I have a nemesis.
Although I don't particularly like him (that sort of being the point with nemeses), I do rather like that fact that I have one.
Why is he my nemesis?
Because he is my antagonistic opposite - in some ways we are similar and in others we are totally different. We started our PhDs at the same time, but the big difference there is that he had a scholarship and I did not. Although I had less money than him, he complained about being poor and I did not (Well, ok, I did complain, but whatever. Not as much as he did). The point is, he is annoying. But in a rather funny way, which I will now demonstrate with this little story.
Nemesis was in a band, and was telling me in the postgrad room one day how he had been recently ejected from the band. He was quite pissed off. What he found most galling was the fact that he had only ever joined the band to begin with as a favour to his friend. This apparently meant that his level of commitment needn't be as high as the other members, because they were lucky to have him!
I asked Nemesis what reason they had given for kicking him out, and he said that one of the complaints the band members had was that he arrived late and left early to rehearsals. This is something that would probably really annoy me if I were in a band, so at this point in the conversation I said something thoughtful yet noncommittal like "Oh" . Nemesis, however, had a water tight reason for this behaviour: "I live the furtherest away! That's why I leave early"... Like it was the most obvious thing in the world...
I really didn't know what to add at this point, so we turned back to our computers, but Nemesis was thinking of other things, because a moment later, he turned to me and said, in a thoughtful tone "You know something? That is actually the fourth dysfunctional band that I have been kicked out of." Wow, fancy that.
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8 comments:
whoa... a nemesis is a big responsibilty, just ask OMel.
I have an idea. You need to give nemesis a really awful name, but something shorter than Nemesis so that you don't have to type out that word every time. I like to use Sven for all my enemy needs.
Are bands the new share house?
M - really? I was thinking of getting a girl one so I have a matching pair.
HS - I like that idea. What about Pig - that is only 3 letters.
JB - Sharehouse drama very much alive. Am currently holding G's bond money hostage because he has left a bed in front of the porn mirrors.
That doesn't explain why he always arrived late. This reminded me of my under graduate uni days when the students who lived on campus were the last ones to walk into lectures!
"That doesn't explain why he always arrived late"... to him it does. This is the beauty of Nem - I mean Pig's logic: he had more travel to do each way you see... Poor Pig.
As a nemesis myself, I must point out it's not all trying to take over teh world or turning up late to band practice. I mean, there's no support group out there to help us get in touch with other nemesi so we can talk about our feelings after being constantly thwarted in our attempts for total domination. I think you need to have more respect for your nemesis. His is a lonely life.
Alternatively you could just run right through the wily tunnel he's just painted on the side of that tunnel...
OM - I could give you his email address if you like, although I wouldn't recommend it (obviously).
"I think you need to have more respect for your nemesis." - ok, I'll give up despising him for lent next year (I'd do it this year, but I have already given up slouching and I can't multitask).
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