The MeFite as noisemaker... it's your weekly free thread
January 13, 2025 5:09 AM Subscribe
What sort of noises do you make? Do you make music like Alice Coltrane? Are you a cross-linguistic onomatopoiea fan? Or are optical sound effects more your thing? Ever enter a yodeling contest, like they have at the Iowa State Fair? Or is the groan more your thing, as with groaning boards, groaning ghosts, or plain groaners?
Perhaps your noises are more fundamental? There's more to life than noise, though. How are you doing? What's happening this week in your life?
Today is the first day of school!! In school related news, I make the sound of a dryer buzzer when time's up for a quiz. I teach international students, and I don't think the sound is universal, but it still makes them laugh.
posted by pangolin party at 5:45 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by pangolin party at 5:45 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
I have noisy guts -- I make bubbly, rumbly, growly noises.
Same here. I woke up around 4:00 a.m. today, and while I was lying in bed trying to go back to sleep, it was like someone was boiling soup in my stomach.
posted by briank at 5:49 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Same here. I woke up around 4:00 a.m. today, and while I was lying in bed trying to go back to sleep, it was like someone was boiling soup in my stomach.
posted by briank at 5:49 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
I sing along with my favorite singers and groups. When I WFH, anyway; the office walls in my building preclude anything more than humming.
posted by humbug at 5:58 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by humbug at 5:58 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
One time this guy told me that he heard me laughing from some cafe (he happened to be in the neighborhood) and tracked me down that way. I mean he knew me, so it wasn't like I MUST FIND THIS LAUGHING STRANGER, but he recognized my (apparently! quite! loud!) laugh and found me in a place he didn't know I'd be. Kamala, step aside!
(Also, *cough*)
posted by taz at 6:00 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
(Also, *cough*)
posted by taz at 6:00 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
Still working through that article on Gaiman. It's not a pleasant experience. I'm sure it will be posted here soon.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:04 AM on January 13 [6 favorites]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:04 AM on January 13 [6 favorites]
Hello team noisy guts. I've actually found that a probiotic helps with that a bit. I've also been told that I'm generally kind of loud - my last boss even got angry about it because apparently animated and loud conversations trigger her or something (whathefuckever).
I used to sing along with music but haven't as much; I think I need to recultivate that habit.
General notes: technically I am supposed to be putting in some job search work today, but will likely give that a slight back seat to some more general life-admin tasks. The super is coming by to check on an issue with my stove anyway, and they're already here checking the window where they spotted a big rat hole outside; and I've woken up with a whole lot of questions for myself about where and how I want to spend my time in general. I've been accumulating all these random tiny interests - possible hobbies, possible things to do - and it feels like today is a day to weed through them all, figure out whether i'm still interested in pursuing them, and then making plans to put them into action.
* Do I really want to do anything with papercraft?
* How can I build a routine of baking for myself?
* How many film festivals are there in this city and do I want to get involved with any?
* When is that pizza place down on Fulton opening and should I check it out?
I'll still contact all my recruiters today and check out the job boards for a couple of companies I'm curious about, but much of the rest of the day will be about cleaning out and re-sorting mental and physical clutter. It feels like a day to give the foundation here a bit of work.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:15 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
I used to sing along with music but haven't as much; I think I need to recultivate that habit.
General notes: technically I am supposed to be putting in some job search work today, but will likely give that a slight back seat to some more general life-admin tasks. The super is coming by to check on an issue with my stove anyway, and they're already here checking the window where they spotted a big rat hole outside; and I've woken up with a whole lot of questions for myself about where and how I want to spend my time in general. I've been accumulating all these random tiny interests - possible hobbies, possible things to do - and it feels like today is a day to weed through them all, figure out whether i'm still interested in pursuing them, and then making plans to put them into action.
* Do I really want to do anything with papercraft?
* How can I build a routine of baking for myself?
* How many film festivals are there in this city and do I want to get involved with any?
* When is that pizza place down on Fulton opening and should I check it out?
I'll still contact all my recruiters today and check out the job boards for a couple of companies I'm curious about, but much of the rest of the day will be about cleaning out and re-sorting mental and physical clutter. It feels like a day to give the foundation here a bit of work.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:15 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
I can burp the alphabet.
posted by Czjewel at 6:19 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
posted by Czjewel at 6:19 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
^ Same, but I don't really have the stomach for folks declaring themselves superior rn ^
Tough times in our household. Well, for Shepherd anyway; I'm just trying to be as supportive as I can as he navigates situating his parents in a retirement villa. There's a lot of emotional breakdowns by my MIL as she sifts through the house--not yet on the market--and realizes that no one wants a lot of their stuff. My spouse has two siblings: one in the UK with the sole grandkids, and one in Toronto that has her own health issues, so he's feeling the weight of being the Responsible Reliable One That Lives Closest.
I suspect parent-wise, 2025 might be a brutal year.
posted by Kitteh at 6:20 AM on January 13 [11 favorites]
Tough times in our household. Well, for Shepherd anyway; I'm just trying to be as supportive as I can as he navigates situating his parents in a retirement villa. There's a lot of emotional breakdowns by my MIL as she sifts through the house--not yet on the market--and realizes that no one wants a lot of their stuff. My spouse has two siblings: one in the UK with the sole grandkids, and one in Toronto that has her own health issues, so he's feeling the weight of being the Responsible Reliable One That Lives Closest.
I suspect parent-wise, 2025 might be a brutal year.
posted by Kitteh at 6:20 AM on January 13 [11 favorites]
I'm pretty quiet in general, except when I sneeze -- I guess the term is "dad sneeze" -- and sometimes it's followed with a groan because I sneezed so hard.
I do have sounds I make at the pets: a noise I make with my lips, tighter than a 'motorboat' sound but less tight than playing a trumpet, that none of the animals really care for; I give the dog 'finger guns' with little 'pew pew pew' noises; and also the dog's full name is Kiss Kiss The Magnificent because when we got her, as a rescue, making two quick kissing noises with our lips ('kiss kiss') was the only thing we found that signalled we needed her attention. Sometimes it still needs to be done when she's really distracted, a kiss-kiss brings her back to attention.
Film student update: Class starts this week, just one this semester, International Cinema, a research-and-paper-writing class. However -- I had my own International Cinema weekend. I watched, I shit you not, six movies between Saturday morning and Sunday night, which is a really rare thing for me because I'm not really a sit-on-the-couch-all-day guy. Five of those movies were foreign films, barely a lick of english between all of them. One was Flow, which I absolutely recommend, it replaces Anora as my favorite film in recent years. Then I watched two Hong Kong action films in preparation for a project I'm working on for another student -- one was Throw Down, which is pleasantly silly but grounded, I recommend. Because of this I watched Akira Kurosawa's Sanshiro Sugata, which was OK. Lastly, for my director/professor/friend's next project he recommended I watch Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, for which most reviews are either "quit watching after 5 minutes" or "one of the greatest movies of the 21st century". I'm not at either extreme but I did enjoy it...well, "enjoy" is not the right sentiment...."appreciated" is probably better.
The 6th movie I watched was The Last Showgirl, which I'll turn into a FanFare; my wife really wanted to see it, as an aging artist with family issues, it struck some deep nerves and she loved it.
For the other independent film I'm working on, around Christmas we dragged the lead actors and my camera out in subzero weather at night to film a teaser for funding purposes; I saw a rough cut and it looks. so. good. Shallow depth of field, twinkling Christmas lights, romantic sparks between the characters, I can't wait until they finish and post it online.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:41 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
I do have sounds I make at the pets: a noise I make with my lips, tighter than a 'motorboat' sound but less tight than playing a trumpet, that none of the animals really care for; I give the dog 'finger guns' with little 'pew pew pew' noises; and also the dog's full name is Kiss Kiss The Magnificent because when we got her, as a rescue, making two quick kissing noises with our lips ('kiss kiss') was the only thing we found that signalled we needed her attention. Sometimes it still needs to be done when she's really distracted, a kiss-kiss brings her back to attention.
Film student update: Class starts this week, just one this semester, International Cinema, a research-and-paper-writing class. However -- I had my own International Cinema weekend. I watched, I shit you not, six movies between Saturday morning and Sunday night, which is a really rare thing for me because I'm not really a sit-on-the-couch-all-day guy. Five of those movies were foreign films, barely a lick of english between all of them. One was Flow, which I absolutely recommend, it replaces Anora as my favorite film in recent years. Then I watched two Hong Kong action films in preparation for a project I'm working on for another student -- one was Throw Down, which is pleasantly silly but grounded, I recommend. Because of this I watched Akira Kurosawa's Sanshiro Sugata, which was OK. Lastly, for my director/professor/friend's next project he recommended I watch Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, for which most reviews are either "quit watching after 5 minutes" or "one of the greatest movies of the 21st century". I'm not at either extreme but I did enjoy it...well, "enjoy" is not the right sentiment...."appreciated" is probably better.
The 6th movie I watched was The Last Showgirl, which I'll turn into a FanFare; my wife really wanted to see it, as an aging artist with family issues, it struck some deep nerves and she loved it.
For the other independent film I'm working on, around Christmas we dragged the lead actors and my camera out in subzero weather at night to film a teaser for funding purposes; I saw a rough cut and it looks. so. good. Shallow depth of field, twinkling Christmas lights, romantic sparks between the characters, I can't wait until they finish and post it online.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:41 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
I talk out loud to myself quite a bit, especially when I think I am alone. Mayhem also gets very annoyed if I make kitty calling sounds without attaching her name.
Kitteh, sending good thoughts to Shepherd. As the sibling lived the closest to them, I experienced the bulk of helping my mom through the downsizing process and it was brutal. All three of us ending up just taking stuff under the guise of “we will find space for it” and dropped the stuff off at charity shops several hours away. Convincing my mom to let go of her substantial collection of off-gassing shoes from the 1970’s was a highlight of the process.
