modern cultural rituals

I don't have my taxes filled out at all... going to do the extension thing again.

I did however estimate what I could owe and mailed that in tonight. I love going to the main post office on tax night. Really.

Despite the fact that I was waiting in long line of cars to send much money to the government that I'd rather not, I was joyous and excited. It's something about all these people collecting at a specific time and place to do this common act. There was a protestor standing on the sidewalk with a sign. There were postal employees on both sides of the street with big bins collecting everyone's envelopes. I saw news vans from a couple of local tv stations.

Whenever I go to the postoffice on tax night I wonder why I don't do that every year. If I didn't have tax-related papers, I could mail something else... but that sort of feels like it would be cheating. I wonder if that would feel the same sort of holiday joyousness?

okay, so I'm odd, you knew that already right?

Flashlights?

A few minutes after the movie started this older ( as in youngish-side of elderly) couple came in with a HUGE flashlight thing.

Shining it in all of the mostly full rows wanting to know if there were two seats. Of course further up front were several completely empty rows.

The guy in front of me told them to turn it off and the lady replied in a very aggrieved tone that they would after they sat down. I called out that there were plenty of seats further down. They then shined the light down that row some more and walked in front of everyone in that row to sit there. I'm surprised no one kicked them.

I mean come on who brings flashlights into movie theaters? This thing was huge, it's not something they would carry for normal purposes. Doesn't even bringing it in mean they knew they were late? And that they were planning to do this?

J insisted that they did do it on purpose to annoy people and that everyone who complained was just playing into their plan. Sheesh!

I'd say grow up, but I think they missed that boat a few decades ago.

(no subject)

First I saw a bunch of old people with fabric parrots on their heads. Hmm, okay. Then two younger women in grass skirts. Then hordes of people with various combos of Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and more parrot heads... all converging on the Arena. Apparently there is a Jimmy Buffet concert there and this is considered normal dress for such things.

I never knew, but now I know why I'm so uninterested in cheeseburgers.