Comments on: Snot Funny http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny Austin, Texas novelist Ruth Pennebaker, who's old enough to call herself "fabulous," writes about family, politics, marriage, friendship, feminism, aging and whatever else occurs to her. Her latest novel, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough, was published by Berkley in January 2011. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:24:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sheryl http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5223 Sheryl Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:59:52 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5223 I agree about people making all sorts of god-awful noises, rustlings, what-have-yous in the theater. So annoying. Especially at $100+ a ticket. Especially annoying are the people who are hard of hearing and think by talking louder, their companion will hear them better (when they're not the ones with the hearing aids...) Go. Home. I agree about people making all sorts of god-awful noises, rustlings, what-have-yous in the theater. So annoying. Especially at $100+ a ticket. Especially annoying are the people who are hard of hearing and think by talking louder, their companion will hear them better (when they’re not the ones with the hearing aids…) Go. Home.

]]> By: Sally http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5221 Sally Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:39:13 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5221 Ruth, you are so creative in your writing, you should write a book-oh wait you did.  Good for all of us. Ruth, you are so creative in your writing, you should write a book-oh wait you did.  Good for all of us.

]]> By: Winston http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5220 Winston Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:49:03 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5220 Just ran cross this quote this morning. Words of the wonderful stage actress, Eileen Heckart (1919 - 2001) on the topic of theatre: <em>Now who can afford (theater)?  And people don't want to think... You never used to hear them talk during a performance.  Now they talk.</em> Miss Heckart graduated from Ohio State U. with a degree in Drama in 1942, then took to the NY stage, building a career of 50+ years. A time frame long enough for her to notice the overall change in audience behavior. I have rarely attended a live performance or film presentation since 1980. I can't abide all the background chatter.  Back in better times we, and others, commented, if need be, exclusively through the trading of glances-- forming the outline of a later discussion via a repertoire of eye gestures, disturbing no one.  Later, we could exit to a lounge and enjoy discussing the details over drinks or coffee. In the 21st century fortunately, a plethora of DVD selections is available for my enjoyment within my own <em>quiet</em> chambers. ___________ A good read-- <em>Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing Up with Eileen Heckart</em> A bio by her son, Luke Yankee.   Just ran cross this quote this morning.
Words of the wonderful stage actress, Eileen Heckart (1919 – 2001) on the topic of theatre:
Now who can afford (theater)?  And people don’t want to think… You never used to hear them talk during a performance.  Now they talk.
Miss Heckart graduated from Ohio State U. with a degree in Drama in 1942, then took to the NY stage, building a career of 50+ years. A time frame long enough for her to notice the overall change in audience behavior.
I have rarely attended a live performance or film presentation since 1980. I can’t abide all the background chatter.  Back in better times we, and others, commented, if need be, exclusively through the trading of glances– forming the outline of a later discussion via a repertoire of eye gestures, disturbing no one.  Later, we could exit to a lounge and enjoy discussing the details over drinks or coffee.
In the 21st century fortunately, a plethora of DVD selections is available for my enjoyment within my own quiet chambers.
___________
A good read–
Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing Up with Eileen Heckart
A bio by her son, Luke Yankee.
 

]]> By: Kate http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5219 Kate Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:14:25 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5219 So true, Ruth. Sometimes when I'm at a large event, I tune out the event and just LISTEN to the background noise from the crowd. It's amazing the sounds that we're able to (sometimes) extinguish in order to enjoy the show. People cough, sneeze, move, and talk constantly!!!     So true, Ruth.
Sometimes when I’m at a large event, I tune out the event and just LISTEN to the background noise from the crowd. It’s amazing the sounds that we’re able to (sometimes) extinguish in order to enjoy the show. People cough, sneeze, move, and talk constantly!!!
 
 

]]> By: ruthpennebaker http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5218 ruthpennebaker Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:12:14 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5218 <p>Winston and Roy -- You two should really meet.  I've never met Winston, but feel as if I know him; Roy, I can attest, is one of the funniest people on earth.</p> <p>Duchess, if I were at the opera, I'd probably welcome the nose-blowing.</p> Winston and Roy — You two should really meet.  I’ve never met Winston, but feel as if I know him; Roy, I can attest, is one of the funniest people on earth.

Duchess, if I were at the opera, I’d probably welcome the nose-blowing.

]]> By: Duchess http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5215 Duchess Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:54:32 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5215 Well, if you will go to Billy Elliot instead of the opera... Well, if you will go to Billy Elliot instead of the opera…

]]> By: Alexandra http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5214 Alexandra Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:01:57 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5214 I would have been terrified someone in the theater, coughing that way, was coming down with swine flu! We have been living in blissful quiet for almost a dozen years now. Sometimes I miss civilization, but it's tough to go back because you can no longer tune out the noise people make. I would have been terrified someone in the theater, coughing that way, was coming down with swine flu!
We have been living in blissful quiet for almost a dozen years now. Sometimes I miss civilization, but it’s tough to go back because you can no longer tune out the noise people make.

