's anything wrong with it.
I will gladly take your advice, which makes good sense, but I didn't plan to go anyway.
TNP has been to Philadelphia in the past year.
No, actually have never gotten off the train through it.
TNP is going to Pittsburgh this month.
No, never been in Pittsburgh itself. Just sort of driving around the outside.
TNP didn't know until recently that they moved the famous Rocky statue at the bottom of the stairs instead of the top of the Art Museum stairs. Bonus points if TNP can explain why in hell they did that. Extra bonus points if TNP pretty frequently says "Yo, _____!" to get someone's attention.
'Cause that's where he ends up after his run, raising his fists in triumph? (And no, I rarely say "Yo, [anybody]!").
TNP has had rain fall on him or her today.
Nope.
Aside: it's been a while since I've seen the movie, but I'm pretty sure Rocky raises his arms up at the top of the stairs, not the bottom!
TNP is or has been mildly-to-moderately peeved at some changes in administrators at work, which seem to cross-discipline coincide with shitty little pro-tem people who don't know shit.
I have been before, but not lately, fortunately.
TNP can hear a coworker through the wall.
Generally not when my door's shut, but sometimes.
TNP is looking forward to payday.
Yep. Pretty much every day of the week I'll agree with that statement.
TNP can name a movie he or she can watch or has only watched in short segments of at a time. Pornos don't count, but some really bad or perhaps really good movie might. You make the call.
The Godfather was that movie for me, for a long time. I'd never watched the whole thing through until a few years ago.
TNP wants to see Yesterday, about the guy who is the only one to remember the Beatles.
Not really. I've heard of the movie, but not what it's about. Sounds like a good Twilight Zone episode, but it'd take a lot to make me search out a current movie and watch it, and I just don't feel like making the effort.
TNP hasn't intentionally listened to a tune performed by The Beatles in years and years (excepting curiosities like seeing the "rooftop concert" for Billy Preston's work), and isn't going to break his or her streak of abstinence anytime soon.
Far from it. It's a rare week that I don't listen to at least some Beatles. (The movie is good but not great, I'd say - some missed potential there).
TNP has a favorite Beatles song.
Yeah, I like "Blackbird," just because the harmonies/chords are a little unexpected. At least to my ear, it's a little bit off-center, and I like it. I like the original recording as well as Billy Preston's arrangement under his own name.
TNP will share an amusing anecdote about a jazz musician he or she has met or seen play, or encountered, or etcetera. Bonus TNP: what the hell is the "most good quote" from the movie Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry some cocktease on some other board is talking about? I've seen the movie a million billion times, and there's lots of "best lines" from that movie. Shitheads.
I heard Booker T. Jones play a few years ago in a small jazz club. He and his band had dinner beforehand in a small curtained room just off the main performance space. They then gave us a good concert but when I shouted in between songs, "Play 'The Cool Dude'!" he studiously ignored me. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXuJs6D0X8Y
TNP likes that song.
Yes. I never heard that one before, that I know of. It's unmistakeably Booker T. on organ (or a very good copy of his sound and style). I'm guessing that was Al Jackson, Jr. on drums — kind of an interesting subtle take on the groove, little personalizations instead of just being a human metronome. I don't know if I'd listen to it on "repeat" for hours or try to cover it myself on organ, but it's worth hearing at least a few times.
I didn't know Booker T. ever played club dates — if it's any consolation, maybe he wasn't all that happy thinking about his huge, megastar past backing up everyone on the Stax label. Or it's possible he didn't remember the tune or it wasn't one of his favorites. Or possibly he has a standing policy about taking requests from honkeys in the audience. : )
If anyone hasn't already, there's a nice piece from NPR probably on YouTube of Booker T. sitting at the organ and showing some things — it's for a general audience, but for musicians it's like getting a private lesson on some stuff you'd probably never guess off the recordings alone. Not a concert, more of an interview plus some demonstrations, with video and everything.
TNP's greatest sin is a tendency to laziness, including procrastination.
Yes, I'm afraid so. I really fight it.
And who you callin' "honkey"...?!? ;-)
TNP is feeling a little too warm right now.
Nope. It's been cold as tits (relatievely speaking) for the past few days, and I'm glad to experience less attenuated solar radiation starting today. Bring it on, you honkeys!
[Oh, here's a link to the Booker T. bit on US National Public Radio. I haven't seen it again yet, but I think it's the same thing I'm thinking of. Check it out!]
TNP doesn't think "honkey" or "cracker" or "peckerwood" or the like are offensive; or at least they shouldn't be.
ETA Oh. OK, the Booker T was a bit more concert than interview but it's short. I noticed watching it this time through that what you see his left hand doing to change the speed of the Leslie speaker (it's a speaker cabinet with an amplifier that has a horn and a bass horn that rotate). Normally the switch is put on the front of the keyboard, it's like a toggle switch with a big knob attached to it. So, when you see Booker T reaching slightly below the keyboard to switch the speed of the Leslie (it can be fast spinning [tremolo], slower [chorale], or off [braked], but most of Jimmy Smith's great recordings only had "off/braked" and "tremolo"), that's what he's reaching for.
It could be a switch to a simulator device, or who knows what, but that's what he's reaching for frequently on the LH side of the keyboard under the organ.
It confused me too, like why thy didn't have the regular Leslie speed controls mounted to the organ where it usually is, but who knows.
Yes, any of those words could be offensive. I certainly wouldn't want to be called any of them, unless obviously (as here) in jest.
TNP knows, without looking it up, who Elanor the Fair was.
No. Is that from one of Chrétien's Arthurian tales? Sounds like it, but it's been a long time since I looked at those ancien français epics or abbreviated epics. In fact, I've never read Malory's English versions of these tales.
TNP...has the power....to envision...a weekend....full of running errands and doing houskeeping. For TNP is prescient af!
Elanor the Fair was Samwise's daughter from The Lord of the Rings: https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Elanor_Gardner
I could certainly envision that, but that's not the kind of weekend I had, as it happens.
TNP went out for lunch today.
