Whatever happened to manners and civility? Do you say: "Yes, m'am" or "No, Sir"? Do you remember to say: "Please" or "Thank you."? I have come to conclude that the words: manners, ethics and their other synonyms ought to be relegated to the "Ye Olde English" dictionary.
During the 18th Century there were a few admonitions regarding correct behavior.
"Before you sit down, be sure your seat has not been fouled" - Have you seen the seats in most fast food places these days?
"Do not touch yourself under your clothes with your bare hands" - When was the last time YOU scratched?
Colonial America had some doosers also:
"Grease not thy fingers or napkin more than necessity requires." Ever eaten barbeque and watched the numerous diners remove the sauce from their fingers?
"...bedew no man's face with Spittle by approaching too near him when you speak." I will leave it to you to decide when the last time this happened to you.
Today we have a whole new set of: "Gad, I wish there was a rule!"
Speaking on a cell phone as if you had to shout...I don't want to hear about Aunt Elsie's Hysterectomy while I am eating.
Not opening or closing doors for those behind or in front of you who might have trouble with the door...I actually was admonished for holding the door open for a woman with her arms full as she was struggling with the door..."I don't need YOUR help!" Gad.
Spitting on the sidewalk...in the military, if we were caught doing that...we had to clean it up, and a whole lot else.
Multitasking on electronic instruments...ask your kid what it was that they just listened to...don't be too surprised at the answer.
As Leslie Caron said: "I got what I have now through knowing the right time to tell terrible people when to go to hell."
Later.
Le Conteur
Due Care and Attention
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Mistakes
Why are people so afraid of making mistakes? What is a mistake anyway? Webster's defines it as: "...to blunder, to misunderstand, to be wrong...". There was a phrase awhile back "To err is human.." I would say that we all agree that those reading this are human, but why do we persist in believing that we are the exception?
What is a mistake? Is it an accicent? Maybe a causeadent...as a paramedic, we used to determine if the "accident" was really an accident - i.e., no cause identifable, or a causadent...one that if the person hadn't done something stupid, the "accident" would not have happened.
They put erasers and now "spell check" easily available, either on the end of a pencil (remember those) or on the key pad of the laptop for a reason...but how many times have you received something that has been "spellchecked" and yet still makes some egregious (look it up) error. One that might stop you from getting that interview you so desperately wanted.
We used to have a cat we needed to spell out what we were going to do...until we learned that he had learned to spell...he knew "ice cream", "bed time", "potty", and "vet"...smart animal.
What if you thought about buying something that made no errors. None at all...even told you that YOU had made an error and IT was going to correct you...would you purchase it...?
Don't you make your decision on whom to marry or date upon the possibility of mistakes...she didn't like like your tie, she made a mistake, therefore you would not date her again.. What about her choice of you, would she choose you if you never made a mistake that she might notice...?
What do you do if you make a mistake? Blame someone else, the computer, the weather, the.....whatever, or do you "man" up or "woman" up and acknowledge it and apologize. Do you explode and cause a ruckus and make people feel uncomfortable around you?
Take a look around you...Nature is imperfect, God makes imperfections so that people do not become complacent and so that they take a minute and actually look around see what is "real" and not.
Take some time, make a mistake, see what you do about it...it will tell you a lot about yourself.
Le Conteur.
What is a mistake? Is it an accicent? Maybe a causeadent...as a paramedic, we used to determine if the "accident" was really an accident - i.e., no cause identifable, or a causadent...one that if the person hadn't done something stupid, the "accident" would not have happened.
They put erasers and now "spell check" easily available, either on the end of a pencil (remember those) or on the key pad of the laptop for a reason...but how many times have you received something that has been "spellchecked" and yet still makes some egregious (look it up) error. One that might stop you from getting that interview you so desperately wanted.
We used to have a cat we needed to spell out what we were going to do...until we learned that he had learned to spell...he knew "ice cream", "bed time", "potty", and "vet"...smart animal.
What if you thought about buying something that made no errors. None at all...even told you that YOU had made an error and IT was going to correct you...would you purchase it...?
Don't you make your decision on whom to marry or date upon the possibility of mistakes...she didn't like like your tie, she made a mistake, therefore you would not date her again.. What about her choice of you, would she choose you if you never made a mistake that she might notice...?
What do you do if you make a mistake? Blame someone else, the computer, the weather, the.....whatever, or do you "man" up or "woman" up and acknowledge it and apologize. Do you explode and cause a ruckus and make people feel uncomfortable around you?
Take a look around you...Nature is imperfect, God makes imperfections so that people do not become complacent and so that they take a minute and actually look around see what is "real" and not.
Take some time, make a mistake, see what you do about it...it will tell you a lot about yourself.