]]> By: Roy http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5213 Roy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:51:02 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5213 Hey Ruth... delightful as always.  And, to Winston:  You are a hoot! Hey Ruth… delightful as always.  And, to Winston:  You are a hoot!

]]> By: Winston http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5212 Winston Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:10:51 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5212 Yes, in general, the cacophony of life surrounding us gives our heart a template for the rhythm of our own inner life.  But I do often prefer to induce the sounds surrounding me.  Perhaps tickling the Steinway in a subtle, mood-infested way, or perchance cranking up the phonograph.  Yes, I know it's archaic-- laugh all you want-- but I'm scarlet, shameless, I <em>still </em>play 45 rpms! I do share your venom towards fellow audience members trying to overshadow the events at center stage.  I'm certain I would have had your compassion in my endeavor to focus on Franco Zefferelli's <em>Romeo & Juliet</em> in spite of having the back of my seat kneed for over two hours by a gangly teen who couldn't spell Book Report let alone pen one.   Here are some likely answers to some questions you posed:   <em>So why did the woman behind me feel the need to comment on the play to her companion?</em><em></em> Overexposure to TiVo.  She probably thinks live theatre is equipped with a replay button.   <em>Why did the guy to my right have to continually light up his digital watch to check the time?</em> He perceives fast-tracking to be the hallmark of success.  He knows he must gather all the events he can into his one life, yet it tears at his soul yielding over any of his precious minutes actually absorbing any event in the rich fullness of its entirety.  He might lose the race.   <em>And why did the woman several rows back have to launch into a series of explosive nose-blowings in the middle of the quietest dialogue?</em> She was no doubt Omaha-born during a lunar eclipse and is therefore the embodiment of one of the laws of physics: <em> for every action, there is an equal, opposite reaction.</em> Hence, the quieter the dialog, the more voracious her reaction. Being a Midwesterner, it all translates nasally, of course. ________________ Your Gem of the Day ________________ <em>My God, what was she — the Niagara Falls of phlegm?</em> Ha-ha!  I wish I'd authored that! I can't wait to use it against the first friend who develops a full-blown head cold.   _______________________________ Your one weak illustrative comparison: _______________________________ You owe Miss Garbo an apology for besmearing her acting ability. Miss Garbo steered Camille into a hushed and beauteous death.  In fact, her dialog was so quiet, that had Ms. Omaha viewed a screening of <em>Camille</em>, both her lungs would now forever be dangling from her nostrils.  And that snot exaggerating.   Camille death scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQsPmMcQtAU         Yes, in general, the cacophony of life surrounding us gives our heart a template for the rhythm of our own inner life.  But I do often prefer to induce the sounds surrounding me.  Perhaps tickling the Steinway in a subtle, mood-infested way, or perchance cranking up the phonograph.  Yes, I know it’s archaic– laugh all you want– but I’m scarlet, shameless, I still play 45 rpms!
I do share your venom towards fellow audience members trying to overshadow the events at center stage.  I’m certain I would have had your compassion in my endeavor to focus on Franco Zefferelli’s Romeo & Juliet in spite of having the back of my seat kneed for over two hours by a gangly teen who couldn’t spell Book Report let alone pen one.
 
Here are some likely answers to some questions you posed:
 
So why did the woman behind me feel the need to comment on the play to her companion?
Overexposure to TiVo.  She probably thinks live theatre is equipped with a replay button.
 
Why did the guy to my right have to continually light up his digital watch to check the time?
He perceives fast-tracking to be the hallmark of success.  He knows he must gather all the events he can into his one life, yet it tears at his soul yielding over any of his precious minutes actually absorbing any event in the rich fullness of its entirety.  He might lose the race.
 
And why did the woman several rows back have to launch into a series of explosive nose-blowings in the middle of the quietest dialogue?
She was no doubt Omaha-born during a lunar eclipse and is therefore the embodiment of one of the laws of physics:  for every action, there is an equal, opposite reaction. Hence, the quieter the dialog, the more voracious her reaction. Being a Midwesterner, it all translates nasally, of course.
________________
Your Gem of the Day
________________
My God, what was she — the Niagara Falls of phlegm?
Ha-ha!  I wish I’d authored that!
I can’t wait to use it against the first friend who develops a full-blown head cold.
 
_______________________________
Your one weak illustrative comparison:
_______________________________
You owe Miss Garbo an apology for besmearing her acting ability.
Miss Garbo steered Camille into a hushed and beauteous death.  In fact, her dialog was so quiet, that had Ms. Omaha viewed a screening of Camille, both her lungs would now forever be dangling from her nostrils.  And that snot exaggerating.
 
Camille death scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQsPmMcQtAU
 
 
 
 

]]> By: Almost Slowfood http://www.geezersisters.com/culture/snot-funny/comment-page-1#comment-5211 Almost Slowfood Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:14:18 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=2080#comment-5211 Uggh, there's nothing worse than being stalked by sick people who should've just stayed home. Uggh, there’s nothing worse than being stalked by sick people who should’ve just stayed home.

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