Time and tide waits for no man

One of my pasttimes is looking at the English Language and its usage. There is a rising trend of silly euphemisms and creative labelling which has been getting my attention lately. Why can't a person just be short or tall, dumb or a genius ? Why can't people call a spade a spade anymore ? No, they have to be either vertically-challenged or liberated, cerebrally unwilling or maxed !

Well, I wondered somehow if someone was just trying to sound smart or simply not willing to use the traditional adjective. People's aversion to labels must be one good reason. Depending on one's attitude or motivation, I gather, there is a certain psychology to it that urges one to refrain from saying something. We do not want to "sound" accusative, nor appear rude, pessimistic, or condescending. At times, it is simply to mask our true feelings.

So, I sat down for ten whole minutes to think of "the reasons" and here are 10 that came out of this brain-storming.

What drives a person to not call a spade a spade ?

1.      Downplay.
        To ease a pain, hurt or embarassment. eg : "short guy" would be too hurtful for some.
 
2.     Cover-up.
       To answer without answering. This is analogous to the media-related "non-denial denial".
 
3.     Creative exercise.
        For the artistically-inclined, cerebrally-enriched or literary enthusiast, it is merely a mind exercise.
 
4.     Uppity stakes.
       To create an impression. The "sikit atas" types.
 
5.     Boredom.
       To give a tired adjective a miss, by dropping it and substituting a "better" alternative.
 
6.     Originality.
        Sometimes, a candid expression sounds good and it sticks.
 
7.     Gaining points.
        This one is self-explanatory.
 
8.     Fashionable.
       To be among the "with-it" crowd.
 
9.     Avoiding a stigma.
       eg : I'm working in the "wood industry" (meaning coffin-maker).
 
10.   Diplomatic or politically correct term.
       Countless examples are now in vogue, eg :
            alternatively occupied     (delinquent)
            consciousness averse     (lazy)
            deferred success           (failure)
            distracted                    (day-dreaming)
            obedience-challenged     (trouble-maker)

It’s been rather depressing right after my last blog on the triumphant Britishers here in Singapore. The following day, the London blasts happened. Yesterday, I read about Strike 2 in what has been dubbed the “city of fear” by a certain media.

As it is, I’m still waiting patiently for my shoulder to heal. What else can I do but bide the time and catch up on a little reading, also do a little soul-searching. With my cash-flow problem too, I’m practically in paralysis.

I’m told Dumbledore dies, and Snape is the half-blood prince….not that I’m really that interested, but how could you ignore a writer who’s become Britain’s richest woman by writing on the adventures of a little boy after getting the idea while commuting in a train ! Maybe, just maybe one day I’ll go and pick-up the books and start reading. Whoa ! That might spur me on to come up with Confessions of a Private Eye, or something remotely along those lines. Why not, if it can make one rich ? Well, not exactly, but if my cash-flow can improve, why not yeah ?

"Let the Dreams Begin" - so reads the motto of New York's bid for the hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games. It's a very romantic tack.Even Mohamad Ali is here to lend his support in the spirit of the Games, not to mention Nadia Comaneci, Ian Thorpe, Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Paul simon, Tony Blair, David Beckham, Sebastian Coe, Spain's Queen Sofia, France's Jacques Chiraq, Princess Anne, the list goes on. We're star-struck !

Slogans - Here's the roundup :
PARIS         L'Amour des Jeux (Love of the Games).
NEW YORK   Let the Dreams Begin
MOSCOW     Imagine it Now.
LONDON      Make Britain Proud.
MADRID       Ready For You

Personally, I think London will pass muster and pick up the honours. In any case, we'll know tonight at 7.30pm, here at the Raffles City Convention Centre. Of course, all are distinguished and worthy of praise. But hey, you know what ? If you ask me, I wish Singapore would be the one to host the Games. With all the buzz going on, I've almost forgotten all about my hapless bone. To dream the impossible.........
a 21 sec 50m Freestyle swoosh,
a 9.5 sec 100m dash,
etc.

But that's what we all need - dreams.

(Edit : London it is >>>7:51pm Singapore time)

Today is Day 21.
Looking at me, you wouldn’t see a man in desperation. But actually I am. Anyway, for the folks out there, I digress.

In my present state, the best thing to do if you are in temporary exile is, well, to make yourself comfortable. With some experimentation, I found two ways to live with my dormant companion - the appendage also known as my left arm.
 First is a figure-8 harness adapted into a cross-sling, with the cross portion hidden in my shirt. It looks rather presentable when going out as it somehow appears as if the arm is hanging up there all by
                                 itself !

