The Writer's Life: The Writer's Life 11/12 - Singles, a Myth, NFL, Triple F

Monday, November 12, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/12 - Singles, a Myth, NFL, Triple F

China's Singles' Day is a holiday among the young that celebrates pride in being single. The date, 11/11, was chosen because the number "1" resembles an individual who is alone. Oddly, the holiday has also become a popular date to celebrate relationships. Many marry on it. It is also a colossal shopping day comparable to Black Friday. Sales on Alibaba topped $30 billion this year.

Here's a myth buster from the Weird But True column in today's NY Post: Spain's University of Granada has determined that the nose actually shrinks when one lies, due to a two-degree drop in body temp. We still love you, Pinocchio.

I thought the Jets would improve as the season wore on - they've regressed... I've always believed Matt Barkley is a good QB. I'm not surprised by what he accomplished yesterday after only a few days of practice. I don't understand why he was out of the NFL... The Saints have replaced the Rams as the team to beat in the NFC... What's happened to the Eagles? What a dropoff!... The Buccaneers were the first team in league history with more than 450 yards and three or fewer points in a game... Always great to see the Patriots routed, but never count them out... Anyone still questioning whether the Browns made the right choice at the top of the draft?

My thanks to Ira, who bought pictorials on Trains and Autos, and to the woman who confessed to being shy, who purchased The Gentle Art of Verbal Written Self-Defense: Letters in Response to Triple-F Situations by Suzette Hadin Elgin. I googled Triple F. In this context it probably means fears, flaws and failures and not the slogan sex-obsessed teenage males ravaged by hormones often spouted. Wait - that was a quadruple... Despite today's meager returns, there were three moments that made the session worth it. Mike, who is pushing 80, said he got a drug bill from Aetna for sixty-seven cents, which says a lot about the state of health care in the USA... While daydreaming about customers buying books, I was returned to my senses by the distinct chords of a song and turned around and saw a middle age guy sporting a crewcut sitting in an SUV, waiting for the light to change. As Tony Iommi's familiar guitar lead began, the driver mimicked it with his lips. Soon the unmistakable voice of Ozzy Osbourne burst from the speakers: "Is it the end, my friend?" Sounded great... Finally, the little guy in the pic below jumped off his scooter, climbed the pole and had to be coaxed down by his mom. That durn car had the audacity to get in the way.