Le Conteur.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
I'll be blunt
Well, I now remember why there ae so many suicides on this side of the mountains...I almost was one. It has been grey, dismal and cold for the seven months toothless and I have been here. I have missed the soul satisfying closeness of the Gaffer and the warmth of the earth. I promise you that this won't be maudlin, but I hope someone who reads this might have a better understanding of the thought processes of someone who is contemplating taking their life.
I knew I was going to take my life when I honestly contemplated having Toothless pass over the Rainbow Bridge. I went to some friends home and knew I really couldn't do it, but I left him there and then drove back to my room I must have known I needed help cuz I called the Gaffer and told him I would not be coming home and I wouldn't answer any phone calls...now you have to understand the Gaffer's and my backgrounds... a whole lot of LE and critical incident stress stuff...so he called the cops on me...good for him...I spent a couple of hours on suicide watch and then a counselor came in and talked me down...or up as the case may be...I still can't stop leaking at the eyes, but that will go away...now as to why all of this sturm and drang stuff...
I moved here becauze I am past my sell by date and it was really hard to get a job, it was either a job SOMEWHERE or declare bankruptcy...now I don't know about you, but that just was not how I was brought up...so I take this job, doing what I love at a rediculously low salary half way across the county, living God only knows with whom. Now I find out that we are having a "temporary" two year salary cut of 3% and 18 days of non-paid leave, and we should be GREATFUL!!!??? That was just about the straw, so they say...so I went to my friends, they plied with the potent waters of my choice, I left toothless (oh, by the way, I will be taking him back - he is a part of my soul and none of this is his fault) walked out the door, got my gun out the lock box and then drove off.
There was one thing the counselor said which I do not believe and neither does anyone who contemplates taking their life. That is, she said: "It is a very selfish act". That may be so to ones who are left, but it is NOT what goes through the mind of the person who wishes to do this. In their, my, mind it is the most selfLESS thing to do...and no one will talk them out of it if nothing comes into that person's life that means more them than stopping the pain.
I am fortunate that the Gaffer, although he doesn't understand why, he understands me and loves me and gives me some hope to grasp onto.
May you all wake up in the morning.
Le Conteur
I knew I was going to take my life when I honestly contemplated having Toothless pass over the Rainbow Bridge. I went to some friends home and knew I really couldn't do it, but I left him there and then drove back to my room I must have known I needed help cuz I called the Gaffer and told him I would not be coming home and I wouldn't answer any phone calls...now you have to understand the Gaffer's and my backgrounds... a whole lot of LE and critical incident stress stuff...so he called the cops on me...good for him...I spent a couple of hours on suicide watch and then a counselor came in and talked me down...or up as the case may be...I still can't stop leaking at the eyes, but that will go away...now as to why all of this sturm and drang stuff...
I moved here becauze I am past my sell by date and it was really hard to get a job, it was either a job SOMEWHERE or declare bankruptcy...now I don't know about you, but that just was not how I was brought up...so I take this job, doing what I love at a rediculously low salary half way across the county, living God only knows with whom. Now I find out that we are having a "temporary" two year salary cut of 3% and 18 days of non-paid leave, and we should be GREATFUL!!!??? That was just about the straw, so they say...so I went to my friends, they plied with the potent waters of my choice, I left toothless (oh, by the way, I will be taking him back - he is a part of my soul and none of this is his fault) walked out the door, got my gun out the lock box and then drove off.
There was one thing the counselor said which I do not believe and neither does anyone who contemplates taking their life. That is, she said: "It is a very selfish act". That may be so to ones who are left, but it is NOT what goes through the mind of the person who wishes to do this. In their, my, mind it is the most selfLESS thing to do...and no one will talk them out of it if nothing comes into that person's life that means more them than stopping the pain.
I am fortunate that the Gaffer, although he doesn't understand why, he understands me and loves me and gives me some hope to grasp onto.
May you all wake up in the morning.
Le Conteur
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Compliments Slip
One of the reasons Toothless and I wandered into the rainy is that the Boarding House was being besieged with phone calls from people we did not know wanting what we did not have. So The Gaffer and I decided that I should be the one to "Get my light out from under a bushel" and off Toothless and I went.
But that is by-the-by...what is sticking in my craw these days it that these people whom we do know wanting what we do not have send with their plaintive missives a very correct letter stating why we should enhance their larder while depleteing ours and at the end of this cry for help are the words:
"With Compliments"
Pardon me, but my definition of "compliments" indicates a sort of gift following not a ding...as far as I am concerned - their "with compliments" just dropped a brick!
Le Conteur
But that is by-the-by...what is sticking in my craw these days it that these people whom we do know wanting what we do not have send with their plaintive missives a very correct letter stating why we should enhance their larder while depleteing ours and at the end of this cry for help are the words:
"With Compliments"
Pardon me, but my definition of "compliments" indicates a sort of gift following not a ding...as far as I am concerned - their "with compliments" just dropped a brick!
Le Conteur
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