Friday, August 11, 2017

Deja Vu to the Max

Thought for the day: Life is an ongoing project. If you think you've already arrived, you may no longer strive. [author unknown]

Hi-ya. Yep, I'm still editing. I'm so slow, I make tortoises look like speed demons. So, continuing with my lazy ass  summer of reruns, today's post originally appeared in August, 2011, as Gotta Get it Right the First Time. I hope you enjoy it.


















Thought for the day:  Make each day your masterpiece.


Did you ever hear of a turritopsis nutricula? (And if you did, I am REALLY impressed!) This creature is also known as the immortal jellyfish. Immortal, because as far as scientists know, this jellyfish lives . . .  forever. Once it matures and reproduces sexually, it reverts to its juvenile state and starts the whole maturation process all over again. There doesn't appear to be a limit as to how many times the process can be repeated, either. So it's an endless cycle. Cool, huh? Kinda like the movie Groundhog Day, only this critter keeps reliving its entire existence instead of a single day.

We people don't have that luxury. As far as we know, this isn't just a dress rehearsal. We don't get any do-overs, and we don't get to experience things all over again for the first time. So we've gotta do the best we can with what we've got. Now. We can't keep putting things off until tomorrow, because we may not have a tomorrow. How many times have you heard someone say when something happens, then they're gonna do so-and-so? If we allow our lives to be so tied up in the uncertainties of when and then, we're giving our here and now the smelly end of the stick. So, I say, let's all toss that smelly stick and carpe the hell out of the diem.

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.   [Ruth Ann Schabacker]

So, would you like to go back to your juvenile days again? Go through the whole maturation stuff all over again? Some things might be fun to revisit, but as for me ... one trek through adolescence was more than enough. Being an old broad ain't half bad.

Before I go grab hold of my day with both hands, I'll leave you with a few signs. Nah, not signs like woo-oo-oo kinda weirdo stuff. Signs . . . real signs. Hopefully, signs that will make you smile.



(Thanks, Bill!)





And a fine, TOO?
                                                                             







Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other. And, hey! Carpe that diem, y'all!

60 comments:

  1. Now I know what hell is, you become one of those friggin jellyfish.

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  2. I did know about the Immortal Jellyfish (but not its scientific name). And joeh is right. I hated, loathed and despised my anxt filled teen years. I wouldn't go back for anyone.
    Love the signs though.

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    1. You're such a smartie. :)

      There were some not-so-good things about my childhood that I wouldn't want to revisit again, but there were some good things, too. Even so, I'd rather keep moving forward.

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  3. Love that last sign :) I wonder how many people fall for that?
    I knew about the immortal jellyfish too.
    There's no way I'd want a do over on my life, unless I could retain the memories and knowledge I have now, so as to avoid the obvious mistakes, like leaving school too soon and not saving any money.

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    1. Another smartie! (Must be something in that Aussie water, eh?)

      It would be nice if going back for a do-over meant not making the same mistakes as we did the first time around, but I have a feeling we'd find new ones to make, and they might be even worse than the first ones.

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  4. That last one is genius, and there would be those who will actually fall for it. Great humour and thanks for sharing!

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    1. I agree. I bet some people would fall for that last sign... they might even think they're getting a great deal!

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  5. Sometimes I think I'd like a "do over", but the past is the past, and it is usually better to just move on. "Regrets, I have had a few, but I did it my way."

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    1. You're a wise lady. Kinda like me... I'm a smart ass. :)

      Who's to say if we had the opportunity to do things over we wouldn't end up with bigger regrets? I'm with you... traveling along, singing a song...

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  6. Hi Susan - immortal jellyfish ... no thank you. Go back - no I wouldn't be where I am now ... and life could have been much more difficult ... amazing signs ... fun to see - keeping with the tortoise like edits! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi-ya, Hilary. You're right. I think we're better off sticking with the difficulties we already know.

      Thanks. Still plodding...

      Cheers! Have a super weekend.

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  7. Just so you know, you put a banana in front of our tortoises and they will MOVE! Not puma-speed or anything but still. Maybe you need a banana? Or some chocolate? :)

    Love the sign about the bull and the one about alligator mating season!

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    1. HA! Given a choice between a banana and chocolate, I think I'll have the chocolate. (Or better yet, a chocolate-covered banana!) I've never seen a tortoise move very fast, but I know alligators can move like the wind if they want to. When my hubby was on a business trip in a gator-rich part of Florida years ago, someone demonstrated how fast those buggers could move by tossing a hamburger.

      That alligator mating season sign tickled my funny bone, too.

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  8. I know how the editing cave is. Keep your lantern lit and step outside for a little sunshine and star gazing from time to time. Happy Friday!

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    1. "Editing cave" is the perfect description. Truth is, I don't get to spend nearly as much time holed up in it, though. Life keeps getting in the way. :)

      Happy Friday to you, too! (Oh, hell... live it up... happy weekend!)

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  9. Be fun to go back and know what I know now, but that would be about it. So the wires kill you and they fine your corpse? Good luck getting that money. Fun signs indeed.

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    1. Yep. Maybe the fear of a $200 fine is scarier to some people than the possibility of getting electrocuted? (the dummies...)

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  10. I could almost believe that last one lol.

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  11. The Fish and Chips sigh is just about right ha ha.

    I wouldn't mind going back a ways, just don't care to be a teen again mid twenties or early thirties would work.

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    1. Yep, just about. :)

      Oh Lordy, I don't want to be a teen again, either. Especially not in today's world. It was bad enough in the '60s.

