Just a chime....or??

[westgrandboulevard]

How very true! I've just posted comments on two other threads in response to you, both in that vein.

I'm getting older. If that's a regret to me, that's my concern. In growing older, I have more experience, and am entitled to be concerned at some of the changes which occur - even if
past times were indeed not as good as they seemed, in all ways.

[Jerry Oz]

Oh boy... You and I have arrived at the virtual old folks home now that we're talking about the Good Old Days.

[arr&bee]

Hey don't sweat it guys,i'll come by now and again with stories from the outside world,and a sip of this wonderful elixur[old folks love it].

[Jerry Oz]

I hope you don't plan to drive home after sipping hooch. That's against the law, you know.

[arr&bee]

The law????surely you jest.

[westgrandboulevard]

Is it really against the law to be drunk in possession of a virtual walking frame?

[arr&bee]

West,you da man.

[westgrandboulevard]

I know I can count on your support, Arr&bee. Just like the virtual walking frame.

[arr&bee]

Hey west when i come over there i'm gonna vote for you,now is it...prime minister,prime ribs-prime time,and will the female members of your cabinet be called...the primettes?

[westgrandboulevard]

You've already got them. It's called The Supremes Court......

If I had female members in my cabinet, I'd have to watch they didn't spend all the tax payers money on their wardrobe.

If they did, I've have to let them go. Prime Cuts.....

[arr&bee]

Spoken like a true man...with a wallet.

[westgrandboulevard]

I'm hoping the government can take the heat out of the economy soon.

All of my credit cards have melted.

[arr&bee]

That's why england needs you,to put the chill on things.

[westgrandboulevard]

I'd freeze bank interest charges.

[arr&bee]

I have no interest in banks.

[westgrandboulevard]

Neither do I, although I can't account for it.

[arr&bee]

There's no money in it for me.

[Jerry Oz]

Are we talking about interest or vigorish? I get them confused these days because the vig from a loan shark is sometimes lower than what I can get from a bank.

[arr&bee]

You been going to the wrong sharks,i got loans over here,you know the deal...only..1,000%on the dollar.

[Jerry Oz]

I'll take that! It's lower than I can get for a credit card these days.

[arr&bee]

OF COURSE IT IS,I'M LOOKING OUT FOR YOU...[and over my shoulder].

[Jerry Oz]

Cool. You can be my go-between to get the money [[and to tell your guy why I'm going to need a little more time to pay him back). No need for me to get hurt because I'm broke.

[arr&bee]

Umm jerry i love you like a stepbrother,but you gotta pay up...on time.

[westgrandboulevard]

The alternative sounds ominous.....

[arr&bee]

Not really,but your rates will go through the roof.

[Jerry Oz]

If the alternative is credit cards, you're right. They also told me to pay up on time. I can't get a break, man... They know that I'm not working.

And I'll be okay with rates going through the roof so long as my teeth don't go on the sidewalk.

[arr&bee]

Nobody's buying teeth,so don't worry.

[Jerry Oz]

I don't want to buy a lead pipe to the side of my head. Maybe I'll stick with the banks...

[westgrandboulevard]

Better work for one. They seem to look after their own very well......

[Jerry Oz]

I'm pretty sure they take better care of those at the top than those who do the actual work. If I worked for them, I'd tell everything. Yeah, I'd be a teller if I worked for the bank...

[westgrandboulevard]

I'll give you credit for that.

[Jerry Oz]

Well, that might be up for debit.

[arr&bee]

Be careful jerry,you might be held accountable.

[westgrandboulevard]

I wouldn't want you to be out of pocket on my account.

[arr&bee]

If your account runs out he'll be paying you out of pocket.

[Jerry Oz]

I'll have to write a check. The bank said that my account was overdrawn but I'm sure they are wrong. I still have at least ten checks remaining in my checkbook.

[144man]

I pay no interest on principle.

[westgrandboulevard]

I thought you always preferred to pay interest on parchment?

[Jerry Oz]

I only pay attention when the judge is about to announce my sentence.

[westgrandboulevard]

I never announce my sentences, although I do issue statements.

[Jerry Oz]

My statements are typically 'I can neither confirm nor deny that', 'no comment', 'look at her; who wouldn't think that she was 18 years old?', or 'not guilty, yer onner'. Don't get to say much more than that these days...

[westgrandboulevard]

Well, you certainly do more than that, right here. As do I.....

[Jerry Oz]

I log in as my little brother's best friend's uncle's stepson's middle school tutor. I can say things under my pseudonym that I'm not otherwise permitted by order of the court.

[westgrandboulevard]

So can I. And I'll be the Judge of that.

[Jerry Oz]

Interestingly, even though we have a screen presence that is different from who we are in a social setting, I believe that our social presence is similarly an avatar for who we truly are.

How often do we swallow the words that come to mind so as not to present an unfavorable view of ourselves because others are present? We don't laugh at jokes that we find funny. We don't sing songs that are not 'acceptable' by our contemporaries. We don't speak up when we feel that we should because we don't want to be chastised.

In fact, most of us are only inhibited from being societal outliers by constraints placed upon us by law. People only know us for who we appear to be.

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes. I've noticed how people often only hear what they think I've said, but not exactly, so the meaning becomes blurred. They heard what they wanted to hear.

[Jerry Oz]

That's called projection. My brother taught me how to manipulate that trait years ago by planting subtle seeds of anxiety in conversations.

[westgrandboulevard]

The other way is to reassure people, when there really is some cause for concern. Doctors are very skilled at that.

[Jerry Oz]

'You have nothing to worry about. Just get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids and you should be fine in no time.'
'Really? I was worried there for a minute. I'm glad I came to see you, Doc.'
'Not a problem. I think your Ebola will clear up soon. And if it doesn't, I'd appreciate it if you don't come back here for follow-up care.'

[westgrandboulevard]

Another in the "words you don't want to hear" series :

"It would be a good plan to make sure your affairs are in order"