If I Can't Use Words I Don't Know, This Is Going To Be A Quiet Afternoon

[disbelief11]

A great big "Have Fun! Be Brave and Silly!" goes out to all my friends who are going to MegaCon. Smooches to you all! (I'm a bit jealous but I'm consoling myself with two live comedy shows, spasticat, and some drinking this weekend. We'll compare notes later.)

wubba, I've been thinking about the fact that I'm going to see you in two weeks. Two weeks! I'm all *a-tingle* with anticipatory pleasure.

A question to those of you who are out of school: do you ever feel like you are losing your smarts? Sometimes I catch myself misspelling words or saying something really stupid and I miss the edge my brain used to have. What do you guys do to keep your wits honed? I tried a book club, but it was the laziest group of people I have ever met. It got so bad that they only wanted to read books that had been made into movies, and someone even suggested some books of short stories. (Haven't found another book club yet.)

Just curious. I don't need to be a Mensa member, but I definitely don't want to be a slobbering fool.

Another question for you: I was thinking today about all the different types of power people have. Perhaps strength is a better word; there are many varied types of strength, and we all have some that seem to come naturally to us. So what's your strength?

I'm definitely not chock full o'physical strength. I'd say my strengths are patience, the desire to make people feel better about themselves, and (this is going to sound really corny) my love for my friends and family. I love you all to pieces and with each friend I gain, my heart feels bigger and stronger and even more joyous. There's always room for more.

Geez, my words there don't even come close to capturing how I feel. Never mind that, though, because I still want to hear what your strengths are.

I wear a disguise
I'm just your average Jane;
The Super doesn't stand for model
But that doesn't mean I'm plain.
~Superchic(k), One Girl Revolution

Comments

[wubba.livejournal.com]

*tingles* right back atcha! I was thinking of what we would do, but I am just so psyched to see you it won't matter I think.

A question to those of you who are out of school: do you ever feel like you are losing your smarts?

God yes. It's scary.

What do you guys do to keep your wits honed?

Due to my job, I have to be up on current events, understand policy, etc, so that is a help. I also find reading the newspapers (The Globe and Mail, and The National Post - which I guess could be comparable to the New York Times) helps. I also do a word of the day thing on LJ, plus try to do crosswords, play scrabble. Also, just talking with people helps me as well.

[cpt-babypants.livejournal.com]

I've experienced a great deal of brain softening the more I move into the "grown up" world. After a day of working, and taking care of a home, it's hard to muster up the ambition to do anything more than sit in front of the TV. I'm considering giving myself "homework". That way, I put myself in the mind set of needing to do things like read the paper, or at least one chapter of a book, or see a museum exhibit.

Once I get my finances stabalized. I'll be back in school, so this won't be as much of a worry.

Have you thought about starting a book club with people online, who you already know. That way, you don't risk joining a group of bored housewives looking to pick up where Oprah left off.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

What do you guys do to keep your wits honed?

Honestly? Being on LJ and other message boards helps a lot. Critical analysis of my favorite TV shows keeps me thinking, even if it's different types of thinking than most of my school work. Also, I read the Washington Post every day to keep up on current events.

[bunglegirl.livejournal.com]

A question to those of you who are out of school: do you ever feel like you are losing your smarts?
All the time. I've been losing my vocabulary and spelling. The former due to my lack of reading and the latter due to 15 hours a day on the computer with spellcheck. Plus someone proofreads my design work so I don't have to be as careful as I should be. I have started to write the way I talk, which can lead to run on sentences and made up words. Although I used to read a few books a week growing up I haven't read more than one book a year for pleasure since going to college. When you're eyes are burned by a computer screen and reading dull information all day it's hard to bring yourself to read more. TV is an easier way to escape. Just the other day I was thinking about a communications teacher I had senior year in college who loved my writing and on my last day told me to remember that I'm a good writer and not to stop.

What do you guys do to keep your wits honed?
I still read two newspapers a day but it's mostly fluff. It's hard to get any international news in American newspapers. I try to spend more time with the smart friend who challenges me and spend less time with the friend who grunts and drinks a lot of beer.

So what's your strength?
Patience, understanding what makes other people happy, being observant. My interest in learning new skills. Doing what I want and not waiting for someone else to go with me or agree with my opinion. If I only did what my friends and family liked I would lose 90% of who I am.