Language Upgrade

Yesterday I complained about the too-small number of appropriate adjectives to describe my experience here in Ghana. Today I’m feeling another need for an expanded language.

There may be nothing new under the sun, but I’m pretty sure that not a single human being in the entire history of the planet up until say, 25 years ago, every experienced anything like the Wheel of Death. You know what I’m talking about. That spinning rainbow ball or wheel or other spinning electrons on the screen that let you know that something is in process that you need completed, but realistically, it probably won’t be. So I’m looking for a word to describe that state of being when you’re waiting to find out if it will work or not. You’re in a state of anxiety and stress and though you could theoretically practice some Mindful Breathing, that spinning wheel is in the back of your psyche feeding your frustration. And you know there’s absolutely nothing you can do to reach your hand into the computer and jiggle a wire or flip a switch or adjust something.

This happened to me four times yesterday, without the “GOAL!!” satisfaction when something actually came through (it never did). And then three more times last night in our new town of Ho and three more times this morning. I’ve tried to send the picture of my grandson’s birthday present some 14 times through e-mail, Facebook, this blog, and no deal. Aaargh!!!

Anyway, these are the most boring complaints, with just the one interesting twist of some lexicographer or psychologist coming up with a word to describe that state of being when you’re waiting for the spinning wheel. Any ideas?

Time to shut down this machine until a better Internet space and go hang out at—the pool! Yep, the new hotel has one! And then watch the Mexico-Brazil World Cup game.