A Comedy of Errors; Insults Provided by Computer Guru Chris; No Dogs in My Building; The Shakespeare Play; Poilievre Proven a Phony; Learning From Making a Mistake; Photos of a Sign and a Bunny Family  

This morning has been a Comedy of Errors. I am breaking my Ramadan fast today – this is possible to do if one makes it up afterwards. Did not intend on doing this it just happened because I lost track of time and had only five minutes to eat before sunrise and I had not offered my Fajr prayer. 

In the midst of the early morning, found an old email – under an archived mailbox. I have GOT to get my email organized – should have made that one of my Intentions for Ramadan. Therein the archived mailbox  I found a totally, hilariously funny email sent by Computer Guru Chris. It shall make you laugh I am sure. This blog needs a little lightening up – it is becoming entirely too serious. 

He: These insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.

Me: Hahaha Thanks they are going on the blog 

1. “He had delusions of adequacy ” Walter Kerr

2. “He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”- Winston Churchill

3. “I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure. – Clarence Darrow

4. “He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”-William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

5. “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

6. “Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.” – Moses Hadas

7. “I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” – Mark Twain

8. “He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” – Oscar Wilde

9. “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one.” -George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

10. “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.” – Winston Churchill, in response

11. “I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here” – Stephen Bishop

12. “He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” – John Bright

13. “I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” – Irvin S. Cobb

14. “He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” – Samuel Johnson

15. “He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up. – Paul Keating

16. “He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.” – Forrest Tucker

17. “Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” – Mark Twain

18. “His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” – Mae West

19. “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” – Oscar Wilde

20. “He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support rather than illumination.” – Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

21. “He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.” – Billy Wilder

22. “I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But I’m afraid this wasn’t it.” – Groucho Marx

23. The exchange between Winston Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, “If you were my husband I’d give you poison.” He said, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”

24. “He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.” – Abraham Lincoln

25. “There’s nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won’t cure.” — Jack E. Leonard

26. “They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.” — Thomas Brackett Reed

27. “He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them.” — James Reston (about Richard Nixon) —Robert L Truesdell

Love Beryl (and Us)!

Beryl is their dog. I do not like dogs. Would never mention this on Instagram as I would get a flurry of negative responses but you cannot get at me here. Love the safety and security of my blog. 

I, of course, wrote a response, to Beryl’s owners. (Beryl, a typical dog, cannot read and write, although some dog owners seem to think that they can) . 

Me: I send my love back to poor Beryl. She has been discriminated against. She has been denied admittance to this building because of her skin condition (furry) – color would be okay so it is not skin color. Also she has two too many legs and her ears are on top of her head. But she cannot help it – she was born that way. Poor Beryl – but she has a happy home. Well I hope she does anyway.  Love you guys a lot. 

Do realize that some readers may not believe that I live in a dog free apartment building. Particularly those living in California where everybody has dogs. Therefore, a photo of the sign, affixed to the door, shall be included.  

Trevor Noah does the funniest routine about dogs. Cannot quote him exactly as it was oral but am giving him credit, nonetheless. 

He: If there are creatures from outer space looking down, they certainly do think that dogs are in charge. They see humans walking behind them, scrambling to pick up their feces. They have dogs on leashes but, who is leading whom? 

Why are there fewer dogs in Edmonton. It takes real dedication to go out in minus 38 degree temperatures so your dog can go wee-wee. If the dog owners have big fenced yards they can just open the door and out they go. But this not possible in an apartment. It is a god send for dogs not to be confined to small apartment spaces. Canada works, the USA does not. Well, Canada works if something is done to prevent the ascent of Premier Danielle Smith.  I am doing my humble best. 

Comedy of errors does indeed describe my morning. It is an event or series of events made ridiculous by the number of errors that were made throughout. “Comedy of Errors” is, of course, a Shakespearean play. Google tells us more. “The “Comedy of Errors” is a play inextricably linked with the notion of identity and mistaken identities. Of course, it is a story about two sets of identical twins existing in one place at one time. Yet the theme of identity is not only explored comically in the play. The “Comedy of Errors” has all the elements of a Shakespearean comedy – there’s a conflict, some resolution, confusion is cleared up, families and lovers get reunited, and it’s also funny.” 

