I can't go to bed till I hit 900. Ask me anything.

[yvr girl]

What do you want to know?

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. Why does it matter how many posts you have?

Especially if some part of the total is going to consist of unsubstantiative nonsense posted solely to elevate your count?

Seems kind of silly.

[yvr girl]

2. I was challenged, but then deserted.

I have something to prove. Conversation does not need to be unsubstantial.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. Challenged to what, by whom?

A rapier duel by a rather deranged Spaniard in outmoded attire who said his name was "Inigo Montoya" and thought you killed his father, maybe?

[yvr girl]

4. Not exactly.

I'm not a Princess or a Bride, and I don't know any Spaniards. I was challenged to take it to the next level. Tonight. Posting, like many other things, is best, when done with a partner or two.

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. True enough.

Unless you have multiple personae and can entertain yourself by pretending to have a conversation, that is.

Up rather late, aren't you? (Of course, so am I....bloody insomnia...)

[yvr girl]

6. I could pretend

I was a drama student after all. But I would know in my heart that it was all a pretence. I'm not deluded. It would all be a sham. And really, shams are best left to people waging false wars.

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. Huh.

And here I was thinking that pretence, sham and falsity were essential skills to master to get along in this our modern world. But then maybe I'm just cynical.

[yvr girl]

10. It would seem so.

I try to be truthful, but we all wear masks. And I'm not talking about the Halloween variety.

I must admit, I sometimes exaggerate how bad the traffic was when I am on the tardy side.

[Spider Jerusalem]

12. I generally don't have to exaggerate the awfulness of the traffic.

Atlanta has some of the worst traffic in the US. And the fact that the average commute is 60 miles (something like 130 kilometres) doesn't help. Not to mention the lack of any real public transit infrastructure.

[yvr girl]

15. Traffic isn't great in Vancouver either

Our city government tries to encourage transit use by making driving miserable rather than by improving transit. I have experienced Atlanta during rush hour though, and you win.

[yvr girl]

8. Did you edit, or did I not see the second part.

I don't have insomnia. I just don't need much sleep. I've also messed up my internal clock.

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. That was an edit.

And I can relate. My circadian rhythms seem to be permanently buggered. Which is all right, because I seem to prefer being nocturnal anyway. Not much of a "day person".

[yvr girl]

11. In my heart, I'm a night person, but I've also become a morning one.

When I go on holiday with my friends, they're always amazed that I am consistently the last one to bed, and the first one up. Some of them do not believe that I actually sleep.

I hated going to bed when I was a kid.

[Spider Jerusalem]

14. Sleep is for mortals.

Haha. Of course, I'd probably need more of it if it weren't for caffeine and nicotine.

I never wanted to go to bed when I was a kid, either. I always wanted to stay up and read. (I was a voracious reader. Went through something like ten or fifteen books a week.)

[yvr girl]

17. Many a night I stayed up reading by the light of a flashlight

I like coffee, but I never got addicted. I don't drink coffee at home.

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. I seem to be more addicted to Earl Grey tea than to coffee.

And I went through an obscene number of "D" cell flashlight batteries between the ages of, say, eight and twelve. Hehe.

[yvr girl]

20. Have you tried Lady Grey tea?

It's really good too. It's replaced Earl Grey in my affections. Chai tea is also favourite.

[Spider Jerusalem]

22. I'll have to try Lady Grey.

And I love chai. Make mine with fresh cardamom pods (learned how from a good friend who is East Indian).

And on edit: I just noticed, after looking at my profile, that I've gone past 2200 posts. Didn't think I had that many. Heh.

[yvr girl]

26. I only have cheater chai (from a tea bag)

Heaven knows I should get the real thing. We have a huge East Indian community in Vancouver. It just seems too much like work.

[Spider Jerusalem]

27. Yes, it's a bit of work...

but the result is worth it. Of course, I drink Turkish coffee, too, which is much more labour-intensive than making regular drip coffee, so I'm a bit more used to it, I suppose.

[yvr girl]

30. Well, what is your recipe?

How does one make the perfect cup of chai tea?

[Spider Jerusalem]

35. Well...

Equal measures of water and whole milk. Two cardamom pods, cinnamon, a dash of ground clove and just a wee sprinkle of nutmeg. Bring to a boil and then add tea leaves (I use black Assam, but most of my Indian friends just use Lipton Red Label). cut to a simmer, let simmer for about one minute (not too long), then turn off the flame and let steep for about 10 minutes, and then serve.

[yvr girl]

37. Whole milk (called Homo Milk in Canada btw)

I haven't had that in years. Sounds good. I might just need to break down and buy milk and cardamom pods.

So I've passed the 900 mark. Have our posts been totally worthless?

[Spider Jerusalem]

38. Not entirely, no...

(of course if I'd thought so I'd not have come this far...)

[yvr girl]

41. We haven't achieved every beauty queen's aim (World Peace) but

there's nothing wrong with shooting the breeze. It's what the Lounge is for. (That, and pictures of puppies and kittens.)

[yvr girl]

13. Speaking of being up late

At least I'm on the west coast. You my friend, are fast approaching morning.

[Spider Jerusalem]

16. Yes...

well, I overindulged in chocolate-covered espresso beans on Saturday night. Didn't fall asleep until nearly noon on Sunday, and awoke recently enough that I'll be going at least another 14 hours.

