Speedy's Cafe - General Chat about anything you like!

[T.o.b.y]

Not to be self-righteous or anything, but I never saw the point of cheating. And I enjoyed (!) taking tests! Except in algebra. Poor little right-brained me could never figure out algebra.....

 

I think the point is to lick the system. It can be a subversive act of rebellion, and as such, I kind of like it, even though I'd never have the guts to do it myself, and the self-righteous, goody-two-shoes, law-abiding side of me (which is pretty strong) does think it is wrong.

 

I hate taking tests. As a school kid, I resented the assumption behind tests that I would need to be forced and pressured to study. Tests make me feel helpless, nervous and somehow unfairly treated. It got kind of worse at uni, which was basically a steeple-chase of tests and where a lot of the orals, at least, really were unfair, with every professor having his own methods and standards and nobody bothering to keep an eye on them. I hate Kafka, but the term "kafkaesk" really is perfect for that experience.

 

If you feel helpless like that, I think cheating can give you back a sense of being in control. Not being the kind of person who can or will cheat, my only strategy here was always to study my ass off. But you reach the point where you realize that there is just more knowledge in this world than your poor little ordinary goldfish brain can ever grasp.

 

Nobody knows how I got through all that. I'm just glad it's over. Now I get paid to work my ass off, and so of course nobody assumes anymore that I may lack motivation if not tested every other week...

 

[Arcadia]

Yeah, I think that's a common reaction. I know my best friend in college would almost make herself ill worrying about tests, even though she always aced them. I don't know, I can't explain it, I actually looked forward to them. I liked the challenge, I think. ?? I still take tests, just to see how well I do! Just more of my weirditude.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Eh, I'm neutral towards tests, so I have no idea as to why people loathe or like them at all.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I know my best friend in college would almost make herself ill worrying about tests, even though she always aced them. I don't know, I can't explain it, I actually looked forward to them. I liked the challenge, I think. ?? I still take tests, just to see how well I do! Just more of my weirditude.

 

I never exactly looked forward to  tests, but I didn't really mind them either.  To some extent, I thought they were sort of like solving puzzles, and even more so for non-school tests.  Apparently my great aptitude in life is taking tests.  Too bad there aren't many job openings for that line of work!

[Ruthyone]

I would like to wish everyone on the Sherlock Forum a Very, Merry Christmas & A Peaceful New Year xxxxxx

 

           

[Shadow Dweller]

  Merry Christmas, everyone ^^

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Somehow I forgot that today was Christmas Eve. :P

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Somehow I forgot that today was Christmas Eve. :P

How does one forget something like that? ;) at least there is no direct Sherlock quote relating to forgetting Christmas, yet.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Animations are by Mel Roach, not me. :D

 

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Part II of the Derped Reindeer:

 

  

 

  

 

[Arcadia]

This is pretty tame after all that (!) but ... Merry Christmas, everyone.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Merry Christmas!

 

And Sherlockology has relayed Mycroft's holiday wishes:

 

 

[sfmpco]

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.  I made about 50 lbs of English Toffee this year... most of it was for my landlady, Gail.  Didn't charge her for it (she bought the supplies) because she has been letting me stay in one of her unrented apartments for free since Oct. 18, and I'll be here until approx. March 1.  Plus she pays me for doing errands and small bits of work around here.

 

Then, as far as i know, I am back on the road with the bike.  I don't know where my journeys will take me, but I just am thankful that I've had a great place to stay over Christmas.  Yes, I even packed my Christmas stocking on the bike although I will send it into storage for a year now.  Gail bought me a lilo, 4 pairs of shoes, clothes, tons of stuff.  Well... you see, I was supposed to be touring Britain right now... was even going to be touring Wales in January to coincide with Sherlock being done at the same time.  But I flew to Britain on October 1, arrived there Oct. 2, and was not allowed through customs and sent back to Los Angeles on Oct. 3.  I only had what was being shipped to Britain, including my bike, and I came back to no apartment, no job, and one of my pieces of luggage - the one with all the bike gear - was missing.  I stayed with a friend through Oct. 18, jettisoned more items, and then began my journey across the USA on my bike.  But on my 2nd day of the journey, I was offered this place, and I've been cozy here for over 2 months.  I finished writing the first Sherlock book and started the 2nd one.  My next door neighbor and Gail and I have all known each other for 15 years since we all went to the same church, so it's a wonderful little community.  I call it an apartment but it's really a duplex.  There are two siamese cats in the apartment with me, and I love Siamese, but it has taken them about 2 months to warm up to me.  The previous owner abandoned them here.  Gail says they come with the apartment.  Period.  She hadn't rented it out for probably over a year anyhow, and there is lots of work to be done on it, but she doesn't seem to be in a hurry.  I have donated bedding and blankets, towels, clothes, food.  It was overwhelming at first how generous everyone was.  And nothing, quite frankly, is asked of me, but i do what I can.  I was just told to rest and recover from the British travel trauma thing.  

