White Noise

Every couple of weeks, I have to do some boring work (using the computer).  It's actually mind-numbingly dull, and generally takes a couple hours.  Last week, I hadn't done it in quite some time, so I had about six hours to do.

I am not the sort who works well in silence.  OK, not true.  I proofread in silence.  But anything other than that generally needs some background noise.  And it's generally not the highest quality background noise either.  The other day, at work, I noticed that I was bopping around in my chair to some tunes on my iPod.  And then I acknowledged to myself that I was actually boogie-ing to "Word Up" by Cameo.  It's extremely good music to work to, but it isn't like I'd want to go to a Cameo concert and just appreciate the fine quality tuneage.  I just need something to be going on in the background to drown out nearby office sounds, and also to drown out the boredom.

Now, when I'm doing this update thing online, I generally put the TV on in the background.  But it's during the weekends, when TV is a vast wasteland of stuff I couldn't possibly want to even listen to -- and, what's worse, I don't have cable in the room with my computer.  So it's about ten broadcast channels of crap.  About a year ago, I bought a real cheap (thank you, Target) DVD player and hooked it up in here.  This has helped a lot.  Lately, I've been working while the TV played Rattle & Hum (Kinda like listening to a U2 album -- but with visuals!), and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.  But really, even Bono and the Oompa Loompas (now would that be a great title for a band or what?) grow stale after awhile, and I needed something to keep me busy for six hours before I was even willing to attempt the project.

I ran out to Best Buy and searched the DVDs.  I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I figured I'd know it when I saw it.  Something that I'd seen before.  Something that wouldn't be affirmatively distracting, but which could go on in the background and help the time fly by.  Something I could look at when my eyes needed a break, and not feel like I'd need to go back to the beginning and give it my full undivided attention to appreciate it.  Something like...

Oh wow.  That's it.  That's exactly it.

The Die Hard trilogy.  On sale for $19.99.