Humor? Idiosyncracies?

People are such creatures of habit. They all get used to a certain pattern of going about their business, and don't realize it.

As a seasoned people-watcher I've noted quite a few peculiarities and they never cease to amuse me. My favorite pass-time is to sit at the coffee-shop and observe. First there is the walk, basically we're all built the same, yet some of us stroll, march, strut, or wiggle across the floor. While others prefer a more rhythmic approach to the concept, such as the well known 'bounce-wiggle-bounce-hop'. Then there are the ones whose walk defies gravity as they lean at least twenty-five degrees backward while their feet leap out in front of them as if they were smashing roaches.

Another entertaining mannerism is the laugh. People express their mirth, pleasure or amusement with a series of inarticulate sounds while making weird facial and body movements. Sometimes it's a chortle, a giggle, or a titter. While sitting in a public place one can hear all kinds of combinations. Some sound like cackles from chickens, some seem to have the broken muffler affliction. People ha-ha, some ho-ho, then more will tee-hee or ayee-ayee,others can't make up their minds and start off with a guffaw, then snort and continue hissing like a snake. Then some sound as if they're hyperventilating, Eddy Murphy style.

Appearances can also become habits, especially hairstyles. Occasionally, you run into girls that must spend hour in front of the mirror, playing with their hair, deciding what the most outrageous look could be. Then succeed in becoming moussed up Medusa look-alike. Actually the same goes for some guys too. They think they're absolutely stunning with some dare I call it tip-bleached-mess that stands up in arrangements that seem to defy all known laws of physics.

The best people-watching is done in a restaurant or cafeteria, observing individuals as they drink or eat. There is the refined tea-drinking-spinster-syndrome. The whole body posture goes into the look. Let me try to describe it. The body sits at the edge of the chair with legs crossed demurely at the ankles. knees compressed, head held at snobbish heights on a neck stretched to the limit, mouth puckered into small thimble size, saucer in left hand and finally the tea cup held between index finger and thumb. Most importantly is the pinkie. Possibly the trendsetter years ago had a broken pinkie that healed into the stiff ninety degree, from the hand position. It's a well known fact, the straighter the pinkie, the more refined the individual.

Then there is the can't-make-up-my-mind-do-I-really-want-this-drink condition. This happens mainly to people who tempt faith and actually buy coffee from a machine. That supposed coffee is in fact sludge diluted with transmission fluid.

There are many "eater specimen" to watch. The ones that make railroad tracks or tunnels in their goopy gourmet mashed potatoes. Then the reorganizers, they rearrange all their food into categories on their plates(maybe in an alphabetic filling system). Some stuff themselves like human garbage disposals with matching sound effects. Then there is the sneak-a-bite routine. The individual takes a frenzied room scan, then on assurance that no-one is watching takes a hurried nibble followed by a quick dab with a serviette with the now familiar pinkie position.

There are many many more funny afflictions we all have some odd quirks and idiosyncrasies.... all (except me of course)