Re: Thoughtful Opinions-To

May 9, 2005

Oops I forgot to quote properly. I was distracted when posting this.

wrote:

> As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does not have a

problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with are

American " Colloquialisms " . In other words, " waiting for the other shoe to

fall " or kicked the bucket " (someone died). These are terms used to

represent something else entirely.

Right. Colloquialisms! THAT's the word I was looking for. They are a real

pain in the neck until you are informed what each one means, since that is

hard to impossible to know unless specifically informed. I'm lucky in that

90% of all TV shows are in English and all subtitled in Swedish, so that way

you get a translation for them along with their 'correct' context. This

probably gives me an advantage over many Americans who do not have that

service.

I was just telling Tom a while ago about a really funny cartoon from the

50's where they illustrated each of these colloquialisms literally. Thus

they literally " painted the town red " , " let their hair down " , " reached for

the moon " , had a " cock-tail " (=a martini glass with a bunch of cock's

tail-feathers in it) etc. That was so funny.

> I took French for five years during high school and college. It's kind

of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time without

realizing it.

French sort of IS Latin, only pronounced more sensually. :-)

> Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, cops use

for " how was the crime committed? " ), or je ne sais quoi (I don't know

what; but most times, people throw it in so that they will sound

sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)

French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They

just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.

Right.

Inger

FAM Secret Society is a community based on respect, friendship, support and

acceptance. Everyone is valued.

Don't forget, there are links to other FAM sites on the Links page in the

folder marked " Other FAM Sites. "

May 9, 2005

Oops I forgot to quote properly. I was distracted when posting this.

wrote:

> As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does not have a

problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with are

American " Colloquialisms " . In other words, " waiting for the other shoe to

fall " or kicked the bucket " (someone died). These are terms used to

represent something else entirely.

Right. Colloquialisms! THAT's the word I was looking for. They are a real

pain in the neck until you are informed what each one means, since that is

hard to impossible to know unless specifically informed. I'm lucky in that

90% of all TV shows are in English and all subtitled in Swedish, so that way

you get a translation for them along with their 'correct' context. This

probably gives me an advantage over many Americans who do not have that

service.

I was just telling Tom a while ago about a really funny cartoon from the

50's where they illustrated each of these colloquialisms literally. Thus

they literally " painted the town red " , " let their hair down " , " reached for

the moon " , had a " cock-tail " (=a martini glass with a bunch of cock's

tail-feathers in it) etc. That was so funny.

> I took French for five years during high school and college. It's kind

of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time without

realizing it.

French sort of IS Latin, only pronounced more sensually. :-)

> Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, cops use

for " how was the crime committed? " ), or je ne sais quoi (I don't know

what; but most times, people throw it in so that they will sound

sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)

French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They

just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.

Right.

Inger

FAM Secret Society is a community based on respect, friendship, support and

acceptance. Everyone is valued.

Don't forget, there are links to other FAM sites on the Links page in the

folder marked " Other FAM Sites. "

May 9, 2005

,

Waiting for the other shoe to drop means for something to finish or play out. I think comes from the old tenament buildings, which were built rather cheaply. What would happen if your upstairs neighbor would be going to bed (presuming you were already in bed) and they would be taking off their shoes. You would hear the first one bang down as it was dropped and you would be waiting for the second one. This would mean that after the second on hit, it would be quiet and you could go on back to sleep or whatever.

May 9, 2005

Ken,

Or you could have someone like me living over you. My senior year in miltiary school there were these guys that lived underneith me. They were both privates and would do things to irritate me. This would be things like playing the music a little too loud, bouncing things off the ceiling and most of all closing their door really hard which would cause a pressure wave that would bounce my floor up what felt like a couple of feet (it was certianly enough to bounce you around). So I would often do the shoe trick on them. I would drop one and sometimes wait as long as 20 minutes to drop the other one. Sometimes I would drop the two as usual and then drop a third later.

The fun part about that was that being a staff officer I had "late lights". That is I could stay up after Taps and lights out. I think my late lights was an extra 20 minutes. That meant while they were in bed and trying to get to sleep I could mess with them. They did what they did because they were buddies with the company commander in whose company I lived. That CO was a real screw up, but I couldn't really do much about him since that company was short of officer material. If that weren't the case, I really think that idiot would have been demoted.

May 9, 2005

Ken,

Or you could have someone like me living over you. My senior year in miltiary school there were these guys that lived underneith me. They were both privates and would do things to irritate me. This would be things like playing the music a little too loud, bouncing things off the ceiling and most of all closing their door really hard which would cause a pressure wave that would bounce my floor up what felt like a couple of feet (it was certianly enough to bounce you around). So I would often do the shoe trick on them. I would drop one and sometimes wait as long as 20 minutes to drop the other one. Sometimes I would drop the two as usual and then drop a third later.