Today? Not yet, but it is Taco Tuesday, so I shall have tacos. They started putting some nasty coleslaw-like crap on top of their carnitas tacos, so it'll have to be just hard-shell ground beef tacos. Barely adequate, but it's easier than making it myself or going through a drive-thru.
So, I yes, I will have gone out for lunch today. There is no question that the future perfect cannot solve. (ETA never mind, I get it: I was wondering why the "I will have <past passive infinitive>" construction uses the modal "will" for first person subjects, instead of the simple "shall," but I suppose it reflects the subjunctive nature in English of the construction. Anyway, I think that's probably the correct explanation.)
TNP has ever left a review on Yelp (dot com!).
Nope. I don't do online reviews except occasionally for books I particularly either hate or love on Amazon.
TNP has bought something on Amazon in the past week.
Yeah, I've gotten to be quite the Amazon addict, after realizing that my lengthy boycott wasn't hurting them and was inconveniencing me.
TNP uses Alexa regularly.
No, never have.
TNP knows, as I do, a young woman named Alexa who's kind of annoyed by her much-better-known AI counterpart.
No, but in an odd coincidence, I did overhear someone being called by her name "Alexa" just today. A van driver. I have no idea how she feels about that "home Jeeves" device.
TNP had an occasion to use the term "imaginary numbers" (I mean in the primary sense, you know, rad -1) recently in casual conversation.
No, and I can't really imagine a situation in which I would.
TNP is kind of in awe of what you can do if you have the maths.
Absolutely. Like, you know, go to the freakin' Moon: https://www.npr.org/sections/picture...comes-a-rocket
TNP is interested in the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
I suppose as much as the next person, but my interest in space is more on the Mercury program end of things. Probably just seen The Right Stuff too many times (yes, the book is better, but the movie has its little moments).
TNP finds cell phone/tablet document "scanning" "apps" to be extremely disappointing. Or would, if he or she ever used them.
I probably would, but I never actually have.
TNP prefers beer to wine.
By and large,yes.
TNP prefers cocktails to either.
No. I find it difficult to slowly sip any liquid, except maybe a really delicious big red wine. At least I can drink beer all day and not end up hammered.
But I do prefer cocktails to ether, AFAIK.
TNP has had an actual hangover in the past decade.
Nope, not since college.
TNP prefers mornings to evenings.
Pretty much, usually. Most days it's just waiting until bedtime until the Benadryl/diphenhydramine is consumed and sleep ensues about 1.5 hours after. It may seem sick to some hippie types, but I really approve of having a pill to go to sleep. I care too much about my dental hygiene to get into anything stronger than about twelve cups of coffee in the morniing, but, whatever.
TNP has been publicly shamed about something her or she does or did recently. No examples given, just use your imagination.
Hmm. No, I don't think so.
TNP prefers books to audiobooks.
Sure do. In fact, I rarely listen to any kind of music (never audiobooks or radio!) except in the car, or when watching movies/TV. Or if I've been drinking I'll play some choice tunes at home via the computer or fire up the CD player/turntable.
TNP is still glad to have quite a nice collection of cassette tapes and, shockingly, listens to them sometimes.
Yes, I still have a few dozen, although it's been a year or three since I last listened to one.
TNP prefers summer to winter.
Yep. I guess you could be tied to an anthill in the middle of a desert and die from that sun stuff, and dying of hypothermia sounds like more fun, but there are some options in the summer. Like not being out in the sun, and migrating towards drinking water.
TNP thinks a good lesson to be learned from dealing with a large company's HR is: don't get involved unless. That is, unless you understand just how much paperwork you want to be involved in, and unless you're able to formulate direct, even prescient questions about what are all the possible continuations of each document. In advance, in writing. And since it is unlikely that the company's private, internal strategies will be revealed to an outsider, it's not unlike getting involved with similarly unpredictable, but powerful figures, which you might find in the movies or in real life or in your imagination.
Probably good advice, yes.
TNP would rather deal with HR than the CEO.
I've spent most of my career in the public service, so don't know much about CEOs, but I do know about dealing with HR, and there's no way a CEO could be worse.
TNP has stayed in a hotel in the past month.
Yes, just a few weeks ago, during a history-geek visit to Philadelphia.
TNP prefers Philadelphia to New York City.
Well, I'm going to say no. I've spent a lot of time in the Philly area, but I never lived there or nothing, and I don't really know the heart of the city itself that much. I do know PA has super fucked-up liquor laws. Really bizarre system. So, just by what I know, I'll take Manhattan. I do think Philly has the obvious advantage in terms of the surrounding towns running that ring around the city, like near Bryn Mawr and all those little places. But, no, I'll just stick with what I know and like, despite some obvious flaws.
TNP can choose between Vancouver and Toronto as which is funner to visit and bum around in, and will state which one wins the golden hockey puck.
I like both cities, but would give the edge to Vancouver, which I think is more beautiful.
TNP prefers the toilet paper over the roll to under it.
Yeah. Obviously.
TNP can come up with a better explanation of why my little anecdote in "Funny RL Anecdotes" (or whatever that thread is called) can be explained to someone else. The gist of it is that when you find the difference between two numbers positive integers, if you want to count the integers inclusive of the lesser number (the subtrahend) index reference given by the subtrahend, you have to add one to the difference.
Having absolutely no math skills whatsoever (my family once gave me this T-shirt: https://img1.etsystatic.com/018/0/81...21123_3zlc.jpg), no, I really can't. Sorry.
TNP, although skilled in math, likes that T-shirt.
I think it's hilarious. I'm no mathemagician either, but I suppose "skilled" is a good enough term, for some values of "skill." I still think it's a super cool T-shirt.
TNP carries one of those car battery charging devices and thinks they're super rad for doing stuff.
False.
TNP prefers two-doors to sedans.
No. If passers-by looked in my car they'd think I lived in it. I need the doors to get to the stuff inside.
TNP's car has plenty of pick-up and the cigarette lighter works, but lacks cop shocks and cop struts.
Plenty of pick-up, yes, and lacks cop shocks and cop struts, but no cigarette lighter. So three out of four.
