Curiosity Over Pride (FYI: To comment, send an e-mail to scifidink@gmail.com)

Monday, August 3, 2009

Stuff and Culture Shock

We are getting ready to do major redecorating in our house.
That means... tidying up, putting things away, taking things apart, etc.
In recent years, I have slowly come to the realization that the 30 glorious years, as they are called over here, resulted in, and are still resulting in, a phenomenal amount of accumulation of all kinds.
Objects, both cheap and expensive.
Paper.
Paper...WORK.
Mementos. Photographs, old ones, most often stuffed into a shoe box and passed on with little or no identification or explanation.
Stuff.
Our ancestors didn't have to worry about these kinds of problems because they just didn't have all of our STUFF. Most of their clothes fit into ONE armoire ; maybe two or three dresses for everyday, and Sunday best, that was it.
A physical law, Thai : the MORE stuff you have, the MORE time you have to spend finding a place for it, and putting it away.
And we are faced with... our parents' considerable accumulation (mine are both dead, so I have accumulated inheritance, which has advantages and disadvantages...) in addition to our own.
When I landed over here, in Froggy country, I took a cold shower : I had to condense all of my already too considerable STUFF into dimensions that were much more reduced than American ones. This was, and still IS, incredibly painful.
Americans spread out. Europeans... can't, you know. Not even really in the country, where things are nevertheless easier.
Another cold shower. When you move into a French house, generally speaking, it is EMPTY. Like, I mean empty. No cabinets, no appliances, no convenience, no nothing. And since the French STILL do not move around the way the Americans do, I took another cold shower realizing that my parents' moves every six years or so ensured that major repairs NEVER needed to be done, so... I never learned how to do them.
Well, these days "décroissance" is looking better and better. Fewer things.
That's not going to do the spendthrift economy any good, is it ? LOL

34 comments:

SS said...

Redecorating - what style modern, Danish, French country, Italian? I'm fascinated by interior design. Please give us the low down.

SS

Thai said...

What is "décroissance"?

And agreed, it won't help the economy. But I don't really care tonight... I got another hepatitis C needle stick (it has actually been quite a few years since my last one).

I was suturing the laceration of a prisoner with tattoos from head to toe AND hepatitis C (he had handcuffs and shackles and they made the geometry of suturing him a little difficult) when I accidentally poked myself in the left ring finger with the suture needle. It really hurt!

So now I have 10% risk of hepatitis C.

Oh well, it is part of the risk of my job. Wish me luck in 6 months (though the odds are on my side).

Not in the mood for cicadas tonight... Though I would love to see a few old family photos if you are willing to scan them in

Hope you are well ;-)

Debra said...

décroissance : I don't know how you say it in English.
Scaling down, maybe ?
Spending less AND better ?
I will keep you in my thoughts for your hepatitis. Keep us informed. You are courageous.
I will try to scan in old family photos, but I am a computer idiot.
Many excuses.
Cheers.

SS said...

@ Thai

Good luck with the not hepatitis! So sorry!

Decroissance is negative growth.

What kind of prisoner was it? What were his lacerations from?

SS

Dink said...

Too bad people can't specify on their organ donor cards that the liver has priority for the healthcare provider versus the guy who enjoys knife fights. I'm wishing your immune system good luck!

"That's not going to do the spendthrift economy any good, is it?"

But good for the Earth. I'm curious about the term "30 glorious years"; does it refer to married years/specific ages in an individual's lifespan/is it always 30?

"What kind of prisoner was it? What were his lacerations from?"

SS has a Caged Heat obsession *)

(I just made up that wink emoticon; I'm pretty damn proud)

Debra said...

The thirty glorious years refers to the thirty years following the end of WWII.
What are they called in English ?

SS said...

The Korean War, the Vietnam War, The Cuban missile Crisis, the war against Grenada, El Salvador and Nicargua, the First Gulf War, The Iraq War, the Cold War, The Afghanistan War, The Pakistan War, The Colombian War, The Drug War

or just WAR for short.

Thai said...

