To: Neocon who wrote (62558 ) 10/14/2002 2:20:44 PM From: Lane3 Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 82486 I have to mention, this is the sort of thing that gets me exasperated. Would you like to have an in-depth discussion on the nature of exasperation? I'm up for that. <g> I understand your exasperation. I get exasperated, too. Imagine me putting countless hours in over a week or so trying to get you to reflect with me on a culture based on self-interest only to be told that you are not receptive to flights of fancy. Well, I'm glad we finally cleared that up--I invited you to dance and you didn't want to dance--but that's got to be at least as exasperating as the quick transaction you and I had before lunch, my lunch, that is.I demonstrate that the standard reading of the novel is that it is pro- Catholic I accepted the materials you offered, as indicated by the fact that I didn't give you any argument about it. I suppose I could have said "OK" rather than saying nothing at all about it. In retrospect, I should have to make it clear, but, to me, not challenging what you offered is the same thing, just not as overt. I also said that it had been several decades since I read the book and that I was thinking about reading it again. That translates into "I don't know this subject well enough to discuss it further with you right now." Obviously, if I remember it being a short book, I don't remember it very well. I had already told you what I most remembered of it.and you ignore it and excuse yourself to get sashimi. Would you have preferred I not excuse myself and just go to lunch? As you know, it is not my custom to notify the thread of my temporary departure. That is your custom, not mine. But I offered that I wouldn't be around for a while. I thought you might find my ongoing fixation with sashimi amusing. Regarding the sashimi, it is my custom to skip breakfast, spend several hours in the pool in the morning and then go to lunch. As it turns out, they evacuated my pool this morning before I had finished and I got home earlier than usual so I was hanging around thinking about how hungry I was getting. The restaurant opens at 11:30 and I planned to go then, but got caught up in my inbox. By the time I excused myself, all I could think of was my hunger pangs and was desperate to have lunch in front of me. So, there I was being invited to dance but finding myself not knowing the steps to that particular dance and ravenous to boot. Yes, I could have nodded at your offerings about Canticle and Catholicism. I did acknowledge your bringing his sequel to my attention, which I appreciate. Then I split. I was supposed to do...what, instead? NOTE: For to any onlookers, Neo and I are having a discussion, not a fight.