TNP prefers Cheetos to Doritos.
Yeah. I do. There's no need for a public shaming. But, maybe a small handful of days per month, when I buy a bag of Cheetos or a potato chips, that's pretty much my one meal of the day (not counting the absurd amounts of beer or whiskey which invariably accompanies such a day).
TNP prefers to fill out forms, whether online/digital records or hard-copy, in all-Caps (the "C" stands for clarity!), but sometimes just scrawls things out in pen on documents in his or her usual handwriting.
No, I prefer a regular mix of caps and lower-case. I would rather do most forms online than handwriting them.
TNP prefers printing to writing in cursive.
No. Well, I'm not sure what I write is properly called by-the-book cursive, but the the letters are somewhat connected. It's more of a scrawl, but it's fast, extremely regular, and legible (to me, at least).
TNP always writes the crossbar to the numeral "7," the letter "z," always writes "l" in script, and usually puts the top serif and the bottom "foot" to the numeral "1" and a slash through a "0," and, more generally, doesn't have any sympathy for people who claim to be confused by this practice. Alternatively, TNP can supply some supposed oddities to his or her formation of letters and numerals.
No, I usually don't do any of that, although my eights too often look like sixes, so I usually have to go over the top circle again to make it clear what number it is.
TNP prefers ice water to a cold beer on a hot day.
Depends on how dehydrated I feel, but usually I "prefer" the beer. These days, I'm more likely to skip the beer.
TNP prefers a gin and tonic to either.
No, not my favorite beverage.
TNP prefers watching a DVD at home to going out to the movies.
Yep. The only Tarantino movie I saw in the theater is Pulp Fiction, and I'm not going to change my practice for the new one, which is probably the only thing in theatrical release I could be convinced to go out to see.
TNP is so bad at saving money he or she has to have his bank automatically transfer funds from checking to savings on a regular basis, because he or she doesn't trust himself or herself to do it manually.
Not that bad, but I could certainly be more frugal and money-minded than I tend to be.
TNP has been in a casino in the past month,
Not exactly, but was at the local race track, which has a casino.
TNP has bet on the ponies once or twice.
No, never, although a friend has bragged to me about his mad skillz at doing so.
TNP can name five famous racehorses of the past decade off the top of his or her head.
Sure. Secretariat, War Admiral, Khartoum (: )), Cita... . Wait a minute. Last decade? No, I couldn't name even one.
TNP puts his or her automatic-drive car in neutral somewhat often. For unknown reasons, but mostly just for fun. Bonus points if TNP uses engine braking pretty often in his or her automatic-drive car, also for various reasons, but sometimes just to fuck with deviant drivers behind him or her.
Nope, wouldn't think of doing any of those.
TNP has misplaced their driver's licence at some point, and had to get a replacement one.
No, I did that once with an employee ID card, but never with a driver license.
TNP is due to renew his or her DL in the next three months.
Nope. I've learned my lesson about making sure to renew the license regularly, lest one have to take the driving test again as an adult. Which sucks, let me tell you.
TNP has seen an incongruous combination recently, and will give an example. For example, a seemingly-regular, quasi-Boston Brahmin person using Copenhagen snuff out of a tin.
Hmm, no, I don't think so.
TNP has used Copenhagen snuff out of a tin.
No. I don't think it's a good use of my maxillary tissues. Could be wrong, but pretty sure am right.
TNP has never used tobacco products ever, just like those white virgin angels.
I've smoked maybe three cigars in my life on special occasions, but that's it. Never remotely tempted by cigarettes or snuff.
TNP knows someone who might fairly be described as a "white virgin angel."
No. Maybe some passing acquaintances, but everyone I know on a deeper level, to a man or woman, has either a filthy mouth, an inappropriate sense of humor, nasty habits, or things on that relatively minor level. No thieves or liars, or inattentive drivers. Nothing that bad.
TNP is displeased by how much time-distortion people in general tend to incorporate into their lives, whether projection forward (yeah! it's almost football season! let's talk about nothing else!) or an excessive interest in past events of one's own life or the lives of others.
No, I don't think I've ever really noticed that.
TNP has seen, or wants to see, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
No, I'm afraid not really so much. I respect both of the principals' abilities, but do I want to sit and stare at their mugs for a long time? No, not really. Yes, I'm a Tarantino fanboy, for sure, but I have my limits. I'll see it, for sure, but it's not a priority.
TNP thinks asking a woman out to do a charity walk with his or her nephews to raise money for Congenital Heart Defects is a pretty good idea. No stakes involved in the answer, because I already did it just now. Just TNP's opinion if that's a pretty sweet idea, or what.
Sure, why not? Hope you like her, that you both have a good time, and that you raise lots of bucks for a worthy cause.
The movie's pretty good, by the way. I recommend it.
TNP knows someone with a congenital heart defect.
Sure. In spades. The tetralogy of Fallot by itself isn't as bad as it used to be, but combined with pulmonary atresia, it's more or less about the worst. Unless you like having your chest split open for valve transplants every several years. Pretty sure nobody likes that, but on the other hand, since you're not likely to live very long, you only have to keep doing it until you expire.
"Hope I like her?" Of course! I'm not that picky about my women, just so long as they're chilled out and are into cool things. And, you know, not so much resembling a Picasso portrait with like three eyeballs or whatever. This is a good one: cool, smart, not too young or too old, easy on the eyes. I don't think she's going to text me back, but it never hurts to ask. And we already had a very good first date, just talking for hours about neat artistic stuff over some beers.
And, yes, it's a walkathon through the local zoo, which I think is a great way to combine a fun place to talk and maybe get a little fresh in the penguin exhibit (it smells like fish in there already, so it's perfect....uhhh, OK, well, forget I said that). And it is a damned good cause, as well, of course.
TNP actually really likes a good fish taco, but can't help but think just calling it that is a little...suggestive. A little too on-the-nose. Ripe for parody, even if unintentional.
I do like fish tacos, very much, but the suggestive nature of them - if any - doesn't bother me at all.
TNP has been swimming in the past week.
