Thought of stream of consciousness, making it the writing style of the blog. This is because my mind is in turmoil – not bad turmoil but not exactly in a state of mind that might be called rational and orderly. Guess we gotta begin by defining some terms.
Stream of consciousness is a familiar term, the net result of over extensive schooling.
Me: I have more university degrees than ex-husbands. Four university degrees, three ex-husbands. I want to maintain that ratio – I am tired of going to school so not getting married again.
Alter Ego: That is funny!
Me: Perhaps but I am deadly serious. I can have guy friends but will wait for a long term solution.
Alter Ego: What is a long term solution?
Me: Become married in Jannah – it is forever and the date selection is much better.
Alter Ego: Sounds like a good plan.
Me: Thanks. I learn from my mistakes. I have learned SO much from my mistakes, that I am going to keep making them.
Alter Ego: Sounds like a good plan.
Me: Thanks, You are repeating yourself.
Alter Ego: Sorry!
Me: Its Okay – it was a compliment.
Stream of conscious is a literary style in which a character’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue. James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Marcel Proust are among its notable early exponents.This blog will be a stream-of-consciousness monologue” as I am the only one writing this thing. This is what somebody thought was a quick and simple definition; as you will see it is neither. ‘Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character’s extended thought process, often by incorporating sensory impressions, incomplete ideas, unusual syntax, and rough grammar.’
The most famous example, by far, of stream of consciousness writing is l “Ulysses” by James Joyce. My advice to you – do not bother to even try and read it.
Alter Ego: Why?
Me: You know the phrase – Try it, you just might like it?
Alter Ego: Well try to read it – trust me you will NOT like it.
This was the answer given to the question: Is stream of consciousness good or bad? “It can be helpful for brainstorming and getting rid of writer’s block. Some find it therapeutic to do stream-of-consciousness writing to explore their innermost thoughts and feelings. There are several reasons to use stream-of-consciousness writing. It can give the reader a glimpse into the character’s mind.” Do not know what to think about that answer.
Alter Ego: You don’t? Why?
Me: Well, first of all. I do not have writer’s block. I have writer’s diarrhea.
Alter Ego: What does that mean?
Me: I write constantly. This blog is living proof of that. Millions of words are found therein.
Alter Ego: Well you could use it so people get a glimpse into your mind.
Me: Well why would they ever want to do that?? Besides it is possible from my ‘ordinary’ writing – well perhaps ‘extraordinary’ writing. Hahaha
Alter Ego: Why are you laughing.?
Me: Because a Abu Dhabi taxi driver once said I was not ordinary but extraordinary. Synonyms of extraordinary are: exceptional, amazing, astonishing, astounding, marvelous, wonderful, sensational, stunning, incredible, miraculous, phenomenal, prodigious, spectacular; outstanding, momentous, impressive, memorable, never to be forgotten, unique, arresting, great, fantastic, tremendous, stupendous, awesome, amazeballs, out of this world, wondrous.
Another question was asked, “What are the dangers of stream of conscious writing?” The answer: The most important one is that it can end up being near incomprehensible to readers.
That is not a fear of mine.
Alter Ego: Why not?
Me: Readers will just stop reading. I do not care, I make no money from this blog and very rarely check in to have my statistics done.
Alter Ego: that is a good plan
Me: you repeating yourself again.
Alter Ego: Sorry
Me: Its okay.
If you really want to get bored reading something incomprehensible, faithful reader, go to Wikipedia’s stream of consciousness. The writing is most rational and ordinary, but actually incomprehensible.
Alter Ego: Why?
Me: It is complicated. People submit to them, they do not have regular writers. The editing is limited to citation review, it seems. So there are good writers and bad writers. I used to quote Wikipedia extensively, more recently I take the information, check the citations and rewrite in my own words. Takes more time but it is worth it as I am more readable and more truthful.
Alter Ego: More truthful?
Me: Yes. For example I have been writing about oil and gas reserves. Went to Wikipedia – there was a a citation claiming that Canada’s oil reserves are second only to Saudi Arabia’s. The citation was to an Alberta newsletter. I asked an expert in the field.
He: Oil reserves are as follows. Venezuela followed by Iraq. Thirdly Saudi Arabia . On the gas reserve issue.Russia comes first followed by Iran then Qatar, Saudi Arabia possibly fourth but definitely fifth. New gas discoveries in Saudi Arabia in Al Jafourah field is amazing. My expert is a Saudi man, worked for Aramco for years, retiring from his high level job a couple of years ago. Wikipedia is wrong, Canada’s oil reserves are nowhere and nothing. .
Alter Ego: Why are we talking about that? It is off topic
Me:An example of stream of consciousness writing.
Alter Ego: Okay.
At this precise moment in time it seems as if the world is my oyster The idiom has many meanings Its origins “The world is your oyster” is an idiom used to refer to the unlimited possibilities one has in front of them. It comes from the from Shakespeare’s comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, slightly misquoted. The actual quote is “The world’s mine oyster. If you have an oyster there is a chance that there may be a pearl in it, aa valuable addition to one’s life. Under very special circumstances it can also mean that the person is so influential, so powerful that he/she can be said to have the world in his/her possession,That person has a lot of choice in some matter, unlimited possibilities in front of them.
My life became blessed when I returned, on September 20, 2023 to Saudi Arabia. To live, although that was not my intent at the time. The Gaza Genocide made it impossible for me to return in safety to Canada. There have been curses as well as blessings, in Islamic terms, hardships as well as benefits. The hardships have been necessary for the benefits to come to fulfillment. This I see in retrospect, thinking back with reflection.
I shall share one shall example of blessings, there are SO many others. Saudi people are the kindest, the most hospitable, most caring people particularly in a smaller city the size of Khobar where the stresses and strains of urban life are minimized. Yesterday I took risked mt life, crossing over the ring roads to the Mall of Dhahran. Had such a blessed time there. Found very inexpensive on sale pajamas, an optical store fixed a pair of my glasses and cleaned them for free. The entire staff so welcoming, gave me two bottles of water without asking. I can now see what I have been missing. Hahaha. Walked along carefully, the marble like floors are rather slippery. Browsing about found a florist, spoke to the women of my love of flowers as reflected in twenty years of Ikebana. Went to the Apple Store, with help now have a Google account, I was having password problems. The poor technical assistant was most attentive. I am NOT a techie. Then to a Starbucks, visited it once before. I was enthusiastically welcomed, ordered an Americano and a yummy sandwich. Looked at my cup to see the most precious message.
When you look at the photo, read the message and weep, tears of joy, not sorrow.
The blessings continue to flow. The fellow guests in this hotel are, by and large, an amazing group of people. There are some real duds, absolute losers, but I shall not focus on them and they are long gone. Love the word dud, it has the best synonyms: washout, lemon, loser, no-hoper, nonstarter, dead loss, dead duck, lead ball. Two antonyms are success and genuine. One woman, from Jordon, was in Khobar staging a musical celebration at Ithra, enthusiastically invited me to attend. I did, Watar al Watan was nothing short of spectacular. The music, the staging, was sheer joy made for some of the best theater I have EVER seen. I travelled to London with a theatre group yearly for seven years, culminating in my living in the best venue for theatre for two and a half years – partaking while studying. There was much audience participation, singing Arabic songs. You shall see photos with of the stage. You can discern the words. Needless to say I did not sing along but I clapped like crazy. What an evening! I return to Ithra today for an entirely different experience. I will provide details so that you can live vicariously. I am truly blessed! Alhamdullah!