I have been actively car shopping and just passed on a vehicle that objectively was exactly what I wanted, but did not give me the “I must have this now” feel when I drove it. There were a couple of other things around the test drive that pinged my radar as “I’m not sure I want to buy from this dealership” and I felt really good after making the call this morning saying no to the vehicle, which confirms that my feelings in this instance were correct.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:44 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
Kitteh, sending good thoughts to Shepherd. As the sibling lived the closest to them, I experienced the bulk of helping my mom through the downsizing process and it was brutal. All three of us ending up just taking stuff under the guise of “we will find space for it” and dropped the stuff off at charity shops several hours away. Convincing my mom to let go of her substantial collection of off-gassing shoes from the 1970’s was a highlight of the process.
I have been actively car shopping and just passed on a vehicle that objectively was exactly what I wanted, but did not give me the “I must have this now” feel when I drove it. There were a couple of other things around the test drive that pinged my radar as “I’m not sure I want to buy from this dealership” and I felt really good after making the call this morning saying no to the vehicle, which confirms that my feelings in this instance were correct.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:44 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
In my 54th year, I've turned to playing metalcore guitar.
Currently trying to learn Poppy - New Way Out. The notes aren't a problem, but getting the right groove has proved a little tricky.
I'll let you know how it goes.
posted by signal at 6:44 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
Currently trying to learn Poppy - New Way Out. The notes aren't a problem, but getting the right groove has proved a little tricky.
I'll let you know how it goes.
posted by signal at 6:44 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
My chief characteristic noise is a stream of profanity coming from my home office basically from the moment I log on to work in the morning until a good 20 minutes after I log off. I try to keep it to a low grumble/whisper until my partner is at least awake, but it is a challenge.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 6:46 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 6:46 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
How appropriate timing! I just today released an EP (73 AM: love catch these fragments) on Bandcamp, link in my profile! I talked about the process in a free thread last January! I feel both relieved and unsure of myself as an artist, which is fine. Mostly looking forward to the next one.
posted by fridgebuzz at 6:48 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
posted by fridgebuzz at 6:48 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
I am starting to prepare for a tour with my band, so I will be making lots of noise in the coming weeks, albeit mostly in headphones to preserve domestic harmony! My dogs are currently making an unholy ruckus, so I'd say they are kind of showing me up...
posted by TheCoug at 7:05 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by TheCoug at 7:05 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
My washing machine sings a song when it's done, and this choreography duo made a very amusing dance to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-5t3EvhAlU
I recently replaced my washing machine and made the technician watch that video with me once he was done installing it. We both laughed.
posted by wicked_sassy at 7:09 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
I recently replaced my washing machine and made the technician watch that video with me once he was done installing it. We both laughed.
posted by wicked_sassy at 7:09 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
Recent noisemaking : my guitar! Unfortunately, I'm still at that awful late-beginner "I could play a lot of songs decently if only it didn't take me a full half-second to change chords" stage, but there's a lot of beginner-classical stuff that I can knock out half-competently because it doesn't require fast chord changes.
posted by Jeanne at 7:10 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
posted by Jeanne at 7:10 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
We are saying farewell to our beloved 20-year-old cat this week and the sadness has settled in my throat in a painful laryngeal spasm; at the moment I cannot make a sound.
posted by kinnakeet at 7:13 AM on January 13 [19 favorites]
posted by kinnakeet at 7:13 AM on January 13 [19 favorites]
Loud sneezes, and a very (apparently) loud & recognizable laugh.
I had taken a theater class one fall, and as an alum I could attend the showcases of subsequent classes for free. There I was, six months after finishing up my class, and the teacher called my name out, first and last (I was impressed she remembered) and said, "I know you're in this theater somewhere because I hear your laugh."
That felt good, also because she said it with a voice full of love.
posted by honey badger at 7:22 AM on January 13 [9 favorites]
I had taken a theater class one fall, and as an alum I could attend the showcases of subsequent classes for free. There I was, six months after finishing up my class, and the teacher called my name out, first and last (I was impressed she remembered) and said, "I know you're in this theater somewhere because I hear your laugh."
That felt good, also because she said it with a voice full of love.
posted by honey badger at 7:22 AM on January 13 [9 favorites]
We moved my parents down here late last year. Having the closest relative be 6 hours away was starting to be problematic. (Well, and the fact that the closest relative is my mom's 80 year old younger sister.) We spent months going over stuff and distributing it to family. My kid and 2 of my cousins got full sets of silver. (We have my Grandmother's silver.) Then after all that, and the estate sale, we didn't get nearly what we wanted for the house. Fortunately, my parents are debt free, and in pretty good health, so they now have a wad of cash to draw interest on.
In other news, most of Macross (Plus, 7, Delta, not sure what else) is finally available in the US on Hulu, after being available on Disney+ in most of the world. It features cool transforming fighter jets, Idol singers, and the idea that maybe communicating with the aliens is a better way to peace than superior firepower. I may do a FPP on it later this week if I have the time.
posted by Spike Glee at 7:24 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
In other news, most of Macross (Plus, 7, Delta, not sure what else) is finally available in the US on Hulu, after being available on Disney+ in most of the world. It features cool transforming fighter jets, Idol singers, and the idea that maybe communicating with the aliens is a better way to peace than superior firepower. I may do a FPP on it later this week if I have the time.
posted by Spike Glee at 7:24 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
I have started to catch myself groaning audibly when I stand up after being seated or reclined for some time. I am not pleased at this development. Perhaps it's that consciousness of being noticeably creaky that has increased my desire to generate more pleasing sounds and contemplating joining a ukulele group that meets at the local UU church. I'm not sure if my fingers are still nimble enough to play the guitar (arthritis runs in the family, hence the groans, I'm sure), but I should still be able to handle four strings and an attitude.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:30 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:30 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
Dad sneeze guilty here, but in my defense, I've hurt myself by holding sneezes in before. In other noise news, I talk to myself a lot when doing almost any activity. Cleaning, walking, cooking, shopping, fixing something, whatever. When I cook or fix something, I generally narrate what I'm doing like I'm on a cooking or home improvement show. Otherwise I'm just talking my thoughts aloud, often in the second person. I rarely do it when I'm just sitting around doing something, though.
posted by mollweide at 7:38 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 7:38 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
I'm another who talks out loud to myself a LOT, even out in public. I said "Herp derp!" loud enough in Publix the other day that a douple of strangers looked over at me. My way of dealing with intrusive thoughts/self-critical crap is to say "I KNOW! It's CRAZY!" out loud.
So yeah - the crazy old lady talking to herself in Kroger: that's def me.
posted by Archer25 at 7:50 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
So yeah - the crazy old lady talking to herself in Kroger: that's def me.
posted by Archer25 at 7:50 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
I come from a family where the males sneeze loudly. And frequently, at least once a day. But we're okay! It's not about allergies, or illness. We feel fine, even better after the sneeze! So please ignore my outburst, and especially, don't bless me. No reason to bring religion into the dealing with this simple bodily function.
posted by Rash at 7:56 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
posted by Rash at 7:56 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Ever enter a yodeling contest, like they have at the Iowa State Fair
No, and the emissions of most of those contestants are car-alarm-adjacent but if you want to hear yodeling blended into an actually nice song, try The Yoho Valley, here performed by Stew Clayton.
posted by Rash at 8:04 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
No, and the emissions of most of those contestants are car-alarm-adjacent but if you want to hear yodeling blended into an actually nice song, try The Yoho Valley, here performed by Stew Clayton.
posted by Rash at 8:04 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
This morning the toilet wouldn't stop running and the shutoff valve didn't work (the handle just turned freely without affecting the valve). The landlord's maintenance guy tried to replace the toilet tank innards with the water still running. It did not go great.
All my maintenance emergencies happen at about 7:30am on Mondays.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 8:06 AM on January 13 [6 favorites]
All my maintenance emergencies happen at about 7:30am on Mondays.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 8:06 AM on January 13 [6 favorites]
I'm not sure any of the shutoff valves in my house work, at least fully, except for the whole house shutoff. So if I ever have to do any plumbing, nobody's clean until I'm done. We're looking at a full bathroom renovation in the next year or two, and I'm looking forward to having shutoff valves that work.
posted by mollweide at 8:17 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 8:17 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
Cleared my probation at the new job last week, as expected so that’s good.
This week though I am in a very “let’s burn it all down” kind of mood. Combo of January blahs and *waves hands everywhere*.
I’m also on a writing deadline for my tech column in our local paper this week. I’ve got it partially done but it’s turned into a giant rant about Meta with no real actionable items to empower the reader (which I always try to include… the “what you can do” of it all). So I need to find that and rework it. But it’s hard because I think I’m feeling disempowered by how tech is going and capitalism and… and… *waves hands everywhere again*. I’ll figure it out, but it speaks to my state of mind at the moment.
posted by eekernohan at 8:47 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
This week though I am in a very “let’s burn it all down” kind of mood. Combo of January blahs and *waves hands everywhere*.
I’m also on a writing deadline for my tech column in our local paper this week. I’ve got it partially done but it’s turned into a giant rant about Meta with no real actionable items to empower the reader (which I always try to include… the “what you can do” of it all). So I need to find that and rework it. But it’s hard because I think I’m feeling disempowered by how tech is going and capitalism and… and… *waves hands everywhere again*. I’ll figure it out, but it speaks to my state of mind at the moment.
posted by eekernohan at 8:47 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
If I am alone and there is music playing, I am probably singing along. Some of my family members get to hear, unfortunately for them. Right now ,my main sounds are sniffing, coughing and nose blowing after being sick since new year's. I feel fine, just stuffy. There are 4 things going around right now and they all just linger forever.
More people being forced to RTO means my group got moved again last week to our third set of desks in the last year. Now someone is typing very loudly about 3 cubes away from me, but otherwise quiet. Tax season is starting up, so my email is going crazy.
posted by soelo at 8:49 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
More people being forced to RTO means my group got moved again last week to our third set of desks in the last year. Now someone is typing very loudly about 3 cubes away from me, but otherwise quiet. Tax season is starting up, so my email is going crazy.
posted by soelo at 8:49 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
We've been having some undesirable noises in the house: mice in the walls (pest control found seventeen holes in the foundation--the house is 175 years old, it sprouts holes at odd moments) and trickling water in the basement (the shutoff to one of the water lines had a broken seal).
