Right, I still have nothing to say, really, but I'm tired of that last post staring at me from the top of the list.
91 people voted for the Oxford comma. 94 voted again. All of you who voted against, why? It isn't always necessary, but I can't think of an instance where it's actively detrimental to the sentence, so why not just stick it in there? You must have your reasons, so please explain.
91 people voted for the Oxford comma. 94 voted again. All of you who voted against, why? It isn't always necessary, but I can't think of an instance where it's actively detrimental to the sentence, so why not just stick it in there? You must have your reasons, so please explain.
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| Sad roses, abandoned in the park. |
105 comments:
I voted 'not a y/n question'. Do I have to explain? And the last one I voted y, once I knew what you lot were on about, because anything that makes stuff easier to understand is good, in my book.
If the explanation is 'I have no idea' then no, you don't have explain. That's my answer as well. Actually, I should've made that an option on the poll. I suspect it would've been a popular one.
Partly, I suppose. Partly it just entirely depends on who I'm talking to.
Nicky and I talk loads more now, I mean, really talk, about Things. Whereas we used to talk, but never about Things.
Other people it's gone the other way.
That picture is really sad.
So does "good" fighting. (It took me several years to learn how to fight with my husband. The good part: we don't much any more.)
L - it is sad.
That's good, I suppose, about the talking. Encouraging.
It was mainly when I stopped feeling as much like I had to protect her.
Just been called to the super's office. Have I done anything wrong recently to deserve a talking to?
I voted no, with exceptions for when it's needed for clarity (largely if one of your list items has an "and").
I'm definitely influenced in my background in newspaper copy editing, which follows conventions from when news stories went out over the telegraph and thus extra characters were more expensive.
Newspapers are not the only ones to do this - to this day, the APA (common style for social sciences papers) frowns on footnotes because it's still more expensive for journals to print.
Ok, I will stop geeking out on writing style history.
L - not unless he found your blog...
Becca - I can understand that if it was a matter of expense. I get it for Twitter too, though people shorten things so much on Twitter that it sometimes becomes completely incomprehensible to me.
Have you seen the woman who twitters entire recipes? She actually has a cookbook out with them now.
http://twitter.com/#!/cookbook
That's...pretty amazing, actually. Given my difficulties decoding recipes that are written out normally, I don't think I'll be trying those any time soon, but still. Impressive.
Feel like he may as well have found it.
uh oh. What happened?
I've got to go and head a murder enquiry for another force. Utter wanker.
Does this mean we should clean up our acts quite smartly now?
Also, I was going to answer yes as I said before, but now I'm sort of torn between that and 'it's not a yes/no question.' There are some times when talking never gets easier. I doubt L ever finds it easier to tell someone their loved one isn't coming home. I know I have issues to this day talking to my mum. She doesn't approve of a 'genius like me working in such a *menial* job' to quote a recent exchange. I teach small children. The itty bitty ones who's parents are working two or three jobs and the only real stability and opportunity for experience available to those above the poverty line is with us. So yeah, sometimes conversations like that never get easier.
Then again, I have a very few close friends who I let close enough to let them know about my past history with *any* sort of relationship and they're the most wonderful people. They understand most of the time what I'm trying to say, even if it didn't come out that way. They'll tell me what it sounded like and we'll sort of repeat back and forth until we both agree on what I said/they heard. So yeah, that gets easier with time.
G: Oh I'm so sorry! Hopefully you can take Sally with you under some sort of 'I'm liable to commit homicide without her' clause?
L - Where? And why? Is this intended as punishment of some sort or is it just because you're good at your job and they need help?
Nope, just me, on my own, all because someone's friends with their chief super who plays golf with ours, sort of bollocks.
Don't think it's punishment. Feels like it though.
Sorry, shouldn't complain. It's my job. I just don't want to go.
Way up in the middle of nowhere. East anglia. A bit further than where we went for Mycroft's birthday.
Tink - They'll tell me what it sounded like and we'll sort of repeat back and forth until we both agree on what I said/they heard.