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  12. I don't want to start over. I'll keep moving on. After I experience instant death, how do I pay the fine? I don't want to mess that up. They might throw my corpse in jail.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. HA! Yeah, we sure wouldn't want our poor carcasses to end up in the pokey for eternity. (Although, it WOULD be cheaper than funeral and burial expenses...)

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    2. I've already told my kids "no funeral for me." They are to have me cremated immediately and toss out the ashes. If cremation is done quickly enough, one doesn't even need to be embalmed.

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    3. We're going the cremation route, too. (It'll be our one last chance to have smoking hot bodies!)

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  13. I don't want to go back, but I think Woody Allen sums it up in this quote: "The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. And then you die. What's that? A bonus? I think the life-cycle is all backwards.

    You should die first and get it all over with. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young. You get a gold watch. You go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol and party. You get ready for high school. You go to grade school and become a kid. You play. You have no responsibilities. You become a little baby & go back into the womb. You spend your last nine months floating...

    Then, you finish off as an orgasm. I like it."

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    1. I LOVE that quote from Woody Allen. I think he may be onto something good. Finishing life with an orgasm beats the heck out of going out in the usual ways. (Talk about going out with a bang!)

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  14. Quality over quantity. Take your time on editing humor perfection.
    No do- overs. I don't have regrets. Going back to junior high would still be hell. Trust me
    I am sitting poolside now. That's how much writing I am doing!!
    Have a super weekend

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    1. I'm taking my time, because I don't know any other way. :) But there isn't as much humor in this book. (sorry!)

      Poolside sounds terrific. If you're doing it up right, I trust you have a cute little umbrella-laden drink beside you. You have a super weekend, too.

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  15. I love ALL of those signs, but the alligator mating one really cracked me up!!!

    I envy you (in a very respectful way) for being so dedicated to your writing. I've been in a huge slack lately. But - like all indigestible things - it will eventually pass.....

    You might not recognize me, because I just changed my profile photo. I've decided to become King Ludwig of Bavaria.
    Hell.....why not?

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    1. The sign about the gators is my favorite, too. :)

      Don't envy me. If I were truly dedicated to writing, I would have finished at least twenty novels by now. I'm just slogging along, probably not much faster than you are at a "slack" rate.

      Why not, indeed? You can present yourself any ol' way you want, cowboy... but I kinda prefer the real you.

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  16. Doomed to immortality? Nah, that sounds more like Hell!
    Now, I'm probably going to obsess what's their purpose, anyway?

    Those signs are hysterical! Having just endured more safety training in the workplace, I suspect 'Sharp Edges' was designed by the friendly folks at O.S.H.A.

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    1. I agree. Somehow, the idea of immortality never appealed to me. Darn you... I never worried about their purpose in the grand scheme of things until you brought it up...

      You're probably right about OSHA. :)

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  17. Replies
    1. Giggles are always much needed. I'm glad you found some here.

      Cheers back atcha.

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  18. I love the quote about each day being a present and the signs cracked me up :-)

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    1. Somehow, I don't think you need to be reminded about each day being a present. You're living the dream! :)

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  19. You gave me so much material to share with my hubby . we do need laughs like these.

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    1. You're right about needing laughter. Some people say they've gotta dance or whatever... I've gotta laugh. It really IS the best medicine.

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  20. Beautiful post! Susan, you are truly a bright spot in the blogosphere. Thanks!

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  21. I've never heard of the immortal jellyfish, but I'm with you. There are a lot of days from my younger days that I'd rather not relive. Fun signs!

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    1. Yeah, maybe if we could pick-and-choose the moments to relive, it'd be a more enticing prospect. :)

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  22. I think I must be immortal because I've started to revert to my juvenile state. In my head anyway. Another great post, Susan.

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    1. HA! Enjoying the wonders of the world like a child is even more enjoyable the second time around, isn't it? :)

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  23. Love all the signs but I think the $200 fine for instant death is my favorite. :D
    I used to want to go back and fix the (many) mistakes I made but I've finally learned to accept that the mistakes help make us who we are. And I'd never want to have to live through adolescence again!
    Take care and I hope the editing is going well. :)

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    1. That sign about the post-death fine reminds me up a sign I hung up in our lab at the hospital many moons ago. It was silly from top to bottom, listing the new workplace rules. One of them said it was imperative to give two weeks' notice before dying. One of my co-workers thought it was real, and had a hissy fit about it...

      The consensus of opinion seems to be heck-no to a re-do of adolescence. I think we're all grateful we made it through it once, so why push our luck?

      Thanks. It's going slowly, but surely. I hope yours is going well, too.

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  24. So true. It's not a good idea to wait until a certain set of circumstances before starting something. Nor is it a good idea to keep looking back and wishing for re-dos.

    Best of luck with your editing!

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    1. Agreed. It's terribly sad when people keep putting off doing the things they want to do, as if they think their time is unlimited.

      Thanks! Going back to it right now. :)

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  25. LOL, those signs are hilarious! The one about sharp edges especially cracked me up... XD

    And I can relate so well to making tortoises seem like speed demons. (Always wish I could be faster, as an artist.) Slow or not, I hope all your editing has been going well!

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    1. Cool. I'm glad you liked 'em. :)

      Thanks. Lucky for us, slow and steady wins the race. (So what if I start the race in 2017 and finish first in the 2018 race...)

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  26. i really likes your blog and You have shared the whole concept really well. and Very beautifully soulful read! thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. (And thanks so much for stopping by.)

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