On a positive note, I was surprisingly successful in producing a single serving of french "fries" from an air fryer yesterday (one sliced potato, soaked thirty minutes, shaken up in 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, onion powder, pepper, twenty minutes at 370). I will dicker with the temperature a bit to see if I can get them a little crispier, but the taste was already fine.
posted by thomas j wise at 8:55 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
On a positive note, I was surprisingly successful in producing a single serving of french "fries" from an air fryer yesterday (one sliced potato, soaked thirty minutes, shaken up in 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, onion powder, pepper, twenty minutes at 370). I will dicker with the temperature a bit to see if I can get them a little crispier, but the taste was already fine.
posted by thomas j wise at 8:55 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
My goodness that first link about the Cornell Macaulay Library sound archive is awesome. The common loon is truly haunting.
posted by evilmomlady at 9:10 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
posted by evilmomlady at 9:10 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Somewhat amusing: I got curious about "bless you" and wondered how different countries say bless you or equivalent, and what the terms mean, so I did a search. The first or second site to come up said something like "Bless you in Different Languages. Translate, Listen, Learn," but it was obviously an AI site, and I didn't click through. However, I had to appreciate the site name: "Indifferent Languages." Written just like that.
("https://www.indifferentlanguages.com › words › bless_you")
posted by taz at 9:13 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
("https://www.indifferentlanguages.com › words › bless_you")
posted by taz at 9:13 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
I live alone so there's no end to the noises I make; from one-sided conversations to getting-up-out-of-my-chair noises* to pure nonsense sounds for the sheer hell of it to singing/scatting with music to frequent laughter at either something I'm watching or my own sparkling solo wit to sneezing/sniffling/nose-blowing. And that doesn't even count likely snoring noises (but nobody's around to tell me about those).
Also still plinking away at the piano; I worked on a few Christmasy pieces last month; they're not "there" yet but now that the holiday season is over they'll have to wait until I'm willing to try again next winter. Trying to decide what new tune(s) to tackle next.
In other news, I've been at work for an hour and I'm still trying to process the idea that it's already Monday again.
*Though less so than a couple of years ago; Turns out that dammit, exercise really is good for you.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:18 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
Also still plinking away at the piano; I worked on a few Christmasy pieces last month; they're not "there" yet but now that the holiday season is over they'll have to wait until I'm willing to try again next winter. Trying to decide what new tune(s) to tackle next.
In other news, I've been at work for an hour and I'm still trying to process the idea that it's already Monday again.
*Though less so than a couple of years ago; Turns out that dammit, exercise really is good for you.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:18 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
My noises this past week have been almost exclusively worried monosyllabic "hmms" as I scroll Watch Duty endlessly. That's slowed as the fire has finally gone from terrifyingly close to my house (it got to within a mile of me which is distressingly close for someone who lives in the flats and not hillside)
And now the sounds are slightly depressed sounds of exhausted worry for all my friends (and strangers) who lost their homes near me. Plus the grinding teeth feeling that the incoming administration is going to screw with relief efforts out of petty "you didn't vote for me" vibes.
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:26 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
And now the sounds are slightly depressed sounds of exhausted worry for all my friends (and strangers) who lost their homes near me. Plus the grinding teeth feeling that the incoming administration is going to screw with relief efforts out of petty "you didn't vote for me" vibes.
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:26 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
↩ I have started to catch myself groaning audibly when I stand up after being seated . . .
I few years ago I was fixin' house alongside a neighbour, originally from Argentina. After a few involuntary ooofs, he said "Hemos llegado a la edad de los sonidos" [we have reached the age of sounds]. Which I have adopted as I lean into the grunting years.
posted by BobTheScientist at 9:30 AM on January 13 [10 favorites]
I few years ago I was fixin' house alongside a neighbour, originally from Argentina. After a few involuntary ooofs, he said "Hemos llegado a la edad de los sonidos" [we have reached the age of sounds]. Which I have adopted as I lean into the grunting years.
posted by BobTheScientist at 9:30 AM on January 13 [10 favorites]
I have reloaded my car flashdrive with heavy metal live acoustic sets and I "sing" along and try to roughly harmonize. Have been smiled at by other drivers who catch me headbanging at redlights.
Also at odd times, anywhere, I blurt out the names of my cats, both the living and the dead. Either my cats are always wandering my brain paths or it's just the way of autism.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 9:51 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Also at odd times, anywhere, I blurt out the names of my cats, both the living and the dead. Either my cats are always wandering my brain paths or it's just the way of autism.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 9:51 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
(apparently) loud & recognizable laugh.
I have one of these too (it's like Mozart in Amadeus), and reactions on this vary wildly. Some people are fond of knowing I'm in the audience or say it helps the audience to laugh. But when I'm in shows, it's "Stop laughing, Jennifer." Literally that is the only direction I get in shows, is to shut up.
The noise I make in my head is a giant YOU SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. It is screaming at top volume in my head 24-7 and it's very hard to hear anything else over the sound of that screaming.
I still feel ashamed of myself and humiliated after last week's audition fail. I skipped going to a theater party yesterday because I couldn't stand to hear everyone talking about how excited they were to get into the show when I was probably the only one who didn't. (And now I really wish I hadn't caved in and said I'd join the marketing committee because I don't want to go to that, either.) I really wish I hadn't screwed up so spectacularly and tried to do something totally out of my skill set so at least I could have gotten in as bare minimum. I've decided not to audition for any more musicals--to be fair, probably nowhere else will take me and this was the one I was going to do this year--and I'm considering quitting acting in general, albeit it's not a huge considering quitting, like a 3-4 on the scale of 1-10.
There is a disconnect between how in my heart I think I'm good--at acting at least, if not singing or dancing--and how everyone else sees me. That disconnect is the truth. In my heart I'm deluded and deranged thinking that, when all evidence leans toward the contrary. The disconnect is my heart wanting more and my body/mind/brain/talents are just not good enough to do that, even when I work on it. I don't have much to work with and my age and looks go against me even if I did. My therapist asked why I don't shoot for higher goals and since I can't even meet my tiny easy goals, that's why. Really, if I could just accept that this is as good as I get and stop wanting more, I'd be fine. And I need to do that. Lowered expectations! If anyone's got any tips on how to make themselves not want what they want and accept what they've got (especially when what they want is not doable in this world), feel free to share. I know I've been at peace more when I've given up hopes and dreams on certain topics, but some are harder to relinquish than others.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:55 AM on January 13 [9 favorites]
I have one of these too (it's like Mozart in Amadeus), and reactions on this vary wildly. Some people are fond of knowing I'm in the audience or say it helps the audience to laugh. But when I'm in shows, it's "Stop laughing, Jennifer." Literally that is the only direction I get in shows, is to shut up.
The noise I make in my head is a giant YOU SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. It is screaming at top volume in my head 24-7 and it's very hard to hear anything else over the sound of that screaming.
I still feel ashamed of myself and humiliated after last week's audition fail. I skipped going to a theater party yesterday because I couldn't stand to hear everyone talking about how excited they were to get into the show when I was probably the only one who didn't. (And now I really wish I hadn't caved in and said I'd join the marketing committee because I don't want to go to that, either.) I really wish I hadn't screwed up so spectacularly and tried to do something totally out of my skill set so at least I could have gotten in as bare minimum. I've decided not to audition for any more musicals--to be fair, probably nowhere else will take me and this was the one I was going to do this year--and I'm considering quitting acting in general, albeit it's not a huge considering quitting, like a 3-4 on the scale of 1-10.
There is a disconnect between how in my heart I think I'm good--at acting at least, if not singing or dancing--and how everyone else sees me. That disconnect is the truth. In my heart I'm deluded and deranged thinking that, when all evidence leans toward the contrary. The disconnect is my heart wanting more and my body/mind/brain/talents are just not good enough to do that, even when I work on it. I don't have much to work with and my age and looks go against me even if I did. My therapist asked why I don't shoot for higher goals and since I can't even meet my tiny easy goals, that's why. Really, if I could just accept that this is as good as I get and stop wanting more, I'd be fine. And I need to do that. Lowered expectations! If anyone's got any tips on how to make themselves not want what they want and accept what they've got (especially when what they want is not doable in this world), feel free to share. I know I've been at peace more when I've given up hopes and dreams on certain topics, but some are harder to relinquish than others.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:55 AM on January 13 [9 favorites]
Hugs to ya, jenfullmoon.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:57 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:57 AM on January 13 [5 favorites]
I talk to myself almost constantly, not always at audible volume, frequently just in a whisper.
I stole my mom's line though, and when people point it out, I ask them to stop interrupting so that I can find out what I am going to say.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:58 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
I stole my mom's line though, and when people point it out, I ask them to stop interrupting so that I can find out what I am going to say.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:58 AM on January 13 [7 favorites]
Yeah, I'm in the internal rumbly club.
And the "dad sneeze" club.
And the "random groans when moving" club.
I like to think that when I am listening to music, the band is singing along as backup for me.
And I try to make guitar noises, but haven't much during the holidays. And I probably need new strings, and I am bad at that...
posted by Windopaene at 10:38 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
And the "dad sneeze" club.
And the "random groans when moving" club.
I like to think that when I am listening to music, the band is singing along as backup for me.
And I try to make guitar noises, but haven't much during the holidays. And I probably need new strings, and I am bad at that...
posted by Windopaene at 10:38 AM on January 13 [3 favorites]
jenfullmoon do you know pretty certainly that the directors, people who do the casting, etc. know that you are interested in doing different roles as well. Basically, I am asking, might they be thinking "Well, she's not really going to work out as X, and I don't want to offer Y, because she might feel insulted"? Is it possible that you assume they know ... but they might not realize?
posted by taz at 10:44 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by taz at 10:44 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
* When is that pizza place down on Fulton opening and should I check it out?
Much as I love eating pizza, I don't think it can quite be considered a "hobby".
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:48 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]
Much as I love eating pizza, I don't think it can quite be considered a "hobby".
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:48 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]
If I write down roles that I'm interested in, they get ignored, presumably because I'm not good enough for them to be considered in the first place.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:49 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:49 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]
Cat noises. I make cat noises.
