Hello?

In an age of caller ID and Blackberrys why is it necessary to answer a call as if it were a question as to whom is calling?

I noticed this recently as I was traveling because everyone is completely glued to their cell phone at all times. As soon as we land and are welcomed to a new city in the plane, everyone whips out their cell to once again be connected to the outside world. I can't criticize it - I do it too.

I can't imagine a time where cell phones weren't central to everyday living - and I lived through it! When I was little, Ang's parents had a car phone and I used to get so excited and loved the idea of that ginormous thing. What an advancement, I thought. And then cell phones began to emerge.

I had my first when I was in eighth grade, but only to call home in case of an emergency. It's not like what it is today. People are moving into apartments and houses and having only a cell phone as their main phone line for communication. I mean, who needs a landline these days? I never use the house phone unless there's something wrong with my cell.

All that aside, why do we still answer the phone with a questioning hello? You've no doubt checked the caller ID. I mean what if it's someone you don't want to speak to?!?! So maybe we should switch up the way we answer the phone. Think about it the next time you hear your ringtone (which also serves as a caller ID), check your screen and answer. I know it's a habit and maybe even a tradition. But honestly, I think it's just bad acting.

I Say Cawl. So What?

Sue me. I'm from New York (note, not New Yawk).

I frequently get made fun of for the many accents of Amanda. Why do I not sound like I'm from New York? But why do I say dawg, cawfee, and tawk? Well I don't know! Why do people in the South say y'all (I'm irked by people who use that term when they aren't from the South btw).

I can't explain my English dialect. I'm always abused for saying New York words, but my SI friends can't understand why I pronounce things so properly sometimes. I guess it's because I went to college with people that were not from New York and I suppose that speaking Spanish also has helped me along the way. Maybe it was all that speech training in high school that taught me to pronounce my t's and d's. My parents don't sound too New York-like either.

I was questioned the other day by a new employee as to where I was from. Where am I from? I thought it a funny question. Born and raised in SI, I said. The reply: "You don't sound like you're from here." Well, where do I sound like I'm from? It's kind of like the reaction I get when I tell people that I'm half Puerto Rican. "But you don't LOOK Puerto Rican!" What does that look like exactly?? I find it amusing.

It's also interesting that when I'm around certain people I tend to pick up a little bit of their accent. For example, when I’m around those who have a slightly exaggerated SI accent, I may begin to speak like them. And my mom swears that as she goes South she picks up a Southern twang. (However, I've never actually heard this.)

We may all speak English, but our accents are what truly give us personality. As for me, I'm stuck among a plethora of different languages: English, Spanish, Staten Island, and who knows what else. Does that mean I have separate personalities?

I Exclaim.

As I was emailing with Laura the other day, she pointed out how much she actually used the exclamation point. "Holy exclamation marks," she said as she ended her email about the weekend to me. "Sorry, I get a little too excited sometimes.."

I'm a compulsive exclamation point user, myself. So when she said that to me I laughed because I could really understand what she meant. It's extremely difficult to convey tone online and in emails so your choice of punctuation is crucial. I really feel the exclamation point conveys emotion very well and I'm generally a pretty excited and friendly person. However, as I read over professional emails, I usually find myself deleting exclamation points because I don't want to appear overly excited, especially to people I don't really know. And, being the grammarian I am, I don't want to misuse and abuse my punctuation!

So of course, I must consult my AP Stylebook, aka the Journalist's bible. It reads:

"AVOID OVERUSE: Use a comma after mild interjections. End mildly exclamatory sentences with a period."

But how can you be mildly excited about something?! You're either excited or you're not. You may very well be ecstatic and when that happens I usually throw in an extra mark or two, because why not? I guess that's one of the times that I deviate from the rules. I can have poetic license, you know. I'm a writer!! So, Laura, don't worry about overusing exclamation points - I do it all the time!

Stay tuned for my overuse of haha, LOL, and the ellipsis in emails and on IM… =) (I also enjoy smilies)

Withdrawing Myself

It was a Sunday afternoon. I thought I'd take the day to catch up on some freelance and relax a bit (if time allowed). What I didn't anticipate was the events that would befall me that windy February day. You see, I've formed an attachment - let's call it more of a habitual action. I have an OCD about doing something every day, probably 20-30 times at least. It's a disease, really. And I don't know how to cope with it. It was just this past Sunday that I was forced into withdrawal. My vicious habit was ripped out from under my fingertips! I couldn't take it. What was I to do without my best pal?

Yes, my friends, my computer crashed. Now it didn't exactly crash in the sense that I couldn't turn it on (I really would've freaked!). But the younger-than-me-techie at the Genius Bar told me that I'd be needing to hand over my iBook for repair. And what followed wasn't pretty.

I found myself wandering around aimlessly in my house when I'd return home from work every night. What was I to do without a computer? Actually, I had to complete an assignment on Sunday after I surrendered my baby. So I reluctantly dragged myself over to the Dell we have downstairs that we bought probably when I was a freshman in high school, ie. it's getting up there in years! It was the slowest, most frustrating process ever.

Then, during the beginning of the week, I found that I didn't know what to do with myself at night. I actually sat in my bed and watched television (not that there's anything on) and felt irritated and stressed! I did my nails, hung out with my mom for a bit, and went to sleep early. Who has the time for such luxuries?!

