Reality in general.
I remember the moment implicitly: as a much younger cmdr, I'd just finished reading Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy, and was walking down the hill to return the book to the local library (a quaint journey, with the Hovis music blaring quietly in the background) when I was struck with just how bland the real world was in comparison to the rich fiction I'd been indulging in. It must have just been that point in growing up when you realise none of the magic is real, a turning point in the cynicism to naivety ratio that comes at a certain age. It thoroughly depressed me, that stage of growing up where you realise 'this is it'. I'd also have to admit to still feeling an echo of that sensation of realisation every time I come to end of a particularly good book.

That and when Opal Fruits changed to Starburst.
(wing_cmdr I mean not real, but almost a real hologram, Sun 29 Jun 2008, 21:54, 6 replies)

Not to mention
the day Marathons became Snickers.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Sun 29 Jun 2008, 22:00, closed)

ah yes
just been round at a mate's house watching the Euro 08 final .. lots of rellies there and he was explaining to his (24 yr old) niece that no travelling experience in your 30s or 40s could ever match one from your 20s because you didn't meet people in the same way

fek

*rages against the dying of the light*

thing is, there are fekkin heaps of good things out there - cheap stuff (walking about in the countryside, love, a decent shag, genuine laughter) to expensive stuff (global travel and meals that surpass 'cookery' to become art ... oh, and art ...)

the line from lawrence of arabia? "Aqaba's over there. It's just a matter of going."

PS: not sober but quite keen on not giving up yet
( writerblock ... embedding disabled by request on, Sun 29 Jun 2008, 23:20, closed)

Get a bike!
I know the feeling well, and I may address it somewhere in this QOTW.

But in the meantime, I will say that one potential cure I've found is the nocturnal cycling scene.

Riding about your city at night with several dozen (or hundred) other bored and hopeful folks is an experience not to be missed. Plus, you're on your bike, so you're getting fit at the same time, unlike moping about on the internet or in a club drinking and sitting and getting fat.

I'm in L.A., but here's one link for London, there may be others:
www.fridaynightride.com/

Seriously, these rides are free (unless you choose to buy beer or snacks), you meet the nicest people, and you're bombing through the metropolis under your own power and seeing your home city in a way you've never seen it.

It's like getting to BE the character for once, and in a pretty action packed chapter.

Seriously, tell me this doesn't look like fun:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2iBVCzEzWA

Find something similar in your town. If there isn't something similar, put an ad up on craigslist and start one.
(not here, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 2:27, closed)

Yes, reality sucks.
It's nowhere near as good as the books we read.

But it's still possible to find wonder in reality. Small things, but they're marvellous.

The Internet is one of those things. Look, here I press buttons on my computer in the UK, and words appear on my friend's screen in Canada in a matter of seconds.

I like to imagine that, to the people in His Dark Materials, their world seems mundane and bland, and to them, ours would seem magical.

Oh, and as for Opal Fruits / Marathon... there's nothing wrong with the new names.
( Thinker, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 10:41, closed)

Sorry, but:
"implicitly"???
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 11:02, closed)

I felt like that when I'd finished Eldest
of the Eragon trilogy. Want dragon!!

And I know I'm going to feel the same when the third one comes out in September.

Same applies for Harry Potter but I'll probably get lynched for that on here.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 15:26, closed)