One kitty taught me to roll my rrrrrrr'sn even. I can mimic most cat vocalizations.
Plus I am proficient in "aaaaint" (meaning don't do what you're doing you little bastard) and "geictdaewn" (meaning get down from there) so I'm qualified to Dr Doolittle most house panthers.
posted by mightshould at 10:50 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
One kitty taught me to roll my rrrrrrr'sn even. I can mimic most cat vocalizations.
Plus I am proficient in "aaaaint" (meaning don't do what you're doing you little bastard) and "geictdaewn" (meaning get down from there) so I'm qualified to Dr Doolittle most house panthers.
posted by mightshould at 10:50 AM on January 13 [8 favorites]
I finally realized the inhale/exhale noises I make on my old manual NordicTrak ski machine was a "work song". It finally turned into one when I connected the breathing in's and out's with the arm/leg motions and *repeat*. The breathing makes noises, the body makes moves => they synch/sing.
posted by aleph at 11:10 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by aleph at 11:10 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
There's a lot I can say on this subject. I have made a lot of noise. I find it interesting that complete nonsense (noise) and highly efficient communication (compressed data) are indistinguishable to the casual observer. We like noise because we like water because we're made of water. Who doesn't like the roar of the ocean or a waterfall, or even the shower? It's pure chaos, but it can be used constructively. Let me tell you about Perlin noise. I used it in a Processing program I wrote to direct the movement of "fingers" on a "piano keyboard." I was really surprised what came out of that thing. The first comment someone made was "it sounds like the Allman Brothers," which is not what one expects from "noise." Curiously, Mr. Perlin himself is a piano player in addition to being a software person. Try it yourself, it's cool!
posted by The Half Language Plant at 11:30 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
posted by The Half Language Plant at 11:30 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]
I used to pick up my cat, hold her aloft like an Academy Award, and say “Ahh… my beloved pussycat.” Then pressing her cheek to mine, I’d add, “There’s no sweeter cat than my JoJo.”
I loved that cat.
posted by Lemkin at 12:13 PM on January 13 [10 favorites]
I loved that cat.
posted by Lemkin at 12:13 PM on January 13 [10 favorites]
I discovered last week that I have a lisp. I'd never heard it before, but I was watching a training I did for someone, and then asked one of my coworkers, and she was like "yeah, you have a lisp. Not a very obvious one, but I hear it every now and then".
Mind. Blown.
(not that there's a problem with it, just another thing I made it almost six decades without knowing)
posted by Gorgik at 12:15 PM on January 13 [5 favorites]
Mind. Blown.
(not that there's a problem with it, just another thing I made it almost six decades without knowing)
posted by Gorgik at 12:15 PM on January 13 [5 favorites]
Ugh! I oof and moan and grunt and wheeze when I stand up, climb stairs, or just move wrong in general. Even when I
manage to stifle the old lady noises, my joints creak.
My ninja stealth days are over.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:40 PM on January 13 [6 favorites]
manage to stifle the old lady noises, my joints creak.
My ninja stealth days are over.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:40 PM on January 13 [6 favorites]
I groan and make all sorts of weird noises but what actually worries me is my morning routine of stumbling to the bathroom groping blindly for the prescription sleep blocker/caffeine pill combo in my morning pill planner, then after swallowing making a sound like I’ve been stabbed, followed by lamenting yelp of pain, then slapping myself once - damned hard and damned loud - across the face and grunt-barking “wake UP you fuckin’ piece of shit, time to go already.”
And that’s been every morning for years.
My new condo’s bathroom is two feet from my front door, which shares a bracing column with my neighbors’ front door (old house), meaning I can hear every tiny movement of keys while I use the bathroom (also worrying). On at least three occasions this past month I’m fairly certain the nice lady of that couple overheard my wakeup routine while taking their dog out for a morning walk.
I’m super smiley/friendly in person - bright and radiating sunbeam energy over text with them, and I sincerely wish they never saw a trace of my other side, the one still trying to manipulate the mechanics of his own childhood abuse for capitalism’s sake. Bleurgh.
posted by Ryvar at 1:44 PM on January 13 [7 favorites]
And that’s been every morning for years.
My new condo’s bathroom is two feet from my front door, which shares a bracing column with my neighbors’ front door (old house), meaning I can hear every tiny movement of keys while I use the bathroom (also worrying). On at least three occasions this past month I’m fairly certain the nice lady of that couple overheard my wakeup routine while taking their dog out for a morning walk.
I’m super smiley/friendly in person - bright and radiating sunbeam energy over text with them, and I sincerely wish they never saw a trace of my other side, the one still trying to manipulate the mechanics of his own childhood abuse for capitalism’s sake. Bleurgh.
posted by Ryvar at 1:44 PM on January 13 [7 favorites]
My knees have made popping sounds since the age of 10 and so stealth was never on the menu. But I sing all the time, make up weird words and phrases, make random noises, hum and whistle. I crunch ice with joy and crack bubblegum. I sniffle with allergies. I can do a Curly rapid finger snap. I was reprimanded for singing too loud in choir. Even when I'm quiet, there's a conversation or song playing my head.
posted by emjaybee at 2:08 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 2:08 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Jeebus, Ryvar. Don't be so hard on yourself man. You are kind, honest, open, a really authentic guy who sets the bar high when it comes to integrity. Can you get that Ryvar, your grown up best self, to look after that hurt and bruised little boy inside? Give him the guidance, love and care that he needs? He might think that a smack across the face and verbal abuse is 'right' and what he deserves [because that is what he got?] but the Ryvar I read on the Blue knows better and is better. Look after that little boy within, Ryvar. He deserves the best. He deserves you. Take care of him and you may well find that the noises take care of themselves. If this is out of line and/or I'm wildly off the mark please forgive me. I found your words so poignant I wanted to reach out to you in any way I could. Clicking favourites isn't enough.
posted by dutchrick at 2:08 PM on January 13 [11 favorites]
posted by dutchrick at 2:08 PM on January 13 [11 favorites]
after swallowing [sleep blocker/caffeine pill] making a sound like I’ve been stabbed, followed by lamenting yelp of pain, then slapping myself once - damned hard and damned loud - across the face and grunt-barking “wake UP you fuckin’ piece of shit, time to go already.”
And here I am thinking my super-quiet phone alarm tone is too jarring a way to wake up...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:12 PM on January 13 [7 favorites]
And here I am thinking my super-quiet phone alarm tone is too jarring a way to wake up...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:12 PM on January 13 [7 favorites]
I play guitar barely acceptably - I've been trying to figure out how to make the main two chords in the Steely Dan song Peg. My fingers don't really bend in the jazz shapes in the first Youtube video I've seen that shows how to play them, and I've not tried to reshape them myself yet, or found another video that fingers them differently.
Give me a week or so of spare time. I'll get it.
My wife is an offensively loud sneezer, and she sneezes often due to the sunlight thing. Like put your hands over your ears to avoid damage loud.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:37 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Give me a week or so of spare time. I'll get it.
My wife is an offensively loud sneezer, and she sneezes often due to the sunlight thing. Like put your hands over your ears to avoid damage loud.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:37 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
And here I am thinking my super-quiet phone alarm tone is too jarring a way to wake up...
I use the silent vibrate function on my FitBit as an alarm and it's still sufficiently damaging to my psyche that each morning starts with extra existential dread... "Huh?? What?? WHYYYYYY???" The gravitas of this is lessened somewhat by the fact that my vocal cords are somewhat damaged after years and years of various ENT infections and my voice in the morning turns everything into either a spot on Krusty the Klown impersonation (Oh gawwwwwd) or fledgling drag queen audition, depending on how generous you're feeling. I have picked out a drag name, just in case - you may call me Sandy Javyyna if you're so inclined.
Re other noises, somehow we have started a tradition in this house that any sufficiently noisy stomach gurgle gets a rough chorus of "76 Trombones" from The Music Man, complete with trombone motions.
posted by ninazer0 at 2:41 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
I use the silent vibrate function on my FitBit as an alarm and it's still sufficiently damaging to my psyche that each morning starts with extra existential dread... "Huh?? What?? WHYYYYYY???" The gravitas of this is lessened somewhat by the fact that my vocal cords are somewhat damaged after years and years of various ENT infections and my voice in the morning turns everything into either a spot on Krusty the Klown impersonation (Oh gawwwwwd) or fledgling drag queen audition, depending on how generous you're feeling. I have picked out a drag name, just in case - you may call me Sandy Javyyna if you're so inclined.
Re other noises, somehow we have started a tradition in this house that any sufficiently noisy stomach gurgle gets a rough chorus of "76 Trombones" from The Music Man, complete with trombone motions.
posted by ninazer0 at 2:41 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Can you get that Ryvar, your grown up best self, to look after that hurt and bruised little boy inside?
I appreciate the sentiment and I didn’t take it as overly familiar or anything, so no worries at all on that front. But I don’t care one way or the other about Ryvar the inner child or whatever. There is only the person who is in this body right now. And he needs to dance for capitalism, and we do what we must - whatever we must - to make that shit happen (truthfully, most of what I say to the mirror in the morning is a lot nastier than what I wrote, I just didn’t want to scare you all off).
The irony is I genuinely like my job at a would-do-this-for-free level if we had UBI. I just hate the process of transitioning into/out of sleep, which I gather is a very common AutDHD thing.
And here I am thinking my super-quiet phone alarm tone is too jarring a way to wake up...
You know the soundtrack from 2001, Thus Spake Zarathustra, right when the monkey is going wild with the jawbone and the big drums kick in with the rising horn? BA-BUM BA-BUM BA-BUM DWAAAAAA DAAAAAA DUNNNNnnnnn DA-DUN (BA BUM BA BUM BA BUM).
I have two alarms that are both 30 seconds of that part of the song played at full blast, and I set it up so that I have to get out of bed and walk across the room to turn them off.
posted by Ryvar at 2:54 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
I appreciate the sentiment and I didn’t take it as overly familiar or anything, so no worries at all on that front. But I don’t care one way or the other about Ryvar the inner child or whatever. There is only the person who is in this body right now. And he needs to dance for capitalism, and we do what we must - whatever we must - to make that shit happen (truthfully, most of what I say to the mirror in the morning is a lot nastier than what I wrote, I just didn’t want to scare you all off).
