Keeping It Real

I read an article this morning that told me just how out of touch with "Real America" I am.  Lake Superior State University (a recognized leader in language studies?) released its 37th annual list of words and phrases that it believes should be "banished" from the English language, and it suggests that some classic -- and perhaps hackneyed -- should get the ax" (link).  The word "amazing" topped the list, but "man cave" was up there.

"Man cave?" I wondered thinking it must be code for a vagina?  I'd never heard the term before.  Turns out, as probably most of you must know, it is some sort of male den full of recliners and animal heads and sporting paraphernalia.  If it is so overused, why have I never heard it before?  I don't watch enough t.v., I guess, not enough to hear some of the other top words and phrases like "ginormous" and "baby bump."  I'm assuming you have to watch morning shows or that thing that Whoopee Goldberg is on to hear this language.  I like to use a lot of what I think is silly language, though.   When I read that article, I was like, "Really?"  Then I thought, "Whatever."  'Mos def.  Keeping it real.  I'm just saying.

I don't do much "social networking."  Any, really, other than this blog which is not social networking at all.  I don't have a "real" Facebook page.  I don't twitter.  So getting a text message feels like. . . well. . . social networking.  At least it's social.  And when I was in the hospital this year, the texts I got from friends was rather sweet and comforting.

As I've reported, G.G. has been texting me of late to keep me abreast of her newest romance, and to tell me that she is reading the blog and that I am a shit because I'm making her sound terrible.  I don't tell the story right, she says.  I leave too much out for her liking.  The part where she is wonderful and right, I assume.  What can I say?  She now has firsthand experience with creative first person journalism.  It's all true, just not all the truth there is.

But it has been fun getting her texts, though I loathe to admit it.  I understand why people want to do such things.  It provides something to occupy you at long stoplights.  But yesterday she texted me that that evening, her new boy was going to cook for her.  It was their third consecutive night of dating.  It will not be long now before the texting ceases and my "social network" will be gone.  Which reminds me of a joke.  I failed my first driving test when the officer asked me, "What do you do at a red light?" and I answered, "I don't know. . . listen to music, look around, read my email. . . ."

I hooked up the new iMac yesterday.  Some buyers remorse was inevitable, of course.  I mean, it is just a computer.  I have computers.  But the 27" screen, well, that is really something.  And so after hours and hours and hours of copying applications and files, I sat down late to work on an image for the first time.  Remorse was gone.  What have I been thinking?  That is it posted at the top of the page.

Still--I just wrote you all on my MacBook Pro.  Old habits.  Etc.