Deb, SS and Dink, thanks.

re: all those wars

I do like you SS. You are as much a cynic as I ;-)

Be well my friend.

PS- I can't share too many details of a patient care episode on a public blog. It has been deemed by the powers that be as a violation of patient confidentiality. Sorry. I will see if I can get you other stories of caged heat.

I think I can add however that this particular patient encounter was not very colorful. Sometime they truly are, but not this time. :-(

Debra said...

Hey, you guys, I have just one criticism here.
I stick my stuff on this blog to engage US.
In MY opinion, at least, there is STUFF to think about in the above piece. Why not engage with my STUFF ?
This is like, CLINICAL experience, Thai. There's a lot that can be done with it, if you try.
We don't have to start with theories to engage...

Debra said...

And Thai, I think that you have misread SS. He is not a cynic AT ALL in my book...

Debra said...

And by the way, Thai, I answered you in " A right to...". You might want to check it out...

Thai said...

Help me out here, as clearly SS understands your post better than I, are cold showers a reference to needing a dose of "reality check" periodically?

Dink said...

Deb,
Regarding your 1:42 post, you seem irritated with something I have done or have neglected to do. Please be assured that there was no intent to irritate you. Innocent by reason of obliviousness?

One thing I can say about STUFF (as I am interpreting the word) is that books are difficult. They count as STUFF in that they are physical objects and are heavy, but I have trouble in getting rid of them in that I'm attached to the learning I acquired from them. A lot of Americans have storage lockers because their homes and garages are packed. Weird.

Debra said...

Culture shock is a cold shower.
Dink, people in France don't use those lockers very much. Like, professional movers over here are very... unprofessional too. I think that lockers probably cost a fortune over here too. Everything used to be much more expensive anyway. But it looks like you're catching up in terms of cost of living...
Yeah, I guess I was kind of irritated as I am an armchair philosopher. I think about EVERYTHING. (Well, almost...)
The theoretical point of STUFF is that it is made of objects that are not counted.
Like, does this mean that they... DON'T COUNT ?
For many years I did not consider that spending money on books COUNTED. It was like books did not have a price tag.
For a while there, I got suddenly ashamed of this idea, like; the reality check idea.
But then, recently I have thought... yes, that's true, books have KNOWLEDGE in them, they contain ... that can't be counted and shouldn't have a price tag.
That's what I mean about philosophizing.
And you will notice that in our language we make this difference.
You can see it in "much" and "many".
"much" is not counted, but "many" is.
Comments ?
So... our language is turning a lot of "many" things into "much" things. when "many" becomes "much" it also becomes somewhat undifferentiated too. It loses form and definition.
Are WE moving from "many" to "much" ?
Comments ?
This has advantages and disadvantages...

Thai said...

Culture shock is a form of reality check I guess.

Remember, for me it is all fractal and I think as a deconstructionist who like to play with erector sets

So there is reality as we imagine it, reality as we see it, reality as we understand it, reality as we experience it, etc...

And I guess all of these get there forms of shock periodically

... Indeed this is a fun one that makes its way around the internet re: reality as we see it and is a classic example of "in order to make something useful, we make it wrong" (this particular example of "wrong" concerns optical heuristics and lateral inhibition or link 2)

Would you share some memorable shocks?

I think a life without closets would be quite hard. I too have too much stuff and would throw much- but not many *) - away if I weren't so lazy on this issue

And SS, when you mean negative growth can you clarify a little as this can still mean a lot of different things to me

Thai said...

SS, another link on the genetic basis of morality I thought you might find interesting.

Regards

SS said...

@ Debra
As for engagement I'm still trying to find out what style your new decor will be, remembe,r I like design.

Once jilted twice shy so how about the skinny (American for dope, or relevant info., if you've forgotten) on the decor.

@ Thai- negative growth an economics term used to mean the quantity of production goes down (e.g., is less) in period two than period one when they are sequential in time.

SS

Thai said...

Thans SS.

Deb, so today is my first day off in a while. I am in the Jiffy Lube getting my car's oil changed (now that is negative growth!) and this guy sits next to me reading a book titled "Did someone say Totalitarianism?" which was apparantly written by a Lacanian philosopher (if I got that right).

