Just add genius

I have to write a story. Not now, so don't worry, it won't be as long as the last post.

Keep it short, he says. One or two main characters revolving around a single issue, he says. It has to be dynamic, he says. And write about things you know, he says.

I could write about things I know, I reply, but it would be a story about impending deadlines of doom, why I want to work in the finance sector, and why I want to work for yet another bank that isn't really very much different from the last, which would make for a very boring story actually.

So I appeal to you. Inspire me.

Like. Seriously. Back. Off.

It's frustratingly hard to communicate your exact feelings with words, but the advent of MSN forces us to practice this daily, so much so that we've skipped the words and are now fluent in the language of punctuation.

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm fine

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm fine...

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm fine.

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm. fine.

Sometimes we omit it completely, but a full-stop means so much more than an indication of the end of a sentence. Whether it is used in trios, singly, or at the end of every word, the simple full-stop has now become yet another subtlety in the language of mankind.

The translation is provided below.

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm fine
(I'm fine)

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm fine...
(I'm not so fine, but I'd like you to be there)

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm fine.
(I'm fine dammit, stop asking me if I'm FINE. I'M FINE. why would I not be fine! I'm totally fine!! GAAARRRGHHH!!! i.e. not fine and Boy should probably run like hell in the other direction.)

Boy: Are you okay?
Ger: I'm. fine.
(Go die you stupid, stupid Boy.)

The comma has still retained its designed use but whether people actually know how to use it still remains to be seen. More exciting punctuation are the question and exclamation mark.

Ger: What was that?
(Control sample)

Ger: What was that??
(I myself am not clear on the use of the double question mark, but I believe it conveys either the quizzicality or excitement of the questioner.)

Ger: What was that?!
(I use this one myself and it's usually when someone's told me something and I'm like wtf, or I've just been insulted and the Boy answering that better tread carefully.)


And then there's the exclamation mark. People who use this should be shot, especially when the reader has a bad headache or is hungover. In general the exclamation mark seems to replace every other known form of punctuation.

Boy: Hi! How are you! Totally! Yeah! Wasn't that awesome!!

I personally hate reading conversations like this. In fact, I would say that the proportion of exclamation marks to my irritability is an exponential function of sorts.

Using punctuation to express yourself is an intricate dance. Wrap sarcasm into that and it's a trainwreck, especially when the Boy you're being sarcastic at doesn't get it. I think that's about it. No one's figured out how to speak the language of the semi-colon or where you're supposed to even use it, and no one will ever teach you this in grammar class.

That's what it's all about

While my uterine lining does the hokey-pokey, my psyche is tottering drunkenly down the thin line separating bubbliness and blinding rage. It's not doing wonders for anyone at home who are all poised like rabbits. So I hide behind my online alterego, a pirate called Fruitloop, who's days are spent haunting the taproom in search of people to swordfight. I know, there's probably too much similarity between us for her to be considered an alterego. Ooh.

Apathetic

I feel so blah.

I'm surprised I care enough to write about it.

Creative Writing

The title of the post is somewhat misleading. None of the writing here is actually creative, it's about my Creative Writing course.

I had the good fortune to get a place on this 20-person course, seeing as my writing's suffered tremendously since all we ever do is mathematical reporting. Well I was smugly congratulating myself until I saw the syllabus and the reading list. At two hours every week, that's more than all of my other courses, and it runs for the entire year. Insane.

But now I am once again thankful that I'm on this course. It rocks. Only two weeks in and my vocab's like. way out.

Retractionary statement

Those in search of something to read (slow readers may be here a while), Joel's latest thesis on life can be found here. I take back what I said about not writing much. Posts should have a word limit.

Then again, that's just the jealous talk of those who have very little to say, wish they had something interesting/clever/witty to talk about, and would've split up aforementioned post into three separate posts just to get a little more mileage out of it.

Oh, sweet download speeds!

In a joyful moment of pure ecstasy of the sort that only a working internet connection in the comfort of your own home could induce, I'm back to tell you exactly that. We have internet.

And now I can resolve my state of suspense and find out what happens to Appa after he was kidnapped and sold by the Sand Benders on Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I can also pay more attention to my FF team which has shamefully slipped to third (I think) after getting my 30 point margin wiped out in one disastrous week.

And Weng Yew, who just about comes close to Cheryl in the talking-stakes has started a blog too. Remarkably, for people who talk so much, they write surprisingly little.

Just because the tagboard died

The first week of uni's been wonderfully slack workwise, but all hell's broken loose inside my head. With all the firms that present at LSE hoping to talk some of the brightest minds in the country into applying for graduate jobs, Weng's been running off to presentations every other night and bringing the pressure home. Argh. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life four years ago and I sure as hell don't know what to do with it now.

Home is good though, lots of space for everyone, and a cute dining table in the kitchen. I've been to Ikea three times over the last five days. Our mission was finally complete with Godwin and I lugged home his 23kg desk and a 15kg dining table. I can now concentrate on other things than home decor.

Home is also very noisy. Cheryl doesn't stop talking except for when she's asleep and when she's concentrating on walking. It's brilliant having her around.