That sounds very useful, actually.
The conversation with your mum sounds very much like the one I had with my father (though he'd never suggest I was a genius). Parents telling you you're wasting your potential - it never gets old. Oh, wait. It actually does, quite quickly.
Do you know how long? No, until the case is over, I suppose. That's not going to be fun.
J: It really is. One of us calls 'time out, review of play!' or something equally as likely to diffuse tension a little and then the trick is to stay calm and really *listen* and actually hear what they're saying so that you can do the same thing. We talk about the feelings around the statement as well as the statement itself so that we each get a clear view. And once that's done, we move on.
Re: parents. Yeah, it gets old incredibly quickly. I've stopped trying to argue, and instead say "Mum, I love my job and the children I work with. Either I work here or you end up with an unwed pregnant daughter. Your choice." And then I cut off the relationship harangue with questions about how she's doing and stuff. Sorry mum, I have enough issues with my friends. A 'real' relationship scares me too badly still. (Which, btw, good on you two for working through all the difficulties that pop up!)
Also the 'Mum? Mum? You're break-- here. I'll ca-- back later o---? Okay? *hang up*' trick still works.
L: You need snuggles and possibly pictures to take with you! Have you and J had any pictures taken together? How about you, J, and the boys? I know it wouldn't be safe to have Mrs. H in the picture, but that could be fun too.
J: When's the last time the boys got an updated photograph of their mum? That'd be so cool!
... I'm a bit of a picture addict. Pardon me (profusely, again)!
Yeah, 'until a satisfactory conclusion is reached'. Which means 'anybody's guess'.
Sorry. Looks like you'll be acting as single patent for a bit.
Parent.
Look on the bright side, you two, at least you have potential to waste.
"mum, I've joined the police."
"why would they want someone like you?"
L - Not your fault, I know you don't want to go any more than I want you to. When do you have to leave? Soon, I'd imagine?
Tink - I've realised lately how accustomed I am to filling in the things people don't say, because that was how my family worked. You never said anything directly; it was all implied. Not very helpful now.
...I'm not sure I've ever seen a picture of their mum. I'll ask Mycroft about it.
L - did she really say that? That's a horrible thing to say. You're an amazing person, you have loads of potential you're not wasting at all, and you're a good man.
L: I am not sure I'm fond of your mother, if you pardon me saying. You have so much potential and since you've started blogging (or J started blogging about you) I've gotten to see you bloom and grow as a person. You are made of awesome and win. Trust us. We know these things.
J: No, I can't say that that would be helpful. Maybe you could start being direct with your family as well? They'll think you're being awfully blunt, but you could always blame that on the army if you like. But yes, that's exactly why my friends and I talk about the feelings around the statement as well as the statement itself so we know we're not missing anything. The back and forth thing does help so much, I'm so glad it works for us.
Danger - I like to tell myself it was because the idea of joining the fuzz went against my carefully constructed rock god image. :) but actually she used to tell me I was just like my father, and therefore good for nothing.
And leaving early tomorrow. They wanted me to go tonight. Told them no bloody way.
I'm sorry. And she was wrong.
They wanted me to go tonight. Told them no bloody way.
Thank you, Sherlock would've been unbearable.
Rink - I don't always like her much either. But she had a hard life. Must be difficult to see other people moving on when you can't.
And yeah, I got a great photo of John and the boys on my phone from Pride. Sherlock complete with wings.
Sorry, Tink. Rushing on my mobile, not watching the autocorrect.
Parents always seem to know what buttons to push. Maybe it's because sometimes they help put them there?
Also, way to sneak the :) in there, Lestrade.
I'm trying to get the little faces going on. Don't want you all to think i'm a completely grumpy bastard (even if I am right now).
Danger, I might be late - need to sort everything here, then go to mine and pack. Take away for dinner? Can warm mine back up when i'm there.
Still want to meet my mum? I should also warn you she thinks Bryan was a nice you man, and I'd done well for myself. Obviously I haven't told her the details there.
