Okay, I totally ditched blogging for the last few days. This is because I have been sick. Despite nonstop sleeping and sucking down soup and cough drops, I still sound like Tom Waits. :/
I'll let you all know if anything exciting develops tomorrow.
P.S. Due to loss of voice, and the necessity of telling my supervisors I wouldn't be in, texting has temporarily recommenced. I feel like music and TV are the only places where I'm managing to hold out on this Lenten experiment.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Technology is Wonderful
Today I tried talking to several people on the phone, and remembered why I so deeply love texting. The fact is, I am hard of hearing as all hell. When I talk to people over a cell connection, I can hardly make out what they are saying (This goes for everyone from complete strangers to my own mother), even with the relatively clear connections we Americans enjoy today. And if they have an accent--forget it. I will listen with my whole heart (or ear) and not catch more than one or two words in twenty. This is putting a kink in my ability to connect with others, in a pretty big ****ing way.
Also, I watched the end of a movie with my friend B. It's one we started several weeks ago, and just never finished. Yes, yes, feel free to "Boo" me down now, since I'm not supposed to be watching the tube. I broke the rules. Blah.
But this brings up a dilemma: How do I navigate interacting with people, based on all the restrictions? B and I talked away most of the evening, and spent part of the time watching the end of the movie. When the movie ended, we talked about it as a film, and as a modern interpretation of Othello. It was great! Totally quality time. And now that I'm attempting to go on dates, people are texting me, and some are saying, "Shoot me a text!" Should I just be weird and awkward and call them? And then try to understand what in the world they are saying to me? That's what I've done so far, and I hate it.
Also, I watched the end of a movie with my friend B. It's one we started several weeks ago, and just never finished. Yes, yes, feel free to "Boo" me down now, since I'm not supposed to be watching the tube. I broke the rules. Blah.
But this brings up a dilemma: How do I navigate interacting with people, based on all the restrictions? B and I talked away most of the evening, and spent part of the time watching the end of the movie. When the movie ended, we talked about it as a film, and as a modern interpretation of Othello. It was great! Totally quality time. And now that I'm attempting to go on dates, people are texting me, and some are saying, "Shoot me a text!" Should I just be weird and awkward and call them? And then try to understand what in the world they are saying to me? That's what I've done so far, and I hate it.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Day Six.
Wow, it hasn't even been a week yet! Sheesh. At least classes kept me busy all day. And it looks like a few dates around town are now lined up. Whew.
Aside form the random desire to hear Johnny Cash's rendition of "Rock Island Line," the one thing I'm hankering for is some good stand up comedy. I went on a comedy binge just before this whole thing started, and I miss that shit. My favorite one, and about the last thing I watched on Mardi Gras, was Katt Williams. I have been given to understand that he recently had a total meltdown, but let me just vouch for his earlier work! He gave the age old advice that you should keep good company if you want your life to be better, in the most colorful way: "I don't **** with ******* who don't keep it pushin'!" And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why comedy makes the world a better place.
Goodnight everyone. I'll send you all off with another savory quote from Mr. Williams:
"Do whatever you have to to make your life the shit! ...I'm enjoying my life, and I suggest you do the same."
Peace.
Aside form the random desire to hear Johnny Cash's rendition of "Rock Island Line," the one thing I'm hankering for is some good stand up comedy. I went on a comedy binge just before this whole thing started, and I miss that shit. My favorite one, and about the last thing I watched on Mardi Gras, was Katt Williams. I have been given to understand that he recently had a total meltdown, but let me just vouch for his earlier work! He gave the age old advice that you should keep good company if you want your life to be better, in the most colorful way: "I don't **** with ******* who don't keep it pushin'!" And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why comedy makes the world a better place.
Goodnight everyone. I'll send you all off with another savory quote from Mr. Williams:
"Do whatever you have to to make your life the shit! ...I'm enjoying my life, and I suggest you do the same."
