I swear it must be a running joke between directors to have the infomercial with Ron Popeil and the Ronco Electric Food Dehydrator show up whenever TV is being watched during a movie.

Sometimes, someone does something…in character…and this single act can change my view of them. It’s as if this one thing is the last piece in the puzzle, and once this happens I figure someone out completely. It’s sad that people can be so complicated, and then suddenly so one-dimensional. I’m not some sort of social genius by any means, but it surprises me how many times I end up feeling as if I know someone through and through. It’s almost like being able to understand the mind of a child.

I think part of the reason is because of how many different people I’ve been. I see parts of myself in these people, as so many types of personalities I’ve had before. Once this happens, a sort of connection in my mind is made, and it’s almost as if I understand everything about them; their motives, their logic, their actions. Generally this means that I dislike the person, since I dislike so many of my past ideas and mindsets.

I always wonder what it takes for someone to change so drastically to me. With what single moment do I begin to understand someone? I know that not everyone can be figured out, only those who are related to what I used to be (which is only a tiny fraction of the people I meet). And yet, fairly often, someone I know will end up being predictable, boring, and frustrating.

These are the people I usually feel most comfortable around, since I know how to talk to them, their humour, what they want to hear, even how they want other people to act. They’re also the people I generally want to hang around the least. They remind me of how ignorant a person I used to be, and offer no interesting conversation (because I usually already know everything they have say).

There are many more people I can’t figure out, both ones I like and dislike. I don’t profess to be smart enough to understand anyone, and I certainly don’t think that being able to do this makes me a more intelligent person. It’s just odd to suddenly come to such understandings sometimes. I instantly lose respect for the person, and wish I hadn’t gotten to this point.

In these cases it’s probably better to be ignorant.

I hate hate hate hate hate being hung over. It never ends up being worth it the day after. I should get that idea ingrained on the inside of my eyelids to remind me. I don’t do hangovers well, and it usually takes me an entire day to recover.

The Halloween party at Em’s, Sheri’s, and Christine’s was still great though. I can’t believe how many people showed up in full costume. Jessie went as Frank the bunny from Donnie Darko in full fucking getup, faux fur suit and all. Tom and Mel went as a priest and pregnant nun respectively, both costumes homemade. Aaron, Wheaties, and I actually found some last minute matching Super Trooper uniforms (sans epaulettes), complete with hand guns, rifles, badges, ties, cuffs, and Trooper shades.

It feels good to be attracted again. It lets me know that I’m not so numb or intolerant anymore. Is it just me that’s changed, or simply the circumstances? I don’t know.