Nah. In converation with a bartender, she said, "you guys have a pool up there, right," but I had to say, "yeah, but I'm not so into the swimming."
[ETA: http://www.nataliedee.com/100512/ about those fish tacos.]
TNP doesn't think there's anything wrong about sending the occasional text to a lady friend, just for fun, even when one is sure she's not going to reply. Within reason. My possible answer would be, "hey, fuck it, there's nobody demanding anything, and, anyway, you wanted to be friends with me? well, welcome to the show, girl." IOW, not a big deal.
Makes sense to me, until she asks you to stop.
TNP has had someone ask him or her to stop texting that person.
No, hasn't come up.
TNP has done a road trip, as in "Road Trip!", recently.
Kind of - long weekend trips to Philadelphia, Pa. and Columbus, Ohio.
TNP has been in either of those cities in the past six months.
No, can't say as I have.
TNP knows what city chicken is.
Sounds like a pigeon to me, but it's probably something far nastier. I know I've heard the term, but I don't recall.
TNP has had a cellular/mobile/smartphone die on him or her, and finds it's a real, real big hassle to shop for replacements.
No, not yet, fortunately.
TNP has seen either Super Troopers movie.
No, still haven't done that.
TNP has had to go to a medical lab for blood work, etc, recently.
A few months back, yes. All's well, fortunately.
TNP is particularly careful to use sunscreen in the summer.
My wife would say I'm pretty casual about it, and she's probably right.
TNP can remember when having a tan was a sign of good health.
Oh, yes, and as a kid it was fun to peel away the dead skin from a sunburn.
TNP has seen a sunburned kid in the past week.
No, not unless one has very expansive definition of "kid."
TNP fucking hates that stupid damned bars have the fucking Little League goddamned bullshit on the TV. Goddamned fucking bullshit, who wants to watch that fucking bullshit? No one!
Definitely. Unless you personally have a kid playing, who gives a damn?
TNP plans to travel overseas by the end of the year.
Within a certain definition of of "overseas", since will be on a cruise stopping in, eg, the British Virgin Islands.
TNP kind of dislikes August, which is theoretically summer but mostly seems to be about summer ending.
Yeah, it's not my favorite month, that's for sure. It's also usually too hot around here.
TNP has come to appreciate air conditioning more and more with each passing year.
No. I've made up my mind, and while I'm not insensible to the drier, cool air, whether in a car or a residence, I prefer feeling more connected to the outside world. Particular in the car — I don't like driving around in a little bubble. I like hearing the road, other vehicles, being able to stick my head out the window for added visibility, or to wave someone along at a stop sign. TBH, I don't care for ambient noises from out my dwelling (actually, I hate most everything I hear out my windows when open, which is almost always, because, fresh air and whatever). But I don't mind the heat or humidity so much at home: dress sensibly, hydrate like a motherfuck, get some flowing air with real good fans, it's alright.
TNP really could use a vacation. Just to clear one's head, and just not do much of anything. A little R&R.
I wouldn't mind that, but I had some time off not too long ago, so for now I'm OK.
TNP has heard a police siren in the past hour.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I can't be 100% sure, but I live near two busy roads and near a hospital, too boot. I really just tune out various sirens, don't hardly notice. Just part of the soundscape.
TNP really doesn't approve of setting up new phones and shit. At least other forms of computers have less primitive input/output devices, but it's a real drag to be like "swiping" left or whatever and have very few options except to use the stupid screens and stuff.
Yes, deep down sometimes I really feel like a Luddite.
TNP knows at least three people under age 30 without a smartphone.
No. I am aquainted with an absolute shitload of youngsters at work. I don't even think I've even heard of somebody — I'll broaden the scope, neither young nor old — who doesn't have a smartphone. Just seems to be the way it is, at least from people I see around. They are pretty damned handy — maybe not mega-more than a regular old mobile phone, but no carrier I ever heard of will even activate an older phone. Maybe one of those Cricket old people phones, or some prepaid thing, probably.
TNP can give someone good advice about getting over a woman who said she'd be your friend, and just ghosted you, while remaining in close contact with others. Yeah, I know, the standard thing, just let it go, but at least TNP can understand how disappointing it is to be lied to. Donwannamax, girl? Cool, everything's chill, we go our separate ways. But the deception is really upsetting. Disappointing, really. Depressing, even.
No particularly good advice, except that a person may decide for all kinds of reasons not to have anything to do with someone who is into them, and you shouldn't take it personally. And "plenty of fish in the sea" and all that.
TNP has been fishing in the past month.
No. It's been a long, long time. I think the last fish I caught was...I forgot what they're called, but they supposedly taste awful. People just throw them back. Nasty looking fish, too.
No, I don't care that she's not "into me," I care that she doesn't want to be friends with me. I can keep it in my pants and we still could have had fun together in a non-romantic way. That's plenty for me. Don't need to count notches on my bed frame. Would I have tried to get a little intimate with her, if appropriate? Of course, in the right time and place, but that's not a big deal how that turns out. Shocking, and incredibly hurtful.
TNP has had a lot of days recently when one is surprised to have both begun and ended the day in one piece. For whatever reasons, fatigue, utter ennui, whatever it may be.
Not lately, no, fortunately.
TNP has heard a Bach violin concerto in the past week.
No. I don't believe I've listened to any Bach recordings at all in the last week. That, plus, I just don't really care for the violin, especially in an orchestral setting.
TNP thinks losing hope, even if it's a delusion, is a very bad thing, especially when it involves things out of one's control, like, for example, other people.
Yeah, all hope is basically a delusion, but if you lose it, you're done.
TNP thinks Housman was pretty much on the mark with that whole malt, Milton thing.
Heh. Yeah. I had to look it up, which was a bit of a wound to my pride, since I thought I knew AE Housman (at least his Shropshire Lad) pretty well. I can't get on board with Ango-American poets who sometimes claim Milton was one of the worst influences on the English language (TS Eliot, I think, was the most famous to hold this view), and doubly so since IIRC Milton was known to have a tipple or two now and again, along with other reputed vices, but that's a good one. In fact, I shan't be tossing out my volumes of Milton's poetry and his prose anytime soon, but I don't dip back into his well often, if at all.
