D.A. Cairns's Blog, page 34

The Silliness of Soulmates

Are you looking for Mr Right or Mrs. Right? Maybe you have had the good fortune to already have met them, and you are deliriously happy together. You've found your perfect match. The only one for you. Your soul mate.



I wonder how many soul mates have divorced over the years. How many have fallen out of love? How many have come to see that Mr or Mrs. Right was only such for a period of time, not forever and always. I will always love you. Always? Perfect match? Come on. Get serious.



Without wishing to throw a wet blanket over the multitude of starstruck lovers floating around the world on fluffy clouds which smell like strawberries, the fact is that fairy tales are the exception not the rule. Which isn't to say that we shouldn't believe in them, or even aspire to have them. We should, but we should also be realistic enough to accept that we may never find a perfect match, and we may have to settle for, a pretty damn good match. And sometimes, relationships go sour. 

I think the idea of a soul mate is a silly juvenile concept. What do you think?

Photo sources:
http://wojdylosocialmedia.com/soulmat...
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2...

Ravenous Rain

Quite a title, isn't it? A little incongruous perhaps, but here you are so I achieved my goal by getting your attention.

I get hungry a lot, but I don't eat a great deal in one sitting. Usually, eschewing seconds, and seldom partaking of dessert, I eat until I am comfortable. However, I do eat often, and that can be a real pain sometimes. Variety is the issue you see. Although I have my favourites, you can have too much of a good thing, so I need to find different things to satisfy my ravenousity (new word - don't you love language?) The other problem is timing. Much like toileting, eating is not always possible when the call arrives. Ah, what to do with those awful and overwhelming problems?

As for the rain, well it's been coming down non stop for two days here, and I'm over it. I like rain in small doses, and unaccompanied by cold and biting wind. My umbrella was destroyed yesterday and I am still morbidly distressed. That's enough now, thank you.

Any thoughts on hunger? Or rain?

Photo sources:
http://ezeedictionary.com/meaning/rav...
https://allergicauthor.wordpress.com/...

Quintessentially Quirky

With a great title like that, I am tempted to leave well enough alone. However, the subject of quaint habits and idiosyncrasies dovetails perfectly with the title of my blog, Square Pegs. We're all just a little bit odd in one way or another, aren't we? Don't we all have funny little practices and affectations? Haven't we all felt our distinctiveness (positive connotation) or weirdness (negative connotation) from time to time? Isn't there just a whiff of Square Peg about each one of us?


Yes. We are individuals; products of both genetics and environment, prone to all manner of esotericism. ( No, I didn't intend to write eroticism- that subject is coming up later in the challenge.) Unique, fresh, one of a kind. 



Rejoice fellow humans in the abundant psychological and physical diversity of our species, and fear not that you occasionally feel like you don't belong. This is not our true home...it's temporary, and for that reason, queer little behaviours do not really matter in the overall scheme of things.

Quirk up my brothers and sisters! Quirk on! Do you have any quirks you'd like to share?

Photo sources:
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/ka...
http://oldpeoplelol.com/quirky-old-pe...

Private health insurance Problems

Yesterday, I was in hospital again for a planned procedure. Hopefully that will be the end of the matter which started with my visit to the emergency room nearly a month ago. Ambulance Action It was my third admission, and due to the fact that my hospital admission excess of $500 is capped at $1000 per year, I did not have to pay this time. That's good. (So was the sandwich which broke an 11 hour fast, when I woke up after surgery.)

Of course I still have to pay for the surgeon, and as he charges above the scheduled fee, there will be a gap between what Medicare pays, what my health insurance pays, and the total cost. Ah, the dreaded gap. If you think private health insurance will cover everything? Think again.

[image error] Two more examples will suffice: I am booked in for another procedure next month (unrelated to previous misadventures). I was offered the choice to have it done in the surgeon's room, under local anaesthetic, or in hospital under general anaesthetic. The procedure costs $708. If I do it in the surgeon's room, I am considered an 'outpatient' and my health insurance won't pay anything. If I choose hospital, I am an 'inpatient' and the insurance will pay about $100. Medicare will pay just over $100 regardless. Either way, I am left once again will a gap fee.

