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Deicide
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 1005
Location: Caput Imperii Americani
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 Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject: The Mideast Question: how do you or did you cope with living |
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only for your pay cheque?
Any stories or suggestions?
Do you just up your 'internet social life'? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Deicide,
In the 80s and early to mid 90s, LOTS of reading and social contact with colleagues.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, LOTS of reading, social contact with colleagues AND the Net.
But I'm the kind of person who doesn't seem to need a lot of outside diversions.
Four centuries ago, Blaise Pascal noted
"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room."
Regards,John |
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Deicide
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 1005
Location: Caput Imperii Americani
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear Deicide,
In the 80s and early to mid 90s, LOTS of reading and social contact with colleagues.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, LOTS of reading, social contact with colleagues AND the Net.
But I'm the kind of person who doesn't seem to need a lot of outside diversions.
Four centuries ago, Blaise Pascal noted
"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room."
Regards,John |
Very true. Even now, in my flat here, I get some reading done and after a while I get bored...that in the room thing I guess...
Then I better pray to the nonexistent gods that I have some decent colleagues. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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I don't live only for my paycheck. That sounds like a dreadful way to live.
Suggestions? Hobbies. A REAL social life. A slightly less pessimistic attitude (which would also help the social life). All of which are doable, even in the ME.
d |
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Deicide
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 1005
Location: Caput Imperii Americani
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| denise wrote: |
I don't live only for my paycheck. That sounds like a dreadful way to live.
Suggestions? Hobbies. A REAL social life. A slightly less pessimistic attitude (which would also help the social life). All of which are doable, even in the ME.
d |
Are there Germans and French in the Middle East so my languages skills don't go to pot? |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:31 am Post subject: |
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Yes, there are. At least in Oman.
d |
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Noor
Joined: 06 May 2009
Posts: 152
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:53 am Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Four centuries ago, Blaise Pascal noted
"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room."
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His Dutch contemporary, Spinoza, said much the same:
�The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak� |
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Citizenkane
Joined: 14 Jun 2009
Posts: 234
Location: Xanadu
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| "What is life, if, full of care, we have no time to sit and stare?" |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:18 am Post subject: |
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"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.
-Satchel Paige |
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ntropy
Joined: 11 Oct 2003
Posts: 671
Location: ghurba
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:30 am Post subject: |
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(1)
Water babbles to stone. Stone does not answer. --Tom Robbins
(2)
You don�t need to leave your room.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
Don�t even listen, simply wait.
Don�t even wait.
Be quite still and solitary.
The world will freely offer itself to you.
To be unmasked, it has no choice.
It will roll in ecstasy at your feet.
--Franz Kafka |
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Deicide
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 1005
Location: Caput Imperii Americani
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Not too many people here with advice eh? |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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Hey! There's lint in my belly-button hole!
NCTBA |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, I've never just lived for any pay cheque, no matter how small. If a person can't find something interesting/meaningful/useful to do in their time between paycheques (either at work or outside of work) - then what the hell are they going to use their money for after they earn it? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Deicide wrote: |
| Not too many people here with advice eh? |
But, aren't you beginning to understand how it was that they coped with the Middle East? Is there not a pattern here? 
VS |
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basiltherat
Joined: 04 Oct 2003
Posts: 952
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Not too many people here with advice eh? |
OK. I'll give it shot.
Took a huge set of Scalextric. Had league and knock out competitions with colleagues and some trainees. Great fun. Even got the field mechanics to 'spruce up' the cars. Awesome.
Built a small-scale model of a off-shore oil rig. Bought a radio controlled helicopter and had knockout competitions seeing who could land the helicopter safely on the helipad in the shortest possible time from a starting distance of about 25 yards. Whoever was the slowest had to buy the booze for the week.
Played endless games of Risk. Held out on Madagascar for ages.
Monopoly at least twice a week.
Read books on my favourite subject.
If you happen to be with colleagues who are lazy, uncreative whingers, it won't work very well so prayers might be in order.
That's for starters.
Best
Basil
Last edited by basiltherat on Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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