The irony is I genuinely like my job at a would-do-this-for-free level if we had UBI. I just hate the process of transitioning into/out of sleep, which I gather is a very common AutDHD thing.
And here I am thinking my super-quiet phone alarm tone is too jarring a way to wake up...
You know the soundtrack from 2001, Thus Spake Zarathustra, right when the monkey is going wild with the jawbone and the big drums kick in with the rising horn? BA-BUM BA-BUM BA-BUM DWAAAAAA DAAAAAA DUNNNNnnnnn DA-DUN (BA BUM BA BUM BA BUM).
I have two alarms that are both 30 seconds of that part of the song played at full blast, and I set it up so that I have to get out of bed and walk across the room to turn them off.
posted by Ryvar at 2:54 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
I also play bass guitar barely acceptably - I know Joy Division but just heard Disorder for the first time recently, and holy moly is that a great bassline and super fun to play. Playing it reasonably well is a goal for 2025.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:59 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:59 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
each morning starts with extra existential dread... "Huh?? What?? WHYYYYYY???"
Sometimes I sleep so hard that I revert back to Australopithecus brain - when the alarm rings I have to slowly work out "What that noise? How make noise stop? ...What mean numbers? What mean 'time'?" before I finally regain enough presence of mind to reach out and hit Snooze.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:01 PM on January 13 [5 favorites]
Sometimes I sleep so hard that I revert back to Australopithecus brain - when the alarm rings I have to slowly work out "What that noise? How make noise stop? ...What mean numbers? What mean 'time'?" before I finally regain enough presence of mind to reach out and hit Snooze.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:01 PM on January 13 [5 favorites]
I am officially stuck in a pissing match between a product owner who made a series of unfortunate decisions several months ago and a dev who is angry enough to slow walk a change the product owner insists must be built/tested/merged by the end of the week. In order for that to happen, I need to start testing the changes tomorrow as merging takes from 36 - 48 hours*. The dev has already stated that it is not happening. The next few days will be interesting.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:09 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:09 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
Currently cutting off the Sudafed after a weekend of sniffing, sneezing, hacking, incredibly loud nose blowing.
Every few minutes.
Kleenex in every room.
A barely-there trickle from up high in the sinuses, and then... the deluge.
There is a sound hidden in the Eustachian tubes, a faint squeaking, a soft popping noise. Move your jaw, or hold onto your nose and blow with some force, and this grating crackle of unequal pressures fills the ears, and is heard only by you.
Sleep is measured in minutes, appetite is diminished, a path is repeated from couch to bed to bathroom to couch.
And finally, with a barely audible rumble, pressure is released and pain disappears.
Relief is fleeting, but the end is in sight as fewer bouts of drips and drainage occur.
And then... peace.
Anyway, I spent my 44th wedding anniversary in a fever dream. Not the greatest way to start the year, but it wasn't COVID-19.
Pseudoephedrine. Accept no substitutes.
posted by TrishaU at 3:20 PM on January 13 [6 favorites]
Every few minutes.
Kleenex in every room.
A barely-there trickle from up high in the sinuses, and then... the deluge.
There is a sound hidden in the Eustachian tubes, a faint squeaking, a soft popping noise. Move your jaw, or hold onto your nose and blow with some force, and this grating crackle of unequal pressures fills the ears, and is heard only by you.
Sleep is measured in minutes, appetite is diminished, a path is repeated from couch to bed to bathroom to couch.
And finally, with a barely audible rumble, pressure is released and pain disappears.
Relief is fleeting, but the end is in sight as fewer bouts of drips and drainage occur.
And then... peace.
Anyway, I spent my 44th wedding anniversary in a fever dream. Not the greatest way to start the year, but it wasn't COVID-19.
Pseudoephedrine. Accept no substitutes.
posted by TrishaU at 3:20 PM on January 13 [6 favorites]
In 2023 we took in the cat of a friends parent who could no longer care for the cat. Sorry I can't do cat tax at this time, but rest assured she's stunning, teal green eyes and fiercely striped and spotted, with a skinny rat tail and a bit of a belly swag. She's also VOCAL, the first week was an ongoing opera of howls, squeaks, squawks, rattles, burbles, growls, hisses, despairing and triumphant cries, and various sounds that can probably only be made by dragging stuff behind the car on asphalt.
When I am working in the upstairs office, she finds a favorite toy, or a sock, and drags it up the stairs to me while she emits her "I am a fierce hunter and this is my gift to you" ululations. And now my beautiful 19 year old cat does it too, only louder and more angsty; he often sounds like he's in pain, but no, he has a stuffed bear in his mouth.
I don't talk to myself as much as I used to; I have outsourced it to the cats.
My other cat snores, and often in counterpoint to my partner. I wake up, and one or the other starts up, and that's it for sleep for a while.
posted by winesong at 3:22 PM on January 13 [12 favorites]
When I am working in the upstairs office, she finds a favorite toy, or a sock, and drags it up the stairs to me while she emits her "I am a fierce hunter and this is my gift to you" ululations. And now my beautiful 19 year old cat does it too, only louder and more angsty; he often sounds like he's in pain, but no, he has a stuffed bear in his mouth.
I don't talk to myself as much as I used to; I have outsourced it to the cats.
My other cat snores, and often in counterpoint to my partner. I wake up, and one or the other starts up, and that's it for sleep for a while.
posted by winesong at 3:22 PM on January 13 [12 favorites]
We used to call those "sock babies". My sister was wondering why in the world I was leaving 5 plus socks in the living room every day until she caught the cat in the act of dragging them out of my room! It is such a funny noise.
posted by soelo at 3:29 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
posted by soelo at 3:29 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Much as I love eating pizza, I don't think it can quite be considered a "hobby".
If you're determined enough, I believe it can.
...I'm waiting to hear about a possible temp job that would pay quite well; I've also expressed interest in a short theater board op job that would co-exist with that temp job quite nicely if I get it (except for one daytime rehearsal early on, but I'm arguably good enough that I've made the case that I could just skip that rehearsal if need be). In the meantime I'm preparing the house for Suddenly Having Less Time For A Few Weeks - just cleaned out the fridge really well, and did a mammoth re-organization of a couple bookshelves and will do the same for my office tomorrow.
I also applied to a whole raft of jobs today - one of which was a REALLY intriguing-sounding thing in a publishing company where you start as an EA but they work on seeing if you have other talents and skills that could be developed so you graduate into another role entirely. I played up my past experience judging a playwriting contest in that cover letter. And I got word that someone from Brooklyn Public Library's office will be calling me to follow up on a brief conversation we had a a job fair last week - when he calls I will point out that "you know, I applied for the EA job in the main branch you had open in November, and it looks like it's still open."
Best of all, though - there's a recruiter I've worked with a lot and I checked in with him last week. I mentioned in passing that I've been uninsured since the middle of 2023, and he said "Hang on, I might be able to help" - turns out his wife is with an insurance company, and she's set me up with an insurance plan for the next year. It may be pretty basic, but it is also FREE.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:35 PM on January 13 [6 favorites]
If you're determined enough, I believe it can.
...I'm waiting to hear about a possible temp job that would pay quite well; I've also expressed interest in a short theater board op job that would co-exist with that temp job quite nicely if I get it (except for one daytime rehearsal early on, but I'm arguably good enough that I've made the case that I could just skip that rehearsal if need be). In the meantime I'm preparing the house for Suddenly Having Less Time For A Few Weeks - just cleaned out the fridge really well, and did a mammoth re-organization of a couple bookshelves and will do the same for my office tomorrow.
I also applied to a whole raft of jobs today - one of which was a REALLY intriguing-sounding thing in a publishing company where you start as an EA but they work on seeing if you have other talents and skills that could be developed so you graduate into another role entirely. I played up my past experience judging a playwriting contest in that cover letter. And I got word that someone from Brooklyn Public Library's office will be calling me to follow up on a brief conversation we had a a job fair last week - when he calls I will point out that "you know, I applied for the EA job in the main branch you had open in November, and it looks like it's still open."
Best of all, though - there's a recruiter I've worked with a lot and I checked in with him last week. I mentioned in passing that I've been uninsured since the middle of 2023, and he said "Hang on, I might be able to help" - turns out his wife is with an insurance company, and she's set me up with an insurance plan for the next year. It may be pretty basic, but it is also FREE.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:35 PM on January 13 [6 favorites]
January is a drag, and I can't stomach the news, but I am going to visit my mom this weekend and we're going to go see the baby pygmy hippo at the zoo near her. There will be squeeing sounds.
There is a livestream from 9 AM to 5 PM EST, with a highlight reel in the off hours, here if you would also like to squee.
posted by the primroses were over at 3:43 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
There is a livestream from 9 AM to 5 PM EST, with a highlight reel in the off hours, here if you would also like to squee.
posted by the primroses were over at 3:43 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Today I played guitar. I have a mini acoustic, which the shorter scale makes the strings “bendy” and you can do fingerings that are unnatural on normal scale instruments.
I recently had fun showing my grandson how to do the noodle bits on the intro to Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here.
posted by kabong the wiser at 4:52 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
I recently had fun showing my grandson how to do the noodle bits on the intro to Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here.
posted by kabong the wiser at 4:52 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
I used to pick up my cat, hold her aloft like an Academy Award, and say “Ahh… my beloved pussycat.” Then pressing her cheek to mine, I’d add, “There’s no sweeter cat than my JoJo.”
Man, that is sweet. I sing hymns at my dog and mangle the lyrics to match the moment
The other day I tried fart telephone, my dog's head was up by my butt and the cat was at the other end of the sofa by dog's butt, the dog let me down but there's always tomorrow
posted by ginger.beef at 5:36 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Man, that is sweet. I sing hymns at my dog and mangle the lyrics to match the moment
The other day I tried fart telephone, my dog's head was up by my butt and the cat was at the other end of the sofa by dog's butt, the dog let me down but there's always tomorrow
posted by ginger.beef at 5:36 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
What sort of noises do I make? I've always been an an above-average farter, but I can also yodel and play banjo. In short, I am a god damn delight.