My final example is orthodontia. When asked to explain why they would only pay half of the $7000 bill for my daughter's orthodontic treatment, the insurance company representative said that orthodontia was 'complicated'. What a cop out! What they meant was that they didn't want to pay for it.

Is private health insurance worthwhile? The above examples, and others I could cite would suggest perhaps not. If I paid myself the monthly premium, and put it into a health fund for myself instead of swelling the coffers of the insurance company, would I be any better or worse off? I wonder.


On the plus side, I do get two free pairs of glasses per year, I get pretty good rebates on dentist fees, and if I need to go into hospital I don't have to go on a long waiting list. There is also no charge for ambulance services.

For around $250 per month for me and my family, I think it's probably worth it. What do you think?

Photo source:
http://www.medindia.net/patients/insu...

Oh my God! OMG! Oh my God!

It is the most overworked, overused, annoying phrase in the universe. It is a contagion, a pandemic. A blight on the shiny surface of the beautiful English language. A cheap, meaningless misappropriation of words, used to express everything from mild surprise or disapproval, to extreme elation or disgust. It is the socially acceptable and ubiquitous equivalent of the F bomb, in all its splendid variety. It is...oh my God, I have to write it again...Oh my God!

I detest this expression, and despite the frequency with which I hear it nowadays, I still cringe when it invades my ears.

Is there any cure? Can anything be done to stop the spread of this disease, to inoculate oneself against infection? I fear not. Woe is me!

I never use 'God' except when I am talking to him, or about him.

That felt good. Any comments, precious readers?

The Necessity of Nastiness

An old song by Nick Lowe once proclaimed that you had to be cruel to be kind. Referencing the adage that love sometimes has to be tough, the lyrics stated such love was a good sign. Of what? I presume that it was real love. The Switchfoot song, "Yet", declares that "if it doesn't break your heart, it isn't love. If it doesn't break your heart, it isn't real. If it doesn't break your heart it's not enough."

Is being nasty the same as being cruel, or even tough for that matter? That is the question I am posing.

People can be very nasty, especially when they are upset, and nastiness can be very hurtful. Tough love can be painful too, but surely there's a difference between speaking hard words of truth, or acting in a superficially unloving way, in order to truly love someone, and simply being spiteful. Love desires the highest good for its object. Love wants what is best. Undoubtedly, this requires some very stern, even hurtful words, on occasion.

I suppose it depends on the intent. What motivates the nastiness? I'm not a mean person, I never deliberately try to injure people with my words. It isn't likely that anyone would confess to being nasty, but we have all met nasty people. Bullies are nasty but they aren't motivated by anything even remotely resembling love. People say nasty regrettable things when they are tired, stressed or angry, but it isn't with the intention of somehow ultimately displaying some kindness, is it?

A distinction between nastiness or cruelty, and tough love must be drawn. Is nastiness necessary? Ever? Do you have to be cruel to be kind? What do you think?



Photo source:
https://traciecarlos.wordpress.com/20...

Mad about Motorbikes

One day, when my son was about six months old, and we were travelling along in the mighty Holden Kingswood, I heard a distant thunder. Thirty seconds later, it became a raucous roar, right beside us, which frightened my son sufficiently to make him cry. It did not last long, thank God, but long enough to cause me to rue the invention of the Harley Davidson: the source of the noise pollution. 



Why is it that cars are not allowed to have noisy exhaust systems, but motorbikes are? Can't someone design a quieter muffler for motorbikes, or is the noise part of the attraction? Are they supposed to be annoying? Are they designed to attract attention?

I once got booked by police for undue noise because my tyres squealed a little (maybe it was a lot) when I did a U-turn. A tiny hole in the exhaust pipe can prevent the issuing of a road worthiness certificate for a car because of concerns over noise pollution. How come the noise pollution generated by motorbikes is acceptable? I mean, they are seriously loud, right?



Actually, I have nothing against motorbikes except that I don't like them. The comfort and convenience of a car has always held far greater appeal. You can't have a conversation on a motorbike, listen to your favourite tunes, eat a sandwich, turn on the heater or air conditioner, nor carry your family around or the 'truckloads' of associated equipment and supplies. And when it rains you get wet!

What do you think of motorbikes? Love them or hate them? Share your thoughts.