TNP considers disloyalty among friends to be the worst, non-criminal act, one such person could do.
Yes, it's pretty bad.
TNP needs some rainy Blade Runner ambient noise right about now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyitVNMFApc&t=2107s
Well, no, but I'd give it the most qualified 'yes' I can to the suggestion. I mean by that that it's not the worst idea I've heard all day. Not a good idea, but it's among the least worst. And, trust me, I've heard or witnessed some extremely bad ideas.
TNP considers himself or herself to be a pretty adept master of indicating mockery, scorn, and maybe even happy stuff with just using his or her facial expressions. In fact, TNP would find it very difficult to communicate without the use of his or her face. In fact, TNP would not like it at all, and would rather be confined to a bed or such than be deprived of such a sensitive, expressive set of tissues.
ETA by that I mean ideas I heard, saw, or perhaps did today. It's not even in the top ten of least worst ideas of all time, it's just pretty not bad for today, is all.
My face is certainly an important part of how I communicate with other people nearby, but I've found I'm not often misunderstood in my online dealings.
TNP will be going to a picnic this weekend.
Nah, can't remember I was the last time I was at something that deserved to be called a picnic.
TNP is going to a ballgame this weekend.
No. It would be among the top least worst ideas, but unfortunately, this isn't the town to be in for live baseball.
TNP can already feel the pulse of his or town getting "ready for some football!"
Yes, the usual suspects are getting fired up.
TNP owns an article of clothing supporting or in the colors of a favorite pro sports team.
Probably, but if it is, I'm not aware of it. Probably some team, somewhere, I guess. Who knows.
TNP thinks that canned corned beef hash is both (i) resembling rubber dog-shit flown out of a plane from Hong Kong (ii) acceptable as a meal (when reconstituted, properly heated, and whatever else).
Not sure if I've ever actually seen any, but I suspect (i) more than (ii) to be true.
TNP has used GPS in the past three days.
I would say "yes," but it's more in the sense of having it used on or with me. I find far less information with that wizardry than with just a regular map. I don't need it, I don't consciously use it, but obviously devices in my employ or in my vicinity have used the technology. Fine with me, I don't care, but do I need to be reminded how to compass and map? No. ETA, However, I see the use for computing and displaying pretty wild itineraries. No, I'm not a professional driver, so I don't need that, but probably hundreds of the dozens of people you see on the highways in daily life are using not just GPS satellites, but also various properietary interfaces. Adjust by orders of magnitude as you see fit, but it is indeed like that.
I propose to TNP two alternatives: (i) TNP is already resigned to watching the good version of A Christmas Carol (with George C. Scott), and is sort of like, "meh, well, whatever, 'tis the season, fuck you all, I don't care" (ii)TNP has a pretty extreme preference to being given clear directions IRL, like "you know, head north on I-whatever, then after about a few hundred meters, look for such-and-such place, then head east." What I mean is it doesn't have to be exact, just use the right words, like those magic incantations "north south east west" or "meters/yards," not none of that stupid-ass shit like "durr, google-me?"
EETA Sure, here's a lagniappe. TNP knows either what "ball lightning" is or just plain doesn't give a shit.
Yes, I know what ball lightning is, but have never seen any in person: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning
TNP, like me, doesn't wanna watch Christmas movies in August.
Sure, but neither do I want to listen to people yap about football in July or August neither. Either way, if that's what the people want, then, that's just jim dandy with me from jam handy.
TNP thinks one of his or her best gestures is to gaze nominally and terminally in the direction of someone's eyes and give the appearance of them not existing. Like a RL "ghosting," but, you know, TNP is pretty good at it IRL. I know I am, but it took a while to learn. ETA There's not really a "trick," it's more just unfocusing one's eyes (assuming one has two) while looking directly at someone else. It's an extremely aggressive, bush-league tactic, IMHO, but OTOH it's still useful for navigating crowds of, I don't know, like panhandlers and stuff. There's a bit of an art to "looking through" someone IRL, but for kids at home, don't do it unless you intentionally want to start some shit.
No, I'm sure I couldn't do that nearly as well as you, Jizz.
TNP had some ginger ale today.
No. Having some American ale from out of the Hartz mountains of Milwaukee, I guess, so pretty much not really the same.
TNP has ever felt sorry for the person writing a "Dear John" letter. You know, the kind where some little person is all like thinking and shit and says a bunch of stuff, like they have some emotions or whatever, but the summary is "you and I shan't be socializing." Like, "dude, sorry your little mind was all het up, but that could have been said in one word or phrase, like, 'Dude, just no, not going to happen, good luck.'" IOW sorrow for the person who is all het up about explaining shit, and really never needed that amount of detail.
Yeah, a little bit, but I'm more likely to feel sorry for the recipient of the letter, depending on the situation.
TNP had pizza this weekend.
Afraid not, no. Not in quite a while.
TNP thinks the secret trick to Fonzie's coolness is that he's actually kind of a psychopath, and just doesn't do emotions with women and stuff.
Nah. It was his attitude, his effortless cool, the leather jacket, the bike, and of course the scriptwriters making all the girls swoon over him.
TNP has read a script in the past month.
Sure. I guess if it's my unpublished, unwritten script called The Arthur Fonzarelli Story: How to be a Total Poonhound While Not Giving A Shit.
TNP doesn't give two fucks about fan-fic, but god help them just the same.
I've read some good fanfic, and I've read more than a little bad fanfic. I guess all in all that I do give more than two fucks about it, so false.
TNP has written fanfic.
No. For what reason?
TNP, on the other hand, sees no supposedly thorny ethical or legal problems with using characters or "worlds" characteristic of another's creation. As an example, even if there were some kind of "Shakespeare estate," you can do whatever you want with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. IOW the ontology of fictional objects is and will remain so poorly understood, in all domains of inquiry, that only an asswipe would concern him or her with such matters. Setting aside obvious tortious things like "look and feel" kinds of copyrights and other sorts of things, there is far too much that is unknown about fiat objects, especially according to the law (yes, there can only be one, more or less), in the domain of real estate, applications of ideas, processes, and eksetera, that it would be foolish to make claims or dismissals on philosophical grounds.