The fun part about that was that being a staff officer I had "late lights". That is I could stay up after Taps and lights out. I think my late lights was an extra 20 minutes. That meant while they were in bed and trying to get to sleep I could mess with them. They did what they did because they were buddies with the company commander in whose company I lived. That CO was a real screw up, but I couldn't really do much about him since that company was short of officer material. If that weren't the case, I really think that idiot would have been demoted.

May 9, 2005

,

Thanks.

May 9, 2005

,

Thanks.

May 10, 2005

I am not 100% sure what " waiting for the other shoe to fall " means,

is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines as

'the penny has dropped?'

I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

> As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does not

have

a

> problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with

> are American " Colloquialisms " . In other words, " waiting for the

other

> shoe to fall " or kicked the bucket " (someone died).

> These are terms used to represent something else entirely.

> I took French for five years during high school and college. It's

kind

> of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time

without

> realizing it. Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, cops

use

> for " how was the crime committed? " ), or je ne sais quoi (I don't

know

> what; but most times, people throw it in so that they will sound

> sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)

> French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They

> just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.

May 10, 2005

Hi ,

Yes its similar, they are idioms, and very difficult for us aspies to understand. My child is taking a class in idioms in school, so that hopefully he won't have the same problem we do. My husband always talks in them, and drives me crazy because half the time I don't know what he is saying and I have to ask him to repeat himself in plain english.

Bethgreebohere wrote:

I am not 100% sure what "waiting for the other shoe to fall" means,is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines as'the penny has dropped?'I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilstothers fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.> As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does nothave a > problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with > are American "Colloquialisms". In other words, "waiting for theother > shoe to fall" or kicked the bucket" (someone died). > These are terms used to represent something else entirely. > I took French for five years during high

school and college. It's kind > of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time without > realizing it. Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, copsuse > for "how was the crime committed?"), or je ne sais quoi (I don'tknow > what; but most times, people throw it in so that they will sound > sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)> French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They > just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.FAM Secret Society is a community based on respect, friendship, support and acceptance. Everyone is valued. Don't forget, there are links to other FAM sites on the Links page in the folder marked "Other FAM Sites."

Yahoo! Mail Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.

May 10, 2005

Hi ,

Yes its similar, they are idioms, and very difficult for us aspies to understand. My child is taking a class in idioms in school, so that hopefully he won't have the same problem we do. My husband always talks in them, and drives me crazy because half the time I don't know what he is saying and I have to ask him to repeat himself in plain english.

Bethgreebohere wrote:

I am not 100% sure what "waiting for the other shoe to fall" means,is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines as'the penny has dropped?'I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilstothers fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.> As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does nothave a > problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with > are American "Colloquialisms". In other words, "waiting for theother > shoe to fall" or kicked the bucket" (someone died). > These are terms used to represent something else entirely. > I took French for five years during high

school and college. It's kind > of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time without > realizing it. Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, copsuse > for "how was the crime committed?"), or je ne sais quoi (I don'tknow > what; but most times, people throw it in so that they will sound > sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)> French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They > just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.FAM Secret Society is a community based on respect, friendship, support and acceptance. Everyone is valued. Don't forget, there are links to other FAM sites on the Links page in the folder marked "Other FAM Sites."

Yahoo! Mail Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.

May 10, 2005

Waiting for the other shoe to fall, means that something has happened,

or you've experienced something, that is usually followed by something

else, and you're waiting for the second thing to happen. If you hear

someone drop a shoe, you expect to hear the other drop as well, and if

you don't, there is suspense. Of course, the person dropping the shoe

might have only leg, then you're stuck in suspense forever.

Ken

> > As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does not

> have

> a

> > problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with

> > are American " Colloquialisms " . In other words, " waiting for the

> other

> > shoe to fall " or kicked the bucket " (someone died).

> > These are terms used to represent something else entirely.

> > I took French for five years during high school and college. It's

> kind

> > of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time

> without

> > realizing it. Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, cops

> use

> > for " how was the crime committed? " ), or je ne sais quoi (I don't

> know

> > what; but most times, people throw it in so that they will sound

> > sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)

> > French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They

> > just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.

May 10, 2005

To be honest this makes no sense really. I can drop one shoe - or

more likely slipper off my foot - but it does not automatically mean

the other will fall. I think I understand 'waiting for the penny to

drop' better :-)

> > I am not 100% sure what " waiting for the other shoe to fall "

means,

> > is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines

as

> > 'the penny has dropped?'

> >

> > I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> > others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

> >

> > I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

> >

May 10, 2005

To be honest this makes no sense really. I can drop one shoe - or

more likely slipper off my foot - but it does not automatically mean

the other will fall. I think I understand 'waiting for the penny to

drop' better :-)

> > I am not 100% sure what " waiting for the other shoe to fall "

means,

> > is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines

as

> > 'the penny has dropped?'