Peace.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Day Five
Yes, I'm now incredibly efficient. I'm also bored and lonely. This isn't meant as to be whiny. I'm just saying that I finally realize what a great babysitter TV is, even for grown ups. It's time to find other things to do! And I thought teaching, tutoring, grading, and choir practice would keep me from going nuts. No, I was wrong. At this point, I'm ready to pull my hair out, and it's been less than a 7 day week. It's okay, you can say it: pathetic.
On the other hand, when I sat, grading in the Barnes and Noble yesterday, I witnesses one of the funniest moments I've seen in a while. Two people were sitting at a table near me having a conversation that had obviously started out as a flirtation. They looked like they should get along: both trapped hopelessly in 1970s appropriate attire, both sweating and stuttering over every word, both hopelessly incapable of liking each other in spite of the similarities that should have brought them together. The woman was wearing an emerald green, full length corduroy skirt, and a long-sleeved shirt with a bold flower pattern. She had on thick glasses that curves toward her cheek bones (giving the effect of very heavy, clear aviator sunglasses). The guy was wearing a button-down shirt and black slacks, but the shirt fit too tightly in all the wrong places, so he looked like he was wearing someone else's clothes. They were talking about education, and every time the woman brought up a point, the man had a contradictory statement waiting. Then, he brought up the fact that he was home-schooled and what a bunch of dumps public schools are, and she countered that she went to public school and found it enlightening. The whole thing turned in an intellectual pissing contest at this point, and everyone in the area started putting on head phones. This is what I would have missed if it weren't for Luddite Lent.
On the other hand, when I sat, grading in the Barnes and Noble yesterday, I witnesses one of the funniest moments I've seen in a while. Two people were sitting at a table near me having a conversation that had obviously started out as a flirtation. They looked like they should get along: both trapped hopelessly in 1970s appropriate attire, both sweating and stuttering over every word, both hopelessly incapable of liking each other in spite of the similarities that should have brought them together. The woman was wearing an emerald green, full length corduroy skirt, and a long-sleeved shirt with a bold flower pattern. She had on thick glasses that curves toward her cheek bones (giving the effect of very heavy, clear aviator sunglasses). The guy was wearing a button-down shirt and black slacks, but the shirt fit too tightly in all the wrong places, so he looked like he was wearing someone else's clothes. They were talking about education, and every time the woman brought up a point, the man had a contradictory statement waiting. Then, he brought up the fact that he was home-schooled and what a bunch of dumps public schools are, and she countered that she went to public school and found it enlightening. The whole thing turned in an intellectual pissing contest at this point, and everyone in the area started putting on head phones. This is what I would have missed if it weren't for Luddite Lent.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Efficient - For Once
Today, instead of staying in, I went out. All day, I graded. I sat at Lollicup, at Barnes and Noble, at Chipotle--where didn't I sit? And you know what? I got ALL of my grading done! That never happens in one day. Never. Maybe being phone-less really IS starting to bring my concentration skills back around.
On an unrelated note: Things have been sort of funny around the apartment. K and her friend T, who came to visit, reported bad dreams all week. K has often told me that she hears things (including my voice, speaking to her, even when I was asleep or out) in the place. A few days ago, I was doing dishes and heard K sigh, almost moan, and turned around to ask her what was the matter--and remembered I was alone. K was at work. Anyways, I'll stop being spooky, because I think all of the oddness culminated in yesterday's excitement, when we were woken up at 6:30am by a man, knocking loudly at our door and attempting to enter our apartment. He seems to have been drunk, and we called the police. Apparently, he knocked on all the doors in our building, and scared the living bejeezus out of several of our neighbors. So, I think we're good now.
On an unrelated note: Things have been sort of funny around the apartment. K and her friend T, who came to visit, reported bad dreams all week. K has often told me that she hears things (including my voice, speaking to her, even when I was asleep or out) in the place. A few days ago, I was doing dishes and heard K sigh, almost moan, and turned around to ask her what was the matter--and remembered I was alone. K was at work. Anyways, I'll stop being spooky, because I think all of the oddness culminated in yesterday's excitement, when we were woken up at 6:30am by a man, knocking loudly at our door and attempting to enter our apartment. He seems to have been drunk, and we called the police. Apparently, he knocked on all the doors in our building, and scared the living bejeezus out of several of our neighbors. So, I think we're good now.