[yvr girl]

19. good choice in snack food

You are getting yourself into a bad cycle. You'll have a nap in 14 hours and then you won't be able to sleep tomorrow either.

So how many chocolate-covered espresso beans does it take to keep someone up all night?

[Spider Jerusalem]

21. About six ounces, I think...

(170g)...two bags of the things, anyway.

[yvr girl]

23. That will do it

Like chips, you can't just eat one.

So, are you a native Southerner or a transplant?

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. Sort of a native Southerner, I suppose.

My father was in the military. I was born in Florida, and moved here from California in 1986.

[yvr girl]

29. Do Floridians consider themselves Southerners?

Sure, they have some of the same food, but they seem different to me. Of course, I'm a Canadian, so what do I know.

[Spider Jerusalem]

31. Some of them.

Although I wasn't there very long. (Born there, moved to California at age three, then back to Florida at six, and then back to California a year later, in 1984).

[yvr girl]

33. So not my world

I graduated high school with people I had been in kindergarten with and I lived in the same house from the time I was 6 until I left home.

[Spider Jerusalem]

36. I'd been in five different schools by third grade...

my father left the military when I was eight, though, so after that it was much more stable.

[yvr girl]

39. Did you like being an army brat?

I was never the new kid in school, except on my very first day.

[Spider Jerusalem]

40. Navy, and not really...

it was rather stressful knowing you'd never be in one place for very long. And I didn't get to see my father much. He was deployed six months out of the year (he was in anti-submarine warfare, looking for Russians in the North Atlantic and Pacific), and he was gone for a whole year's tour of duty aboard an aircraft carrier once. So, it wasn't that great, really.

[yvr girl]

42. Navy life is tough

Well, military life in general, I think. Especially in the States. The Canadian military does not have quite the same danger element.

I have a friend (who lives in Savannah) whose husband is a Special Forces helicopter pilot. She's pretty much been a single mom for the last few years. She never even knows where her husband is. (Although, guessing isn't as difficult as it use to be.

[Spider Jerusalem]

43. Yes...

being in the US military is a bit like being in the Royal Army a century ago...and nowadays it seems they go to the same places, too. Iraq, Afghanistan...ah, the burdens of empire...</sarcasm>

[yvr girl]

44. Manifest Destiny is a bitch

As long as the 'rescued masses' are suitably grateful.

[Spider Jerusalem]

45. Makes me think of that Kipling poem...

"White Man's Burden"...we must civilise the savages, and all that (frighteningly enough, a lot of the people running the show probably look at it that way).

[yvr girl]

46. How could they not want to be like us?

And by us, I really mean Americans. Canadians lost our romantic notions of colonialism at Vimy Ridge.

Although, there is a great deal of talk about some sort of union with the Turks & Caicos. We explored options in the 70's and now there is renewed interest on both sides. We get a place in the sun, and they get health care. (I'm sure it's more complicated than that.)

[Spider Jerusalem]

47. WHY would they want to be like us?

That's a better question. I'm an American, and I don't want to be like "us".

[yvr girl]

48. I forgot to add a sarcasm reference

You're actually not a bad country, you're just brought up that way. I've met so many Americans who have been taught from birth that they live in the 'Best country in the world.' No country is perfect. I think that failing to recognize that fact inhibits progress.

[Spider Jerusalem]

49. Yes...the nationalistic indoctrination is somewhat odious.

One of the reasons I've been seriously considering emigrating for a few years now. Of course, there's the problem that wherever I went my nation of origin would be a detriment.

[yvr girl]

50. If all the good ones leave, what will you leave behind

A very bad neighbour to the south for us. You can move here, you just need to add "u"'s to a bunch of words. Oh, and call your mother mum. (Spelled mom, pronounced mum - it's a Canadian thing - we're a weird mix of British and American linguistics.)

I have a plan. Every single guy on DU needs to find a mail-order/foreign bride. Bring them to the States, and change the culture in an insidious fashion.

[Spider Jerusalem]

51. I already use "international English" orthography...

so that wouldn't be a problem. Heh. I get taken for a Brit in chat rooms because of it. (That, and the fact that "bloody" has become one of my favourite curse words.)

Hmm. A mail order bride. Well, it seems most of those are either Asian or Eastern European. Considering what the cultures they're LEAVING are like (and the truth is "not exactly wonderful", else they'd not be wanting to come HERE), they mightn't notice how bad things are. I suppose it all depends on your frame of reference.

[yvr girl]

52. That's why I added the /foreign part

You need to get spunky brides, doormats will not do. The plan might need refining.

Alas, I find that I am beginning to fade. I did not have copious quantities of chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Good night or Good morning - they both seem to be appropriate.

[Spider Jerusalem]

53. And a good night/morning to you.

I suppose I shall probably see you later. Congratulations (or something) on reaching your goal.

[bloodyjack]

25. Does the body rule the mind or does the mind rule the body?

[yvr girl]

28. It can be both

Ideally, the mind rules the body. However, if the body is weak, it will prevent the mind from ruling. It's a paradox.

[bloodyjack]

32. what about the case of Stephen Hawking?

[yvr girl]

34. The exceptions prove the rule

It's also a case of an exceptional mind. In the end though, the body will fail us all.

[bigwillq]

54. Congrats on 900 posts!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: