Jan15

Insulting Thoughtful One

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Insulting Thoughtful One
This is a now slightly-outdated picture of my Jiu-Jitsu card. Thoughtful One’s is far more impressive.

Thoughtful One arrived after me, and since I saw him coming, I grabbed his card from the box when I grabbed mine. His card was full save a few Fight Simulation boxes on the bottom.

I handed him his card and said, “Nice and full.”

“What?” he said, tossing his card onto the bench in a manner that made me think, “Ooookay.”

“Your card. It’s practically full.”

“Oh.” He relaxed. “I thought you were commenting on my stomach. I appreciate the honesty, but…”

I laughed. “Yeah, man, big breakfast or something?”

I would never be rude to any of these people, if not for self-preservation, for basic human decency, and because none of them give reason for rudeness.

~~~

When the gym had a Christmas party, I brought my son so he could play with the Little Instructors again like on our two park days. Thoughtful One brought his wife and, after introducing me to her, added, “She’s a novelist.”

We then lined up for a group photo, and I took a moment to let what he had said soak in. “Becoming a novelist has always been my dream,” was in my query letter to agents and publishers, explaining why I’m making the jump from nonfiction to fiction.

My dream was coming true, and this was the first time I’d heard myself referred to as a novelist.

Typical Thoughtful One.

He’s the one smiling as I’m being called up to get my Combatives belt.

Thoughtful One is a singer in a band with his wife and another guy. One night, his band was playing locally while Surfer Dude and Blue Belt’s band was playing downtown. Another guy from class, “Malcolm,” went first to SD and BB’s show, and then, along with SD and BB, hauled rear to make it back north to support TO at his show.

Aren’t these guys great? I love the camaraderie and supportiveness. I’m sorry I had missed both shows. I’m old and lame. One was too far; one was too late. Meh. Boo.

Malcolm is so named because when I found out he was a social psychologist, I brought up author Malcolm Gladwell, because I’m a nerd. We had a nice brief conversation about him.

I don’t have a picture to illustrate (you’re welcome), but, when rolling with Malcolm, I paused to say, “Awww, a smiley face.” Indeed, there was a sweat mark on the mat of two perfectly even short vertical lines above an upturned half circle.

When I pointed it out to Malcolm, he said, “Awww, it is.”

This from a bald giant with a nose ring. These people never cease to surprise and entertain me.

I’ve been AWOL from the blogosphere once again. It happens. I’m hoping to get back to reading y’all very soon. I’ve also been AWOL from…..

Dave pointed out that some people may not get this icon.

So, 1. What is this image from (besides my blog)?

2. Anyone else willing to admit to being a Gladwellphile?

3. The last question from December 10 (!) was: A Miami Vice episode, a Queens of the Stone Age song, a Fatboy Slim album, and an Olivia Wilde film all have this four-word title, a variant of an 1935 DuPont slogan. The answer: Better Living Through Chemistry.

4. And, finally, Bookstooge specifically asked for a question involving books. Shocker. It was not easy to find one, but here it is: In Stephen King’s Christine, the villain car is a 1957 Fury made by this automaker.

See you in the comments!

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78 responses »

  3. I was the Trivial Pursuit of our social circle in the 80’s. It got so bad no one wanted to play with me and they handicapped my game by making me answer two questions for every piece of pie. (And I still won!)
    Christine was a Plymouth. I know thus because
    1. I live in Stephen King country
    2. I used to drive my old boyfriend’s ‘77 Fury. What a tank.

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  5. I knew it was a Plymouth Fury because Christine, to me, is probably Stephen King’s scariest book. The movie was pretty cheesy though (and not in a good cheddar or muenster way).

    I wonder how many books one has to publish to be called a novelist. For that matter, do the books even have to be published? I have four dusty manuscripts tucked away in the back of the closet, none of which has (or ever will) see(n) the light of day.

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  12. I love how your mat mates support each other. Good question about becoming a “novelist.” With so many people self-publishing crappola, I think the moniker might be attached to some who may fall short (IMHO). Same with “Photographer” and (the dreaded) “Influencer,” to name just a few. I’m looking forward to reading your novel so I’m going with Novelist in your case. 🙂

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  13. Your group is indeed such a thoughtful group and the bond really shines through in your writing about them, even the unintended comments about weight. 😂

    Malcolm Gladwell is cool and I love his insightful writing.

    And I can imagine how nice it is to sink in the thought of being a novelist! 😊

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  16. Ahh…Trivial Pursuit was one of my favorite games of all time. Except if I got a sports or geography question. If Christine was a Fury then she had to be a Plymouth but I’ve never read the book or seen the movie.

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    • I was generally DOA on sports questions, but once I got one that I could actually figure out logically! The answer was tennis ball, and it won me the game. Triumphant moment! Good job on Plymouth, Herb! 🙂

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  17. I’m just now realizing Trivial Pursuit is 40 years old. Gah! I have fond memories of playing it while dating my husband. We made a good team because he knew the sports questions and I knew the literature ones.

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  18. There was a time when I was all in on Stephen King. Makes me wonder if his recent novels are as good as those gruesome tales from years gone by. Maybe I’ve simply outgrown the genre. As for the trivia (and thanks for the nod), I’m thinking Plymouth on the make; not because I remember “Christine” so well but because “Plymouth and “Fury” go together. Like “Ilsa” and “Novelist”.

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    • It has struck me as odd on a few occasions that I’m chatting and laughing with my a friend one moment, the next, we are actively trying to destroy each other. It is very strange. But it then ends again in laughs, smiles, fist bumps, and “good jobs.”

      Yep, it’s the ol’ Trivial Pursuit pie. Those of us of a certain age have no problem IDing it, but those youngin’s….

      Always a pleasure to see you, Wynne! 🙂

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  22. Ha, glad to see that I’m not the only one who’s been AWOL from the blogosphere. Though watching you kill it in these areas is making me want to get right back to the things we love. Good luck with the book, Betsy (can I still call you that)!

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