Not my noises, but last week I was blown away by the harmonics in a Trumpeter swan call. I mean, just lookit all them harmonics!
Still not working, but at least I've started to start looking. Got a couple “Your hair is so beautiful!” comments when I was out and about today, which certainly helps with the morale.
posted by scruss at 5:36 PM on January 13 [5 favorites]
Not my noises, but last week I was blown away by the harmonics in a Trumpeter swan call. I mean, just lookit all them harmonics!
Still not working, but at least I've started to start looking. Got a couple “Your hair is so beautiful!” comments when I was out and about today, which certainly helps with the morale.
posted by scruss at 5:36 PM on January 13 [5 favorites]
an above-average farter
this is the signature turn of phrase of a serious artist
posted by ginger.beef at 5:41 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
this is the signature turn of phrase of a serious artist
posted by ginger.beef at 5:41 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
This reminded me suddenly of the cat song I wrote for the cats years ago:
“Whooo’s a kitty? You are!
Fuckin’ who’s a fuckin’ kitty? You are!
Whooo’s a kitty? You are!
Who’s a fuckin’ kitty? Fuckin’ you are!”
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:37 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
“Whooo’s a kitty? You are!
Fuckin’ who’s a fuckin’ kitty? You are!
Whooo’s a kitty? You are!
Who’s a fuckin’ kitty? Fuckin’ you are!”
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:37 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
We are saying farewell to our beloved 20-year-old cat this week and the sadness has settled in my throat in a painful laryngeal spasm; at the moment I cannot make a sound.
I'mso sorry Kinnakeet...some years ago when I realized it was the end for my not very old cat White Front, this was playing on the streaming ambient station I was listening to. The title was appropriate. I bought the CD and listen to the song whenever I have to let a cat go as part of saying goodbye.
posted by foonly at 8:52 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
I'mso sorry Kinnakeet...some years ago when I realized it was the end for my not very old cat White Front, this was playing on the streaming ambient station I was listening to. The title was appropriate. I bought the CD and listen to the song whenever I have to let a cat go as part of saying goodbye.
posted by foonly at 8:52 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
jenfullmoon — my favourite new comedian Facebook has shared with me is a super talented woman who studied theatre, but (according to an interview I saw) got nowhere with formal roles. She ended up trying improv and developed characters that have made her decently famous now. Like she’s *so* good, it’s a wonder she didn’t cast in the roles she wanted. Except it isn’t… there are a thousand reasons talent in acting is missed, and few that reflect actual skill. Even if you have reason to believe it’s a skill issue, I mean that can always be improved. Or, maybe it’s a question of finding the right avenue or form for it. Keep at it if it gives you joy, don’t give up, stay open to opportunities or possibilities that might not be the first ones that come to mind. (The performer is Laura Ramoso, check her out. Her German Mom skits are how I found her.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:39 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:39 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]
I'm just imagining all the burps, belches, farts, wheezes, whispers, sneezes, snores, creaks, whimpers, yodels, glugs, gurgles, groans, growls, and kitty ululations leaking out of this thread and raising the eyebrows of all the other posts on the front page in a welp, there goes the neighborhood way.
posted by taz at 11:49 PM on January 13 [8 favorites]
posted by taz at 11:49 PM on January 13 [8 favorites]
On an internet where no-one knows you're a dog, I scratch myself behind the ear noisily.
posted by k3ninho at 12:22 AM on January 14 [2 favorites]
posted by k3ninho at 12:22 AM on January 14 [2 favorites]
Love Laura Ramoso! Her mom at the beach is the best!
And chin up jenfullmoon! You're one of my favorite posters here, I feel like you always have an interesting take on a topic. Intelligent actors are the best actors, in my humble opinion.
I saw a short vid today of someone explaining the flute technique of the Pygmy people.
Reminded me of when I listened to Deep Forest as a kid, when I was going thru some rough times. I listened to that album over and over, so much so that I learned to sing Sweet Lullaby phonetically, and would sing it to myself when I thought noone was listening.
posted by ishmael at 12:32 AM on January 14 [6 favorites]
And chin up jenfullmoon! You're one of my favorite posters here, I feel like you always have an interesting take on a topic. Intelligent actors are the best actors, in my humble opinion.
I saw a short vid today of someone explaining the flute technique of the Pygmy people.
Reminded me of when I listened to Deep Forest as a kid, when I was going thru some rough times. I listened to that album over and over, so much so that I learned to sing Sweet Lullaby phonetically, and would sing it to myself when I thought noone was listening.
posted by ishmael at 12:32 AM on January 14 [6 favorites]
I've learned since that Sweet Lullaby was based on a Baegu tune from the Solomon Islands, not Pygmy. But the feeling was still similar.
(The name of the singer is) Afunakwa, and she sang a simple yet chilling children’s song called “Rorogwela” about two recently orphaned brothers
posted by ishmael at 12:59 AM on January 14 [1 favorite]
(The name of the singer is) Afunakwa, and she sang a simple yet chilling children’s song called “Rorogwela” about two recently orphaned brothers
posted by ishmael at 12:59 AM on January 14 [1 favorite]
I love that video for Sweet Lullaby, ishmael, and hadn't see it before. Thank you!
posted by taz at 2:55 AM on January 14 [1 favorite]
posted by taz at 2:55 AM on January 14 [1 favorite]
Not about noise, but I went to a lecture last night about five artists who were at the Slade in 1912. The lecturer used this photograph, which includes four of them at the school's summer picnic. In the questions, someone said "you've not mentioned any of the women in the middle rows. Were none of them any good as artists?" The speaker said "No. No, they weren't. Next question?" But apart from that dismissal, it was a good talk. (I'd have liked to have known what the food was at the picnic. And who prepared it.)
posted by paduasoy at 3:07 AM on January 14 [3 favorites]
posted by paduasoy at 3:07 AM on January 14 [3 favorites]
The Guardian on picnics, 1914.
A chicken or veal galantine, a lobster salad, two or three dishes of sandwiches, a dish of ham, some sweets, with cheese, biscuits, and butter, make a very good selection for a picnic basket for six or eight people. Cold meat may always be added, or savouries, such as sardines or various foreign sausages.posted by paduasoy at 3:12 AM on January 14 [5 favorites]
Nice! I love old photos like this! Off the top of my head, I was only familiar with Dora Carrington, though if I spend more time on it others might rise from the mists of my terrible memory. Also, I wouldn't mind some lobster salad, two or three dishes of sandwiches, a dish of ham, some sweets, cheese, biscuits, and butter right about now. Feeling a little peckish.
posted by taz at 3:31 AM on January 14 [2 favorites]
posted by taz at 3:31 AM on January 14 [2 favorites]
Noisy guts here too, along with grunts and moans as my body informs me it can no longer cope with the amount of cheese I am used to ingesting
posted by infinitewindow at 7:06 AM on January 14 [1 favorite]
posted by infinitewindow at 7:06 AM on January 14 [1 favorite]
We are saying farewell to our beloved 20-year-old cat this week and the sadness has settled in my throat in a painful laryngeal spasm; at the moment I cannot make a sound.
I'm so sorry, kinnakeet. We had to say goodbye to our 15-year-old pup at Christmas and it went similarly for me. I had taken on the administrative burden of the whole business so that my partner (who has been with the dog a lot longer than I, she was his baby girl) could focus only on dog, but found that I just couldn't say anything half the time on the necessary phone calls. Luckily the kind of folks who do that hard, beautiful work...they know about all that.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:27 AM on January 14 [2 favorites]
I'm so sorry, kinnakeet. We had to say goodbye to our 15-year-old pup at Christmas and it went similarly for me. I had taken on the administrative burden of the whole business so that my partner (who has been with the dog a lot longer than I, she was his baby girl) could focus only on dog, but found that I just couldn't say anything half the time on the necessary phone calls. Luckily the kind of folks who do that hard, beautiful work...they know about all that.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:27 AM on January 14 [2 favorites]
(according to an interview I saw) got nowhere with formal roles.
Could you please find this one? I'd love to read it and when I was looking her up this morning, I wasn't finding anything that talked much about theater school.
I took a lot of improv classes, but couldn't get on a team and had to give it up.
there are a thousand reasons talent in acting is missed, and few that reflect actual skill.
True...I honestly don't know if the problem is me or just that. Assuming I don't get into a show this month, maybe I'll just pay the audition coach again to try to figure that one out next month.
I'm doing an audition for Hamlet tonight at a theater that's even smaller, so we'll see if I have better odds.
You're one of my favorite posters here, I feel like you always have an interesting take on a topic. Intelligent actors are the best actors, in my humble opinion
Awww, thank you! *blushes*
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:30 AM on January 14 [3 favorites]
Could you please find this one? I'd love to read it and when I was looking her up this morning, I wasn't finding anything that talked much about theater school.
I took a lot of improv classes, but couldn't get on a team and had to give it up.
there are a thousand reasons talent in acting is missed, and few that reflect actual skill.
True...I honestly don't know if the problem is me or just that. Assuming I don't get into a show this month, maybe I'll just pay the audition coach again to try to figure that one out next month.
I'm doing an audition for Hamlet tonight at a theater that's even smaller, so we'll see if I have better odds.
You're one of my favorite posters here, I feel like you always have an interesting take on a topic. Intelligent actors are the best actors, in my humble opinion
Awww, thank you! *blushes*
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:30 AM on January 14 [3 favorites]
i really desperately want to post about the Hegseth confirmation hearing but he has personally threatened me in the past so I think by MeFi rules I have to wait for someone else to do so before I can relentlessly rant about what an absolute godforsaken disaster of a human being he is.
posted by corb at 9:15 AM on January 14 [7 favorites]
posted by corb at 9:15 AM on January 14 [7 favorites]
Corb: I completely respect your reluctance, but I'm personally VERY intrigued....
I'm still waiting to hear about the temp job, but I've accepted the board op job. It's money, either way. I also had someone from one of my recruiters call me to learn more about what my deal was, and what kind of contract work I was looking for; she'll spread the word amongst the rest of the contract team. So there's a lead there. And in a couple weeks someone from Brooklyn's library system will be calling me to follow up on us meeting at a job fair last week (at which point I will ask him more about a job I applied for in November and which seems to still be open).
