Quickies
By Robin Lamb
@troyburns (1405)
New Zealand
November 30, 2015 12:14am CST
I've been reminded that most of us prefer posts which are short and personal: something engaging but not too challenging. I can do that.
Here, then, is another soup post with the first six discussion ideas that popped into my head. Feel free to roll a dice if you're not sure which one to comment on.
1. What is your favorite household chore, if that's possible? I like doing the dishes because it's one of those jobs where you can see your progress, and I also find the feel of the soapy water quite relaxing. We do have a mechanical dishwasher, but it rarely gets used.
2. Do you remember your first car? Mine was a mustard-colored Datsun 180B. Her name was Lucy.
3. What's the most outrageous or courageous thing you've ever done for charity? Wish I could say I'm capable of running a marathon or starving myself for 40 hours, but it just ain't so. When I was a school teacher, I did get my head completely shaved for the Leukaemia Foundation though.
4. I sometimes wonder if I'd be a different person if I was called Brad or Kurt or Neville. In spite of guys like Robin Williams and Batman's sidekick, a lot of people have had trouble with my name. Is it Robert? Robyn with a 'y'? Given the choice, what would you have liked to be called?
5. I've lived in quite a few places so I can do several passable accents. Sometimes the imitation happens unintentionally. When I watch something like Billy Elliot or My Left Foot it's not long before I'm sounding like a Geordie or an Irishman, for instance. Are there any accents or impersonations that you can do?
6. Do you ever write or post something just for yourself? Or do you always have an audience in mind?
If you've made it this far, here's a joke just for you:
I bought the world's worst thesaurus today. Not only is it terrible; it's terrible.
18 people like this
17 responses
@Rationalwriter (1813)
• Lucknow, India
30 Nov 15
1) Favorite chore :- Taking care of the Garden!!
3) For charity, I proposed an idea in my organization for a Relief Drive for a massive earthquake that happened in Nepal and it was accepted and we donated a lot of things to the needy!!
5) I lived in the Southern part of my nation for 18 months so I can do that accent very well, and specially if I am talking to someone from that part of the nation, the accent pops up unintentionally!!
6) One or two of my posts have been for myself, but rest of them are for the discussion purposes!! And there is no target audience in my mind. Everyone is welcome to comment on my discussion if they feel they can!
6 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@Rationalwriter - Loved your comment, but don't know where to start responding! 1. I never was a gardener until recently. Our new house has so many plants that I don't really have a choice. 5. Good to hear I'm not the ony one who accidentally changes accent. Does India have lots of different accents, as England does? Here in NZ, everyone talks pretty much the same.
4 people like this
@Rationalwriter (1813)
• Lucknow, India
30 Nov 15
@troyburns Yeah, In India there are 18 main regional languages each with their own accent, and if you have heard the accent, you can tell where that person is from without even knowing what he/she is talking about!!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381741)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@Rationalwriter We have a Scottish friend and if he gets with another Scot, within five minutes we can't understand either of them! 
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
30 Nov 15
1. i will help with everything except the actual cooking.
2. have you noticed if people tend to name their cars the opposite gender?
4. i've always thought robyn was the female of robin. i've always known robin was a name in itself, not a nickname for another name. i know rob, robbie ,bob, bobbie is for robert.
5. i've never lived elsewhere, but we have many regional dialects and people tend to switch when they talk to people from the same region. international accents we tend to hear are native english speakers like us, ca, uk, au.
6. i wish i could write anything and share everything and not care about the outcome.
4 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
30 Nov 15
@troyburns maybe those are the true/real writers. they just keep expressing and being themselves, not caring about stats, not swayed by feedback.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@hereandthere - I really like your answer to number 6. Thanks for knowing about Robin/Robyn - it's tiring how many people get it wrong.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@hereandthere - That's partly me. I'm going to write what I want regardless of its reception, but I do take all feedback seriously. I don't mind being criticized, but I don't like being ignored.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@TheHorse - I might end all of my posts with a joke if it'll encourage a few more folks to read them. Long posts are a no-no, but sometimes I need to clear my head by writing something detailed. It hurts that they don't find much of an audience, but I'm probably writing them mainly for myself anyway.
