MetaChat - A silly thing you do

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

11 December 2009

A silly thing you do →[More:]It doesn't contribute to the Gross Domestic Product. It doesn't help you get in shape for bikini season. It won't be mentioned in your eulogy.

It's just a silly thing you do.

When I listen to Morning Edition while driving to work, whenever Renée Montagne or Steve Inskeep says "Good morning", I say "Good morning!" in reply - like Larry David as George Steinbrenner in this episode of Seinfeld.

post by: Joe Beese at: 10:11 | 33 comments

I used to do something like that with 60 minutes... "I'm Morley Safer... I'm Lesley Stahl... I'm Bob Simon..."

And I'm Jennifer Desjardins!

posted by desjardins 11 December | 10:26

I am never, ever, EVER silly. I swear.

posted by richat 11 December | 10:42

I sometimes buy my cats pet treats from Lidl, under the brand name Coshida. Before I serve them the treats I show them the packet, then bow deeply and say "Coshida! Coshida!" in a Japanese accent.

posted by essexjan 11 December | 10:50

Uh ...this?

posted by The Whelk 11 December | 10:52

When I'm getting ready to leave the house I wander around saying things like "Coffee status: drunk" and "All windows: closed and locked" in a Mission Control type voice.

But that's not silly.

posted by TheophileEscargot 11 December | 10:55

Oh god, there are so many. I violently wiggle my feet in bed when TheDonF turns off the lights. (He always dims them slowly while making the powering down noise from the Death Star.) I imitate Invader Zim and Gir and yell things like "OH SUCH TACOS SHALL I GIIIIIVE!" and "WHY IS THERE BACON IN THIS SOAP?" and "WHAT IS IIIIIIIIT?!?!" Sometimes I walk like a duck for no reason.

posted by Specklet 11 December | 10:59

*murmurs "Coshida, Coshida" in a Japanese accent to self*

posted by Specklet 11 December | 11:00

Sometimes, when I'm deciding which of the three slices of pepperoni pizza I've re-heated in the oven I want to eat first, I laugh menacingly and proclaim, "In time, you shall all serve the emperor's pleasure."

posted by Joe Beese 11 December | 11:15

If there is a discussion about finances in the house, I make sure that the dog is looped in, explaining how whatever present situation impacts her, and soliciting her feedback.

posted by danf 11 December | 11:17

When I am about to leave for work, I find my bunny, get nose to nose with him on the floor, and tell him to have a good day.

posted by rmless2 11 December | 11:22

Also, whenever someone gives me a book to carry, I try to balance it on my head.

posted by rmless2 11 December | 11:27

I dance in front of the microwave. When I was wee, my brother told me that you always had to dance in front of the microwave so it would work.

At work, I say good morning to the various machines I use (aka 'good morning forklift').

posted by sperose 11 December | 11:44

There is an excellent argument to be made that everything I do is just silly. But the one I choose to disclose is: whenever Guy asks if I'd like a cocktail, I correct him "Ask me what I'd say to a little drink," just so I can pretend I'm Nick or Nora Charles and say "Helloooooooooo, little drink!"

posted by crush-onastick 11 December | 11:47

When singing in the shower, I sometimes intentionally mangle the lyrics to a song, and then act out an imaginary conversation between the songwriter and the record exec he's pitching the song to. It goes something like this:

I wanna rock & roll all niiight...
And potty every day!

Wait, did you say "party" every day or "potty"?
Potty.
So... this guy just constantly needs to go to the bathroom?
No. Only during the day. At night he just wants to rock & roll.
But... this guy's supposed to be a rock god. Wouldn't he be more into partying a lot than pottying?
He does like to party. For him, that's what rock & roll is: one great big party.
But when the sun comes out... party's over?
Right.
And that's when the pottying begins?
Yes. That's his alone time—a chance to sit back and reflect on life and love and growing old.
On the toilet.
Exactly!
You're fired.

posted by Atom Eyes 11 December | 12:03

I seize opportunities to reply to serious news stories like a testicles-cupping goombah: "Yeah, I got your stimulus package right here."

posted by Joe Beese 11 December | 12:09

Along the lines of the NPR reporters, when I listen to All Things Considered, I try to guess which host is going to introduce themselves first, and introduce myself as them at the same time. "Good afternoon, this is Michele Norris, and I'm Robert Segal" Sometimes I get it right, most of the time I don't. When I do get it right, I giggle maniacally, sometimes to myself, sometimes to my husband.
I also try to use my feet to perform as many functions as possible, when hands would work just fine.
I leave little presents for people to find at random times. Sometimes it is as simple as a package of beef jerky under their pillow.

posted by msali 11 December | 12:24

whenever Guy asks if I'd like a cocktail, I correct him "Ask me what I'd say to a little drink," just so I can pretend I'm Nick or Nora Charles and say "Helloooooooooo, little drink!"

Along these lines: when someone offers me a cocktail, I often respond with a wide-eyed "OOOOOOOOH, spirits!"

posted by Elsa 11 December | 13:16

Is that performed in a Scrooge voice, Elsa? Because if it is, I'm stealing that bit.

posted by Atom Eyes 11 December | 13:23

Ahahahaha, no, it's in an excited-lady voice; I hadn't actually considered the double meaning of the word even a little bit. Specifying "spirits" --- as opposed to wine or beer --- is another silly thing I do. A friend points out that at parties, I have the lexicon and demeanor of an exhausted Myrna Loy.