In the meantime I'm continuing to apply to things like a beast and catch up on some general life admin as well.
I've learned since that Sweet Lullaby was based on a Baegu tune from the Solomon Islands, not Pygmy. But the feeling was still similar. (The name of the singer is) Afunakwa, and she sang a simple yet chilling children’s song called “Rorogwela” about two recently orphaned brothers
The article you linked to mentions Matt Harding's attempt to track her down, but doesn't mention the follow-up - he paid for her family's kids' schooling.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:36 AM on January 14 [3 favorites]
I'm still waiting to hear about the temp job, but I've accepted the board op job. It's money, either way. I also had someone from one of my recruiters call me to learn more about what my deal was, and what kind of contract work I was looking for; she'll spread the word amongst the rest of the contract team. So there's a lead there. And in a couple weeks someone from Brooklyn's library system will be calling me to follow up on us meeting at a job fair last week (at which point I will ask him more about a job I applied for in November and which seems to still be open).
In the meantime I'm continuing to apply to things like a beast and catch up on some general life admin as well.
I've learned since that Sweet Lullaby was based on a Baegu tune from the Solomon Islands, not Pygmy. But the feeling was still similar. (The name of the singer is) Afunakwa, and she sang a simple yet chilling children’s song called “Rorogwela” about two recently orphaned brothers
The article you linked to mentions Matt Harding's attempt to track her down, but doesn't mention the follow-up - he paid for her family's kids' schooling.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:36 AM on January 14 [3 favorites]
Missed that! Thanks for the update EmpressCallipygos!
corb, I'm also very intrigued to hear your Hegseth story!
posted by ishmael at 9:43 AM on January 14
corb, I'm also very intrigued to hear your Hegseth story!
posted by ishmael at 9:43 AM on January 14
An accord between the product owner and dev has been reached. Tomorrow is looking to be a long day and I really should start the process tonight, but whatever.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:53 PM on January 14
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:53 PM on January 14
Could you please find this one? I'd love to read it and when I was looking her up this morning, I wasn't finding anything that talked much about theater school.
Perhaps it's this one? Is that the interview you were thinkin of, cotton dress sock?
posted by ishmael at 2:09 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]
Perhaps it's this one? Is that the interview you were thinkin of, cotton dress sock?
posted by ishmael at 2:09 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]
Good luck, jenfullmoon!
Yep that’s the video, ishmael!
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:44 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]
Yep that’s the video, ishmael!
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:44 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]
The Hamlet audition went really well! The director seemed to really appreciate me and had me read several parts! Men's parts are a lot better! Said he'd contact me tomorrow. I said I'm open to anything and I read really well...so let's hope I get something better than spear carrier #3!
It's nice to have a win and come out of an audition feeling happy!
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:17 PM on January 14 [10 favorites]
It's nice to have a win and come out of an audition feeling happy!
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:17 PM on January 14 [10 favorites]
In noise news (but not emitted by mefites): P.E.I. homeowner captures sound and video of meteorite strike on camera, and scientists believe it's a first. It's a very wee meteorite, but it's quite a loud crack
posted by scruss at 7:46 PM on January 14 [2 favorites]
posted by scruss at 7:46 PM on January 14 [2 favorites]
Good for you Jen!
I am recovered from my 72 hour snow shift and spent this afternoon looking at listings. Rooms to rent, houses to share- I'm tired of living in this barracks-like environment. The cold snap really filled the place up and many of the newbs have mental health or addiction treatment needs.
There is a ninety day backup at the mental health clinics and sending those people to mandatory 12 step meetings and church isn't going to help. Management is unhappy with the level of cleanliness but they keep bringing unstable people in who don't pick up after themselves.
Tomorrow I have an appointment to meet with a single parent to see if I am a good match. The room is large, the location is good and the price is right . He has a 3 and a 7 year old. He says they are there 85 percent of the time. I raised my son largely on my own and I like kids in general so we'll see how this goes.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 7:55 PM on January 14 [5 favorites]
I am recovered from my 72 hour snow shift and spent this afternoon looking at listings. Rooms to rent, houses to share- I'm tired of living in this barracks-like environment. The cold snap really filled the place up and many of the newbs have mental health or addiction treatment needs.
There is a ninety day backup at the mental health clinics and sending those people to mandatory 12 step meetings and church isn't going to help. Management is unhappy with the level of cleanliness but they keep bringing unstable people in who don't pick up after themselves.
Tomorrow I have an appointment to meet with a single parent to see if I am a good match. The room is large, the location is good and the price is right . He has a 3 and a 7 year old. He says they are there 85 percent of the time. I raised my son largely on my own and I like kids in general so we'll see how this goes.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 7:55 PM on January 14 [5 favorites]
Yay to jenfullmoon!
Mr. Yuck I hope that your appointment goes well!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:48 AM on January 15 [3 favorites]
Mr. Yuck I hope that your appointment goes well!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:48 AM on January 15 [3 favorites]
This seems like a good place to ask a question I've been thinking about for ages, and the other day I read this comment so it seemed more relevant: Is it true that up to half of people have no inner monologue? I investigated
Arwa Mahdawi/The Guardian.
Do you have an inner monologue, and if you don't, what happens in your head when you are not doing something brainy?
I do have an inner monologue a lot of the time, but when it's off, it's like I am always hearing some neighbor's radio through the walls. Sometime it's music, sometimes it's talk radio, but I can't really hear what they are saying or playing, just little bits of sentences and scraps of music. In all the languages I know. The music is always fully orchestrated, if that is relevant.
A nice noise in my house is the dog breathing very deeply when he has a good sleep. Incredibly soothing.
posted by mumimor at 5:21 AM on January 15 [4 favorites]
Arwa Mahdawi/The Guardian.
Do you have an inner monologue, and if you don't, what happens in your head when you are not doing something brainy?
I do have an inner monologue a lot of the time, but when it's off, it's like I am always hearing some neighbor's radio through the walls. Sometime it's music, sometimes it's talk radio, but I can't really hear what they are saying or playing, just little bits of sentences and scraps of music. In all the languages I know. The music is always fully orchestrated, if that is relevant.
A nice noise in my house is the dog breathing very deeply when he has a good sleep. Incredibly soothing.
posted by mumimor at 5:21 AM on January 15 [4 favorites]
My monologue is going 24-7, which you probably figured. It's a huge struggle to have quiet.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:50 AM on January 15 [3 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:50 AM on January 15 [3 favorites]
mumimor, my inner monologues have inner monologues! It's monologues all the way down. But, what is interesting about what you say is that I run a floor fan most of the time for white noise, and when I can sort of tune out the monologuing (like maybe just pre-sleep? if I ever manage such a state) I hear music and conversation in the sound of the fan ... fully orchestrated music, as you say, and just little bits of sentences in languages I know and don't know! Tiny bits of dialogue. It's weird, but cool. Doesn't feel haunted though it sounds that way to describe! Now I wonder, too, how many people have this!
posted by taz at 10:17 AM on January 15 [2 favorites]
posted by taz at 10:17 AM on January 15 [2 favorites]
Last week I mentioned seeing an ice skate on the lake across the road. We got rain on top of ice and snow, and apparently the ice is unusually clear and smooth. I have not seen skate-sailers, may go looking.
Maine has had very little snow, which will be an issue in Spring, but I enjoy not shoveling, being able to walk the dog, and clear, drivable roads. In the winters of 2012-13 and 2013-14, there were numerous massive blizzards and snowdumps. I was out of Maine both winters, yay! but previous winters were snowy. Falling snow absorbs sound, refracts light, and watching over a foot of snow fall is sublimely silent. Until the power goes out and the generators start up. I have a wood stove that will keep the house warm enough, and it's very cozy.
posted by theora55 at 10:52 AM on January 15 [1 favorite]
Maine has had very little snow, which will be an issue in Spring, but I enjoy not shoveling, being able to walk the dog, and clear, drivable roads. In the winters of 2012-13 and 2013-14, there were numerous massive blizzards and snowdumps. I was out of Maine both winters, yay! but previous winters were snowy. Falling snow absorbs sound, refracts light, and watching over a foot of snow fall is sublimely silent. Until the power goes out and the generators start up. I have a wood stove that will keep the house warm enough, and it's very cozy.
posted by theora55 at 10:52 AM on January 15 [1 favorite]
I don't have an inner monologue when my meds are working. I can tell when I've missed a dose by the way it starts up. The big exception is if I'm working on a piece of writing. Then I write in my head even when I'm not actually writing. This goes on until the piece is done.
My mom lived in Bath for 20 years and I used to go up for xmas every year. She had a house from 1840 with a wood stove and sitting by it was incomparable to any other heat sources.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 11:00 AM on January 15 [2 favorites]
My mom lived in Bath for 20 years and I used to go up for xmas every year. She had a house from 1840 with a wood stove and sitting by it was incomparable to any other heat sources.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 11:00 AM on January 15 [2 favorites]
I got into Hamlet! As Horatio!!!! Lines and acting shall be mine!
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:18 PM on January 15 [17 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:18 PM on January 15 [17 favorites]
Hooray Jenfullmoon!
Things are starting to look up for me too - I got a request for an interview for one direct-hire job coming up on Friday, and then two recruiters called me today about two separate contract opportunities to see if I was interested (while I'm also already waiting on a third still). And in a couple weeks I will have a phone call with yet another recruiter I met at a job fair.
I'm going to let myself slack off on the job hunt tomorrow JUST a wee bit....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:23 PM on January 15 [3 favorites]
Things are starting to look up for me too - I got a request for an interview for one direct-hire job coming up on Friday, and then two recruiters called me today about two separate contract opportunities to see if I was interested (while I'm also already waiting on a third still). And in a couple weeks I will have a phone call with yet another recruiter I met at a job fair.
