NOTE: Sorry for the slight delay this week. I'm blaming Pyramid Solitaire Saga.
I am an addict.
When something grabs me, it consumes me. Actually, it consumes my time. Time that could be (way!) better spent on more productive endeavors. During the past year, I have found new ways to waste away hours that I will never get back.
It began with Facebook. Leaving full-time employment apparently left a void formerly filled by 50+ weekly hours of job-related instant messages and phone calls. While acclimating to the unexpected sense of disconnect, I started FB-hunting down relatives, former friends, colleagues, and acquaintances through friends-of-friends-of-friends; within weeks my small circle of friends grew into the triple digit range. (Clearly the FB definition "friend" is different than Webster's.) When I ran out of people I was even remotely interested in looking for (or at,) I moved to other FB distractions, exponentially growing my collection of photos, list of likes, and status updates.
When something grabs me, it consumes me. Actually, it consumes my time. Time that could be (way!) better spent on more productive endeavors. During the past year, I have found new ways to waste away hours that I will never get back.
It began with Facebook. Leaving full-time employment apparently left a void formerly filled by 50+ weekly hours of job-related instant messages and phone calls. While acclimating to the unexpected sense of disconnect, I started FB-hunting down relatives, former friends, colleagues, and acquaintances through friends-of-friends-of-friends; within weeks my small circle of friends grew into the triple digit range. (Clearly the FB definition "friend" is different than Webster's.) When I ran out of people I was even remotely interested in looking for (or at,) I moved to other FB distractions, exponentially growing my collection of photos, list of likes, and status updates.
Eventually the entertainment value of those activities decreased to saner proportions, because I began... playing FB games. They are an ever-growing assortment of mind-numbing, nerve-jangling, intelligence-draining hour-suckers. The ones I play often have titles ending with the word saga, which is no subtle hint to how much of one's time they'll consume. They're filled with bright colors, animated characters, flashes, moving banners, and music that increases one's heartbeats. They are Pac Man on steroids. I hated Pac Man. It made me tense. I am now often steroidal-tense.
When I tear myself away from the seduction of FB, I scour the Netflix site looking for updates on frivolous television shows that hold no appeal for my spouse. Netflix's failure to secure the season 2 Downton Abbey episodes prior to the live start of season 3 frustrated me to frazzles. Yes, I could watch it for free on my tablet, but despite the fact the show is a glamorized period-piece soap opera, it has also captured G's interest. He doesn't do tablet-viewing. He likes to view on a high-definition screen that dominates a room. It would feel like cheating to watch new episodes without him. So, I signed up for a trial week on Hulu Plus, and we've been marathoning through season 2. Unfortunately it didn't occur to us to DVR season 3's episodes as they were running, and who knows how long it will be before Hulu Plus has them?
No worries, though. While I frantically search for ways to view the most recent season of Downton with G for free, I have a new obsession to keep me occupied. Pinterest. Just checked it out. Already have 8 boards, 32 pins, and 1 follower. My addiction will be fed.
When I tear myself away from the seduction of FB, I scour the Netflix site looking for updates on frivolous television shows that hold no appeal for my spouse. Netflix's failure to secure the season 2 Downton Abbey episodes prior to the live start of season 3 frustrated me to frazzles. Yes, I could watch it for free on my tablet, but despite the fact the show is a glamorized period-piece soap opera, it has also captured G's interest. He doesn't do tablet-viewing. He likes to view on a high-definition screen that dominates a room. It would feel like cheating to watch new episodes without him. So, I signed up for a trial week on Hulu Plus, and we've been marathoning through season 2. Unfortunately it didn't occur to us to DVR season 3's episodes as they were running, and who knows how long it will be before Hulu Plus has them?
No worries, though. While I frantically search for ways to view the most recent season of Downton with G for free, I have a new obsession to keep me occupied. Pinterest. Just checked it out. Already have 8 boards, 32 pins, and 1 follower. My addiction will be fed.