Introverts, how is your day?

[Carol the Dabbler]

How did they want you to spell it? 

[Pseudonym]

Have no idea, apparently everything was wrong, wrong, wrong. I nearly posted it as 'loke.' 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh -- you're on a computer, then.  I've gotten so used to my phone, which not only suggests other spellings, but will often change my perfectly-good word to something completely nonsensical.  

[Pseudonym]

Since the update text shows up too small and fiddly on my phone, and if I zoom in it's half off the screen, so I don't use it much on here. 

[T.o.b.y]

13 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Oh -- you're on a computer, then.  I've gotten so used to my phone, which not only suggests other spellings, but will often change my perfectly-good word to something completely nonsensical.  

Doesn't that sound familiar... 

[Pseudonym]

This is making it's way through my city today. A giant mechanical miner. 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Whuuuhh?!

When I read the text portion of your post on the preview page, I had visions of a new Japanese horror movie, with a huge machine systematically grinding up entire city blocks of buildings, cars, trees, people....

Is this thing for real?  But mainly, why?

[Carol the Dabbler]

OK, this article describes the thing as "as giant mechanical puppet," and explains that it's touring the mining and industrial centers of Wales.  There are a couple videos of the thing in action, if your internet service is any better than mine.

[Pseudonym]

Yup. It's doing it's final bit just down the road from me tonight, including 'a spectacular fire and light show' but I've just got home and I'm too drained to move. Shame, probably would have been cool. 

[T.o.b.y]

I dunno, looks like something out of a horror movie to me... Whoever had that idea in the first place? 

[Van Buren Supernova]

Can't play the video in my phone now but hey, it looks cool! Must be interesting to see how to puppet it.

Now I have one reason to visit Wales.

[Pseudonym]

It's not a regular thing, it's a one off I think. Though I'm guessing they'll probably just keep it in Big Pit and use it as an added attraction there. 

And yep, there is a smidgen of horror movie to it. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

22 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

I'm guessing they'll probably just keep it in Big Pit and use it as an added attraction there. 

I'm too lazy to check, but I believe the article that I linked to said they were hoping to take it on tour.  They'd need to get more sponsors, presumably.

[Pseudonym]

I am massively lagging. Been lagging all day, but now I've got to the point where I need to go home and shut everything out. 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Home? What is this home you speak of? I’ve been at a homeschool conference since Wednesday and stayed an extra day because apparently Minnesota doesn’t want Spring this year. I should be home in about an hour unless johnspec takes too much longer.

[T.o.b.y]

How exactly does homeschooling work, Camper? Do you have to teach every subject yourself? Is there a fixed curriculum? Does Jounspec have to take some kind of tests? Do you need some kind of state permit to homeschool? 

I am just curious because it's not legal where I live and I don't know anybody who was homeschooled. Do you get to save money on taxes because you aren't using a public school spot? 

[Pseudonym]

I died my hair last night. Came out a wee bit brighter than expected, going to take some getting used to. I think after I've washed it a few times and it's faded slightly it'll be okay. Unfortunately no time for that last night, so mega bright now. 

[T.o.b.y]

What color did you choose? 

[Pseudonym]

Purple, semi-permenant luckily, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it stains a bit. I was going for more of a dark plum.

[Carol the Dabbler]

8 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

I died my hair last night.

For your sake, I hope you mean that you merely dyed it. 

8 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

Came out a wee bit brighter than expected, going to take some getting used to.

I recently saw an ad for a product called Color Oops that claims to remove dye.  Dunno if it's sold over there and/or by that name.  It seems to be available from the US Amazon, and is fairly well reviewed.

[T.o.b.y]

I bet it will fade after a few washings and look really nice. 

[Pseudonym]

Dyed, yea. Nah it’s not that bad just needs getting used to. We do have similar things, used ‘em before.

[Pseudonym]

Oops cross post. Yup fingers crossed!