I'm going to let myself slack off on the job hunt tomorrow JUST a wee bit....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:23 PM on January 15 [3 favorites]
I just wanted to clarify that I didn't mean to say that everyone who has an inner monologue needs to be on medication.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 12:26 AM on January 16 [3 favorites]
posted by Mr. Yuck at 12:26 AM on January 16 [3 favorites]
Last night we had one of the noisiest storms that I've seen in absolutely years - the lightning was absolutely non stop for about three hours. As a result, I haven't had power for 24 hours and probably won't get it back for another 24. All the normal house noises have been replaced with either deadly silence or the brain-melting drone of the generator, and I honestly am not sure what is worse. Currently typing by lantern-light and making the most of the internet while it lasts. Send gin!
posted by ninazer0 at 1:29 AM on January 16 [4 favorites]
posted by ninazer0 at 1:29 AM on January 16 [4 favorites]
In the middle of the night last night I was dozing, not quite fully asleep, when I heard significant splashing-dripping noises. I half-sat up, trying to pull back the covers - and woke up. In the exact same position that (it turns out) I was dreaming I was in! Literally the only difference was that the splashing noises immediately vanished. I've had other "dreaming I woke up, then I actually woke up" experiences before, but the dream-awake and real-awake circumstances never matched so perfectly. Weird.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:59 AM on January 16 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:59 AM on January 16 [2 favorites]
(Then I dreamed I was a butterfly, and when I woke up my pillow was gone, har de har har)
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:00 AM on January 16 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:00 AM on January 16 [2 favorites]
Voice in my head: "Do I have an inner monologue?"
Angry, anxiety-based voice in my head: "It's a DIALOGUE, you fucking halfwit."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:06 AM on January 16 [5 favorites]
Angry, anxiety-based voice in my head: "It's a DIALOGUE, you fucking halfwit."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:06 AM on January 16 [5 favorites]
The sounds I have been making lately are sobs.
Friend's father died this week after spending nearly 4 months in a coma following a fatty embolism due to breaking both legs in a motorcycle accident.
Friend's mother-in-law fell down the basement stairs and died while the rest of the household was at the zoo.
My sister was diagnosed with cancer of the liver a little over a year ago and died yesterday.
This period of my life sucks really fucking hard.
posted by cooker girl at 10:15 AM on January 16 [10 favorites]
Friend's father died this week after spending nearly 4 months in a coma following a fatty embolism due to breaking both legs in a motorcycle accident.
Friend's mother-in-law fell down the basement stairs and died while the rest of the household was at the zoo.
My sister was diagnosed with cancer of the liver a little over a year ago and died yesterday.
This period of my life sucks really fucking hard.
posted by cooker girl at 10:15 AM on January 16 [10 favorites]
I'm sorry, cooker girl. Sometimes all of the bad things happen at once. I'm glad you shared the good times that you did, and hope the memories are a solace in the days ahead. <3
posted by cupcakeninja at 10:51 AM on January 16 [3 favorites]
posted by cupcakeninja at 10:51 AM on January 16 [3 favorites]
Oh cooker girl, so many hugs to you.
posted by ninazer0 at 3:22 PM on January 16 [3 favorites]
posted by ninazer0 at 3:22 PM on January 16 [3 favorites]
Oh, cooker girl, I'm so so sorry. Thinking of you.
posted by paduasoy at 3:30 PM on January 16 [2 favorites]
posted by paduasoy at 3:30 PM on January 16 [2 favorites]
Thinking of you too, cooker girl. That's a lot all at once.
This week was pretty challenging for me. I woke up in the middle of the night with an asthma attack on Monday night. Not a particularly severe one, but the first in quite a few years. Even when I had Covid two years ago, I dodged asthma attacks by being extremely alert and hitting my inhaler at the first twinge. I was able to get Monday's tamped back down pretty easily, and thought I was doing okay.
Then, Wednesday night, I had a much worse asthma attack. This was the scary kind, where it wouldn't unclench, or unclench for just a breath or two without enough time to get an inhaler puff in edgewise. I was crying and almost throwing up by the end of it before I got back to a steady breathing state. It was hours before I felt safe to go back to sleep, after many inhaler hits as I kept feeling twinges. You can bet your ass I went to the doctor Thursday morning. Got an IV steroid loading dose, a short course of prednisolone to follow it up, and a z-pac on the off chance that some of my feeling worn down even before the attacks might have been something bacterial. I'm feeling much better now but a lot of that is the steroid talking. The steroid lies, I do not heed the lies! I am still sick whatever it says!
Fortunately I had just finished moving my stuff down to the basement bedroom, which is small and snug, and I can properly humidify it, unlike my old master bedroom which had gigantically high ceilings and even a big humidifier would barely make a dent. Although I did that moving Wednesday evening, and the exertion and/or dust might have been what pushed me over the edge. But it needed to happen, particularly with the next arctic blast scheduled to hit Chicago in a couple of days. An extra bonus of the basement room is that my housemate put a vent in at the bottom of the door, because she did photo development in the room. When she moved out, she took the vent but left the hole, which is a perfect size for cat access. So I can close the door and run the humidifier and space heater, with minimal loss to the rest of the basement, and free movement for the cats.
Today has gone okay, although I didn't get much sleep last night, due to the echo of anxiety. Every time I had the slightest breathing twinge, my subconscious rocketed me awake. Which, admittedly, is still more pleasant than getting woken up the other way. Was up at 5:30am, although I did manage to get a little bit of a nap in a few hours later. Still puttering around the house, trying not to be too active, because that's still the steroid talking.
posted by notoriety public at 1:59 PM on January 17 [5 favorites]
This week was pretty challenging for me. I woke up in the middle of the night with an asthma attack on Monday night. Not a particularly severe one, but the first in quite a few years. Even when I had Covid two years ago, I dodged asthma attacks by being extremely alert and hitting my inhaler at the first twinge. I was able to get Monday's tamped back down pretty easily, and thought I was doing okay.
Then, Wednesday night, I had a much worse asthma attack. This was the scary kind, where it wouldn't unclench, or unclench for just a breath or two without enough time to get an inhaler puff in edgewise. I was crying and almost throwing up by the end of it before I got back to a steady breathing state. It was hours before I felt safe to go back to sleep, after many inhaler hits as I kept feeling twinges. You can bet your ass I went to the doctor Thursday morning. Got an IV steroid loading dose, a short course of prednisolone to follow it up, and a z-pac on the off chance that some of my feeling worn down even before the attacks might have been something bacterial. I'm feeling much better now but a lot of that is the steroid talking. The steroid lies, I do not heed the lies! I am still sick whatever it says!
Fortunately I had just finished moving my stuff down to the basement bedroom, which is small and snug, and I can properly humidify it, unlike my old master bedroom which had gigantically high ceilings and even a big humidifier would barely make a dent. Although I did that moving Wednesday evening, and the exertion and/or dust might have been what pushed me over the edge. But it needed to happen, particularly with the next arctic blast scheduled to hit Chicago in a couple of days. An extra bonus of the basement room is that my housemate put a vent in at the bottom of the door, because she did photo development in the room. When she moved out, she took the vent but left the hole, which is a perfect size for cat access. So I can close the door and run the humidifier and space heater, with minimal loss to the rest of the basement, and free movement for the cats.
Today has gone okay, although I didn't get much sleep last night, due to the echo of anxiety. Every time I had the slightest breathing twinge, my subconscious rocketed me awake. Which, admittedly, is still more pleasant than getting woken up the other way. Was up at 5:30am, although I did manage to get a little bit of a nap in a few hours later. Still puttering around the house, trying not to be too active, because that's still the steroid talking.
posted by notoriety public at 1:59 PM on January 17 [5 favorites]
I finally found a car that I like and got a dealer to give me an actual cost for the vehicle and financing options. And that sent me into a new round of sticker shock. I have saved a stupid amount of money, yet buying the car outright would wipe out over half. Since we hit the point this year where two of our bathrooms genuinely require renovations, a car that I want at the cost I was quoted is not happening. Even though I intend to drive it into the ground (seriously, my current vehicle is a 2008 and the only reason I started looking is because it will be an ideal car for kiddo once he gets his license).
I am genuinely disappointed in this moment. I know in the grand scheme of things that this is nothing and I am blessed. I just need to work on feeling the blessing.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:13 AM on January 18 [2 favorites]
I am genuinely disappointed in this moment. I know in the grand scheme of things that this is nothing and I am blessed. I just need to work on feeling the blessing.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:13 AM on January 18 [2 favorites]
I made a mistake last weekend.
Someone else who works here got snowed in with me and we were working together pretty closely. We had to do everything for two houses and we worked well together and talked about non-work stuff when all the people we support were asleep.
She is 20 years younger than me and a lifelong Jehovah's Witness. She lives with her mother who is 3 years older than me and decrepit. Never done anything really.
Today she was supposed to come for two hours so I could shower people while she watched the rest. She stayed on three hours after she clocked out. Everyone else was asleep and she just kept talking at me. I tried going outside and splitting wood, doing dishes, laundry. She just wouldn't leave me be and now I know all about her dead brother.
It's tragic really -all these people at work and at the shelter who have never felt heard.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 9:03 PM on January 18 [3 favorites]
Someone else who works here got snowed in with me and we were working together pretty closely. We had to do everything for two houses and we worked well together and talked about non-work stuff when all the people we support were asleep.
She is 20 years younger than me and a lifelong Jehovah's Witness. She lives with her mother who is 3 years older than me and decrepit. Never done anything really.
Today she was supposed to come for two hours so I could shower people while she watched the rest. She stayed on three hours after she clocked out. Everyone else was asleep and she just kept talking at me. I tried going outside and splitting wood, doing dishes, laundry. She just wouldn't leave me be and now I know all about her dead brother.
It's tragic really -all these people at work and at the shelter who have never felt heard.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 9:03 PM on January 18 [3 favorites]
Voice in my head: "Do I have an inner monologue?"
Angry, anxiety-based voice in my head: "It's a DIALOGUE, you fucking halfwit."
It's okay to hear voices in your head. As long as you don't get into an argument with yourself.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:57 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
Angry, anxiety-based voice in my head: "It's a DIALOGUE, you fucking halfwit."
It's okay to hear voices in your head. As long as you don't get into an argument with yourself.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:57 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
I argue with me all the time.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:40 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:40 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
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posted by peachfiber at 5:42 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]