 

I still have a ticket to Hamlet for October.  I'll probably get a refund on it, however, since I see no way of getting back to Britain (a sponsor had paid my way over and was putting me up for 3 months in Scotland).  Maybe I'll find another sponsor.  I'm a little unnerved about trying to go back though.  One rejection from a country I love so much is all my heart can handle.

 

But I am here, I am safe, and I had a lovely Christmas.  Gail was once again very generous.

 

Blessings to all!

[Bubu]

sfmpco, wow, what a story...
I'd hit "like" but I don't want it to look like I like all those things that didn't work out for you (I put three "likes" in that sentence though) - I'm sorry about those. Even then, the rest of it sounds lovely.
I hope that you are doing fine and may nothing like that happen to you ever again!
I wish you the very best of luck. Take care. 
 

[Shadow Dweller]

I will second Bubu's. Kudos and best wishes for you, sfmpco. This one is for you:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04854XqcfCY

[sfmpco]

Thanks for the lovely sentiments.  I had a lovely plan to be touring Britain, France and heading to Greece to visit and friend... all from the seat of a bicycle with lots of hosts all the way through.  I was even scheduled to do the Palace to Palace ride for the Prince's Trust on Oct. 5 - a 45 mile ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle - then a fast taxi ride afterwards to Hertford to see HIS LAST VOW and have Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington do a Q&A afterwards...plus meeting up with other Sherlock fans while being hosted in London... well, I was completely, utterly gutted.  

 

40 hours of being awake, 15 of which were in customs detention at Heathrow.  One starts to hallucinate little things.  You can't help it and you can't make it stop.  You just start seeing things.  Even the American Ambassador called me while I was in detention.  He couldn't help the situation but offered to have anything sent over that I needed.  Long story, and I have a blog about it, so private message me and I'll send you a link.

 

So now I'm waiting to start up my cross country USA tour again.

[Arcadia]

OMG, I'm so sorry to hear all this! I feel for you, it must've been heartbreaking. Sounds like you are strong, tho, so hang in there. May your New Year be the best one ever.

[T.o.b.y]

Goodness me, Jenny, I logged on just briefly to wish everybody a belated Merry Christmas, but gosh... what an experience. Sounds like one of my worse nightmares come true!

 

Good to hear you're okay at the moment. I hope 2015 will be better. In fact, I hope 2015 will be a great year for everybody.

 

And I hope you all had a lovely Christmas one way or the other. I'm more or less offline until the end of the week, but that's okay - family is all we have in the end, as Mrs Hudson says, and mine got bigger this year because of a certain little gold ring on my finger, so I've a lot more visiting to do than I am used to.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Or rather, happy Boxing Day.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Good luck, sfmpco! Hope you get to go to England!

 

And congratulations, T.o.b.y!

 

[Shadow Dweller]

Happy New Year! May 2015 become a good year for all of us!  :D 

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Happy New Year! Woo hoo!

 

*sobs and rocks in the corner whispering 'why cant i ever get a brthday party on my birthday'*

[Shadow Dweller]

Happy New Year! Woo hoo!

 

*sobs and rocks in the corner whispering 'why cant i ever get a brthday party on my birthday'*

 

:o  Today is your birthday?

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

yes

[Shadow Dweller]

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BENDY!  

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

yes

 

Bendy!!!  Now blow out the double digit candles on your and with and the rest of us (most of us may be adults, but we know how to have some fun)

And as a virtual   for you (kind of)

 

 

Now all you need is a plastic champagne glass and a bottle of sparkling grape juice and celebrate in style.