I Think I'm High

(shh…middle of workday…)

So I just went to the storage room to get more copy paper, and something smells GREAT! I mean great in the “getting high from paint” – or markers, or white-out – sense. I looked around to see what it was. Someone must have recently cleaned, but it wasn’t cleaning fluid.

New rubber gloves?

This other plastic-y thing that we keep gazillions of?

Was it some lubricant the elevator guy used? He was just here and the elevator room is right across from the storage room.

Did we just get more freshly printed forms or brochures?

I inhaled deeply a few times, trying to identify the smell.

No idea what caused it, but I think I’m high.

…and I’ve been so careful to print those 42-million handouts I’ve been working on in small batches so as not to get high from the copier toner!

(Perhaps I should add the disclaimer that I’ve never done illegal drugs of any kind - not for lack of opportunity, and all appearances to the contrary. Not necessarily because they are illegal, although I’d be the one to get in trouble so it’s always good for me to stay on the legal side, but because I have realized that something in my brain makes me feel addicted rather quickly. I’ve always thought I was just weak-willed, but NPR did a story on this phenomenon recently: It’s a real thing! For anyone in doubt, just read my post about Angry Birds and you will believe!) (I guess you could look up the NPR story for actual facts, too.)

sidebar:

Since I am committed to providing everyone with a reason to celebrate, the obvious reason to celebrate today: Fat Tuesday!...I think when I get home I’d better have a few hefty drinks, just to celebrate…and because I’m halfway there anyway!

Angry Birds, a.k.a. The Opium App

Are you aware of this phenomenon called “Angry Birds”? I have many nieces and nephews – and a very trendy sister – so I’ve been aware of its existence possibly since its beginning. Never cared. SO not a gamer.

Cute idea though…haha…birds exacting revenge on pigs by flinging themselves from a sling-shot. I can see the attraction for a 10 year old!

I’ve had my smart-phone a month now, and have avoided games, unless you count Sudoku.

Yesterday I observed someone playing “papijump”, “papipole” and such, on their IPod-touch. These apps seemed easy to put down and pick up later – not based on levels or anything, so I thought that might be a nice diversion. I don’t have an IPod, but figure all smart-phones surely offer similar apps.

At bedtime I opened the App Store in all innocence to seek out a free, mindless diversion. One of the first things showing was Angry Birds. Little Angry Bird toys were the hit at family Christmas this year, and my 2yo nephew even imitates their birdy-noises, so I decided to download it and finally check it out – time to get this outdated Aunt back to today! (mwahahahahahaha...)

AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER… I finally put the phone down, turned off the light, curled into the fetal position and cried myself to sleep in the yearning to keep playing. Oh, my eyes: the burn of late-night phone-screen! Oh the lost sleep! Oh, the ache of not completing that level I finally bailed on! I want more, but can’t stay awake to take it! Boo-hoo, woe is me!

The game is just so cute! So harmless…cute little cartoon birdies, cute little round snorting piggies – who get black eyes if you wound but don’t “poof” them! …I’m sure they aren’t killed, they’re just poofed into another dimension. No game this cute could kill!

But I. Must. Finish. This. Level!

Have you played this? There’s like 30 levels on each level! And they’re quick, mostly, so it’s like winning at nickel-slots (I suppose). You win, win, win, (nickel, nickel, nickel) and suddenly you get stuck on one and REFUSE to abandon it knowing the payoff must come soon!

Oh the horror.

…credit where credit is due, I refused to allow myself to roll over this morning and call in late to work from the lost sleep. I do have some pride. That would be worse than calling in with a hangover! – which I’ve also never done, thankyouverymuch.

I read that Opium is immediately addictive. That taking it once means your body immediately requires it. Okay, well, that was presumably an exaggeration, but by all accounts it is highly addictive, compared to other drugs.

I fear that Angry Birds is the same. I can’t wait until I have time to attack that level again! Probably not until I fall into bed again at the end of the day. I’m not at the point of playing Angry Birds instead of eating though. When I get there, get me help!

on another note: 

(Celebrations today, for those needing a reason to bust out the champagne: Nirvana Day in the Buddhist world, Tu B’Shevat in the Jewish world, and John Williams’ 80^th birthday in the Star Wars world!)