tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post297108811695870624..comments2024-02-20T00:35:39.057-08:00Comments on The Lion's Den: The Tone of DiplomacyGSLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-45523188930065379132015-03-26T03:38:00.088-07:002015-03-26T03:38:00.088-07:00I can see you as a Diplomat, you've obviously ...I can see you as a Diplomat, you've obviously been checking out possible wardrobe additions on Pinterest with that in mind too….<br />I am so sorry to hear that Estella is having to become a carer for her Mother - it's a very difficult and heartbreaking role to have. I'm sure you'll be a good support to her. Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01432089507602828735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-15528706715071912482015-03-25T12:34:06.639-07:002015-03-25T12:34:06.639-07:00Tell me this was not back in the day of wide white...Tell me this was not back in the day of wide white belt and shoes-to-match? <br /><br />The cast of characters is mostly old, with stage entrances off and on since 2008, when I began LAWN TEA, and fed by memory and idea since. I'm trying hard to Present-Tense them, as wavering from then to now without a definite flashback makes me want to mainline white-out, but most are from actual memory and the aura of the time comes through as mostly WAS.<br /><br />To set the time: I know where I was exactly FIFTY years ago today. Wish I had pictures, because most is a blur now..<br /><br />rachel<br /><br />RachelDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204947567574886675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-85818762942684883972015-03-25T11:34:43.263-07:002015-03-25T11:34:43.263-07:00Darling Rachel,
i know these fire & brimstone ...Darling Rachel,<br />i know these fire & brimstone Southern Baptist aspiring tele-evangelist hucksters well. We had this go throgh each cost item by item with pointed inquiries how he arrived at such large costs. His down-home aw-shucks perma-grin moistened as I detected the first droplets of 'flopsweat' start to sting his eyes with the toxic hair-spray vapors.<br />He quickly settled at 40% off the original bill, packed up his holy snake oil, and ran out the door.<br /><br />Love the new features you are beginning with your new cast of characters. This casket hustler would have your Marlee giving him some Annie Oakly target practice.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-20430846783685573992015-03-25T09:49:13.113-07:002015-03-25T09:49:13.113-07:00How diplomatic of you! I do love your discourses...How diplomatic of you! I do love your discourses on all your scrumptious friends. <br /><br />Was the FHD a "Phony" Southern Baptist, or did he display that phony Southern Baptist demeanor? Tone IS everything.<br /><br />says rachel, whose soft Southern Tones have gotten her everywhere, but who keeps a ready supply of ass-slings by the door, just in case.RachelDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204947567574886675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-13211296700482002032015-03-25T06:12:53.092-07:002015-03-25T06:12:53.092-07:00My Dear T,
i'll bet your Look has Madusan qual...My Dear T,<br />i'll bet your Look has Madusan qualities!GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-77377008378717024042015-03-24T14:36:26.825-07:002015-03-24T14:36:26.825-07:00Ever sensitive to tone of voice and it's abili...Ever sensitive to tone of voice and it's ability to create or deflate, I have never adopted The Tone. Instead, I rely on The Look! All about the eyes for me, G! I detest a harsh tone!Trudyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967743037457007381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-62288329477981742062015-03-24T06:41:20.271-07:002015-03-24T06:41:20.271-07:00Bravo Bebe,
I shall henceforth have my dear Bebe i...Bravo Bebe,<br />I shall henceforth have my dear Bebe in mind during that Queen of the Night aria. First I've ever heard of Diana Damrau and she is excellent. Mum dressed her little GSL as Papageno with pan flute one HalloweenGSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-45861417378632569752015-03-24T06:22:51.513-07:002015-03-24T06:22:51.513-07:00I don't think I've ever mastered a 'to...I don't think I've ever mastered a 'tone' per se, but I do use words to the same effect. Faced with situations of unmitigated nitwittery I am more Hugh Laurie's Dr House than Der Holle Rache<br />(mind you, I would love to be able to sing like this:)<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvuKxL4LOqc <br /><br />Bebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16890730800940018414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-21341890175037748202015-03-24T05:03:05.560-07:002015-03-24T05:03:05.560-07:00My dear beguiling Claire, you are oh so right on t...My dear beguiling Claire, you are oh so right on the personality type of those careerists in the Army as so many do actually love the regimentation, all the drill and ceremony nonsense, and this supposed "Art of the Ass Chewing". Growing up in the late 1970s and 1980s unless you had a father in the military, you didn't even give a military career a passing thought if you had a lot going for you as the Cold War meant that there would be no more fields of battle as a rite of passage where boys could go 'make their bones' as a man.<br />It's no accident that America's 2 greatest Generals: Washington and Grant hated being in the Army so their energies were focused on WINNING quickly and going home rather than luxuriating in the trappings of lofty rank. General Washington's Army was an unorganized ragtag bunch and he placed men of ability where they could be of greatest benefit therefore a 19yo Alexander Hamilton (GSL's fav Founding Father btw) was plucked from among the ranks and made GW's de facto Chief of Staff based on his towering intellect and obvious abilities. Losing back then meant you were executed by firing squad (if you lived through battle) and your wives and daughters were likely to be at least raped which are strong incentives to focus on matters relevant to winning.