Lazy Litterbugs

Leaving the cinema recently, I could not help but notice all the empty cups left in cupholders, and all the various wrappers left on the seats or on the floor. As I left, I placed my rubbish in the large bin conveniently positioned near the exit, and said to my friend, in a nice, loud voice, 'What's so hard about that?' It was an audacious protest against laziness which sadly fell only upon the ears of my companion.

I wonder if those who left their rubbish behind do the same thing in their homes.
I'm a neat person. I try not to spill things, and generally to minimise mess. I put garbage in garbage bins. I'm responsible with my waste, and I think  most people are, but there are enough litterbugs to successfully deface the landscape, to disgrace the surface of our planet and to compel me to write this blog post of complaint against them.
What's so hard about carrying your rubbish to the nearest bin and putting it in? Is it really too much of  a strain to carry an empty can or cup ten metres to the provided receptacle? And car tossers? Don't get me started. I've seen all sorts of crap thrown from car windows. I used to live on a main road and wake up every morning to a new collection of fast food wrappers, cigarette packets and empty bottles on my front lawn.
I could go on forever about this, in fact, I did just that in my first ever book (unfortunately and unbelievably unpublished) What's Your Problem? Anyway, let me finish by saying, that if you are a lazy slob at home, that's your choice, but if your laziness extends into the public sphere, you should reconsider your sloth and carelessness for the greater good. Do the right thing! See instruction on the right.
Do you have any examples of the laziness of litterbugs to share on Square Pegs?

Kingly Kids

Of course I am not going to complain about children. Children are wonderful...generally speaking. They are a source of both agony and ecstasy, and everything in between for parents, but I believe that children are our future. (sorry about that: I couldn't help myself.)

There are nearly 4 trillion blogs devoted to children but Square Pegs is not one of them. However, this is a whingefest and we all complain about children. Our own children. Other people's children. Even the cutest of kids can be pretty annoying so they are worthy of inclusion in this themed blogging challenge.


Specifically, I want to complain about kids who act like, and/or are treated like kings. The television channel must be changed to appease the child. A toy must be purchased to meet its demands. A separate meal must be prepared to ensure the child eats. An inconvenient trip to the supermarket is necessary to satisfy its requirements. Detours and pit stops on road trips. White flags to nagging. I could go on.

Children should be taught that they are important but, and it's a big but, they must also learn their place. Children who are treated like royalty grow into brats, and brats terrorise us all. Little brats become big brats, and the world has enough brats already. (Also I have used the word 'brat' enough already.)

Advice to parents: Dads should be kings, mums should be queens and children should be children, and do what they are told.

What is your opinion of children who think the world revolves around them? What of parents who allow their children to rule their lives?

Photo sources and further reading:
http://mochadad.com/2009/03/10-signs-...
http://blog.choremonster.com/choremon...

Jocularity and Jokes

Jokes can be jocular, and many people do find them amusing. However, I am a Square Peg and I am here to confess that, generally speaking, I do not find jokes funny. I do have a sense of humour, but I just don't usually laugh at jokes. Even if I think it's a funny joke, and that is rare regardless of how well told the joke is, the best response I can muster is a smile. And truth be told, that smile is often only a courtesy smile.

What do I find funny? Before I stun you with revelations about what makes me laugh, I must share with you a story from the Aboriginal Dreamtime about the great frog, Tiddalik who was so thirsty one morning that he drank all the water in the world and caused a global drought. All the animals got together to discuss how to solve the problem. Wise old Wombat suggested that if Tiddalik could be made to laugh, then he would spew out all the water he had consumed. 

They all had a crack at cracking Tiddalik, including Kookaburra who told him a joke, but all of them failed. Finally it was Nabunum the Eel who, with a crazy, contorted dance caused the great Frog to burst out in laughter, and thus gushed forth all the water he had consumed to replenish the land. read the full story here

What makes me laugh? Things that I find funny. Whata surprise! And there a lots of them, just not jokes.

A challenge then to visitors and regulars alike: tell me a joke and make me laugh. Keep them clean please. Anything which offends me will be deleted. (After all, it's my blog.)

Photo sources:
http://museumvictoria.com.au/about/me...
http://rosnay.com.au/laughter-is-the-...