In-between Time


Time ran away from me… or should that be time ran away with me? No, it must be from me, as I haven’t moved, yet time did, quicker than it normally does. Anyway, I was still here quite a lot later than I intended to be.

What I mean is, I was still here (was still here – I still AM here!) doing what I was doing earlier when I should have been doing something else.

I have an experimental potion percolating nicely away in the bathr laboratory, and whilst it frothed and fizzed and bubbled and dripped and hissed and steamed and dissolved and settled, I decided to pass the time away playing cards. Spider Solitaire to be exact on the ol’ computer.

Well, not so ol’ actually, but there you go.

The thing is, I always lose at Spider Solitaire. Always. I run out of available moves and then get a pop up telling me the very same thing. I always try to go back a move to stop myself getting the message, yet I always manage to. Every time.

I’m even playing the game on the easiest of settings. And I still lose.

I’m not really very good with computer games. I beat the computer at chess every single time I play, but only because I go back a move whenever it takes one of my pieces – unless I want it to take a piece that is (it is a game of strategy, after all!) – and then within a few more moves I win. I think the computer ‘gives up’ and lets me win. How can you beat a computer every time?

Anyway, I digress. Computer games. I remember getting quite good at Sonic the Hedgehog a few years back – I got to level four, I think. I used to like grabbing the hoops doing acrobatics trough the air. I think that was Sonic, but I may be getting slightly confused with my time as an acrobatic dancer… they were around the same time. However, I eventually lost at Sonic.

On the old Nokia mobile phones (other mobile phones are available) there was a game I was addicted to called Snake. It may still exist on the more modern phones, but back in the day it was cutting edge technology. Needless to say, I always ate my tail. I think once I ran out of space on the screen… nearly, anyhow, as the battery was depleted of power. Sigh. Technology.

I used to enjoy building my own metropolisesies metropolops metropolisis cities in Sim City, but I’d get too big for my boots and shove a power station in a place where it wasn’t needed, or have a beautiful lake start to darken as waste from the power station would somehow seep into the clear blue artificial liquid. Eventually, the power for the city would fail and I’d run out of money and the game would end. Sigh.

I should really have learned back then that I’m not very good at computer games, but I keep spending countless hours playing them anyway. Just whiling away the time.

Oops.

The time.

I’ve done it again.

No, I’ve really done it this time.

The bathroom has just exploded.

Well, something in it has. The potion, probably. It should have only been simmering gently for half an hour – I’m trying to create a soft rubber for some shoe insoles, that also disintegrates the odd stone that manages to get inside the shoe. There’s nothing worse than when that happens.

Anyway.

I’ve just checked and the bathroom’s OK – of a fashion. A thick foam has covered everything in there, and has seeped out under the door, across the landing, and down the stairs. It’s also coming into this room, and is continuing to flow. I wouldn’t mind, but the jar I was using was only the size of a jam jar – I must have got the formula and/or heat wrong again. I’m always doing that.

All I can do now is wait for it all to set, and then I can start to peel it all up, throw it away, and start again – although I may leave it for now.

And, whilst I’m waiting… I’ll play Spider Solitaire. One of these days I’ll win.

One of these days I’ll do it!

23 responses to “In-between Time”

  1. Diane Henders avatar

    Maybe the foam is sentient. You should ask it to help you play solitaire… 😉

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Diane, one thing I’ve learned about any of my experiments is just how useless they actually are! That foam couldn’t even open a door, let alone play Spider Solitaire!!! I did have a few words with it afterwards, though…

      Like

  2. Andra Watkins avatar

    Good luck with the solitaire win, Tom.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Andra. I shall let you know when I do…

