Update XIX: Melancholy and the Infinite Napping

[Filuwaúrdjan]

When did you last try them? When you were a child? Palates change as you get older. I'd also point out that there are tomatoes and tomatoes; cherry tomatoes taste like a slighty tart fruit (mostly because that's exactly what they are) for instance. Very different from big watery things. And uncooked baby spinach is very different to cooked spinach; it's like a delicate (and very tasty) piece of lettuce.

Anyway, what fruit and what veg do you like? Because it's little changes like this that can make a real difference to the quality of your diet. You need the nutrients and (frankly) also the roughage. If you were to do something as simple as (say) mainlining on apples or cherries, that would be a huge step forward.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Bushie, do you like tuna at all? A tuna sandwich (or baguette or filled roll or whatever) makes for a light and filling midday meal and is pretty healthy all told.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Imagine how much weight Bushie would lose if he converted to Islam and observed Ramadan.

None whatsoever. Do you have any idea how much sugar is usually consumed after nightfall... or at Eid, which is sometimes known as the Sugar Feast and with good reason? Come to think of it, Bushie would love Eid...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Pakistan has sugar shortages every year when Eid comes round and the government (of whatever hue; PML, PPP, Military...) always gets terrified of riots if it runs out. Just saying...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Honour your father and your mother implies grandparents as well, doesn't it?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I checked on how to terminate the lease early and it's not easy to do.  I would still have to give 60-day's notice and be responsible for rent until someone moves in plus an extra month.

What sort of insane lease did you sign up for? Well what's done and rashly agreed to is done and rashly agreed to. But in any case what you describe is hardly difficult; you just have to give notice to the landlord and move out and then sort out any outstanding rental payments. Given that this is Tulsa (a prosperous city of around 400,000 souls) the landlord is unlikely to have difficulty finding another tenant (who would presumably charge a slightly higher rent to than he charged you, because that's what tends to happen). And then it is done and you have no more payments (rental, utilities, huge fuel bills from driving over to the place etc) to worry about.

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Why would you pay your rent at the start of the month when you don't even live there?

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Why would you need to hire movers, why would you need to put things in storage? If this was an unfurnished let that you then furnished yourself, then just sell the furniture. If it was a furnished let, then you won't have much to move out anyway. I would suggest (anyway) that you would be better just hiring a van and doing any moving yourself; much cheaper.

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It is currently the beginning of DECEMBER. Late March is eons away. Just give notice now; right this minute. Email the landlord or ring him up.

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YOU DO NOT LIVE THERE AND WILL NOT BE MOVING BACK SO THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POINT - NO POINT WHATSOEVER - IN RENEWING YOUR LEASE. IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT THE PAYMENTS WOULD NOT STOP. AND NEITHER WOULD YOUR UTILITIES BILLS. IF YOU RENEW YOUR LEASE YOU MIGHT AS WELL TAKEN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF YOUR FATHERS BANK ACCOUNT AND SET FIRE TO THEM. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT DO THAT.

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Stop dithering and give your landlord notice. Then it would be done and you could move on with your life. And a major source of guilt (and nagging here) would be gone. You would feel better, I'm sure of it.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Alright, I've had enough, guys.  I'm done being treated like crap on this forum.

As you have often said. But please listen to me: I am just trying to save you money. A lot of money, actually. Thousands of dollars, Jeff. Thousands.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

So it's your money that you're figuratively setting fire to? Less morally questionable, but still not good.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

[Filuwaúrdjan]

If it did, I'd be in big trouble...

Well, yeah. You're a terrible Christian.

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Please cite multiple specific examples and back them up with some sort of argument. I would be very interested in hearing your views on this, 'Reverend'.

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Protip: you can't be a 'false prophet' if you've never claimed to be a Prophet.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Look, fellas, I'm just telling you what I believe. 

And we are asking for details, 'Reverend'.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

And details are not what you are going to receive.

Why not, 'Reverend'?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I have a question for the 'Reverend' Bushie. What lessons can be drawn from the kingship of Hezekiah?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I was raised to believe that Christianity is fundamentally about how you live your life (i.e. that you lead it according to the teachings of Jesus). I will note at this point that the Gospels are full of declamations against religious hypocrisy. How does the 'Reverend' Bushie feel about this?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Hezekiah was a godly king.  He feared God and brought the nation of Judah back to worshipping God.  His faith was spot on.  However, he was careless with Judah's money.  He showed the king of Assyria, who had already taken Israel captive, Judah's war chest.  Babylon got word of this and eventually conquered Judah and took her captive before releasing her 70 years later.  They destroyed King Solomon's temple in the process.  Hezekiah also racked up Judah's debt, much like what Presidents Bush and Obama have done with America.  The lesson for us today is that while our faith may be spot on, we must still exercise common sense in all areas of our lives.  God calls us to be on mission for Him, but He is also a logical God.  He calls us to be responsible and frugal when we need to be responsible and frugal while at the same time giving generously.  Basically, don't show your hand to your sworn enemies.  You are asking for trouble.

I've not come across this interpretation before. In some respects its quite at odds with how Hezekiah is traditionally viewed.

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Really?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I think thats mostly because they tend to be very good bakers, actually...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Have you got rid of the Tulsa flat yet?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Did no one tell you that when it comes to technical drawing (i.e. the trade by which you currently earn you daily bread) precision is the thing? Of course the assistant lead drafter gets at you for "every little mistake" you make. If he didn't he'd be negligent and would deserve to be fired. Mistakes in that business cost money and damage reputations. I point this out because businesses are not charities (even if some charities are businesses) which means that if you do not cease to make 'little mistakes' you will certainly be fired.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Every professional environment expects perfection, Bushie.

And especially this one!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I know my field demands perfection and he needs to point out the mistakes, but he doesn't need to make me feel small over said errors.

He's not trying to make you feel small (well he might be, but that won't be the main reason) he's trying to get you to improve. Because you'll be fired unless you do. Never forget that teaching involves pointing out errors; it isn't personal, it's practical. You're a novice. You need training up. So would anyone else. So pay attention when you're told you've done something wrong; he's actually doing you a favour.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Why would moving cost you a thousand dollars? All you need to do is hire a van. Do you own all of the furniture & etc in there? If so, sell it. Problem solved and money saved.