Yeah, we’re more about reps now, and it is effective. You’re making me think of going back to my glory days eating habits: lean proteins, complex carbs, plenty of fruits and veggies, and no eating between meals (which included an afternoon small meal or snack). I never felt like I was dieting.
Last night I was having trouble falling asleep (jet lag), , so I cracked open my grandfather’s 1930 Chinese dictionary (revised 1940s edition) (he was born there on 1912 to an American missionary doctor and wife: the family left when he was fourteen, and was among the first to return as a tourist in 1976 — not sure how or why he acquired the dictionary circa 1945 — maybe he was hoping to return sooner…)
…and, in the two hours before I slept, I learned quite a bit about Chinese writing (and spoken words, including tones), such as how most characters are formed (radical for basic meaning plus “phonetic” portion for sound resemblance — but many English “words” require two or sometimes three such characters — there are nuances and exceptions, but that’s the idea)….
…and I also leaned several specific words (and words derived from them), to the point where I could make a few successful predictions about how a certain idea might be written, or what a certain character (or sequence of two) might mean or sound like…
…which led to several fascinating discoveries about unexpected, poetic associations and metaphors (ALL languages operate this way, as I discovered when I recently read a Doper-recommended, life-changing book: Metaphors We Live By, by Lakoff and Johnson)…
…just one example: a character (number 4518) that means “the appearance of the sky in autumn; merciful,” composed of a radical (on the bottom) meaning “literature; polite studies; elegant; refined” (it looks like a walking dude carrying a tray or a pole on his shoulders) and (in place of the usual phonetic clue, which in this case would be something reminiscent of “min”), a second radical on top meaning “sun” (looks like a calculator’s number 8) ….
…so, autumn skies have elegant light (I couldn’t agree more), but why “merciful”? The example phrases give a hint: “compassionate Heaven as overshadowing all things below — Heaven pities the fall of all things into winter decay.”
I felt like a character in a Borges short story.
I’m sort of obsessed with a guy who died in 1619. It’s gone on for a year. I might be writing a novel about him. But probably just a really long fanfic.
Started on a song parody this morning while feeding the dogs, to the Christmas song The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
It’s the hap-happiest time of the day!
With all the butt-smelling, and humans are yelling, “Get out of the way”…
Some form of married. 
I am a fish of the sky!
a cloud of the sea!
blue is to fish,
as sky is to me.
— Steve Martin
And this is my first wife… Well it’s true!
Are these supposed to be true or made up?
- You should see a doctor about that.
j
Some form of true. 
(I like this; I think I’ll start using it. Could be bigger than “That’s what s/he said.”)
I’m going into the basement I don’t have to pet the cat I don’t have.
lemme guess:
french bulldogs?
there was a historic Chilean president (Alessandri?) that got famous for the phrase “The more people I get to know, the more I like my dogs”
I feed our three dogs twice a day. Each time it’s the same routine. There are two crates and a full sized run in our finished basement. Each dog has their space, or “house”. Loki’s house is the run.
Once the food bowls are prepared, Loki gets fed first since she’s the eldest. She’s excited about it, but is not allowed to bark. So I tell her, “Loki in your house, quiet as a mouse”, and she runs into the run and sits quietly.
The first time my gf just happened to be present during a feeding she cracked up.
I would “sing through” my day, with my dogs as the audience. It was part Gilbert and Sullivan, part bad rapping. But it always rhymed: “Time for a walk, down paths of chalk, perchance 'twill drizz, but do not balk.”
This is so adorable. I will often spontaneously break into a bit of G&S.
Too late!
turns into
Too late - ha ha - too late - ho ho -
<
rhythmic musical interlude
>
Here’s a first-rate opportunity
To get married with impunity!
And indulge in the felicity
Of unbounded domesticity!We will quickly be parsonified
Conjugally matrimonified
By a Doctor of Divinity
Who is located in this vicinity…
Ages ago, in an episode of McMillan and Wife*, someone said “Too late!” for some reason, and their sidekick played by John Schuck, burst into the ditty I’ve quoted above. I was impressed, as that’s pretty obscure for the general public.
* Unlikely husband/wife pairing of Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James. Six seasons, 40 episodes. Pretty forgettable.
I feel like a sack full of assholes with the good ones picked out.
When I watch tv comedies, I mentally add a laugh track. Not sure why because I’m not a fan; my mind just goes there. Same with ones with a live audience/laugh track, but in reverse.
My mother once asked me for a scientific explanation as to why dogs sniff each other’s butts.
I said, “Because it is very INTERESTING down there!”
I eat ghost pepper nuts or chips and chug very cold very fizzy sparkling water to stay alert during late night driving. I dont mess with caffeine that late, it fucks up my sleep (when I do make it to my destination).
Somehow I’m very tired now😉
I eat 6 meals a day. They’re usually small small meals.
I’m often very uncomfortable with too much at once.
Of course this from years of diabetes starving me to death.
Some days it doesn’t seem worth it. But, I guess I must.
*
Since, I taught Bayliss the dog to use buttons he has informed me when his mealtime is. Oddly it’s not at all when I thought it was. He’s more interested in his morning walk about and constitutional than eating. He punches the go out button first thing awake.
He goes and pees, then poops. Walks around checking out the birdfeeders, sniffing the boundary where the underbrush starts. Goes in the garage checks on those cats and drinks outta their fountain. Comes and stretches out on the deck.
All while the kids and Chihuahuas eat breakfast.
He generally doesn’t eat til about noon. He punches food or treat. And I or my daughter get his food.
I think he likes the peace of eating alone.