As long as you're not profiting from it, no, I have no ethical or legal problem with fanfic. I've written some myself.
TNP has heard, and likes, the Goo Goo Dolls's newest single, "Miracle Pill": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJu-OAYBYs
Nope. One of the main dudes used to come into a place I used to hang out at and just nurse an O'Douls. Chill enough people, from what I can see, which isn't much.
TNP has ever recently just put his or her hand on someone else's shoulder, just out of camaraderie.
Been awhile. So I guess, no.
TNP has never drunk a no-alcohol beer.
True. Never been tempted.
TNP has at least three kinds of beer in the fridge right now.
No. I suppose I drink three brands of beer, but let's be real: if they were in my fridge, they would be there for only a short period of time. Just like a frenchman with a loaf of bread, it's really bought for immediate consumption, or very nearly so.
TNP has had mild food-poisoning recently, and thinks it sucks. And blows.
Can't be sure, but yes, I think I did. And the restaurant was hardly a greasy spoon.
TNP likes eating in greasy spoons, diners and dives.
Oh definitely.
TNP is fond of the Waffle House
Sure. I've never been to a Waffle House itself, but some places the chain is trying to imitate, for sure. There's nothing wrong with a little something-this, something-that, as long as it all fits together. Get some!
TNP thinks "get some!" would be a great slogan for some restaurants.
Yeah! Surprised no one's used it yet - not that I can recall, anyway.
TNP has seen the 1986 crime thriller Manhunter.
No. I remember being into the novel after *The Silence of The Lambs* was released, that one, but I was more into what Hannibal Lecter was listening to in his various cells, and therefore gave up on the whole thing.
TNP has recently gone out front in his or her bathrobe, and nothing else, and said no other words than obscenities. And it's effective, let me tell you! Pro-tip, close the robe, though.
No, never! Maybe I should try that sometime.
TNP is barefoot right now.
Yeah. Of course. I consider it good practice for toughening up the feet and would only balk at walking barefoot over things like broken glass or other sharp volcanic or vegetal irritants.
TNP, however, does not consider flip-flops to be great footwear for driving in. It seems cool and all, but it isn't.
True. I usually only wear flipflops to cover short distances, like from the house to the garbage can when I take out the trash, or from the car to the beach.
TNP has been swimming in a lake or ocean this summer.
The...Master....would not...approve! (ETA, yes, that was my impression of Torgo from Manos: The Hands of Fate)
TNP will walk pretty far out on rock jetties to do whatever, but is pretty damned cautious of riptides.
Yes to both. The closest I think I ever came to drowning was when I was caught in a riptide with two of my boys off the North Carolina coast some years ago. VERY scary.
TNP prefers a pool to the ocean.
Yeah. I like the part where someone handcuffs your ankle to a grate at the bottom of the urine-and-feces-infested pool. Trust me, it happens all the time!
TNP is a big believer in bleach. Lysol, too.
When needed, sure.
TNP has seen Red Dragon with Anthony Hopkins and Ed Norton, and liked it.
No. Both are fine actors, but I suspect there isn't as much blood-and-guts psychological horror/terror as I'd like in my movies.
TNP is more than competent at at leas two basic swimming forms (not counting dog-paddling or treading water). You know, like the crawl or the backstroke. Stuff like that.
Yes. I love to swim, and once taught swimming, rowing and canoeing at a Scout summer camp.
TNP has swum a mile in one go, as I have.
No. That sounds kind of like a long ways to do something I hate. I never made it very far in BSA because of my very poor swimming skills. But I can row a boat, paddle a canoe, and operate an outboard-motor fishing rig. And be dragged behind a boat on an innertube. Although I never tried swimming with bow-legged women: that could make the difference.
Question: a mile without taking a breather (by, I don't know, treading water or floating on your back or hanging onto a buoy or something) is pretty far to swim, right? I have no idea.
TNP has attempted some home remedies for stuffed-up ears, beyond just rinsing them out in the shower with soap and water or going excavating with a series of Q-tips You know, like pouring a bit of hydrogen peroxide in or, apparently, some people use some other products.
False as to those home remedies. Stuffed-up ears have never been a problem for me, fortunately.
Doing a Mile Swim is definitely a Scout thing. I did it several summers in a row, before I was on camp staff and then during. It's both boring and exhausting; I doubt I could do one today. But I was younger and stupider and definitely more fit back then. It took about half an hour or so, as I recall. Around and around we went! You were allowed to stop and rest, such as by floating, but you weren't allowed to touch the bottom or side of the pool, or to hang onto or even touch other swimmers - that was an automatic DQ.
TNP has been water skiing in the past year.
Not really. It's kind of difficult, is my impression, and doesn't seem like much fun, what with the water and such forcibly sucked into one's noseholes and everything.
TNP believes, however, that feats of strength combined with nonchalance are sufficient, but not necessary, to lure woo the ladies. Alternate TNP can say that he or she is annoyed by people who use "necessary" and "sufficient" without knowing what those terms mean.
Yes, feats of strength can impress some ladies, if not all. Or so I've been told....
TNP has purposefully flipped a coin in the past week.
Actually, yeah. It sounds kind of dastardly, or inordinately compulsive, but yes. I don't remember the exact situation, but I do remember physically flipping a coin in the air and catching it on the forehand. No idea why, but I do remember it in the past week.
TNP is mildly annoyed at flipping money smaller than a quarter USD. Dude, there's a reason "nickel and dime bullshit" is a phrase. However, TNP finds the modest quarter-dollar USD a pretty good little denomination for things like playing coin-op machines, or doing stupid prestidigi TNP can do that little rolling the quarter (or larger) piece around the knuckles of one's hand pretty good.
The real TNP is extremely annoyed by people "singing" who should probably not be. Jeez. The voice carries, you shrill schizo harpies! Tone it down, tuck it in, whatever! Yeah, I've never had a complaint in twenty-five-plus years of playing keyboard instruments probably a dozen different places, and it isn't for lack of trying. Just tuck it in. Learn to use a microphone, or something.