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@JudyEv - I know what you mean. Sometimes I write way too much, but I think it's important to explain your point of view and not just say it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381741)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@troyburns @TheHorse When I'm trying to write about our travels, I can't give any information if the posts are too short. So at that point I'm writing for myself. If people haven't got the time to read them, too bad, but I'm not going to make them shorter.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
30 Nov 15
i) I love to turn on the dishwasher but wait until after 7 PM so the electric rate is lower. I need a maid,,,
2)Mine was a 1949 Hudson that my husband won in a card game. I got a lot of whistles driving that car, It felt like driving a bathtub and that was in 1967...
3)Nothing outstanding, I canvased the neighborhood for the Kidney foundation for years until I had a knee replacement...
4)i have no idea where my parent found the name Marilyn. I think I was born before Marilyn Monroe was famous but it doesn't matter i have always liked the name - my nickname is Mare.
5) we picked up a drawl while in Kansas for many years, no accent from growing in upstate New York, and not accent here in Canada. Just plain old North American girl.
6) I write what I like to write about from the heart. I hope others will enjoy my stories. Do I consider it for just myself? No...
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
1 Dec 15
i looked up the 1949 hudson, wow, it's huge. winning it at a card game sounds like a story in itself.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
@troyburns It was a beast of a machine, the brakes weren't very good and we never found a repairman who could fix it completely so we gave it to my husband's brother so he would have wheels at college. He was there for just a year and then sold it. Have no idea how much he made on that sale... It was a great conversion starter.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
30 Nov 15
I like the joke best. My rant about not sending cards or gifts anymore was for me. Otherwise, I write for my audience (hoping I have one).
4 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace - There's not much point in ranting if you're not doing it for yourself. You're not going to convince anyone who disagrees with you, but it does feel cathartic. Glad you liked the joke - more are on their way!
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
1 Dec 15
@troyburns The rant was helpful. It allowed me to "dump" the unhappy thoughts and let me find support and good ideas.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
30 Nov 15
I don't have a favorite household chore, but I do love trash day. It is a wonderful feeling to have all that rubbish carried off, never to return. I do remember my first car, it is still my favorite. I wouldn't put a Y in Robin unless told to do so. I would like to be called Princess Caroline, but unfortunately, Grace Kelly was not my mother. I do a lot of accents and I don't even know why. I break into other languages at times. They say the medicine should take care of it. I don't know if I ever post for anyone but myself. I am very selfish. I liked, found amusing, enjoyed, delighted in and giggled at your joke.
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@Rollo1 - I suppose by 'favorite chore' I really mean 'least unfavorite'. (Does that even make sense?) Will Princess Anja do? Looking forward to your first post written in tongues.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
30 Nov 15
1/. laundry - I like knowing my clothes are clean again 2/. I can't drive 3/. I had a bath in mushy peas for charity - photo enclosed 4 happy with my name 5/. I can do Irish, 6/. always for readers/listeners
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
@arthurchappell - Okay, you win. The bath in mushy peas is outstanding! Is there an easier accent to imitate than an Irish one?
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
30 Nov 15
My, you're missing something to do with food.
3 people like this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
1 Dec 15
@troyburns lol.. I read pancake soups.. now that's interesting!
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
@Drosophila - It's a major oversight considering that the most popular item - by far - in my last soup post was something about pancakes. I won't make that mistake again!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
30 Nov 15
bless yer heart :) here't this place, ya could'a prolly divided this into 6 diff'rent discussions, lol.
1. a fav fer household chores? shampooin' carpets.
2. blue nova super sport - nameless
3. a kissin' booth....ne'er 'gain!
4. ah, what's'n a name anyhow? most folks dunno my name 'n i've found i answer to most anythin' :)
5. i used to do several english accents, scottish 'n a touch'f irish. theses days those seem to elude me, though i do tend to go country hoppin' when the barometric pressure changes - jest've no control o'er such.
6. i jest dribble :)
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
30 Nov 15
@troyburns i hear ya, hon. my mind spins outta control most oft 'n sometimes ya jest gotta get'em out.
the kissin' booth fiasco?? 'bout 10 years 'go 'twas the last'un...all i can say's some fella's need to practice a bit more dental hygiene! 'n bathe...
