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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Milum, the prior poem is by that prolific author, Anon. But in the spirit of stairs, perhaps this will get a riser out of you.
As I was walking up the stair
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd stay away
---Hughes Mearns (1875-1965)
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Joined: Feb 2002
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2002
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In the spirit of the original post, but with a slight twist: does anyone ever find him/herself self-editing? depending on your company? Occasionally I will be chatting away to someone and a word I want to use will occur to me, but I'm sure that either the person won't understand it, or will think me the most unmitigated linguasnob for using it. Then I pause and riffle through the thesaurus in my head - during which exercise I gape and wind up looking like I'm catching flies - and ultimately I use the word anyway, because it seems perfect. Often the person will make some comment but praise God, most of my friends and acquaintances don't ride me down for it! Although sometimes they act like bel's hubby, and start using the word over and over for a little while....Maybe they're just trying to commit it to memory, like some oral-tradition form of Increase Your Word Power. 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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old hand
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old hand
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In the immortal words of Sybil Fawlty: "pretentious - moi?"
Many years ago, when I ran a small automobile repair shop, I had a customer named Nicholas Salgo, a Hungarian by birth, but a US citizen, who spoke more languages than I have digits (roughly ten). Trying to follow Mr. Salgo in conversation was akin to William F. Buckley talking to a kindergarten class. When a concept didn't come to him in one language, he simply switched languages. Not just the occasional Italian or French or Russian word, but whole sentences did he use. This is to illustrate that even those of great erudition may be insensitive to the abilitities of their audience, and, ironically, become poor communicators by their very linguistic mastery.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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You are so sweet MG but I have to say that my hubby isn't trying to commit it to memory. He is teasing me for using what he calls my "dictionary words" that aren't used in everyday conversation. (except in conversations with me of course  )
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
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Dear Rapunzel,
Thanks for these stairway expressions:
French stairs: l'esprit de l'escalier
German stairs: treppenwitz
I'd wanted to commit them to memory, but didn't. Will this time!
Best regards,
WordWayfarer
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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And since we're talking about thought processes, what do you call it when you go up that staircase into the room with something important to say, but, once entering the room, you can't remember what it was that you wanted to say?
Best regards,
WordWon't
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Joined: Oct 2000
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a senior moment?
long ago, here, i pointed out Its not any one senior momemt that bother me, Its the momentum!
or something like that.. i am not sure.. i think i said it? am i repeating myself.. mumble. grumble..
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Joined: Mar 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
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This filing system is ..temporal in nature, that is, it files by date. I rather question this hypothesis. From my experience, the mind constructs "search trees" by association, weighted by emotional loading. Yesterday, at work, I had to talk English the whole day with visitors from another company, and at some point, I asked them, referring to some other firm: "Why do you want to sidestep them?" - I swear I had never used that word in my life. In the evening, I looked it up in the OED, and it means exactly what I wanted to say . Sometimes words which you last used as a five-year old come spontaneously to your lips .
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old hand
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old hand
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what do you call it when you go into the room with something important to say, but, once entering the room, you can't remember what it was that you wanted to say? -WordWind Distracted. That's what I use. An example... When Paulb posted the name of the movie I saw and loved, and thought that you would like as well, I was elated. I was running some bath water upstairs when I got his post, after reading it, I went downstairs on filled the tub with water and jumped in. Then, in a flash of brilliance, I remembered the tub upstairs and so went upstairs and turned off the water. Now I had two tubs full of hot water. I looked at the cat...no, not worth it. And so, not knowing what else to do, I simply finished my bathing upstairs. But at that time I made a promise to myself- never, ever, would I tell anyone about this episode. On the other hand, I've never had a senior moment. Why should I? I am four months younger than Faldage and his mind is clear as a bell.
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