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Every fish has two sides

By February 16, 2010Myth or Reality, Writing

This past weekend I adopted this beautiful blue fish to sit by my computer and keep me company while I write. I thought it would be so cool. But, it’s not really cool. It’s two other things:

Depressing. As hell. I kid you not. I look at this little fish all alone in his little bowl with his fake plastic plant and I want to end it all right here and now. I mean, talk about a reminder of how fruitless it all is! She’s trapped, she has no options, no real future, no chance of making any friends or finding love or even just someone to fool around with. And she only gets to eat a few tiny pebbles of food a day, the same food every day.

Luckily, that’s only what I see about 3% of the time that I look at her. The rest of the time, I think she looks extraordinarily

Chillaxed. My fish is so mellow. She just floats around. Sometimes she’s very still, sometimes she swims up and down or in circles. But nothing seems to bother her, she never looks ruffled. She is totally safe in that bowl. It’s clean, there’s food, there are pretty rocks. She doesn’t have to work and she has no responsibilities. In short, she’s living a charmed life. Like Paris Hilton.

And – minus not having to work or shoulder any responsibilities – like me.

Image credit: ayelie

Join the discussion 11 Comments

  • Joanne Sardini says:

    The good thing is that they say (whoever they are) that fish have like a nanosecond memory or something really short like that, so don’t get depressed, it’s all new and shiny to her!! Always a fresh enthusiasm for “Oh, what a beautiful plastic plant”, “Oh, what a beautiful plastic plant”!

  • Andi says:

    Too funny, only you would have a Jekyll and Hyde fish, or least a J&H reaction to it!
    .-= Andi´s last blog ..Valentine’s 2010 =-.

  • Joker_SATX says:

    I think that maybe this is what I need in my office…A fish tank…

  • I used to keep a betta in m locker in high school. it was kind of fun for about a month but I felt bad after that. So I got it a friend and had 2 in my locker. Mhy big aquariums are much more relaxing.
    .-= Justin Matthews´s last blog ..Punching Heavy Bags and Blog Posts =-.

  • Julie Roads says:

    In your locker? I think I have to call DSS on you…do they like to be in the dark? and smelly?

  • Well they dont care much about the dark and it was my locker in the hall not the gym. full of books and far side comics for the most part.
    .-= Justin Matthews´s last blog ..Punching Heavy Bags and Blog Posts =-.

  • Julie Roads says:

    Okay, then. I won’t turn you in…

  • Alisa Bowman says:

    I generally feel sorry for any caged animal, but fish… not so much. I think even in the wild they don’t swim very far from home. They stay within a small area. Maybe not as small as a fish tank, but not huge. So I don’t think your little fishy is in there thinking “if only I could get out…” He’s probably thinking: “thank god there isn’t a shark in this fish tank”+ “I like that nice lady who feeds me.”
    .-= Alisa Bowman´s last blog ..The Oddest Communication Advice You’ll Ever Read =-.

  • Julie Roads says:

    Alisa – you’re probably right, except for one thing. I am many things, but I am not a ‘lady’…I mean, seriously.

  • Wow I just laughed out loud at work!! Some of the best comedy movies, although funny, don’t make me laugh OUT LOUD!

    As I read I thought of my little red betta fish (his name is “Pig”…short for Pigeous Maximus) and it’s SO TRUE!

    Half the time I think he’s ready to take the final leap out of his bowl in to fishy heaven and the other half of the time I’m jealous at his lackadaisical ways.

    Ha ha ha…I’m just going to go chuckle some more now…thanks for the laugh!

    Hugs!
    .-= Farrah J Phoenix´s last blog ..Book to Movie Hype: Can it Last? =-.

  • Regina says:

    Hey Julie!

    Cute fish!
    If you wanna spice up his day, set a mirror next to the bowl. ;-) Siamese fighting fish are destined to be alone and even in nature, are content in a small watery space. They fight their kin which is why the fins flare with a mirror. Yes, “she’s” a He! The female of these fish are drab and less colorful. It’s sort of like with birds, males get all the color. You can add a real plant in the bowl if you wish. It makes for a more balanced ecology. Fish nerd alert! Thanks for humoring me! ~Regina
    .-= Regina´s last blog ..Martini Art of Passion =-.

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