      Like

  3. DCTdesigns avatar

    You never ever win? That can’t be. Spider is my midday meditation and coffee break. I win every 5th hand or so. (4 suits too). I think you are exaggerating for effect. 😉 Perhaps stick to bathtub Kahlua. It may even help with the whole time running away conundrum.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Dana… you play with four suits? I’m impressed! I tried it once and had to abandon the game almost straight away!
      Just to let you in a a little secret (between you and me *looks both ways to ensure that nobody else is listening*) some of the ‘details’ in some of my posts may be enhanced or exaggerated but only to fit in with the overall feel of the rest of the post, but by the end of the post I’ve forgotten which. Although when I read about the internet lie detector a few days ago, I thought ‘Oh no… I’d best get a quick disclaimer out there, just in case of the small chance that one of my posts may set it off… I’m thinking of trying that bathtub Kahlua now…

      Like

      1. DCTdesigns avatar

        A friend recently conveyed some Jay Leno wisdom. That the key when promoting yourself is to be who you are exaggerated to the hilt. I’d say you’re doing great.

        Like

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          Thanks for that, Dana… I think I’d have to agree with you there! 😉

          Like

  4. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

    It took me forever to learn to win at regular solitaire. As I grew up I never played games so I’m a late bloomer. 😀

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I’ve played computer games for years, Tess, but always badly. Even the pinball machines and fruit machines in the arcades – I was rubbish at them as well!

      Like

      1. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

        I’m in good company then. 😀

        Like

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          Indeed you are! 🙂

          Like

  5. Jo Bryant avatar

    You never win…oh dear…that is terrible Tom

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      At least I don’t win a prize if I do win, Jo… which actually makes the point of playing even more pointless now, don’t you think?

      Like

  6. lameadventures avatar

    I’m glad that you’re not playing Candy Crush Saga, Tome, like the slack-jawed hordes I see playing it on the subway daily. If we could take all the energy the numb masses invest in playing that game, we could fuel China for a century.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      It may surprise you to know, LA, that I’ve heard of Candy Crush Saga. That’s as far as it goes, but for me, that’s quite impressive in the world of gaming!

      Like

  7. prenin avatar

    Sounds like another fun day at the Mansion! 🙂

    Hope that stuff gets peeled off OK!!! 🙂

    I remember snake! 🙂

    I played it on the Atari ST(e) As well as Tetris!!! 🙂

    God Bless!

    Prenin.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      It’s always fun here in the Mansion, Prenin! Well, it’s always something, anyway…
      All peeled and binned now. I’m not bothering tonight with it… nor am I playing any games. Friday night is chill night, methinks! When I get away from Blogland, that is! 😉 😀

      Like

  8. penpusherpen avatar

    Oh MY, I am sorry Sir Aquatom, but you’ve made me splutter over my second..no hang on third cup of coffee.(hot, hot…owww!!) I am so sorry, (why am I stuck on ‘sorry’? other such words are mostly available should the brain be bothered) erm.I apologise most sincerely for laughing at thy most sticky/messy/ and totally humerous predicament concerning your ba…erm…labor-atory…lab-ro-tory…trying the sounds NOT t’spelling sorta thing… Sorry..erm…getting slightyl sidetracked, Alum-in-ium, aloom-in-um… Sorry!! games? oh yesss!! I do Microsoft Solitaire Collection,.. daily challenges …’ do’ as in try to do them, ‘cos some are HARD and some easy, and some int’ middle (much like the Curate’s Egg I suppose) . ..Klondike/Pyramid/ Spider and Freecell.) trouble is you can ..as you pointed out reset one move, a clear advantage. but necessary sometimes. for I fear the Computer is figuratively tying it’s right arm behind it’s back. whilst singing Rule Brittainia under it’s breath…(ALL the verses too)… so, a pyyhric victory methinks. … I’ve got some marigolds you can borrow? xPenx

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Marigolds not required, Pen, but thank you kindly for the offer… all sorted now. And sorry about your lip – hope it’s better now!

      Like

  9. The Laughing Housewife avatar

    I win occasionally; but I’m not distracted by exploding bathrooms.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Ah, that was only the once, Tilly. I have many other distractions that keep me from winning as well…

      Like

Would you like to leave a comment?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.