Odd how subjects one never thinks of/discusses cluster, no?

And I agree with SS, share the decor details already

Debra said...

Geez, you guys, don't get all worked up. I'll share the decor stuff when there's SOMETHING to share...
I am an incredibly LAZY person. And I woke up two years ago to discover that MY HUSBAND was also incredibly lazy and apragmatic (like me) too.
You're supposed to have complementary mates. I fucked up, but it's too late now, and I've gotten used to my other half.
For the time being we have peeled the wall paper off and wiped down the walls. Period. I'll let you know when SOMETHING exciting happens, promise.

SS said...

You need a decorating plan. You can't just start re-decorating without a concept. Hate to sound so well anglo-saxon but that's the way it is. Stop everything once the wall paper is off and start shopping and visualizing. You can't get decorating right piece by piece. It's not like adding ingredients and tasting a sauce. It's holistic.

SS

Thai said...

SS- our Whoppie Goldberg of a socialists. *)

Personally I like a mix of feng shui and fractal design all mixed together at the same time... Of course my wife would have none of it so we live in something that is a cross between a colonial (for her) and arts and crafts (for me)

... Come to think on it, would that be a kind of "bio-Islamic" design??


... Couldn't find anything on this except this.

Is there "bio-Islamic", or is that a sin...

... Maybe they call it something else???

SS said...

Thai, those designs are trulie fantastic; you should do your house in those or at least have one prominently displayed. Any idea how he does it.

I'd ask what a Whoopie Goldberg socialist is but I'm not suer I want to know; peace and love.

SS

Debra said...

Yeah, well SS you hit one my WEAKEST point. Damn.
I am not good at all at going about things the way that you do, you know, stopping and visualizing.
The "fractal" mindset has its drawbacks, Thai...
Like, in a fractal mindset it is very very difficult to NOT act as though the whole was indeed the whole from the outset, and not a JUXTAPOSITION of separate little parts.
Even though this is very very true, I agree.
But, haven't you noticed that it's not because you WANT to be a certain way that you manage to do it ?
I have ideas of what I want to do, but no firm, realized picture, and this is not so bad too.
To use a comparison : when I go to the supermarket, or the market, I never draw up a list ahead of time, because if I did, then I couldn't take advantage of what's there when I get there.
So, making it up as you go along is not so bad either, right ?
Thai, I checked out the links, and am perplexed : this is to give me WHAT KIND of decorating ideas ? Like, pictures, or what ? Be more specific, please.
And I don't really know Whoopie Goldberg, so... no comment.

Debra said...

Oops, I screwed up. Above should read : it is very difficult to act as though the whole was indeed the whole from the outset, and not a juxtaposition of separate little parts.

Dink said...

1)"Would you share some memorable shocks?"
2)"I'll share the decor stuff when there's SOMETHING to share"

(These are both ripe tangents to fly off on, but time is not abundant today.)

1a. A picture of the Milky Way with Sol identified in the obscure backwater. And then a shot of several galaxies with the Milky Way as just one of an incomprehensible many.
1b. A chart of Earth's population growth; the last couple decades having a frightening spike.
1c. Realizing my pets live better than my ancestors did. Viva science!
1d. Realizing that perception makes reality. And that a hell of a lot of factors go into perceptions besides genes and experiences.
(Man, we should have a whole "shock" posting session)
2a. During the bubble a cable channel called HGTV showed all sorts of decor/architecture porn. There really were some amazing "before and after" examples. One of the best was this Brit interior designer who would go into homes where couple's just couldn't agree on how to decorate a room; in one episode a guy took a sledgehammer to a bathroom but they then couldn't decide on how to reconstruct it so they ignored the room for seven years.
2b. Another show taught cluttered Americans how to clean up. A team of people went to their houses and put EVERYTHING out on the lawn/driveway. Then the couple had to identify items as keep or donate. It looked really cathartic. I'd be willing to do it, but <1/2 would be appalled *)
2c. Regarding SS's holistic design, I have to agree and disagree. Our big furniture itmes (couches/tables) are nice and "go together", but the non-functional items have no rules. In the living room we have a big Grecian urn with a Balinese sun umbrella (too nice for outside) in it, a penguin statue, a bronze armillary, and a wooden train set amongst other things.

