In a clear sign that I think too much about everything, and I do mean everything, here is a little story. A story which someone with better judgement might keep to herself, but the blog must be fed.
People who read me have probably figured out that I love words. I love reading them and writing them. Sometimes when I am under duress I will even speak them aloud.
It would probably not surprise anyone that the one game I play on a regular basis is “Words With Friends.” I am pretty good at it. Not great, but good. For those of you who don’t play, it’s a clone of Scrabble that you play online.
When it’s my turn, my phone very helpfully pops up a notification that says:
“Your move with xxxxx”
The other morning getting ready for work I saw this notification, and for some reason I didn’t immediately interpret it in the context of the actual game. For some reason, my thought was “no, I already made a move, and you can make the next one, buddy!”
Yes, for a second I thought I was getting romantic back talk from an App notification. I talked myself down immediately.
Sometimes I also react to the words people play against me. Does anyone else sometimes take the words a little too personally?
Mean, thaw, hard, twit, pissy, dick
I mean, those are just words for points…right? Words With Friends doesn’t really hate me. I know this. If someone plays the word “dumb” they aren’t talking about me. It’s just a way to get a U off the board so no one with a Q can use it, and bonus for using a couple of 4 point letters. Right? Right!
I knew that.
Then of course I started thinking about games and dating and all of that horrific crap that makes me an insane person, because (over)thinking is what I do. No, I do NOT think the overthinking and insanity are related, and shut up. There are a lot of games that go into this whole social interaction thing, and it strikes me as silly. It’s a biological imperative, it shouldn’t be that difficult. It’s mating. Animals with brains the size of peas manage it.
Don’t answer a text right away…
Don’t admit you don’t have plans..
If he doesn’t text you, don’t text him..
Let them know you’re interested…
Play hard to get…
Don’t seem like you are too interested…
Social role playing.
The younger women might have an easier time of it–they certainly seem more bold about communicating than I ever was.
Girls with selfies just throw it right out there..but is that right?
Bold or reticent?
Here is what Frances McDormand has to say about meeting her husband:
I’d only brought one book to read to Austin, Texas, where we were filming, and I asked him if there was anything he’d recommend. He brought me a box of James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler paperbacks, and I said, “Which one should I start with?” And he said, “The Postman Always Rings Twice.” I read it, and it was one of the sexiest fuckin’ books I’ve ever read. A couple of nights later, I said, “Would you like to come over and discuss the book?” That did it. He seduced me with literature. And then we discussed books and drank hot chocolate for several evenings. It was fuckin’ hot. Keep it across the room for as long as you can—that’s a very important element.
And the idea of keeping it across the room does have a certain appeal…but so does the idea of grabbing a guy and dragging him into a corner cave woman style.
It’s not either of those things that I object to, it’s the idea of an expectation that I have to act a certain way or I won’t get a man.
I am not so sure that being myself is the answer. For one thing, if the other person isn’t also being himself, it gets all weird. If the other person isn’t showing their game cards, you don’t even know if you’re in the same game at all.
So.
For the next several weeks, I am just going to go to some football games and hang out on Tequila Hill, drink wine and keep laughing.
If you need me, I’ll be over here arguing with Words With Friends.
Let me know if you need me, burro.