Friday, February 15, 2013
So sleepy. So lazy.
Ah, so I never left my apartment today, not even to get the mail. And without TV or music, it was really damn boring. And despite this whole experiment being a way to get me out from in front electronic devices, I was on my computer all day: editing a manuscipt, grading, answering coworker emails, answering students emails. It's 30 minutes to midnight and I used the computer from the time I got up this morning until--well, I'm about to shut it off for the night. So, today was a bust.
Score:
1 for the electronic life-stealing monster.
2 for human ilk.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Day Two
Happy St. Valentine's Day, everyone!
All right, straight to business: Today I went out equipped with a very sexy, bling-bling Abiste wristwatch I inherited from my aunt (a fascinating lady, but a story for another night). The whole thing is coated in clear crystals, with pink crystals forming the numbers on the face. I loved looking at this damn thing almost as much as I loved being able to know what time it was.
BEST part of today: For one moment, I had a thought. Just one. I mean, for one moment, I felt total quiet and the ability to concentrate on just ONE thought--instead of 100 damn things spinning around in my mind. This ability to quietly think about only one thing at a time is something I experienced perpetually up until...well, I guess until sometime after I got my first cell phone. I've been struggling the past few years with a lack of ability to concentrate--and I got my first cell phone about 5 years ago. Huh, wonder if there's a connection.
Today, I didn't even take my cell phone with me (yesterday it was with me but shut off). Yes, I gave up the security blanket. Yes, I thought about it: That poor, neglected phone, waiting on my desk, needing attention. Psh. Not. I was glad to get away from the thing. And to know it wasn't ME beeping and vibrating in public. "What if you have an emergency--what if your car breaks down?" you ask. Well, I thought about that, and formed a plan. I will pull over, pop open the hood, and lean saucily over the exposed engine. This will signal all male (and some female) motorists that I need assistance. Bingo, problem solved.
Also, I joined an online dating service today. I hope this isn't breaking the rule of "not fiddling around on the internet." The fact is, if this thing is going to last 40 days and 40 nights, I'm going to have to get out in the evenings. Spending that time with male company sounds like the most fun way to do Lent, so I needed to make that happen, fast, and you literally can't put a personal ad in the paper these days.
All right, straight to business: Today I went out equipped with a very sexy, bling-bling Abiste wristwatch I inherited from my aunt (a fascinating lady, but a story for another night). The whole thing is coated in clear crystals, with pink crystals forming the numbers on the face. I loved looking at this damn thing almost as much as I loved being able to know what time it was.
BEST part of today: For one moment, I had a thought. Just one. I mean, for one moment, I felt total quiet and the ability to concentrate on just ONE thought--instead of 100 damn things spinning around in my mind. This ability to quietly think about only one thing at a time is something I experienced perpetually up until...well, I guess until sometime after I got my first cell phone. I've been struggling the past few years with a lack of ability to concentrate--and I got my first cell phone about 5 years ago. Huh, wonder if there's a connection.
Today, I didn't even take my cell phone with me (yesterday it was with me but shut off). Yes, I gave up the security blanket. Yes, I thought about it: That poor, neglected phone, waiting on my desk, needing attention. Psh. Not. I was glad to get away from the thing. And to know it wasn't ME beeping and vibrating in public. "What if you have an emergency--what if your car breaks down?" you ask. Well, I thought about that, and formed a plan. I will pull over, pop open the hood, and lean saucily over the exposed engine. This will signal all male (and some female) motorists that I need assistance. Bingo, problem solved.
Also, I joined an online dating service today. I hope this isn't breaking the rule of "not fiddling around on the internet." The fact is, if this thing is going to last 40 days and 40 nights, I'm going to have to get out in the evenings. Spending that time with male company sounds like the most fun way to do Lent, so I needed to make that happen, fast, and you literally can't put a personal ad in the paper these days.
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