Of course. I doubt she'll think I'm a nice young man, but I can try for respectable.
Yeah, what do you want? Chinese?
Lestrade, you're entitled to be a grumpy bastard at the moment.
I seem to be the only person who's said talking doesn't get easier with practise. Must come from having to think carefully about the effect my words will have and not being free to talk as I feel.
Just don't go telling her what you think of him when she starts going on about how great he was, and how stupid I was to let him go. Although feel free to find a way of burning the wedding photo she has on top of the telly.
Whatever you and the boys want. I'm hungry though, get plenty.
Thesmallhobbit - I agree it doesn't get easier to some people. But I find it has to others. Suppose it depends on a lot of things.
L: I figured you meant me. She may have had a hard life, but that's no excuse to take it out on you. You are kind, tenacious, strong, loving, wonderful, proud, and all around a good man. You turned out well if I do say so myself. And if she doesn't like J, she's daft, bless her soul.
I'm also glad you have the picture. Maybe you could get it printed out so you can stick it in your wallet as well. And send a copy to your sister. I bet she'd love to frame it! I know I would.
J: Remember that while we can't do anything on the physical end of things, we're always here to help out with ideas and such while L is off on his work trip! Also, I have a feeling between the blogs (my autocorrect wanted to 'fix' that to 'blows' which would have an entirely different spin on things...), phone calls, and texts, he'll be with you as best he can while he's away, which is so brilliant!
Oooh! You could swap the wedding photo for the photo L took of the four of you, and then when you get the photo home you could have a burning ceremony!
The picture is just the three of them didnt need me in it ruining it. They're sitting on the steps in Trafalgar square. Well, John and Mycroft are on the steps, Sherlock is on John's shoulders. I probably should get it printed or something.
L - It's Indian then. Do you want that chicken thing from last time? We'll get the usual mountains of naan too. And I won't tell her anything you don't want me to, don't worry.
Yeah, whatever isn't going to leave me in pain. Got a long bike ride tomorrow morning, and there's only one reason I want to have a sore arse for it ;)
Lestrade: oh, that sucks on so many levels (for you too, John).
And do I really need to explain that no-one in that picture thinks you would have ruined it with your presence? I thought you were working on the self-worth thing :-p
John - the filling in the gaps thing makes a lot of sense - partly because my family often used to do the same, but I think that was what I was trying to get at with my comment on Lestrade's blog about reading what isn't there into comments.
Hope all four of you have a fun evening. And John, Lestrade, I hope you two have an extra fun evening. Etc.
Nameless - It has potential to suck more for John, I think. Depending on how a certain young man takes the news.
How about I replace that with 'I don't need a picture of myself - but I do need one of them'?
And thanks. Etc.
Danger - going to mine, will be fast as poss to get back and see you all. Has Sherlock found out yet? I hope he's not the reason you're being quiet...although i have a feeling he might be.
I think he's more or less adjusted to the idea now. He's not happy about not knowing when you'll be back though. He asked me a million questions about the case, which of course I couldn't answer, so be prepared for a barrage when you get here.
Oh Lestrade, that really sucks big-time. Do you have a work laptop that you're taking with you? Put Skype on it & make use of the video call function to chat to John and the boys. Not quite as good as the real thing, but better than nothing?
(And if you & John can't find another use for the video call function then I'll be very surprised at both of you!)
Right. Tell him I don't know that much yet.
How many clean shirts do I have there? I don't seem to have any here. And boxers?
Anon - as yet I don't even know if I'll have internet or a mobile signal. I tried to call the station I'm going to earlier to discover they SHUT at 5pm!
Six clean shirts (seven if you count the pink one you never wear), many boxers.
...Good god, it really is the middle of nowhere.
and if you & John can't find another use for the video call function then I'll be very surprised at both of you!
I'll be disapointed, frankly.
Sucks that you have to go, L, but good luck and hope things are wrapped up quickly.
Thanks.
