It happened three times. And all three times I thought someone was here.

You know what makes watching Dexter even MORE creepy?

Watching it in a house (in which you happen to be alone) that you didn't know had surround sound speakers; specifically, the scenes where a KILLER could possibly be KNOCKING on the DOOR.

Seriously, naming a tv show Big Brother...I just don't get it.

I finished 1984 a few weeks ago. I had never read it before, and since it's on The List I thought I'd give it a try. I read Anthem and Brave New World earlier this year so I thought I'd get my distopian novels out of the way in one fell swoop.

There are two problems with this. The first is that whenever I start thinking or talking about the "watch out for the big bad government" ideas from these books, I'm all "blah blah blah, I get it, don't let them do this to you, keep your independence, blah blah blah." And that is probably the opposite of how I'm supposed to feel. I am probably supposed to feel empowered or something. I don't even know.

But then? The second problem? It contradicts that. Did you ever notice how many references there are to 1984 in popular culture? Like the Apple ad? Or the tv show? Just the other day, I was watching the Cleveland news and a chipper newscaster said, "Is Big Brother watching? For some neighborhoods in Akron, that's just the case. Find out if your street is one with newly-installed video cameras aimed at cutting down on crime." And the problem is that these references to the book ENFURIATE me. In fact I just deleted a diatribe about how 1984 isn't meant to be a pop culture reference, it's supposed to be something more than that. But I didn't want to bore you further.

Isn't that weird? It's like I can't be happy: either I'm bored by warnings against distopia or enraged by taking it too lightly. What is my deal? Actually, maybe the more important thing to ask is: are there any more of these books? Because I probably need to steer clear of them.

I guess she just doesn't want grandchildren with a Nick Jr. addiction

"It's a big night for tv!"

"Why's that?"

"Well all the new seasons started this week."

"Oh Loren, you're just going to have to find some weird guy online who likes to watch tv."

"Ouch, mom."

A lot.

How much do I love that Flickr is celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day, even though I didn't, and I had to work a 10 1/2 hour day, and also? Before my day started? I had to follow a school bus AND a big truck full of gravel to work.



Pardon the whining. Arr! Give me yer treasure! Or however it's done.

Desktop Weather: The PC version of a clingy boyfriend

We met through our mutual friend RealPlayer: I invited RP to my computer; he brought Desktop Weather along as a "bonus." I rolled my eyes and then tried politely to let Desktop Weather know that I didn't really want him on my computer, but he just kept trying to get me to download him every time I started Windows. So I gave in. After a few days I STILL wasn't interested, so I decided to ask him to leave.

The break-up did not go well. Upon clicking "Uninstall," Desktop Weather pleaded with me. I can change! he said, popping up to postpone the ever-impending final click of the mouse. I know I always tell you the temperature in Farenheit! Would you prefer Celsius? Or both? I'll do both, baby, just let me stay! I click NO THANKS. This is hard for both of us: for him because he wants to stay, and for me because MY COMPUTER IS TOO SLOW FOR THIS KIND OF FORCED-DOWN-MY-THROAT software. Ahem. Moving on. It's over.

But then! After I think he is gone forever, he pops up on the internet, asking quite pathetically (in survey form, how tacky of him) why?! Why did you end it?! What can I do to be better? And I try to let him down gently, even though he always annoyed the hell out of me, by telling the survey I liked this software, but I didn't use it enough: the internet equivalent of "it's me, not you."

Also I really hate library fees more than just about anything.

Today I picked up Atlas Shrugged from the library (for the list). I didn't realize that it is over 1,000 pages long, so I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be paying some late fees on it. Which I think is sort of silly, because when I opened it up tonight I realized that I must be the only person who has ever checked it out because there is some sort of "win something blah blah" entry card stuck in the middle of the pages. And also, I think the spine should be at least a little cracked or maybe even just creased a little if someone has spent any time at all with this enormous book. But no, it has seen no love.

Unfortunately, I don't think the librarians would care about that. And they should, you know? In my wildest library fantasies, the librarians are all, "oh, keep it as long as it takes, dear, [they should be sweet bookish folk] we're just so glad you are enjoying reading" instead of how they actually are, which is more like, "oh you want a library card? Hmm. Do you even LIVE in this COUNTY?"

But maybe I'm wrong and they're just trying to protect their books. I get that. And the truth is, I don't really have time to be worrying about librarians. I've got 1,054 pages of Ayn Rand to work through.

Instead of writing

Farmland
Originally uploaded by LorenAnn03.

It was so beautiful today, I went outside and took some photos. You can see them here, as always.

Wondering

if there is any sound more annoying to me, any sound that grates harder on my nerves, than the sound of my sister receiving text message after text message when her phone is on vibrate.

I don't think there is.

Wherein I probably sound less grateful about not paying rent than I actually am

I have gone shopping 3 times in the last 5 days. Why? Could it be because I have given up on the idea of moving out of my parents' house in the near future? Yes, I think that's exactly it. I even named my aforementioned shopping trip: the "Spending All The Money I've Saved For Rent On Shoes And DVD's Because I Don't Need It Til At Least 2008" shopping spree. I liked the ring of it, the way it just rolled right off my tongue. And when I was buying things, I wasn't thinking about the Snow White wallpaper* I wake up to every morning. Or how I get ready in the same bathroom as I did in 7th grade.

I feel sort of guilty, living off my parents, but I think they (and my little sister) like having me around so that makes me feel a little bit better about it. I hadn't thought much about it until my brother and foster sister moved back to school a few weeks ago. We were getting ready to eat dinner last week and she turned to me and said, "isn't it nice with just the four of us?" It makes me wonder what kinds of things they said about me when I finally left at the end of every summer, but apparently I am a positive addition now that I am grown up.

Or maybe? They just like having me close by so that when they say, "welcome to the real world!" the close proximity helps maximize the pleasure they get out of seeing my reaction. I think this could be it.


*this was never my choice of wallpaper. It was my sister's, and I inherited it when she took over the bigger bedroom that was mine.

Geek Out: Shoe Edition

I went shopping yesterday and I bought a pair of really cute black sling back heels. When I showed my mom, she told me I already had some. Of course, I was forced to correct her and tell her that what I actually had was a pair of brown sling back flats. And there's a big difference there, you know? Also: is it possible to have too many shoes?

I also bought these, which are adorable:

And may I also mention that they were $19.99? Marked down from $45.00? I couldn't say no, especially since I'd been eyeing them since, oh, March.

Shoes are just about the best invention ever.

Wondering

how long it will take me to save up enough money to buy an iPhone, because yesterday I got to touch one, and PLAY WITH IT, and it was probably the most fantastic experience I've had this summer.

Also wondering, just how dorky am I?