<br />Because I was the oldest ever new enlistee paratrooper, I was never on the receiving end of those "ass-chewings" made famous and often imitated from movies with everybody able to recite all the colourful lines from Full Metal Jacket that was actually ad-libbed by a decorated Marine Sargeant, R, Lee Ermey that all sergeants poach their material from. You almost never hear anything clever and original.<br />I've never been on the receiving end of a good tongue lashing but have been seeking out worthy adversaries all my life and my dear beguiling Claire, as you rightly suspect, a shapely female who can even return fire does give me a naughty tingle...GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-15563544562892172292015-03-24T03:20:51.263-07:002015-03-24T03:20:51.263-07:00I use the tone when the recipient deserves it. In ...I use the tone when the recipient deserves it. In conjunction with 'the look' it is enough to stop most offenders in their tracks. I think a lot of men like being the recipient of such attention and derive an erotic frisson from being admonished in this way. In fact, I think a lot of men simply love being told what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Maybe that's why so many do end up joining the armed forces because it's a seemingly legitimate way to experience extreme obedience while being dominated and humiliated by both their peers and superiors. (Pure conjecture - I'm a strong supporter of people who do dangerous/unpleasant jobs the rest of us can't or won't do). So, GSL do you feel a naughty little tingle when you're on the receiving end of a good tongue-lashing? Do share! ClaireAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-37232443352933266392015-03-23T19:16:05.546-07:002015-03-23T19:16:05.546-07:00Jill my dear you are so right regarding moving out...Jill my dear you are so right regarding moving out and about in NYC as The Tone easily dissipates in the everyday rudeness of public interactions. The Tone is only effective in close quarters amongst otherwise polite society.<br />Shame on that rude lady at the Brooklyn Museum for bumping your daughter and not immediately apologizing.<br />I'd like to ride shotgun with you through Park Slope in your Brooklyn Battle Axe Mode...I'm thinking we'd look like a couple of Mad Max Thunderdome toughs in motorcycle with sidecar looking to open up a can on Spike Lee.<br />GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-82481507448454106722015-03-23T18:59:11.241-07:002015-03-23T18:59:11.241-07:00T, I'm sure the timbre and pitch of your "...T, I'm sure the timbre and pitch of your "that's enough" tone has Hunter backpedaling and readying a white flag.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-80364277129754426362015-03-23T16:41:02.764-07:002015-03-23T16:41:02.764-07:00Oh GSL, another post that makes me laugh. I am not...Oh GSL, another post that makes me laugh. I am not at all surprised that you are a good diplomat. I vote we give John Kerry the boot and install you as Secretary of State. As for The Tone, hmm, a terrible combination of being 45 and having lived for nearly 20 years in NYC (over 10 of them in Brooklyn) has meant that I forgo The Tone and head straight to, "Are you kidding me?" I say it really loud these days too. I just used it at the Brooklyn Museum yesterday afternoon on a lady who knocked into my young daughter and kept on walking. I also gave her The Stare. She's lucky I had my child with me or I would've gone straight into Brooklyn Battle-axe Mode, deploying the great Brooklyn accent I can now do on command! Ha. Oh God I am so glad I grew up as a military child, it is serving me so well now! XO, JillJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18062587289685203227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-51528779547772889902015-03-23T16:23:54.933-07:002015-03-23T16:23:54.933-07:00Hmmm, I use The Tone usually when I finally say &q...Hmmm, I use The Tone usually when I finally say "that's enough", usually all it takes. Estella will need you, never easy to become a care giver. A lot of the frustration masks the sadness. Take care.Blue Boobyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13504819843930360278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-85776669116241600852015-03-23T15:26:48.821-07:002015-03-23T15:26:48.821-07:00Oh Dani, I'll bet your Nocturnal Tone would ha...Oh Dani, I'll bet your Nocturnal Tone would have Freddy Kruger heading for the hills!GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-6423638331739979972015-03-23T15:09:43.549-07:002015-03-23T15:09:43.549-07:00I already knew I that I liked your Estella but now...I already knew I that I liked your Estella but now she's my role model. Of course my rascals get The Tone and rightly so those little devils. Also MrBP but only due to his own highly irritating behaviour such as leaving dirty clothes everywhere as though he lived with a staff of thousands, or most memorably when he drops his kindle on the floor while falling asleep next me cozily readily, waking me with an adrenaline shock that brings on the nocturnal Tone, the worst kind I'm sure we can all agree.<br />With your history as a soldier I'm not surprised one bit that you are an excellent diplomat. I'm sure Estella will be very grateful for your help.xo DaniBPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02633155240779845497noreply@blogger.com