No idea how many to take...I really don't want to think about being there for ages.
It really is. But I checked out the place I'm apparently staying, and it says it has wifi...so here's hoping.
On my way to you. anything you need?
Yeah, having worked away sometimes, it's often worse for the person "left behind"; the person away at least usually has new people and work and stuff to keep them occupied and distracted. Although, if the local cop shop closes at five, how late do they work? (My local police station, I've just discovered, isn't actually a police station, it's a "community home", which just sounds... wrong).
How about I replace that with 'I don't need a picture of myself - but I do need one of them'?
Yeah, much better :-)
No signal? Maybe Sherlock and Mycroft can rediscover the art of writing letters?
On my way to you. anything you need?
No, and just as well since I missed that comment till you were already here. You'll be able to get things cleaned there, surely, if you don't want to take a lot?
Mmm. Thanks for dinner.
Yeah, probably. If they have running water.
but if I don't take a lot, is that tempting fate? Should I take lots, hope not to need it? I've got suit bag to sling over your seat, rucksack, tank bag, so not loads of room.
If you're there long enough, you'll need to get things cleaned anyway. If you travel light, you can while away the evenings in the local launderette after they've kicked you out of the station at 5pm for working too hard...
I'm fairly sure everything shuts at 5. Everything. Apart from maybe the pub. If there is a pub. I hope there's a pub.
You trying to ensure I don't ever get to speak to you lot? Filling my evening with chores?
But yeah, you're right. Got enough to take with the laptop and all my kit.
It's bad that I'm envisaging a Hot Fuzz-esque all-action adventure with secret societies and swan-chasing, isn't it?
Thought so.
...I think I was assuming the launderette would have wifi, which is obviously silly. Huh.
Did you ever get Skype put on your laptop? I can do it, probably, and if I can't Mycroft can.
There can't not be a pub. That would be... I don't even know what that be.
Nameless - I've told him not to volunteer for any swan catching missions while he's there.
I still think assuming there's a launderette is pushing it. Doesn't matter, I'm pretty good at hand washing, if I have to be.
Mycroft put Skype on the laptop. but he pulled a face just now and said if I'm in the middle of nowhere it might not work very well.
Nameless - I still haven't seen hot Fuzz properly. Danger distracted me last time.
And sorry, everyone, for being wildly unprofessional about all this. I do really care that someone's been murdered.
And I should remember that if I didn't get sent on things like this, I'd never have met Danger. Although now I have met him, they could stop sending me...
Ha. I could ring your boss and tell him that if you like.
You were only at the Hall one night; let's hope this one goes as quickly. And with less manure for you to step in. You looked so appalled by that, I thought you'd never been out of London in your life.
Hey Lestrade, pro tip: that middle sentence is the kind where you want to put a winking smiley so people know for sure that you're only kidding.
Smileys are dead useful; half the time it's the only way I can convey to people on line the difference between me being sarcastic because I am teasing, and me being sarcastic because I'm in an extremely bitchy mood and want to smack them.
Can't you use the excuse that you need some more clothes to come back and get them?
I meant the sentence about distracting you with chores. You all post too fast. :)
I was being serious!
but yes, that's why I wanted to use them. sometimes it's hard to tease on here without sounding serious.
I thought you were joking as well. No, I was not trying to fill your evening with chores! Please feel free to talk to us all evening long. And tell Sherlock murder stories over Skype.
okay, so there isn't an emoticon for 'I was joking, but then it was funnier to pretend I was serious'? I need one.
I do indeed hope to get to talk to you all a bit. I'll be lonely.
And Danger, I was looking appalled at manure in an attempt to strike up a comradeship between us, as two city boys out of our depth (Of course, I was still thinking you might be a mass murderer). I think it worked? Should always try to meet suspects on their level, put them at their ease...
Maybe... :D: ??
Should always try to meet suspects on their level, put them at their ease...
Chat them up...
We'll miss you.
:D:
I have no idea what that's even meant to be!