But you should by all means adopt the alarmed-Scrooge approach!

posted by Elsa 11 December | 13:31

I think I've fallen in love with ALL of you today. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. Sorry if you're not into that.

posted by richat 11 December | 14:34

I'm having difficulty coming up with something not-silly that I do.

posted by Obscure Reference 11 December | 14:37

I think I've fallen in love with ALL of you today. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

I know! This thread makes me want to snuggle in with y'all on the world's longest sofa, tucked in under blankets, all of us remarking on our chosen beverages ("Coffee status: drunk" and "Helllllllooooo, little drink!") and wiggling our feet while TheDonF turns down the lights. And whenever someone in the movie we're watching has cake, we say, "They have cake."*

*I do this. Every time. Other habits: whenever the movie detective puts the blurry photo into a machine, I utter a monotone "Enhance. Enhance Enhance." It's kind of amazing that The Fella still watches TV with me; he actually seem to think it's kind of cute, which just shows how smitten he must be.

I dance in front of the microwave. When I was wee, my brother told me that you always had to dance in front of the microwave so it would work.

Whenever I set the microwave for an especially brief time (under 20 seconds), I stand in front of it and whisper-holler in mock impatience. "COME ON ALREADY! I DON'T HAVE ALL DAY!"

posted by Elsa 11 December | 15:21

When I'm driving alone I sing "Glad To Be Unhappy" in a ridiculous falsetto.

posted by kenko 11 December | 16:00

When someone says, "Almost there..." I automatically add, "Stay on target!" I'm not even much of a Star Wars fan :P

I like to sleep with one of my feet sticking out of the covers. Everything else is covered -- bundled even -- but I like a bare foot out.

My boyfriend and I reverently refer to our three-foot Christmas tree as "the Carson" because when we pointed at the floor model we wanted, labeled the Carson Pine, the guy at Menards said, "Oooh, the CARSON!" in a tone typically reserved for saying, "Ooh, the Chateau Lafitte-Rothschild! Excellent choice, madame!" We treat it like a member of the family.

posted by Madamina 11 December | 16:37

Wow, a genuine Carson, eh?

I'm so very...
happy...
for you.

And not jealous at all.

*bites knuckle, stifles sobs*

posted by Atom Eyes 11 December | 16:50

When I get to my driving destination, I rub the steering wheel and say, "Thanks, Passat!" Then after I lock the doors, I slide my hand down the side of the car and pat the trunk.

posted by initapplette 11 December | 17:04

Oh another thing. . .on my (very infrequent) air travels, upon boarding, I always kiss my fingertips and then touch them to the outside of the plane while going through the doorway.

posted by danf 11 December | 17:53

I'm also pretty in love with all of you right now, but sorry, I'm really most in love with Atom Eyes. I kind of died laughing at pottying every day.

Like you NPR talkers I talk to Jon Stewart. I say "HI JON STEWART!" at the beginning of TDS.

When I had a car and would decide not to switch lanes at the last minute I would say out loud, "Abort abort!"

My old cat was named Tommy and I called her Tommy Thompson, secretary of health and human services. In her role she discovered and announced the presence of AIDS water, which was all drinking water. She also hated Don Cheadle and had a theory that all cancer originated with him. She told anti-Don Cheadle poems at open mic night.

posted by birdie 11 December | 18:31

I pat the head of the stuffed penguin after I turn off the alarm in the morning.

posted by Pips 11 December | 19:20

I have been known to balance things on my head: books, boxes.

I try walking down the hallways at work with my eyes closed, seeing if I can come to the turn without looking.

And I also sleep with one leg sticking out from the covers - until it turns ice cold.

posted by redvixen 11 December | 21:09

When The Mogget (currently featured in the sidebar) tries to sit on my laptop and ends up just standing there in front of me, blocking the screen and generally sticking her butt in my face, I grab her tail and put the end under my nose and see how many wacky cat-tail mustaches I can make before she gets the hint and gets out of the way.

"Biker, Charlie Chaplin, gay biker, Hitler, regimental sergeant major....ooooh, I can see the laptop again!"

Generally followed by "Ow, my hand is bleeding..."

posted by ninazer0 11 December | 21:48

Sometimes when I hug my husband I whisper "It's not your fault" a few times like Robin Williams did to Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.

I do a lot of goofy and silly things. They vary but they mostly consist of singing goofy made-up lyrics and annoying people. I mostly like to annoy my husband and sister. I am told I am a goofball and annoying by my loved ones.

posted by LoriFLA 12 December | 16:15

I have also fallen just a little bit more in love with you all as well. ♥

I, uh, chant "llama llama llama" every time I pass a live llama. And I, ahem, mimic the sounds of the animals that I pass. You know - baaa, moo, etc.

And I, ohgodicantbelieveimadmittingthis, sing "Gotta Poop" to the mister when I've gotta poop. And sometimes I sing it even when I don't.

posted by deborah 13 December | 00:14

← Photo Friday : Powerful || Happy Chanukah! →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN