There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers
exactly what the universe is for and why it is here,
it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something
even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
– Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Welcome to Morning Open Thread, a daily post with a MOTley crew of hosts who choose the topic for the day's posting. We support our community, invite and share ideas, and encourage thoughtful, respectful dialogue in an open forum.
This diarist, who is on Pacific Coast Time, may sometimes show up later than when the post is published. That is a feature, not a bug. Other than that, site rulz rule.
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Douglas Adams said: “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
I love Douglas Adams, but deadlines whooshing by make me sick to my stomach.
When I signed up to write the Monday diaries for MOT, my greatest fear was that I would face a blank page with a blank mind.
Commitments are sacred things to me, so I am reluctant to take one on unless I am reasonably certain that I can fulfill my promise.
One of the worst aspects of my old job was not that there were a lot of deadlines, but that my office was hampered in meeting them by being dependent on volunteers providing their share of the necessary components. Most of the volunteers were wonderful, but some of them went at their own pace, ignoring the need for timeliness. I pleaded, then nagged, and as a last resort called on board members to harass them.
Most of the time, it worked, but a few deadlines were missed. I took the heat – the buck stops here – but…..THE WORLD DID NOT COME TO AN END.
I don’t know why I keep forgetting that.
So here I am, and I have lots of ideas for topics, but they are for other seasons or other places, and nothing has come to mind for next Monday (but now it is Monday because you’re reading this) – and it’s less than a week away. Yes, I do plan at least a week ahead. It’s one of the ways I cope with deadlines – by staying ahead of them.
My husband’s astronomical calendar says “Neptune at opposition” in the square for August 31, which sounds ominous. Last day of August. Labor Day weekend ahead.
Is it just me, or are the years flying by faster and faster? Seems like I blink, and three months have gone whooshing by. How much faster can the carousel go before we are all flung off?
“The time is out of joint.”
Local conditions where we grow up have a huge impact on what metaphors we use. British writers often use the life-giving sun, because it’s not seen for days or weeks at a time in their climate, and so becomes a very welcome visitor when it does appear. Many times, I think in water imagery because I grew up in a desert, where water is precious and miraculous – a real stream of consciousness.
If “What’s Past is Prologue,” then is Now the Play, and what does that make the Future – the Reviews?
Ray Bradbury said you have to write something every day. If you just keep writing, will something good show up?
Water moves, it spreads and invades every crack and crevice, carrying whatever can be moved with it, speeding up on the downhill. There’s more water in the fragments I remember of my recent dreams – and more fire. Drought dreams.
I promised myself five hundred words. “words” is 501. Victory.
Apologies to you, Dear Readers. I have an inkling of an idea for next Monday, so please bear with me.
"Lurgid Bee" drawing by Abigail Mae Buchan
Something to celebrate:
Tomorrow, September 1, is National Emma M. Nutt Day
This day commemorates Emma Miles Nutt (1860-1915), the first female telephone operator in America.
September 1, 1878 was Emma’s first day of work at the Edwin Holmes Telephone Dispatch Company. She worked at a job she loved, in Boston Massachusetts, as a telephone operator, for over 33 years.
Emma did so well at her job that they began hiring only females as telephone dispatchers. “‘EMMA’, A synthesized speech attendant system created by ‘Preferred Voice Inc’ and ‘Philips Electronics NV’ is named in her honor.
September 1 is also National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day, which celebrates words in the English language which do not rhyme with any other words.
Words like "Orange" and "Month" -- can you think of any others?