My Dear CKT Comrades -
I apologize for my long absence from these pages, an absence occassioned by a lengthy bout of leave with my computer in the hands of Pakistani customs for weeks followed by the trauma of re-entering working life in Washington, the ultimate hardship post.
As usual, I find life in the U.S. more confusing and confounding with each return. Right now the issue of the day is food, i.e. what the hell is up with this new American habit of eating all the time and everywhere? People eat while walking, while in class, while in the computer labs, during speeches, etc. It’s remarkable, like nothing is more important than their needs at any given moment, even if it involves munching an apple during a presentation on history. I seriously do not understand this.
In any case, I'm back until May-ish when I'm off to Lima, Peru for a whopping four years. More soon.
I apologize for my long absence from these pages, an absence occassioned by a lengthy bout of leave with my computer in the hands of Pakistani customs for weeks followed by the trauma of re-entering working life in Washington, the ultimate hardship post.
As usual, I find life in the U.S. more confusing and confounding with each return. Right now the issue of the day is food, i.e. what the hell is up with this new American habit of eating all the time and everywhere? People eat while walking, while in class, while in the computer labs, during speeches, etc. It’s remarkable, like nothing is more important than their needs at any given moment, even if it involves munching an apple during a presentation on history. I seriously do not understand this.
In any case, I'm back until May-ish when I'm off to Lima, Peru for a whopping four years. More soon.
Welcome back Jourdan. How about those Canucks...er not so much...
ReplyDeleteAnyway your observation about eating could quite easily apply to hand held electronic devices, i.e.,
"...what the hell is up with this new American habit of texting all the time and everywhere? People text while walking, while in class, while in the computer labs, during speeches, etc. It’s remarkable, like nothing is more important than their needs at any given moment, even if it involves texting during a presentation on history.
I seriously do not understand THIS.
Welcome home Jourdan! I don't notice the eating thing nearly as much as the texting thing.
DeleteAnd what is with going to funerals wearing jeans??? FFS, I don't get that one AT ALL. Has respect completely lost all value.
DeletePfft, if anyone shows up at my funeral in jeans I want them ejected.
I agree. I suppose I've become so used to obsessive texting and "smart" phone viewing that I've managed to filter it out.
DeleteIn my personal case, snacking more often is directly related to no longer smoking. Still don't do it where eating is inappropriate...usually alone.
DeleteThere is no time set aside for eating. Therefore eating is always appropriate. This is how we're living.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a point there, however I also think this eat-all-the-time phenomena is encouraged by fast foods everywhere...last time I was in a mall (2+ years ago...hate them) food kiosks were every where, in the aisles as well as storefronts. For Jourdan's benefit, I think your point is the right one...plus a general loss of ordinary manners that evolved win the baby boomer generation (protest everything) and evolved more in their children.
DeleteI'm glad you're back home, Jourdan, and out of that dangerous area. I hope you enjoy Lima much more. I visited there as a child when my dad was stationed in Panama and remember how beautiful it was. I still have a Peruvian ruana.
ReplyDeleteI'm with what the others have mentioned, I hadn't noticed the eating so much as the texting. Some person was standing behind me in the mail line a couple days ago, cracking her gum and making noises as she was texting. I shot her a dirty look but that didn't deter her one bit (I'm sure she texted about it). I wanted to punch her in the face.
Of course, I didn't :-)
Here's a neat social hack I heard from a friend:
ReplyDeleteBunch of people go out to lunch or dinner with the intent of splitting the check.
First one to look at their phone pays the whole tab.
Only if the check comes before anyone looks at their phone does the tab get split.
I like that lewy! I like it because people are kicking back, yeah! I se whole families out for dinner who NEVER interact with each other. They all have their "gadget" even the babies FCS! And they spend the entire time with eyes and fingers glued to a rectangular device with a screen.
DeleteBah.
Amen to that, Fay. It's creepy and beyond annoying.
DeleteOK it's got a name: phone stack.
DeleteLewy....oh, now I r-e-a-l-l-y like this idea of first one to use his/her phones pays the tab, and stacking them makes it fair...but I would add that all phones be set to "silent" for the meal (the new phones have this feature, like the old ones, right?)...thus enhancing the urge to "check it out."
DeleteAn for myself, even without the "game" if I am at a meal that is among work folks and intended to be a quasi meeting...I WILL pipe up and say, turn-your-f'ing-phone-off, you-are-not-on-break. Only person who gets a pass on this or the game, is anyone who is an OB/GYN or Neuorsurgeon.
Back in the early smart phone days, mostly Blackberries, as the chairman of a large study group planning multiple millions in expenditures on a project (Army & DOD money) I actually shut the entire group down and told everyone to their face they were useless jerks...and half of them actually outranked me. Then I wrote a lengthy email to the Commander telling him of the action, and why ... dolts who just want some one else to do the work, who spent 50% of the time on their smart phones, and expected others to prepare a fat PowerPointless Deck). I advised I had re-constitued a new "team" of 5 people who weren't lazy dolts to proceed with the work. The 25 cooks, appointed by said Commander, trying to over inclusive, in the original kitchen was worthless... but that I understood the intent (inclusion).