There is more analysis of the play. “ The theme of losing and finding oneself goes hand in hand with the comedic mistakes as well as coincidences that occur throughout the play. Much of “The Comedy of Errors” is about mistaken identity and the search for true identity.” 

Actually when I look at my life objectively, it has been a Comedy of Errors. A series of mistaken identities and a constant search for my true identity. It seems as if I have found it now – but who knows?? Well, Allah (SWT) does, I do hope the word gets passed down to me somehow. Hahaha.

I once had a postcard that said something like: I learn so much from the mistakes I make, I guess I am just going to keep making them. That seems to be my modus operandi. Modus operandi is a particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established. Goodness knows,  my making mistakes is well-established. Hahaha It is my MO, style, course of action, methodology, strategy, plan, formula, recipe and practice. I readily admit it. 

But I learn from them. Many people, in fact most people, cannot admit they made a mistake in the first place. They justify the most stupid of behaviors or in the alternative, become a victim and blame others for the mistakes actually they made themselves.

Alter Ego: Alexis, what is a mistake you make time and time again?

Me: I trust people too readily. Then they end up using me, taking advantage of me. 

Alter Ego: So what do you do about that? Stop trusting people?  Feel sorry for yourself?

Me: Neither. I just say to myself. It was a mistake trusting that person. I then get them out of my life entirely or make it impossible for them to use me anymore. 

Alter Ego: Does that work for you? 

Me: Yes. Some people are so usurious – if they cannot use you they move on and find someone else to use.  That is their modus operandi. 

Alter Ego: Okay, That is better than not trusting people. 

Me: Of course. Some people are trustworthy and can be given a chance. I get over people that use me instantly. They disappear – within five days it is as if they did not exist. 

Alter Ego: Really? 

Me: Yes! I have proof. Last year during Ramadan I kept a diary of my Intentions and the various things that happened on a daily basis. I found out that this guy whose fake name was Rashid was using me. Saying he would marry me. So I caught him in a lie – dumped him and five days later said, “It is as if Rashid did not exist.” 

Alter Ego: Was that helpful? 

Me: Extremely. It left me free and with the energy to make plans to get out of the UAE quickly. Within days made plans to get on an Etihad Airlines which was across the street from the Abu Dhabi Premier Inn. Climb on board and flash my Canadian passport when I arrived on the safe shores of my homeland. 

Alter Ego: Good work! 

Me: Not entirely as I landed at Pearson airport in Toronto. What a mess!! However, I learned from that mistake and when I went to Mecca flew Qatar Air from Montreal. It was so easy. Stayed at an airport hotel in Montreal. It was a breeze!  

Alter Ego: I see how that works. 

Me: Well, have to admit that living in the UAE was a mistake. But I now see Abu Dhabi as being an Edmonton Appreciation Course. I LOVE it here, more sp because I experienced the difficultyl of being there and so appreciate the good that is here – both the government and the people. I have a goal of helping make the government better as there are serious threats to our democracy by people like Premier Danielle Smith and that federal Buffon Pierre Poilievre. He came to Edmonton for a fund raiser, learned about it from AB Today. “The Alberta Enterprise Group is hosting a reception with Conservative party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre at the Royal Glenora Club. Attendance at the event requires a minimum of $1,00 donation,, but paying the maximum of $1,700 is encouraged.”

Alter Ego: What does that say about good government?

Me: Pierre pictures himself as ‘a common folk’, a ‘regular guy’. He is a joke! Holding an event at the Royal Glenora Club – only the super rich can afford the membership. (Even I cannot, looked into it). Paying $1,000 to hear lies and misinformation, you must be joking!! It is necessary to live here, to be on the ground, to know what is going on. 

No more for today. I have energy this morning as I took a break from fasting. It does show, I am being pretty feisty. Feisty (of a person, typically one who is relatively small or weak) lively, determined, and courageous. Synonyms are: spirited, plucky, ballsy, gutsy, spunky. I have my favorites. Guess which ones they are. Hahaha 

The photographs are the NO DOGS in this building sign and my happy family. The Mummy Bunny from Alberta Craft Council whose given name is Alexis, the Daddy is my going away gift from S.A.S.S. and their little baby.  No siblings as yet. Hahaha