Weekend/Dentist/GP/TMGAIHAA

[zotz]

I still haven't mentioned Cropredy, although I should. It was fairly mundane compared to last year's, but I should still have a go.

The weekend was quiet, although it looks like we will be going to see Puressence on Saturday. Last night, for reasons that actually make a little (but not much) more sense than you'd think, I was banging a screw into the kitchen wall with a hammer. Actually, this was because neither myself nor my flatmate smoke - if it turns out not to have worked, then at least the shops will still be open when I get home. Earlier on I ran amok in the front garden trashing two plants that had independently decided to mount takeover bids.

I've also been revisiting Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About, which is well worth a look if you haven't read it. I had previously assumed that everybody now had, but I've recently met a couple of people who'd never heard of it.

Finally, can any of you recommend a decent dentist and a GP in the south side of Edinburgh? I've been back here a year and I'm still not registered with either. I know I've already asked this of some of you, but foolishly I didn't insist on having the answer in writing.

Cheers.

Captain's log, supplemental:
I notice that another version of The Scream has been stolen. Hopefully they'll get it back, but unfortunately it was ruined for me as a picture by reading the comments a US school class gave on what it was about, and in particular one student's comment that it isn't (as I had naively believed) a depiction of the dehumanising effects of modern life and the sheer horror of existence, but in fact shows a criminal being chased by the two policemen clearly visible in the top left.

PS - anyone who lets on that I've been seen gardening is dead, OK?

Comments

Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I read the book. I giggled in places, but for the most part I found it profoundly annoying rather than funny.

Re: Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About

[zotz]

I haven't looked at the book at all. It doesn't sound like it's very similar.

[gingiber.livejournal.com]

Can you join the university medical practice?

As for dentist, I go to an NHS one on whitehouse loan but I need to update the addresss in my palm. Give me a shout if you want to know more and I will find out numbers and stuff.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I love that "Things My Girlfriend.." site. Is it bad that it reminds me of arguments I've actually had, though with me as the sane participant, obviously?

Graaaagh

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

I hate that 'Things My girlfriend And I..' site. It's really, really vile. When I rule the world, all men who perpetrate that sort of humour will be lined up, castrated and pressganged into the Imperial Catamite Division whether or not their girlfriends suffer enough from the language barrier to find it funny.

[devilgate.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I've read that the two figures are considered 'mysterious', and may represent the repressive side of society, or elements of the main character's paranoia, for example.

'Policemen' chasing a 'fugitive' is a possible, but to my mind, over-simplistic interpretation. Though even if that were canonical, the cops could still represent society's repression. I suspect from your reaction, that the US schoolkids meant it was all about a bad guy being brought to 'justice', but why let that spoil it for you?

[zotz]

Can you join the university medical practice?

I don't know, actually.

Give me a shout if you want to know more and I will find out numbers and stuff.

Please, yes. As long as you'd recommend them than rather than warning me away, of course?

[zotz]

Well, that depends on what you mean by bad, doesn't it?

Re: Graaaagh

[zotz]

As opposed, of course, to Alison Kennedy saying men are like horses, which is perfectly OK.

Actually, as Kennedy was making a generalisation about all men, rather than about one identified man, her article is in principle less justifiable - although, of course, we didn't complain because a) it was harmless, b) it was funny, and c) we like her.

According to Mil's FAQ, Margret actually quite likes his accounts of their arguments, when she can be bothered reading them.

[zotz]

why let that spoil it for you?

I can't help it. I just see the picture and the word "policemen" pops into my head.

Re: Graaaagh

[inulro.livejournal.com]

That's similar to my reaction to the book. Dude - you can't do your job and your kids are vile brats - that is Just Not Funny. As to using living somewhere unsafe and getting burgled constantly as humour - maybe I've been too close to that situation to find it remotely amusing.

Sorry about the lack of articulation - I just woke up.

Re: Graaaagh

[inulro.livejournal.com]

As opposed, of course, to Alison Kennedy saying men are like horses, which is perfectly OK.

Nope, they deserve shooting too.

Woah. I'm still in a seriously foul mood today. Whoops.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

I want a Margret! Do you think he'll get fed up with her one day and divorce her so I can have her?

[zotz]

They'd have to get married first. Anyway, I suspect there's already a queue.

[gingiber.livejournal.com]

Well I would definatly recommed her, but I am not sure seth is so keen ;)

Will try to remeber to send the details over tonight.

Re: Graaaagh

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've read the entire site including the FAQ - I just absolutely loathe that style of humour. I'm with inulro - there are better ways to make people laugh than by making people you care about look insane, stupid, nagging or otherwise less pleasant than they actually are. To me that entire site speaks of the fact that the guy who wrote it is a petty, unfunny little twerp with an overinflated ego and nothing interesting to say.

Re: Graaaagh

[zotz]

No further comment on the AL Kennedy quote, then?

Re: Graaaagh

[djm4]

I can see where you're coming from, but I totally didn't get that reaction. I though Margret sounded wonderful, and certainly not stupid, insane or nagging (and, consequently, I didn't think Mil was actually stoking his own ego much - plenty of the stories he wrote made him look rather bad too, and I'm sure he knew that).

But ... well, it's hard to know without meeting them. It's just that I get the impression that they're an example of two people with an incredibly strong relationship that includes that sort of level of argument in their dynamic. And I know that can work really well, even if it's not for me.

Re: Graaaagh

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

It rings far too true to me to feel like the same kind of nonsense.

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

I have some screws that are specifically designed to be hammered in, but can only be removed with a screwdriver.

That wasn't all that interesting, was it?

Re: Graaaagh

[zotz]

You say potato . . .

[zotz]

That was actually what I was thinking about while I was doing it. Not you having them personally, of course, but that they exist.

And I was wishing I had some matchsticks.

Re: Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of both. The book is fictional, in that stupidly biographical way that some people manage to do so well. His second book is probably more amusing though, and features no resemblance to his life (I would assume.)

Re: Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About

[zotz]

You assume, or you hope?

[jakelithethighs.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I'm bearer of Ramone's film ticket and figured we should probably arrange to swap ticket and money. I'm going away on Thursday so wednesday's probably best for me. I think my email addy is in my userinfo if you want to send me a msg :o)

[zotz]

Excellent. Wednesday would suit me fine. I can't actually see an address on your info page, though. zotz at livejournal.com will certainly reach me, though.

Re: Graaaagh

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I found that 'men are like horses' thing really quite offensive. Turn it around - if someone wrote a thing about 'why women are like dogs', or similar, it would never make it past the ladmag giggle pages, let alone into a serious publication.

All generalisations are bad, mmkay? ;->

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

I have some of them too....

[darkstones.livejournal.com]

I've been going to Hope Park Dental Practice for about ten years, and have no complaints. No fillings or extractions either!

5 Hope Park Terrace 662 4882

Re: Graaaagh

[zotz]

I quite liked it, although it makes more sense in context. In full, it's here.

Re: Graaaagh

[drpyrojames.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with that. Much of it pokes fun at Mil as well as Margaret. I see bit's in it that relate to my life as well. If someone thinks that totally committed couple live in a dream world where no one argues and understands everything the other person does, then they have a big shock coming. The fact that someone choses to publicise their "arguments" just lets others looking in at it, feel more comfortable with their own difficulties. There is nothing on the sites that suggests Mil is out to get Margaret, or that he thinks here stupid, just incomprehensible sometimes.