> >

> > I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> > others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

> >

> > I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

> >

May 10, 2005

Ken,

I love it!

rubenken2000 wrote:

Waiting for the other shoe to fall, means that something has happened,or you've experienced something, that is usually followed by somethingelse, and you're waiting for the second thing to happen. If you hearsomeone drop a shoe, you expect to hear the other drop as well, and ifyou don't, there is suspense. Of course, the person dropping the shoemight have only leg, then you're stuck in suspense forever.Ken> > As hard as it may be to believe, your gentleman friend does not> have > a > > problem with the English language. What he DOES have a problem with > > are American "Colloquialisms". In other words, "waiting for the> other > > shoe to fall" or kicked the bucket" (someone died). > > These are terms used to represent something else entirely. > > I took French for five years during high school and college. It's > kind > > of like Latin-we work it into our everyday speech all the time > without > > realizing it. Such as, modus operandi (method of operation, cops> use > > for "how was the crime committed?"), or je ne sais quoi (I don't> know > > what; but most times, people

throw it in so that they will sound > > sophisticated. And misuse the meaning)> > French is a little tricky, but can be learned fairly quickly. They > > just flip the noun verb agreement-the jacket red.

May 10, 2005

Ahhhhhh - so it's totally different from 'waiting for the penny to

drop'? - which refers to waiting for a person to get/figure out

something (I think?)

I am not 100% sure

what " waiting for the other shoe to fall " means,

> is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines as

> 'the penny has dropped?'

>

> I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

>

> I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

>

May 10, 2005

Ahhhhhh - so it's totally different from 'waiting for the penny to

drop'? - which refers to waiting for a person to get/figure out

something (I think?)

I am not 100% sure

what " waiting for the other shoe to fall " means,

> is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines as

> 'the penny has dropped?'

>

> I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

>

> I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

>

May 10, 2005

Ahhhhhh - so it's totally different from 'waiting for the penny to

drop'? - which refers to waiting for a person to get/figure out

something (I think?)

I am not 100% sure

what " waiting for the other shoe to fall " means,

> is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same lines as

> 'the penny has dropped?'

>

> I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

>

> I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

>

May 10, 2005

Maybe because there are two shoes? lol. I don't really get it either,

but I have a sense of what it means in context. Take most idioms out

of context and they make no sense at all.

Kitty

> > > I am not 100% sure what " waiting for the other shoe to fall "

> means,

> > > is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same

lines

> as

> > > 'the penny has dropped?'

> > >

> > > I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> > > others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

> > >

> > > I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

> > >

May 10, 2005

Maybe because there are two shoes? lol. I don't really get it either,

but I have a sense of what it means in context. Take most idioms out

of context and they make no sense at all.

Kitty

> > > I am not 100% sure what " waiting for the other shoe to fall "

> means,

> > > is it something to do with getting it? is it along the same

lines

> as

> > > 'the penny has dropped?'

> > >

> > > I do understand some sayings - because I've learnt them - whilst

> > > others fly straight over my head - is that another one? :-)

> > >

> > > I also get them mixed up and say them wrong too.

> > >

May 10, 2005

I posted the following paragraph in another yahoo group, but it

seemed appropriate to your situation.

______________

I have also been looking into the " thinking in pictures " rather than

words phenomen that seems very common amoung Aspies/HFA. Or maybe

more true for HFA than aspies? Anyway that is very true of me, in

addition to pictures, I think in other things that are wordless,

textures, tastes, sounds, movement, emotions. There are also

complex concepts that are preresented in a comletely non-verbal way,

but it is hard to describe - I suppose they could be thought of as

symbolism or archtypes. I try to translate those into words so

people can understand. Simple things, like " Please hand me the

glass of water " are fairly easy. Actually even then I ususally only

hold out my hand and say " water. " I suppose that would be

concidered rude by some, but my husband and daughter seem to accept

it. Complex concepts are difficult. I really struggle to find the

words to express myself sometimes. I feel like words are my " second

language. " I am reminded of how very smart people are often

regarded as stupid or slow when they are trying to communicate in a

language they are not fluent in and they don't always know the right

words.

___________________

I would also like to add that I have learned that this is also

refered to as " visual spatial learning " or VSL. I have found some

information on the web about this, but it is mostly on how to help

kids with VSL. I saw a book on this as well that I was tempted to

buy, but I am not sure as it is mostly focused on helping kids

(learning things in school or home schooling). I am 36 and just now

finding out about this and lots of other things. I wish I had known

about all of this a lot earlier. I grow a little tired of reading

about what should have been done to help me when I was young.

Ilah

May 10, 2005