(Not quite) 20 more things.

All right, here are some more items for that random things meme (because I know you're all totally fascinated with me, right?).

6. I first heard about Tivo from Oprah. I'm not a regular Oprah watcher; she always seems so condescending, even to the guests she likes, and when she raved and raved about the new technological miracle that was Tivo I thought to myself, "Whatever. That's for people who don't know how to set their VCRs." But then a few years ago we got DVR capabilities with our cable and now I can't imagine living without it. I feel very bitter when I can't pause or rewind the radio. Or conversations with real people. It's the best thing EVER!

7. I feel the same way (well, almost) about cell phones. Naturally, because I hate the phone, it took me a long time to get on that band wagon. I don't want to answer the phone when I'm home; why would I want all that obnoxious ringing following me around? But as it turns out, my cell phone is very handy. I can text! And easily figure out how much to tip! And take crappy low-res pictures that I don't know how to get out of my phone or send to anyone else! So yeah: I still won't answer my phone for most people (no offense), but I do love it.

8. I suffer from occasional bouts of insomnia, separate and distinct from being kept up all night by babies. Not much good can come of being the only one awake at four o'clock in the morning (or I suppose it could, but I don't tend to use my late night time productively, lol). I once watched hours and hours of MTV's reality show My Super Sweet 16. I am simultaneously horrified and amazed that the producers can find enough filthy rich (or incredibly in debt?), overly indulgent parents to justify seasons and seasons and seasons of this crap. Who are these people who spend half a million dollars on a child's birthday party? I'll tell you who: One of the episodes I saw during my insomnia marathon featured a preacher's family. YEAH. And they bought their newly minted 16yo not one, not two, but three new vehicles (I guess they couldn't decide) for her birthday. A MINISTER, folks! Maybe I have the wrong idea because I come from a faith that uses unpaid lay ministers, but isn't the offering money supposed to go toward the preacher's family's basic needs, building upkeep, etc., and the rest for charitable programs? Not obscenely lavish parties? Dude.

9. I've noticed lately that I say things like "Dude" and "awesome" way too much.

10. I also overuse the acronym LOL. But when I read/write it, I don't spell it out in my head or hear it as "laugh out loud." It sounds like loll, a low chuckle. I use it as quasi-punctuation. I'm worried that I'll say it out loud in a real-life conversation one of these days.

11. I went through an "experimental punctuation" phase in my late teens and early twenties (because I'm a big nerd like that). You know that adage, "you have to know the rules to break the rules" -- I figured I knew them well enough to bend and break them to my artistic will! What began as typographical expressionism in my private journals spilled over into my poetry and other creative writing. My English professors didn't seem to mind; I guess they understood it as brash and avant-garde rather than simply, well, wrong. (And hey, I was consistent and purposeful in my misuse. I did know the rules I was breaking!) The phase was short-lived. I'm not sure I could do it anymore if I tried (because I am no longer 19 and pretentious).

D'oh. That was only six things and now it's time to get Uno ready for school. The rest will have to wait. Stay tuned for more extremely random tidbits! ;-)


~RCH~