Assholes.
Yes, I have heard some bad singers over the years, and one guy who insisted on singing along at a choral concert when the program clearly asked everyone not to.
TNP sang in the shower in the past week.
No. For decades, since I was twelve, my go to shower song was the Commandant's thing from Mozart. "Don Giovanni, a cenar teco! M'inivitaste, è son venuto!" No, now it's all business and as quick as possible. I don't like showering at all, but I find it's necessary, about once or twice a week, so I just pull up my pud and get it over with. Screw you people, wet wipes and underarm deodorant work just fine, as does regularly washing one's face. If I stank, believe you me, some of my people at work would get up my ass over it and make fun of me. Just the minimum, just the facts, and get the grit from pollen out of my hair and scrub my back.
TNP's worst sleeping habit is routinely falling asleep at one's desk, just slouching down in one's chair.
No. Although I've been known to take the occasional nap in my office when time permits, my worst sleep habit is just not getting enough of it at night. I'm too much of a night owl.
TNP knows, without looking it up, the name of the first actor to play Dr. Hannibal Lecter (spelled "Lecktor" in that movie).
William Pederson (sp?) Probably not, but so what.
Top is angered that golf shirts typically lack a breast pocket, and thinks cargo shorts are a barely acceptable supplement
I don't wear golf shirts, so I can't say it's bothered me in the least.
As to the mad doctor, it was Brian Cox:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_(actor)
https://cdn-static.denofgeek.com/sit...er-gallery.png
TNP has been to Atlanta in the past year.
No, it's been quite a few years, and I can't say I'm eager to return. Only mild offense meant to the good people of the state of Georgia, but great offense meant to the virtually uninhabitable climate.
TNP sometimes lacks a good literate retort when friendly people give you a funny sobriquet, like "Hey, Big John!" The default, sub-optimal replies would be something like, "Yo, what's going on," IOW plenty of convivial spirit but not quite as full of spirit.
More generally, the real TNP will agree that's it's by far easier to initiate a friendly bit of "Yo <nameplay>" than to respond. For example, "Hey Carl Carlos of Rossie!" "Jimmy James!" And, as a corollary, it's far easier to respond to nonspecific bits of endearment, like "Howdy-ho, sunshine!" "I'm liking that shirt, sugar!" Or whatever.
Agreed. I have a friend and coworker named Joe whom I often greet with, "Hey, Joe, whaddya know?"
TNP personally knows at least three Joes.
Yeah, I think so. Not close friends, and one (AFAIK) only goes by "Joseph." Yeah, definitely I know three at least "Joe/Joseph"s.
TNP thinks the hardest part of his or her job is the stress of having to check and double-check and possibly fix other peoples' mistakes, who are supposedly on one's own team.
Not the hardest part, but it can be a factor, that's true.
TNP is feeling a bit behind at work these days.
Yeah. I feel way behind, and it's not even my job to concern myself with that. Just constantly picking up the slack.
TNP had the good fortune to work with a cat who had a pretty awesome Serpico-style straw sun-hat recently. Don't see those too often, but pretty fucking slick. And useful.
Oh, fuck. No, I'm just correcting my earlier response, just for...well, I just should. Yeah, I forgot family members on my distaff side. Jerry Joseph, and all the rest. There's a fucking ton of them, and, yes, Joseph was pretty goddamned common as either a first or middle or baptismal name. Don't ask, it just seemed disrespectful to forget that. None of them went by "Joe" as a nickname, though, AFAIK.
No, haven't seen one of those hats as far as I know.
TNP thinks Serpico did the right thing in standing up to his corrupt fellow cops.
Absolutely. And paid the price by a lifetime of being shunned and vilified by his so-called peers — among much worse things. I believe he's still writing articles in his retirement and not missing a chance to call out the miliarization of the police and the general us-vs-them mentality of people who are supposed to be helping lead their communities, rather than hiding behind dehumanizing technology and a shoot-first attitude.
An incredibly brave man, and supposedly a nice, mellow human being in his quiet life which I believe he takes great pains to keep very private, for his own safety. I'd consider it a very great honor to share a bottle of nice Italian wine with him.
TNP finds rainy weather to be just plain kind of depressing.
Yeah, a little, although it can also be nice just to be inside, cozy and dry, and to hear the rain falling outside.
TNP knows someone directly affected by Hurricane Dorian.
No, not for sure that I know of. One of my sister's close college friends was killed in a boat off the SoCal coast, I think ultimately by a fire that somehow wasn't handled at all. I don't know the name of the storm, but I'm pretty it was a hurricane or cyclonic event that set of the chain of events.
TNP takes it for granted that professional mariners take fires very seriously on a ship or boat. Apparently that isn't the case.
Sadly, life has taught me you can't take anything for granted.
TNP has a bunch of nagging pains they didn't have a mere month ago.
Yes. I'm leaving aside the two spots of tendonitis (fingers 2 and 3 on LH, posterior tibial tendonitis), because those are old news. The new charming appearance is nearly perpetually being sick to my stomach, most surely due to poor diet, chain-smoking cigarettes, and occasionally drinking things harder than soothing, relaxing beer. Second, a nice painful sporadic spasm in my LH. Could be a symptom of tetanus, but probably not. Also, one of the front lower quadrants of my gum/teeth is just plain not good at all. I don't know if "three" counts as a bunch, but it's plenty.
TNP is resigned to being somewhat perpetually depressed/cynical these days, for various reasons.
Now and then, but not perpetually, I'm glad to say.
TNP thought he or she had a free evening tonight but has just learned of something that's come up.
Yeah, sort of. Not anything serious, just something I felt compelled to take care of sooner rather than later.
TNP can somewhat understand the logician Kurt Gödel's favoritism of frozen foods towards the end of his brilliant life and career, and does not think his tastes were terribly ridiculous.
Huh, no, I never knew that! I have some guilty pleasures foodwise (Chef Boyardee, Arby's), though, so why shouldn't he?