Try and guess what this is
8~8~
:)
I promise not to chat up suspects this time.
And stop it. You'll make me decide it's a better idea to turn off my alarm and spend the next few days hiding under the duvet, not going to the middle of nowhere on my own to track down a killer.
Come and give us a hug.
All right.
(It is a better idea. For certain values of 'better'.)
Yeah, it is.
You could just stay exactly where you are now, and then I wouldn't possibly be able to move. Stuck, see?
I bought you a present. But you can't open it until tomorrow.
Mm. I do see.
Why not! What is it?
well if you can't open it until tomorrow I'm obviously not going to tell you what it is.
Be patient.
Although I like your interrogation technique there.
If only I could persuade them to let me take a sidekick. After all, you caught the bloke last time...
Even if I whine a lot? Pleeeeeaseee?
In the morning tomorrow or not till after you're gone?
Sidekick! I prefer substitute coroner, thanks. Medical consultant. Something like that.
If you're there too long, we'll have to come and visit you, you realise.
You've been learning that tone from Sherlock. Doesn't work for him, won't work for you, young man.
After I'm gone. After the boys are at school. I'd say not until the boys were in bed in the evening, but you clearly won't wait that long.
Sidekicks are cool! But you can be a stuffy old coroner if you want. I suppose Medical Consultant is okay. But I still say you're Robin (Sparkles) to my Batman.
That a threat or a promise? I imagine it's the sort of place were we'd be the talk of the village for the rest of the year, at least.
Either. Both? I'm sure you'll be the talk of the village all on your own. I can't imagine what they'd make of the whole lot of us.
Oh, it's that kind of present, is it?
If I'm there for that long I shall get a squad car to bring you all up on blues and twos, emergency delivery.
I should really get some sleep. Need to be up at sparrow's fart if I'm going to get there on time. Ideally even before Sherlock wakes up...although that might be rather cruel to you. :/
And I really have no idea what you could possibly mean by that kind of present. It's just a present! Obviously you should keep it hidden, or everyone will want one... (a present, I mean.)
Now you really are going to have to get off me, so we can get to the bedroom.
Then feel entirely free to get back on...
Don't know what your definition of 'that long' is, but mine's the weekend. Consider yourself warned.
All right, all right, I'll move. In a minute.
Warned. Yes. It's...really, really very nice to think you'd go to those lengths to ... share lid wrangling duties. I mean, to see me. Seriously. I am quite touched.
Yeah, in a minute's fine.
Kid.
Bloody phone.
I was wondering what lids I'd be wrangling.
You lot would certainly wake the place up for sure! Depending on how small the village turns out to be, Sherlock and Mycroft might take over.
Lids to pots of jam. Indulging in your main love when i'm gone. Cheating on me with jelly. Messing about with marmalade. Getting all sticky with honey...
I know you. No sooner turn my back than you're laying it on thick and tucking in...
I promise I have no inappropriate designs on condiments of any sort.
Well you wouldn't think they were inappropriate!
C'mon, take me to bed, Doc. Or i'll be asleep on the bike in the morning.
It's been more than a minute, hasn't it? All right.
If you find any foxglove honey anywhere, please let me know where I can buy it, or I have friends who could go buy it for me and ship it to me. But I can't find it anywhere!
It's not as sweet as clover, and has this luscious flavour that has a sort of edge to it. It's kind of medium dark and oh man, it's amazing.
Also, I can attest to the wonders of honey dust. You can brush it over skin and it's meant to be licked off. Mmmmm.
(Also, good night! Sleep well when you eventually do!)
Well..I'm here. Which I think is slightly to the right of the middle of nowhere. But I got here, found the nick - roughly the size of my flat - and have sat through possibly the worst run briefing in history.
I'm missing you lot already.
The worse run briefing in history is probably why they need you in the first place. Good luck with things going as efficiently as you can manage. Find the bad guy, get some closure for the poor victim's family, and then get back to your own as quick as you can. We can hope for the best.
