Out of Sorts

[P.Trish]

Today, I awoke feeling 'out of sorts', which led me to question the origin of that phrase - of course, you are just dying to know this: - it is from the days of yore' printing trade; all printing was done by hand and was a very laborious process. 'Sorts' were the small pieces of type printers needed to make up a font. If they ran out of sorts they had to stop working. They were paid according to the number of pages they could produce per day, being out of sorts usually made them angry or bad-tempered.
That describes me, today - I hope I find my 'sorts', soon. Have a good weekend - I am from CA, but I am rooting for the Ravens!

[Katybarstool]

P.Trish

Sorry to hear you are out of sorts. Has anything in particular triggered this?

Thank you for the fascinating facts - I often wonder about the origins of strange sayings.

Hugs

Kathy

[P.Trish]

Thanks Kathy - nothing out of the 'ordinary'. Thanks for the hugs:)

[Bucky]

P. Trish,

Sorry you're feeling "out of sorts" today.  Maybe if you look in the font drawer, you'll find some spare sorts.    

Interesting facts - thanks for sharing them.

Along this line - my very first paying job was a typesetter for a newspaper back in 1974.  Back then, you typed on a compugraphic machine where it punched dots in a paper that you fed into another machine that would produce the hard copy.  I couldn't "see" what I was typing, it was all by feel.  There was no spellchecking - it wasn't available. Here's a link to this kind of printing - ahhhh, brings back memories . . . http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/woverbeck/dtr5.htm

Once the copy went to the proofreaders, they could send the copy back to you to make corrections.  On occasion, they would have to re-run the whole story in a different size font as it wouldn't fit on the page in paste-up.  That would involve flipping some settings on the Compugraphic machine that you ran your tape through for the hard copy.

A very interesting job and one that made me a very fast typist.  Boy, I can just imagine how fast I could type now in that job with all the modern technology that has evolved since 1974!! Back then, they paid $2.15 an hour!!    

Can you imagine what the people who did that kind of job with all the sorts would think of the way it's done now??  It would blow their mind!!

I some times think that smelling all those chemicals they used in the production of newsprint played a major role in my health issues down the road.   

P. Trish, maybe just chillin' today on this Saturday afternoon/evening will help things get sorted out.

Take care,
Bucky

[Pisces24]

I call my "out of sorts" times --- the Wet Cat Syndrome.
I used to have an indoor/outdoor cat. When it would be raining, he wouldn't get in the house quick enough (for him anyway) and get wet. I'd towel dry him off an alllll through that time he would be talking. I'll just bet it was cat cussing too. 

Wet Cat syndrome to me is just when I am all "out of sorts". Nothing can or would make me happy. I'm kinda on a perpetual grouch though I'm not grouchy with others. Those times I just can't get happy or excited about anything. Thankfully, it does pass. 

[P.Trish]

Wow Bucky, that web site is fascinating - made me realize how much we take for granted (with current technology). I am old - I even remember a thing called a typewriter
...and you could be correct about those chemicals, but I am so paranoid about chemicals in  - well, everything. Today, my paranoia didn't stop me from devouring 1/2 bag of store-bought  tortilla chips.

Pisces24, your 'Wet Cat Syndrome" analogy is a perfect example of how I have been feeling. Perpetual grouchiness sums it up; most of the time I am able to hide it, but not today.

[Katybarstool]

Mrs Bucky

That's a fascinating article.

I'm old too - I remember sending messages by telex when I was an office junior in the 70's.

Kathyx

[Bucky]

P. Trish - how are you feeling today?  I hope today is a better day for you! 

Bucky

[P.Trish]

Thank you for asking. Today is better.  Yesterday, I had  almost zero energy & couldn't use my right arm because of pain. Today, I walked around the park, cooked dinner & learned 'House of the Rising Sun' on the piano. What a strange disease, but the good days sure are appreciated. I hope you had a good weekend.