TNP knows, without looking it up, who Dr. Richard Daystrom is.
I haven't got one clue at all. Real-life inspiration for Dr. Doom? Probably not. I have no idea at all.
TNP considers himself or herself reasonable literate, however he or she would not be ashamed to admit entire domains of enquiry about whose luminaries he or she knows nothing about. And, for fun, TNP should give an example.
Oh, sure. I could tell you very little about quantum mechanics, cellular biology or metaphysics, for instance.
Dr. Daystrom was a computer genius in the original Star Trek's "The Ultimate Computer": https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Richard_Daystrom
TNP remembers that episode.
I guess I must turn in my nerd card: I just cannot remember that specific episode. And, since it's my turn to be ashamed, I sort of stopped watching TNG after the Borg plot arc got to be a bit much.
I did wear my "hjkl" T-shirt after my original shirt got soaked with sweat today. So stuff it, nerds! And, yes, I know damned well what the graphic indicates: I'm not the best at vi/vim, but I use it every day for many hours, so therefore I'm allowed to wear it. I should find a nerdy T-shirt about the version-control software/protocol called "Git" to match. Yes, that is no shit: I find knowing Git is incredibly useful, even for people just writing text or whatever.
Nah. My next T-shirt, I finally grew a pair and am going for the replica of Booger's baseball-style shirt from Revenge of the Nerds. Probably like my HJKL shirt I can only wear it once every few months, but it'd be worth it.
TNP truly does not know how certain women can really "do" the whole "skin-tight, stretchy, medium-colored shape-forming dress." Sundress, or just whatever? Sure. But there really are some women who can go in the other direction, and I'm glad to be there. No, I'm not talking about my mom, you fucking perverts. Just a nice change of atmosphere.
Oh, ETA, that wasn't really a question about domains of enquiry, but about "big names" in various fields. For example, in physics, I'm pretty sure most people have heard of Gell-Mann or Dick Feynman, or in logic Quine or Gödel or Church or in maths Hilbert or Cantor and so forth.
There are whole domains about which, I suppose, and I did suppose, one could go one's whole life knowing nothing about the progenitors. Like...I don't know....probably a lot of people like movies and stuff and don't know about __________, or look at magazines and don't know about Daguerre's photographs, or look at mountains and don't know who John Muir was. I don't know, stuff like that. Computer people not knowing about Ada Lovelace or Leibniz or Dijkstra or something. I don't know.
EETA OK, not "perverts," more like "sons-of-bitches!"
Yes, women are often a mystery to me. And "certain women" delightfully so.
TNP has been in a library today.
No. It's actually been a few years since I've needed to use their resources.
TNP is both hot and cold on the old paper chase of finding rare but indispensable texts and making hundreds upon hundreds of photocopies, at not-insignificant expense in monies and time. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, yadda yadda.
Pretty much all cold on it, in all honesty. I would have loved the Net when I was young.
TNP could use a martini, very dry, very cold, right about now.
Yeah, about a few hours ago I would have probably killed a hobo for a few good martinis, provided they were very cold and very dry. Hell, even just a bottle of dry vermouth would have done it. I slaked my thirst with beer instead. When regular people's "lunchtime" is, is about beer-thirty for me.
TNP despises the POS entry system most bars and restaurants use and have used since...a long time ago. For the reason that once a bartender "comps" you a couple of beers, if she keys it in and you say, as is right, "No, keep it," it probably ends up as a short in her till. Actually, that's wrong: she rings me up for a gajillion beers and I had twice that amount, that's the same for the bookkeeping. The tip goes where it's meant to.
TNP has not found people striving for accounting excellence to be particularly good at mental arithmetic.
I don't have a big enough sample size to answer.
TNP knows a trusted accountant.
Well, I have an accountant, and I pretty much trust him, so, yeah.
TNP has pretty much no brand loyalty for things like toothpaste.
Well, I prefer to not cheap out on toothpaste, but, yes, I don't particularly care what brand it is. I couldn't tell you what brand is on the tube I'm currently using: I think it's Crest something or other. Similar items? No, I don't really care, just whatever happens to be on the shelf at the moment.
TNP pretty much despises going out "shopping" for little household items: huge black hole of time and effort, but it has to be done every now and again.
ETA TNP finds himself or herself using the term "despises" quite a bit to describe lots of things in life.
Not often, no.
TNP has seen The Martian but wants to see it again.
Not so much. I saw it and was entertained, but I don't really feel an urge to see it again. Interstellar, possibly, among recent space-jockey movies, but I don't know if there's much I missed about The Martian that I want to explore. Could well be mistaken, and probably am, but it just wouldn't occur to me as something I'd want to do.
TNP has actually "clinked" glasses with several people over the past week: I didn't know people still did that, but apparently, yes.
Not in the past week, but did it a ton when on a cruise ship a couple of weeks ago.
TNP is kinda hoping the weekend would hurry up and get here.
Suckas! It is the first day of my weekend, and I plan to take full advantage of the weekend it by sleeping as much as possible. It being Friday the 13th, I probably shouldn't leave my place anyway today. Well, I can probably risk a short trip to the grocery store....if I dare tempt fate.
TNP has some kind of odd superstitions. Maybe not Friday the 13th, but you know, whatever. No obligation to share one's hidden quirks.
No, not really. I'm not superstitious by nature, and I've never noticed that bad things tend to happen on Friday the 13th.
TNP has no objection to black cats, walking under ladders or breaking mirrors.
Sort of. Walking under ladders just seems like shaking hands with danger, as does breaking a mirror (or any kind of glass), really. Black cats are fine, though. There is a tale of an abnormally large spectral black dog called "Black Shuck" that roams a part of the English countryside, but then again, Led Zeppelin says it's OK.
TNP is thinking about getting a pedicure one of these days, primarily to fix some abnormalities in one's toenails.
Ha! No, but I clipped my toenails just this morning. My left little toe's nail had gotten long enough that it had actually torn off a little (painlessly), so I decided it was time to clip 'em all.
TNP has spoken to an elected official today.