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx - I have too many things to write about to divvy them up. I did a check recently - I've only written 30 something posts but they contain about a hundred discussion ideas. I'm trying to imagine you in a kissing booth. Care to admit how long ago this was?
4 people like this
@JudyEv (381741)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx - You are so wrong! You don't dribble! Not at all! I never want to hear you write that again! I don't think I've ever seen or heard of a kissing booth. That could be pretty gross.
3 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
30 Nov 15
#5. I haven't lived in a lot of places other than Guam and California. However, I find I can do accent impersonations quite well. It only takes a few minutes of listening to someone and I'm rattling off in that dialect, unintentionally. I find the same problem with my writing. So I don't mix reading and writing very often because then my POV isn't what it needs to be.
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@just4him - What was life in Guam like? I don't think I've seen any writing from you about those times. I hadn't thought about impersonating other authors,but it's a really good point. I think my own style (if I have one) has been influenced by a few people I read and respect.
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Dec 15
@troyburns We were there for 16 months. It's tropical so it was always warm to hot. The humidity lasted until the first rain of the day. I enjoyed Guam. It's over populated by toads and giant snails. The roads are made of coral and cool to the touch, but very hard to walk on barefoot, something I like to do. The people were very friendly. We lived on top of a hill where we could see the Philippine Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Toads also covered the roads, that's how overpopulated the island is with them. I could look out on the backyard and see the lawn covered with them. Gecco's were also prevalent there. We lived in base housing. My two oldest children were three and four at the time and I was pregnant with my youngest when we left Guam. Someday I would like to return to Guam for a visit. One thing though it is very expensive. I was glad we could shop on base.
@JudyEv (381741)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
No 2: I had a mustard-coloured Datsun 180B at one stage too.
No 3: In my early 20s I rode my pony 170 miles in 10 days to raise money for instruments for a junior brass band I was conducting.
No 6: I think I write for myself but at the same time try to make it interesting to others.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
@JudyEv - After that pony ride, you were probably glad to have a job in the band that required you to stand up.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381741)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@troyburns Surprisingly it wasn't that hard although it got pretty hot from time to time.
2 people like this
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
1 Dec 15
OK, I'll do two:
#2. My first car was a 1947 Dodge Pick-up Truck. It was blue with black fenders. It had a visor over the windshield, and vacuum operated windshield wipers. If you've never seen them here's a video:
#5. I lived in Louisiana until I was 10. I've been in California ever since. Any trace of southern accent is gone, until I get around somebody who has one.
On our trip across "The Loneliest Road in America" US Hwy 50 from Ely to Fallon, Nevada
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
@norcal - Oh gosh Sherry. Those wipers would be a nightmare in New Zealand. How much of a culture shock was the move from Louisiana to California? I suppose at that age it doesn't mean so much - I was roughly the same age when the family moved from England to NZ.
1 person likes this
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
1 Dec 15
@troyburns actually, the move was memorable. We were in small town, cental Louisiana, and moved to Los Angeles. Everything was different, the land, the air and the people.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 15
Other people might have made six posts out of this, one for each question.
1. I hate all household chores.
2. I had a tiny two seater, left hand drive Fiat - no name.
3. Well done on getting your head shaved, I've only rattled a bucket.
4. I'd have just left the t off the end of Janet. Jane sounds much better.
5. I can only do a Birmingham accent.
6. I usually have an audience in mind. After all, I want people to read it.
Loved the joke
.
1. I hate all household chores.
2. I had a tiny two seater, left hand drive Fiat - no name.
3. Well done on getting your head shaved, I've only rattled a bucket.
4. I'd have just left the t off the end of Janet. Jane sounds much better.
5. I can only do a Birmingham accent.
6. I usually have an audience in mind. After all, I want people to read it.
Loved the joke
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18025)
• Torrington, Connecticut
6 Dec 15
I'm surprised you got away wit h that title for the post lol
@totobasso (330)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
I think you have many topics that could and should have a separate post. But that's just what I think!
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
@totobasso - You're right Toto, but I love the range of comments these posts receive. I see too many posts where everyone is saying the same thing so I try to avoid that. If you're game, you could roll a dice and respond to the topic with the corresponding number. Silly, but fun.
1 person likes this
@totobasso (330)
• Canada
2 Dec 15
@troyburns I understand! You are a wise one after all.
1 person likes this
