Acceptable Lippage

acceptable lippage

This is the moment when I am uncertain, when asked:  “Is this okay?”  And if I am not careful will find myself in a discussion about right or wrong, and what is acceptable.  Is it okay to say:  “Lippage.”  Or.  “Overhang.”  And who will advise me?  About this I am uncertain.  It will be that kind of day.  She points at her midsection and makes a face.  

 “Over-hang.”  “Unacceptable.”  

 

And realize that no matter what I reply, it will not be good for me.  This is when I resort to Stoney-ness.  Is a practiced thing I do.  It is mostly visual.  Some of it catches me and others off-balance.  Not steady and it looks like he might fall over or collapse at any moment.  “What is he on?  Name That Drug.” And for the  moment it is the distraction that works.  Lippage or Overhang, and what is acceptable.  Could be the topic for today’s blog, but if truth be told, it will do no good to get in a long conversation about such things.  “Keep your blog short.  Deal with an 8 second attention span.”  And he finds that acceptable.

 

Seems this is where his best guess is insufficient.  “Best to say nothing.”  He reminds himself.  There are industry standards for such thing, if you are at work.  But on a personal level and with social groups and peer-group consensus, it is a variable situation, wrought with left turns and cul-de-sac stoppage.  It is not in the cards or best to reveal your hand.  Just drop out.  Don’t take a chance.  Let it go, and hope for a different question on another day.  Lippage or Over-hang and maybe it’s the same thing, but its best to let others figure that out.  Take the cowards way out.  

 Fake Stoney-ness.

 

Acceptable Lippage gives way to a more suitable topic.  Seems on this day the keyword will be:  acceptable.  And then he will add a side-thought to it, and staying with good advice, he will keep it short.  Be brief, but don’t let it go to the point where you are exposed.  Midsection and what is acceptable, is not a place you want to be maneuvered into going.  

 

So no matter what, avoid going there.  Just run around the subject, be circuitous if you must resort to that.  Be Stoney and not care what others might be saying or thinking.  Your objective is  to find a more suitable subject to focus on for whatever duration your blog will give to your most recent  8-second-thought, which as we have said,

 “Is a by-product of  a short attention span.”

 

I have some time to kill, but at the same time, will not take the risk of exciting hostility or somebody else’s aggressive stance on what is acceptable and what is not.  Lippage or Overhang and I will not be maneuvered into discussing this.  Won’t consider it, but will spend a few minutes talking about acceptable risk.  Consider this:  Chaos is the norm, and when you can remain calm when staring down a pointed-question, or a barrel of a loaded gun,  that should be considered as defense, regardless of the outcome or what happens next, when she calls you out and asks.   

“Are you avoiding me?”   

Have some time to kill, but do not want to embrace double jeopardy.  So he looks away, and seems to be off-balance and unsteady.  Works every time.  She attends to him, and takes his hand and guides him to a chair.  “Will you be okay.  Let me get you a glass of water.”

The clock indicates a passage of time.  Does it matter how long:  8-second-attention-span, or mind-over-matter-mega-minutes, he has achieved his objective.  Change the subject and don’t talk about her over or under - thang.

 

Acceptable or not, he wants you to be with him.  Cross the line, or not.  Be by his side and be on his side.  Risky.  More than likely yes.  Acceptable risk and he uses body language and eye signals that confuse you.  “Why are we talking about this?”  Lippage or overhang, and it seems going to google and looking for an answer is unacceptable use of technology, at a time like this.  Let your heart guide you.  Be authentic.  Avoid being Stoney when all you have to say is:  “You look good.  There is no overhang.  But if it worries you, we can go to yoga and work things out.”

 

In my line of work we don’t want to look sloppy.  So yes, looks are important, and the general impression of how things should be, is important too.  No reason to dwell on it.  Some days you feel good.  Some days you look good.  And on the days when this is not the case, it is okay to adopt the trademark of that which made Stoney successful in the first place.  Take on the glazed look.  Be unfazed by what others are saying and doing and ask of you.  Do your own thing and go the way that has be successful for you in the past.  

 

You don’t need the big picture, and certainly is best to stay away from The Selfie.  Avoid calling attention to one self.  Blend in and be part of the collective.  Attention to detail at a time like this, should be minimized.  Images and the visual approach have their place, and it is okay to say.  “You look good.  Let’s go out in public.”, but not all the time.  Avoidance is good.  Has its place.  Acceptable risk and acceptable lippage or overhang, and decide the course of today.  Change the subject.

 

He is typing his blog and hits the wrong key.  Lippage becomes slippage and Stonehenge becomes  stoney logic.  See it for what it is.  He is desperate.  You asked him a question and he is meeting resistance in his own mind.  Is one of those times when he doesn’t know what to do or say.  Precarious and catches him by surprise.  Not sure what he said to bring the subject up in the first place. 

 

Cul-de-sac or spiral path, and as a precaution to what could end badly,  in his mind he reviews all his options, and draws a blank.  She can see it in his eyes.  Something wrong.  “Did you forget to take your medicine?”  she asks.  Just hearing this gives him tremendous lift, and he staggers but does not fall down.  Slippage, but not a fatal fall off the cliff or edge.

In all of this is an ancient thought.  If it smells bad, don’t eat it.

And this is how he ends it.  Total silence and he lets her do all the talking.  “Are you okay.  And he nods.  Points towards the sofa.  She understands.  Couch tour and she helps him, after he has had his cup of water.  From chair to couch and they agree.  “Give it a rest.  Tomorrow is another day, and another opportunity to deal with the important things.  

 Like slippage and Lippage and Overhang.  The important stuff.