Yeah, i'm only being wildly unprofessional here, don't worry. We're just about to do a second briefing, this time including pertinent info.
I've just got a cob on because my dreams of sorting this out quickly are evaporating.
Now I really can't stop picturing it as the village from Hot Fuzz...
I'm Just off out, visiting the scene. Connection may be...sporadic.
Hope the boys were okay this morning?
There's nowhere here I can buy espresso.
Sherlock wasn't pleased you'd left before he woke up, even though he knew that was the plan. He was all right by the time he got to school though. Well, less sulky anyway. He's texted me twice to ask if you're home yet.
Mycroft was...Mycroft. He says if you have a mailing address for him, he'll write you an actual letter.
I suppose the instant kind isn't the same?
Sherlock was very insistent last night that he would wake up however early I was going to leave. Which is partly why I didnt' tell him when that would be. Christ, I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Wich was entirely your fault.
That's really nice of Mycroft. Haven't been to the b&b yet. And I really hope not to be here long enough for Royal Mail to track me down...but tell him to write it anyway, and either I'll get an address, or I'll read it when I'm back. Or something.
The woman on the desk here is scarily friendly. I mean, REALLY friendly.
Must be the devastating effect of you in leathers pulling up on your bike to sort out all their problems. I'm not at all surprised.
I think we're lucky Sherlock didn't set any boobytraps this time.
Oh, pressing questions - is there a pub? There must be, right?
(Remember to eat your sandwich, if it's not flattened into a cheese and marmite pancake by the trip.)
I was in my jeans, looking sweaty and unkempt. I think she'd be like this with anyone who isn't an ancient farmer.
Yeah, very lucky. Although now I'm afraid to open my bags.
Ate sandwich on the way up, when I stopped for fuel. Extra time in bed with you this morning was well worth missing breakfast for. It was very nice, thanks.
And I'm not staying in the same village as the station - one a few miles down the road. There is a pub here, not sure about there yet.
But no Starbucks, I take it. Or rather, no fancy independent non-Starbucks coffee place to get your espresso fix from.
I still haven't opened your present. I think I might manage to wait until tonight.
I love surprise gifts! They're really the best. Well worth waiting for.
L: At least you know you can buy some and take it back to the B&B with you if necessary? I know the case wont be resolved today if your briefing was anything to go by, but I hope it wraps up as soon as it can. Can you imagine the woman at the desk confronted with a Sherlock with wings on, demanding to see the forensic science lab? I can! :D
J: How are *you* doing today?
Sorry, out of range.
I don't drink fancy coffee! Just good coffee. I'm just about surviving on filter stuff for now. It's still probably better than Starbucks Crap.
You done anything nice today? And well done for waiting to open the present. Very restrained.
Tink - their forensic work goes to Birmingham, so Sherlock.would have a long walk.
Tink - not bad I suppose, all things considered. Getting on with it.
L - I'm still really amused by your Starbucks hate.
Nice...hm. Went for a run, and I didn't feel like I'd been tortured when I was done. That was pretty good. Apart from that, a normal day.
Lack of torture is good.
Just been asked if my wife and kids mind me working away. What would you say in response to that question, Danger?
Starbucks hate is a serious business! Coffee that bad shouldn't be encouraged.
:-*
I like their sort of coffee milkshake things with chocolate in. :P
Ha. You need those cards to hand out that explains everything. Probably easiest just to say yes. Or show them the picture if you don't think they'll have a fit.
I'll take you somewhere for affogato some time, try to cure you.
I told her It's hard on my boyfriend, who now has to look after the boys on his own.
She was quiet for the first time since I arrived.
And they really do finish work at 5. I'm...astounded. you'd never think there was a murderer on the loose.
She was quiet for the first time since I arrived.
Ha. And she hasn't even seen Sherlock in his fairy wings.
How's it going? Have you got them a bit more organised at least?
I just wrote a post. Yeah, slightly organised now. A lot better.
She seemed like someone who wasn't used to being turned down. I think she was quite pretty.
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