It was through this time that I realized how dependent I am on technology. And the irony of it all is that I absolutely loathe technology. You can't always make things go your way and a co-dependent relationship is probably the worst kind to have! I need to know that when I need something, I can rely on my trusty laptop to provide me with support. However, I also need to know that I can stand on my own and that I don't need to always rely on that machine. Obviously, it can let you down at any time.

In the end, everything turned out OK. My computer is fixed, it's back in my possession, and I can go back to compulsively checking my email. I have to wonder, however, what would I ever do without my technology? Imagine I didn't have a cell phone?! Now, that's just out of control.

To Sleep or Not to Sleep

I think if I had to commute to the City each day my life would be very different. Actually it would definitely be different. I realized this as I traveled to an SEO seminar downtown the other day.

First of all, I'd get a lot less sleep, which could mean one or both of two things: I could get more done in the day or I could have a grumpier disposition. I'd prefer the first result, of course. But who knows.

I think if I commuted, I might get more personal writing and reading done. That would be a definite plus. However, I would need to get up a heck of a whole lot earlier, which is good and bad. Good because I get a super early start to the day. Bad because it was still dark at 6:30am (I got up at 5am, mind you). Maybe it's better during the summer (I can't recall, since I haven't commuted like that since 2006).

In any case, I think that my life would certainly be different (in a good way). I am rather spoiled, working just seven minutes from my house. Yet, if I had to make the sacrifice, I'm sure I'd be up for the challenge. After all, I've done it all before.

The Evolution of the Pinky

We were having a conversation at work the other day about typing. GB and I seem to have developed some sort of carpal tunnel and soreness from the freelance we've been doing. It was then that we realized that we barely ever use our right pinky when typing. Think about it: it rests on the semi-colon/colon key and you don't use it unless you're talking possession- or contraction-wise or if a left-handed key needs to be capitalized (enter Shift.. oh and while we're at it --> Enter as well). I guess it makes sense, especially since your pinkies are generally the weakest finger of your hand. But the left one is used far more widely, resting on the popular vowel "a" --> half my first name consists of them!!

This all may seem frivolous, but I think it's one of the little details we don't realize and can take for granted. I guess it goes back to evolution and the functions of the human body. The pinky used to be used for more, I'm sure. But, do you really think you could live without your pinky?

Photo: JupiterImages.com

American Gladiator F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

A new blog for a new year.. and what would a new year be without a new show?! (Especially since the writer's strike is still going strong. Even though I'm a writer, I must say that I really miss my shows…). I'm not only excited for the return of Scott Baio to VH1 inScott Baio is 46… and Pregnant but I have just finished two fabulous nights of…wait for it…AMERICAN GLADIATORS (which shall be deemed AG)!!!

OK, not gonna lie.. I kind of miss the old AG. I had been getting my fill for a while on ESPN Classics and will continue to check it out when I'm hanging around, looking for something to watch on the tube. This is especially true because I love seeing the funny fashion and hairstyles of the early 90s! But this new season of AG is pretty sweet!!

Within about the first seven minutes of the first episode, we already had an injury and found a replacement contestant. Throughout the episode I was cleaning my room and, at times, found myself paying more attention to dust rather than the gladiator events. However, once we got to the last event for the ladies in the 'Eliminator' I knew I'd enjoy myself this season!!

These ladies (and even the men!) were moving in slow motion. The course is so intense and really does test your endurance. I mean, I don't think I'd even be able to do it myself (note to self: get back to the gym, Amanda, because it's 2008!). But watching the contenders move so slowly and with such a defeatist look was so painful!! And not like I enjoy seeing people suffer, but watching the contenders fall up the sloped moving walkway was honestly the funniest thing I've ever seen - I'm still cracking up thinking about it!! They can't breathe at the end are basically crying. It's kind of motivating.. kind of.

They do a great job of portraying this gladiator feeling. I'd imagine that the gladiator fights at the Roman Colosseum would have sounded similar, with their cheers and jeers (though they probably didn't look like this). It's loud, intense, and exciting.

I must say that I'm not a big fan of this referee. I miss the old "contendereadyyy" "gladiatoreadyyy" shouts of Larry Thompson. This new guy politely asks the contenders and gladiators if they are ready. What's that about?? I mean, great diction, man. I'm a fan of grammar, but this is a crazy gladiator competition!!!

There's a strange obsession with the natural elements it seems. Just about every event has a pool of water beneath the competition, while the 'Eliminator' has both water and fire. It's nuts, yet fabulous!!

The gladiator names could be tweaked a bit. Gladiators, by definition, are extremely tough fighters and I'd imagine they'd be rather scary at times. Why, then, is there a gladiator named "Stealth"? That's not scary to me. And although "Helga" may be a brick wall, her name isn't that frightening either (not to mention, she rarely appears in the events). Yet, she kind of makes up for it because of her stone face and intimidating demeanor.

I'm so excited my Mondays will have AG in the lineup. It's great!! And even Hulk isn't so bad (though, I'd like to see him compete in the 'Eliminator'). As for me, I must go perfect my gladiator name…

Photo: NBC.com