[SherlockedCAMPer]

How exactly does homeschooling work, Camper? Do you have to teach every subject yourself? Is there a fixed curriculum? Does Jounspec have to take some kind of tests? Do you need some kind of state permit to homeschool? 

I am just curious because it's not legal where I live and I don't know anybody who was homeschooled. Do you get to save money on taxes because you aren't using a public school spot? 

 

Homeschooling laws vary depending on which state you live in. All I have to do is inform my local school district that I’m homeschooling (1 school year left on that requirement) & also give him a standardized test of my choice. As for curriculum, I choose what works for him. Since he’s considered private school, I set the standards for what he needs usually following what a university would like to see on transcripts for its applicants. And I can deduct school expenses on my state taxes (which is generally more money than what could be deducted if he was sent to a public school).

 

Also there are some homeschoolers in Germany the last I knew despite the law. I do what I can to support them (which isn’t a whole lot at the moment), but anything to help make it legal over there is likely appreciated by the few that do homeschool.

[Pseudonym]

Apologies for the long post - need to vent.

I went to another Meetup thing this evening, out for food, and god, I was so bored. Was bored to death on the last one too. I'm so sick of having the same awkward, stilted conversations, I'm getting to the point where I just want to record my explanation of my job as an audio clip on my phone so I don't have to say it all for the thousandth time. I'm also sick of conversations where people repeat part of something the person they're talking to just said and then they both agree. I'm sure there is some sort of term for this, I know the body language version is mirroring, and I'm guessing there is a social purpose to it to build rapport. I'm talking about conversations like this;

Person A: "They first opened a cafe along the promenade, down by the pub, that was a long time ago. I'm talking twenty years or so."

Person B: "Oh yes, I know, it was down on the promenade, wasn't it? By the pub?"

Person A: "Yes, that's right!" 

And then they both smile like they've had a moment of connection. I don't think they even realise they're doing it. And I'm not talking about one set of people, but loads of people, it's appallingly common. After a while I just want to stab myself in the eye with a fork. It reminds me a bit of that scene in TEH, where Sherlock's parents are on the settee, and Mr Holmes keeps repeating things Mummy has said and Sherlock looks like he's losing the will. Except these are strangers.  

I'm definitely missing something about these interactions. I think it's one of those social things that somehow just passes me by and I don't get. I look at the people around me and think 'are you actually enjoying this? Is anyone enjoying this?' Then afterwards when I see comments by people saying what a great time they had I'm just mystified. I left earlier than everyone else this evening, I couldn't take it anymore. By societal standards this evening was probably supposed to be the highlight of my day. My actual highlight was the brief period where I snuck out of the office and lay on my belly on the patio, in the sun, trying to figure out my new macro lens and being delightfully horrified by a close up of my finger. No one around, no one talking, no pressure. Aside from the occasional success I spend most of these forced interactions feeling like a square peg in a round hole. Time to the cancel the meets I have booked I think,  and reassess. I'm not sure whether to try a different group or to give up for a while.

Oh FFS. I'm home, I was settling down to relax and read, turn off my brain for a bit, and now I can't because I've had a direct message from one of the guys at the meal this evening. I've met him a few times recently, I find him really awkward. Zero connection there. But now he's sent me a message apologising for not getting to getting to talk to me this evening, and asking if I'd like to go out for a coffee sometime. I have no idea if he means platonically or as a date, but either way the answer is no. I now have to figure out a way of saying no without offending him, and it's just not something I want to have to deal with, especially when I'm already feeling a bit shitty. Argh, why can't people just leave me the hell alone? I've given zero indication that I'd be remotely interested in meeting him one-on-one. Perhaps he thinks I left because I was sad, rather than because I was going to stab myself in the eye. I'm absolutely rubbish at this kind of thing - do you think the excuse of being too slammed at work will fly? That's the only thing I can think of that won't be too offensive. Any suggestions?