Second, if I’m in my castle, then a pillow supported by a belt becomes a nice support base while I’m still in my healing coccoon.





Here, in sunny Singapore, it’s Youth Day. Also, to you in the land of the big apple – Happy Independence Day !

 

I am presently in week 3 after that nasty spill.
The neon yellow bruises are disappearing. The serious wound on the right palm has closed up. Only the right knee needs to completely dry up, which I figure will happen by tomorrow. Basically, I’m looking better !

You just need to break something to appreciate your body better. After some searching, I finally learnt that I had a fracture in the distal third of my clavicle. Clavicles are definitely difficult to immobilize. You can hardly do anything without involving it – it’s almost an accomplice to every action you take, or wish to make. Try dressing or undressing and you can see how much fun is that ! It always looks like you’re doing a Houdini stunt.

This was the first time I'd ever broken any part of my anatomy, and it’s amazing that with all of the stuff I've been up to my whole life, something overdue like this hadn’t happened earlier. Fortunately, it can be turned into a positive experience. In a one-handed world, you see things better from a wounded perspective. Well, as the saying goes : What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger. After all, why do we fall down ? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up (another famous quote).

Nevertheless, it’s time to stop the mollycoddling.

It never was said, it never was imposed
On acquaintances and even those close
Those thoughts of despair and feelings of helplessness
But to the gates of heaven she chose.

So abrupt and fleeting was the moment
But somehow thru the numbing gaze
She must have wrestled between living and dying
Though the mind was foggy and in a daze

My own mind goes back in reflection
Of days so carefree, of youth and abandon
Chuckles of glee filled the air then
We never had time to ever think of armageddon

So precious is life and fragile our existence
Though to live means to be free
Watchful we must be and to sometimes give a thought
To live for the moment but be mindful of reality.

So if you’re watching from up nigh
This much I can say
Though life must go on as usual
Friends and even acquaintances will remember this day.

Having seen my lawyer, well that’s another one struck off my “to do” list. Since I’ve never done a third-party claim in my life, or for that matter any claim, it’s another long-drawn-out chore for me. Just hope this one has a good and not-too-long ending. Found these 2 pics on the web…………….. which is quite similar to mine.

One little perk I enjoyed in my HK trip was catching the movie “Mr & Mrs Smith” at UA Pacific Place. Now, that’s one hot lady there.

So here I am sitting around, licking my wounds and trying to decide in what form or shape this blog will take. Shall it be the Diary of A Hapless Bone ? Or Travails of the Struggling Parent ? Perhaps Trauma in the High C's - as in Cracked, Crippled, Crazy, Cabbie-hating, Cashless and Crushed ?

Okay , I know it’s useless wallowing in self-pity, not to mention destructive and it does nothing for the morale.

Diary of a Hapless Bone – The Bone

For want of a better suggestion, I'll kick it off with the first theme. It's amazing how quickly one comes down to earth after gravity and motion-impact shows its might and manifests itself. Let's see, firstly let me do a quick inventory of the damage. A fractured left clavicle - aka collar-bone - which links the breastbone and shoulder-blade.
That’s the star of today’s “show-and-tell”. I’ll dub it as The Bone. Next on the “pain chart” is the right palm which has some exposed flesh on the lower part furthest from the thumb. Lastly, a slightly hurt right knee. Besides those mentioned are some minor abrasions which I’ll brush aside.

The left arm is now in a cloth sling. Sometimes, an elastic belt takes its place. So far I’ve tried a few techniques. In one fashion, the belt goes round the neck and double-looped round the wrist. Another style is to fashion it into a cross-sling from over the right shoulder. Sometimes, I simply use the right arm to cradle the left somewhat like carrying an infant.

The first thing you learn very quickly is that one hand (especially an unfit one with flesh exposed) is a hundred times less useful than two good ones. That means it’s best to put aside thoughts of sex or titillation. Next, I thank my lucky stars that I’m effectively ambidextrous. Even with that advantage, bathing can be a real challenge.

Moving around is also tricky. The two halves of The Bone are actually floating around. As advised by the Orthopaedic Doctor, they are not doing anything to it. That means it’s neither set right nor fixed and joined back. I’m still trying to come to terms with that decision. So, I’m told to report back after 2 weeks, to see how well the two ends have “gelled” by themselves. Any attempt to use the left hand or shoulder displaces The Bone’s position. Discomfort is the result, due to either friction or some other reason.

A dramatic start for a first blog, this is. Well, it's precisely how I got started in the first place. With a little time to spare in my hands, the fingers are just itching for it.
Cheerio !