I didn't get fired, the CO supported me. I'd given him a 4 year time line for the first team, and a 6 month time line for the new one...e.g., we know the job and how to get it done, no kibitzing.
Next time I have a dinner with my daughter and some of her work folks (fairly frequent) I am going to insist on the "stack game"...yeah, its better than taking turns paying a bill. I'd really like to add a Taser for use on anyone who grabs their phone, however.
"...It’s remarkable, like nothing is more important than their needs at any given moment..." That's the society we've created, by never forcing anyone to outgrow the need for instant gratification, and convincing each succeeding generation of their own 'special snowflake' status, without informing them that snowflakes melt very rapidly.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I'm glad you are home Jourdan, and in a somewhat less physically dangerous location ( although you should read up on the 'knockout game) and that your next posting is to a place not quite so steeped in America hatred
Ms. Lewy says Jourdan should BOLO for UFOs.
ReplyDeletePeru is the UFO capital of the world.
Weird!
DeleteWho else is enjoying the Olympics as much as I am?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching the figure skating today. And looking forward to watching the total domination of our mens and womens hockey teams!
DeleteCanada? Dominate? Sheesh... what are you smoking, Fay? You'd think they sold crack pipes in vending machines in Vancouver. Oh wait, they do...
Delete:P
lewy, you are too much!!!
DeleteWell, there's civility.
DeleteAnd then there's hockey.
;)
2010 Winter Olympics Men's Gold Medal Game:
DeleteCANADA 3 USA 2
2010 Winter Olympics Women's Gold Medal Game
CANADA 2 USA 0
Boooooo! Booooo! Booooo!
Delete(Grumble, grumble)
Ha! This is a couple of days old but still worth a showing I believe.
Deleteimgw:"http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/phasewest/o-ABC-MEDAL-COUNTER-570_zps0a76bf07.jpg"
NO, you can't make us your 58th State!
Although I must admit, the Netherlands have a pretty snazzy flag...
DeleteOMG! That's hilarious!
DeleteYou guys can be our 58th state any time. If we aren't in the running for a medal, I'm always rooting for Canada ;-) I was cheering on your Bilodeau last night...
Hmm, let's try this again...
Deleteimgw:"http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/phasewest/550x412xBghflkECUAEftIQ-550x412jpgpagespeedicWkhCXCHxVu_zps9901fd2d.jpg"
I wondered what that little red x was, Fay ;-)
DeleteThat was a sweet win; the Russians are poor losers. Ha! I enjoyed the game allot even though I know next to nothing about hockey.
The flag mix-up is funny. Yes, Netherlands DOES have a snazzy flag Fay! lol
DeleteWe haven't seen any of the Olympics. We've tuned in a few times, but it's just been talk, talk, talk. Maybe we'll get luckier this week.
ReplyDeleteWe have the CBC website that covers everything and you can watch live or replay video coverage on line (it's great!). You can watch the whole event or just the particular bits you want to see. Way better than the TV "Prime Time" coverage that skips from one event to another.
DeleteIt's on several Comcast channels as well, we can watch pretty much everything. Even curling ;-)
DeleteThe Canadian women's curling team broke a record today. First time a women's team has gone undefeated in the round robins, they won 9 straight matches. Woot!
DeleteYou must watch the ice dancing florrie (if you haven't already). I think the Canadians should have won the gold but I'm happy for the Americans. Like you, if we can't win then I want the US to win. Except in Hockey that is :)
DeleteI LOVE all the ice skating, I can't wait for the finals tonight. I know about the competition between the two couples, they both skated awesomely last night.
Delete(The only thing that bothers me is that the American woman skater looks rather alien-ish with those eyes nearly on the sides of her head, eeeeeek!!)
The American skater, Meryl Davis, reminds me so much of another American.....
DeleteMeryl:
imgw:"http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/phasewest/512x_zps07d1f1b8.jpg"
"That" woman:
imgw:"http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/phasewest/eng036_zpsfd76a777.jpg"
Oh gosh, that's an eerie similarity.
DeleteIn Russia, the medals win you.
ReplyDeleteLOL florrie!
DeleteTomorrow, I will be in winter mode. Flying to Montreal, where it is -15C and snowing yikes! Wish me luck.
ReplyDeleteOh bummer :-( Will you be gone long? Wishing you a safe and productive trip, Fay.
DeleteNot long florrie, just a day of training. I'll be back late Wednesday night.
DeleteI'm glad it's just a short one. It must be difficult to be away from home on those longer trips, esp. in this weather & the short days. God Speed.
ReplyDelete