I have wasted so much time this week, it’s not even funny.

I have been sucked into the time vortex that is IRC. Like many of America’s youth, I did spend a far bit of time in chat rooms when I was younger. I pretty much quit the scene at about fifteen, though, because at that time the rooms were filled with people flaming on other people.

I used to go into AOL chat rooms, ICQ chat rooms, and a web-based chat server that I can no longer remember the name of (but my screen name there was Green Turpentine —I always did like the obscure), but after awhile, it just wasn’t any fun. I didn’t meet any people I wanted to keep talking to, and surprisingly, I’m internet-shy. Same reason why I’m more likely to lurk than leave comments on other people’s sites. I’m never sure if people really want me there and want to hear my opinion.

However, since I joined 9rules, I thought I should try to be more social. I already read a bunch of network sites, but I started to make more of an effort at commenting. Derek and Ben seem to bare the brunt of my commenting, but I’ve been branching out. Maybe.

So, this IRC thing. Addictive. I figured out how to get into the 9rules room, and I really don’t ever want to leave. I have to say, this is the first time I’ve ever really felt comfortable in a chat room and involve myself in the conversation. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that I’ve talked to Nick from Greenr every morning this week—and sometimes at night too. At night, though, the room devolves into guys acting like twelve-year-olds.

In the morning, though, it’s good. Well, my morning. Depending on where everyone else is, it might be their night or something. I have to drag myself away from the computer to get any work done in the morning, because the conversation is generally pretty good.

Since I’m broke, I’m using an open source IRC chat client, Bersirc. There isn’t much documentation on it, but with a little bit of fiddling, it’s easy to figure out how to connect. However, I don’t know how to do any of the nifty stuff that other people do. Someone enlightened me on how to change my nickname while logged in ( /nick newnamehere), but I don’t know how to to the third person descriptions ( * lisa thinks it would be nice if people left comments), or how to insert what song is playing. In general, I don’t know much about anything.

Alongside IRC, I’ve been a forum junkie for a month or four now. First it was the getK2 forum,but now it’s the 9rules secret clubhouse. I don’t know why I’m addicted, but I am.

So, other than knitting and doing what little work I do, that’s what I’ve been up to. I didn’t really need another time sink, so I guess I’m going to have to learn how to budget my time. Ha. Like that’s ever gonna happen.

- “Down,” Blink-182: Blink-182