high-minded drivel

high-minded (adjective) - refined; cultured; particularly civilized. drivel (noun) - senseless talk; nonsense.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Can't answer the phone, too busy dancing

Sitting out on the porch right now, late afternoon on Sunday.  I was out and about until around an hour ago, and as I approached home it started raining harder than I've seen it rain in a long time.  For the last quarter mile or so to home I had the wipers on high and it was still real difficult to see.  It's a rare occasion, putting the wipers on high.  The sun has come back out now, so I suppose it's the calm after the storm.  The calm before the storm gets a lot of press, but the calm after the storm is pretty nice, wouldn't you say?

The activities of the day to that point had consisted of going to the computer lab to work on a paper and seeing Inception with Nick, Jordan, Courtney, and Sayak.  Inception was quite good - kind of a mix between The Matrix and Oceans 11.  Part going down the rabbit hole and part heist pulled off by a rag-tag team.  Overall a rather excellent cast (DiCaprio is the only truly big name), including one of my favorites, Pete Postlethwaite, in a limited role.  One thing that warrants comment...

*Sort-of spoiler alert*

When they're setting up the initial dream in first class on the airline, were you surprised that one of the airline stewardesses was responsible for putting everyone to sleep?  Everyone gets hooked in, the weird briefcase thing is brought out and set down on a table, and then the airline stewardess takes her position by the briefcase to set everything in motion?  Whaaaaat?  Sure, it was just a fake airline stewardess, one of Ken Watanabe's employees, but still.  Everyone was just okay with this?  Seems like a pretty big responsibility.  Then again, airline stewardesses are all about fulfilling the needs of those on the flight.  Including setting up "the kick" apparently.

Also, I think that when things start getting a little weird at work I'm going to take a little metal top, spin it, and then stare intently at it.  You know, see if anyone catches on.

*End sort-of spoiler alert*

After the movie I realized that there had been no pre-movie message about turning off your cell phone, and I found this surprising.  Isn't that a standard part of every theater now?  Perhaps not.  Anyway, I'll probably be doing even less talking on my phone now because I've elected to pay an extra five dollars per month in exchange for 250 text messages.  Previously I had to pay for individual texts, and I found that I was texting enough that my bill would run over an extra five dollars anyway.  The reason for texting despite the cost (as opposed to just making calls) is because I absolutely loathe talking on the phone.  I've gotten used to it at work now, but starting out a few years ago the sound of the phone ringing was an even more grating sound than my alarm clock in the mornings.  It was a sound that made my stomach drop, like when someone suddenly delivers shocking news to you.  It was like a phobia.  Part of my aversion to talking on the phone probably has to do with the fact that I have difficulty hearing at times.  No concerns there with texting.  My eyes are good and my fingers are nimble.

At the lab this morning I was writing a paper for class.  Getting there relatively early on a Sunday morning, I was the only one in the lab for most of the time.  Of course, you're never really alone, because the security camera is always watching.  Sure, the person watching the security camera (or should I say the person who is supposed to be watching the security camera) is probably engaged in a game of solitaire or reading the newspaper, but still, things are recorded.  I've found over the years that a habit of mine when left alone in a room is to check all the corners of the ceiling for security cameras.  Like at a recent optometrist appointment - the person checking my eyes left the room for a few moments, and just sitting there it's kind of like "La-di-da," twiddle thumbs, scratch nose, and of course, check for security cameras.  Elevators are also a place where this frequently occurs.  Not sure why this habit has developed, but I think I'm rather clever for doing it.  You know, just letting the person monitoring the video know that I know that they're there.  In my younger days I'd do things out of order and start dancing, or have a good scratch (not my nose) or something, and then come to my senses and check for security cameras.  But now it's natural.  Check for cameras, then dance.  I'm pretty confident I could be a spy.  The instincts are all there.



You're back on the airplane, but most likely still dreaming.


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