Because I need more social media to keep up with

Hey guys.

I have started... a Tumblr.

I'll be posting pretty pictures and quotes and occasionally funny macros and the odd thought -- basically anything I feel like sharing that's too insubstantial to go here but which doesn't quite fit my Twitter account either. I don't think anyone except Shannon is actually on Tumblr, but if you're curious, you can check me out... here.

We'll see what happens, but there's a good chance I'm going to be more active there than here; anyone who used to read my blog back in the day might remember my tendency to just want to use it to post pictures rather than actually composing anything anyway. ;)

See you 'round, favorites.

Looking for: someone who uses fabric softener

Yesterday I went down the hall to do laundry, and, as occasionally happens, someone had left their wet clothes in the washer. I took them out, left them in a pile, put mine in, then came back half an hour later to discover that they'd moved their laundry to the dryer and left a note. No one ever leaves notes; everyone in my apartment complex ignores each other at all times, it's like a rule. The note apologized, explained that the person had fallen asleep, thanked me for moving their clothes, then was signed with a guy's name and his apartment number.

When I was in the dorm, I'd get a bit irritated when someone moved my clothes, and the note came from an apartment of college students who like to party -- not an environment I'd expect to produce an overly-polite note apologizing for being inconsiderate. So obviously this was a bit unusual, but I responded with a nice but brief "sorry to have moved your laundry," tried not to think about the fact that he'd probably opened the washer and seen my underwear, and went back to my apartment to wait for the dryer to be free again.

Which was the end of that, until about 15 minutes ago when he sent me a facebook message that said,

"hey"

Not "Hey." Not "Hey, I live down the hall, remember me? You moved my laundry." No punctuation, no capitalization, just... "hey"

In retrospect, I acknowledge I was asking for something like this. I could have not responded, or at least not included the phrase "handling your wet laundry"... signed with my first name and last initial... with my apartment number at the bottom. (What? I was being neighborly!) He's actually pretty cute, but he's young, goes to CC, wears his baseball cap backward, and is the kind of guy to send facebook messages that just say "hey" to people without knowing anything about them except what their wet laundry looks like. He lists just about everything possible under what he's "looking for," and his likes include things like "anything funny," "anything interesting," and "Theres Alot of Them." His profile picture looks mildly smug, but not too gross or douchey. I dunno, guys -- he doesn't actually seem that creepy once you look past the laundry thing, and probably he's just being friendly, but I tend to draw the line at friending complete strangers. I don't think I'll respond, but that's the problem with neighbors -- what if I run into him in the hallway and am subsequently identifiable only as "that girl with the striped underwear who wouldn't even respond to my facebook message, bitch"?

I think I can handle being the building bitch. Either way, I am tired and way overdue to go to bed. The befuddling conundrums of social networking can wait until morning.

Oops

Good thing it's December, because I completely forgot to blog last night. I've decided to keep my blog, but I'm not sure how often I want to post. Every day seems like a bit much, but I'm pretty sure I'll stop altogether if I don't set myself a schedule. I'll be thinking about that.

It's funny that earlier this year (or whenever it was) I was arguing in the comments on Catherine's blog that technology makes me feel more distant from people, because keeping a blog and exchanging comments with you has made me feel much more connected and close. I think it's all in how you use the technology -- without the back-and-forth in the comments I do just feel like I'm shouting into space, which is worse than not shouting at all, but the exchange is kind of like having a mini chat most nights, which is very nice. Ohio and Kalamazoo (and ...Shannonland. Kansas? Yeah, Kansas. Right? Totally right.) don't seem so very far away.

...Aaand now I'm late for work. Laters!

Open dissent may be our only recourse. Unless they didn't notice. In which case, playing it cool works too.

As you may be aware, Sarah Palin came to the GRap today for the kickoff signing of her new book, Going Rogue: And Other Phrases McCain Came Up With For Me to Use. A good friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) works at a Christian publishing company here in town that I'll call Z... Evangi... books. Now, whether due to the political and religious culture that Evangibooks has the deserved reputation for cultivating, or the fact they've done a book on Palin in the past, Palin paid the company a friendly visit while she was in town this afternoon. This inspired a twitteresque chain of email updates from my passionately liberal friend, the essence of which I will try to reconstruct below:

Friend:
2:58: SARAH PALIN IS IN THE BUILDING.

3:02: SEVERAL OFFICES DOWN FROM MINE.

3:07: SHE IS GETTING CLOSER. I CAN HEAR HER VOICE.

3:08: I AM HIDING UNDER MY DESK.

Me:
4:27: Update? Have her eyes turned you to stone yet?

Friend:
4:43: She's gone now. They issued a formal request that all employees line the driveway and cheer for her on the way out. I... may not have complied. I suspect I will be yelled at.

A formal request, folks. From an employer to its employees that they show support for a political figure. With possible consequences for failure to comply. Can my friend possibly let this lie? Should s/he not stand up in the streets and fight? The gaping maw of justice must be satiated! Does my friend have grounds for a lawsuit, o my readers???

In case the good company of Evangibooks somehow finds this post, I should point out that my friend would never actually sue over something like this. Even if my readers and I decide it's deserved.

In which electronic communication occurs

Monica and I had the following exchange today:

Monica on Twitter: I am in the process of assigning people to get me seasons of Doctor Who from the Amazon sale for Christmas. Who is taking season three?

Holly on Email: I'll get you Dr Who season 3 if you get me TNG season 3, 4 or 7. ...I'm totally serious. ...Although I should point out I'd be getting the better deal, financially.

Monica: Yes you would. You horrible girl. But if TNG goes on sale I’m all over it! Or would you be okay with used copies? Or… Best Of sets?

Holly: Nope. I require each season to be new. Shiny. Without flaw or blemish. Sealed by the factory with tender, loving care in delicately folded plastic wrap. Each season is only $41.99 right now on Amazon -- that's down $30 from the list price. *wheedle*

Monica: DVD snob.

So if anyone's looking for a way to drop $40 or so on some appreciative friends by way of early Christmas gifts, I hope this helps.

In other news, my friend Kasey is having a conversation with Robin McKinley over on Twitter. McKinley's responded twice to her so far. I... I am not that cool.

NaBloPoMo

Folks, I abandoned blogging some time ago, for some very good reasons. I was busy. I spent too much of my day in front of a computer already. I no longer wanted to blog.

Today, I'm picking it back up for some good and some not as good reasons. I'm slightly less busy. I've given up on ever not destroying my eyes. I've been thinking about starting one back up again anyway as a venue for sharing my photoshopping exploits, sketches, and occasional observations on daily life that would take more than 140 characters to share. And, primarily, Catherine mentioned NaBloPoMo on her blog, which peaked my interest.

I could keep it up for a month, right?

Even if I ditched it immediately afterward?

In true me-fashion, I had to think about it for a couple days (grilled cheese or egg salad? geee... check back with me Tuesday), but I've decided that maybe a year of not blogging has given me almost enough unshared thoughts that I might have enough to blog about for a month. I'm not counting on it, though. Some posts will be short, and filled with pictures.

At any rate, here goes. Holly's back in the blogosphere.