SS said...

To visualize better -

Visualizing is like learning a language except rather than auditory, its visual. Start with the home deco shows, the last time I was in France they were all the rage like here. They show a space being transformed, both before and after. This is important because for most of us a visual experience is like a given, we can not imagine it any other way; it's how it is. But once it's changed it different. After seeing this a few times try and do it in the minds eye. Change the color on the walls, pieces of furniture, try to deal imaginatively with an impediment in a space, like adding or taking down a half-wall. Than start shopping. Before buying come back and try out the concept in the room in your imagination. Finally, it's a lot of fun. Like LSD without the drug.

SS

Thai said...

re: "Like, in a fractal mindset it is very very difficult to NOT act as though the whole was indeed the whole from the outset, and not a JUXTAPOSITION of separate little parts."

I tend to not think so but I am the first to admit I may have blinders on. Again, I tend to use the floors of a building analogy. It simply becomes a matter of what floor you want to get off at when you are discussing a particular subject.

Though there can be a bit too much of the "I have heard this before" ;-)

Debra said...

Like your comments, Dink. I agree with most.
They are an example, in my book, of expanding scientific knowledge and its effect on our collective narcissism. (Narcissism, by the way is a GOOD thing, and essential to perceiving ourselves as good, interesting, helpful, altruistic, in my book...) We USED to be the certain of THE universe. Now we are having a hard time being the center of OUR universe. Too bad...
SS, the glitch in your scenario is the phrase "then you go out and go shopping..." I am trying to keep the "go out and go shopping" to a strict minimum. Because I am naturally CHEAP and STINGEY. And because to rationalize it, I have come up with the decroissance (not negative growth, that is an extremely unpoetic oxymoron...) rationale.
Plus, going out and going shopping keeps me from my other activities, like CLEANING, GARDENING,WASHING, READING, PLAYAING THE PIANO... I have enough unread books to open a bookstore.
As for the imagining part, yes, I recognize that this is very good advice. I am trying to develop my imagination in this area. But, once again, imagining in this area takes time away from... imagining in other areas, doesn't it ?
Maybe not... Maybe this is just.... my imagination...
Hey, you guys, I hope that you have noticed that MARCUS is reading our blog. He BETRAYED himself, but I'm not going to tell him how I know, as he's probably still reading.
Welcome, Marcus.
Why don't you come out of the closet (lol) and play ?

Dink said...

LURKERS!!!! Log on and provide entertainment. In-laws in town this weekend so I can't comment, but I can sneak a few moments to read snarky haikus, view pet pictures, etc. One of the regulars can provide instructions on how to comment....

Debra said...

Awwwwww. I think I'm wrong... That was Thai's comment on Sudden Debt that I attributed to Marcus, that's all.
Is there really something special you have to do to comment ?
I've forgotten already...

SS said...

@ Deb

Not really,

You need to register a "profile" but these are very common and easy to do if you don't have one. recruit some French visitors who want to practice their English.

SS

Thai said...

Dink, sometimes fractals are so good at predicting things I am stunned. The clock is also fractal. Enjoy as much as I. ;-)

Thai said...

And Deb, I though I would pass this along as it is a wonderful example of in order to make things useful, we make them wrong.

The Crow Paradox... I think I would get a little paranoid as well if all those crows had a grudge on me.

PS- you need to go 1/2 way down the page to listen to the very short story (click on listen to the story)

Krulwich is such a national treasure

BellBookCandleSupply said...

Every feng shui philosophy has logic behind it. It attracts positive outcome that anyone desires. It proffers one's personal aspirations living the positive energy all throughout.
____________________
Tools & Gifts For Your Spiritual Practice

The Most Fabulous Objects In The World

  • Hitchhiker's Guide To The Universe trilogy
  • Lord of the Rings trilogy
  • Flight of the Conchords
  • Time Bandits

Followers