h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

RU in Mensa, Lu?

Jabs

No, did the test, got invited, didn't want to fork out the dosh.Also don't like elitism. Also think I.Q. is a load of rubbish. Great believer in clarified thinking though!

Same as my children, Lu.

Being messy, or not believing in elitism? Son's creative, therefore messy, (Me too). Lodger (of burnt down house fame) is unbelievably, and I mean, unbelievably, lazy. Wants me to get him things all the time, added to that, he wants to talk non-stop. My house looks more and more like a sunami hit it.

Put that poem on thread. Here it is again.


Suburban Sonnet

She practices a fugue, though it can matter
to no one now if she plays well or not.
Beside her on the floor two children chatter,
then scream and fight. She hushes them. A pot
boils over. As she rushes to the stove
Too late, a wave of nausea overpowers
subject and counter-subject. Zest and love
drain out with soapy water as she scours
the crusted milk. Her veins ache. Once she played
for Rubinstein, who yawned. The children caper
round a sprung mousetrap where a mouse lies dead.
When the soft corpse won’t move they seem afraid.
She comforts them; and wraps it in a paper
featuring: Tasty dishes from stale bread.


RUMensa? My guess is "yes"? Or probably you feel same way about elitism as me.

Really nice poem, Lu - really very nice. I'm ashamed to say I don't remember seeing it before. If I'd seen it, I'd have been sure to have remembered it.

Jabs

Seen it now. I thought it was by you. RU messing with my head?

No, I would like to have written it. It's by a Tasmanian poet. I did a short poetry course and that's how I came across it. As you can tell, she was previously a musician.

Lots of the women on this course composed poetry about the horrors of housework, so I think it's a strongly felt thing. Most of the more sensible women I know are just giving up on it. You get some women who can think of nothing else, they're neurotic about it. It's because we get judged (traditionally) on the state of our homes, - usually by other women.

At the moment I have no choice but to be worried about housework. I'm trying to get it presentable for sale. It's an overwhelming task with my present household! And I have other big problems as you know. I have teamed up with a couple of good friends annd we're going to help each other.

Looked up about Alex, and see he has some problems, and I see why you were angry at me for scaring him away. Well, I sympathise with him, but that's not the way to "Make friends & influence people." and I find it difficult to believe he can think that way. Having looked at his background a bit more, I realize I should've gone a bit more gently on him. I hope I haven't done too much damage.

I didn't realize you had children! Wonderful beings, aren't they? I'm so proud of my son, in nearly all aspects, that it just about bursts out of my ears.

Thanks for clearing that up Vi.

About housework - you're so right about that. Makes me think of old Tomorrow's Worlds, which looked forward to a drudgery-free 'future' life for women (and I don't think that men were mentioned even then - that says so much).

I'm glad you now see what the Alex thing was partly about now.

Even though it wasn't by you () it's still a great poem, with a very clear, important and striking message, so well put.

Jabs

PS. I live alone, and do my own housework, , [which isn't much really from one person, tbh.]


Jabs

What's tbh translated into?
RU in Mensa?
Yes ,good poem!

That thread is begining to get rather serious, - I think it's a serious problem.
Most men make light of it, because that's rather convenient for them.
(The Housework Issue.) My lodger is sitting pretty. His insurance company will (eventually) pay me for his room, not for food, company,
or general running around, chauffering etc. I feed him, because if I didn't I think he'd starve rather than make his own food. He's not well enough to help with building type stuff, but if he just put his dishes in the sink it would be a help. He's not that ill, it's an excuse, I tell him "Use it or Lose it."

So you see it's a bigger prob than it's made out to be!

Night Jabs, I'm being naughty tonight it's 4.22a.m. What a hypocrite I am!

Sweet dreams, Lu. I can't pretend to understand all of your post - perhaps you do need a good sleep. Sleep well,

tbh = to be honest - probably an English expression, then.

Jabs

Loved the "Sentence" story!

Thanks Lu!

Jabs