Much of my time spent instant messaging is spent trying to freak out or mess with my friend Josh. On occasions I do the same to Richard, but since he got a job he is never on anymore, or at least not when I am. I always know when I have successfully "gotten" Josh if there is a pause after a comment followed simply by the word "wow". Most of the time though it just looks like we are having a competition to see who can sound the most like a 4th grader on the playground when we insult each other. Here are a couple of the examples that I can actually post here.

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jay: the mandolin player from nickel creek is going to be playing at vulcan on sunday afternoon, entry is 6 bucks. me and rachel and dustin are going. just letting you know in case you were interested
jay: chris thile his name is
josh c.: oh... wow.... maybe so.
josh c.: i'd like to see him.
josh c.: is he doing it by himself?
jay: yeah i guess
jay: he might have some backers
jay: bring your guitar and djembe just in case though
josh c.: that's just impressive if he could do it alone.
josh c.: lol.
josh c.: i'm sure he'd love that.
jay: and the piano
jay: not the electric one a real one
josh c.: "the progression is EbDim AbAug Gm7..." *stares blankly
jay: ha
josh c.: yes... i'll hide a real piano in my pants.
jay: im sure you have room...HAHA... buuuurrrn
josh c.: no... i'll just have to get your moms hand out of my pants for long enough to get it in there.

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jay: i heard the oddest what would you do for 10 mil the other day
josh c.: ok. shoot
jay: scared to say it on im
josh c.: that bad huh
jay: not really, just odd
jay: ok, here goes
jay: would you [question redacted] for 10 mil
josh c.: ohh... wow... i...
josh c.: ... i just.... mmm... wow.
jay: told ya
josh c.: that's amazing.
josh c.: http://flickr.com/photos/onecurlycat/67176745/ i know you've seen it but this is one of the coolest pictures i've seen in awhile.
jay: you're dodging the question
josh c.: yes.. yes i am.

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jay: have i told you lately / that i love you
jay: have i told you / ther is no one else above you
jay: you fill my heart with gladness
jay: take away all my sadness
jay: ease my troubles thats what you do
josh c.: aww... how totally gay.
jay: gay?
josh c.: i dunno...
josh c.: seemed appropriate.
jay: so if one guy sings a love song to another guy, that is gay?
jay: wow...didnt see that coming
josh c.: i know right.
josh c.: it's weird.
josh c.: the social rules just keep changing

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and from the dumb jokes file...

josh c.: she likes ben folds as well.
jay: i like ben unfolds better
jay: than ben folds
josh c.: ben oragami
josh c.: haha... paper folding joke.

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Taryn and I have possibly the oddest IM conversations ever known to man. The majority of the time we just talk at cross purposes to each other and end up giving up after a short time. The following conversation, though, is one of the rare times we had an honest-to-god conversation going on. It started when, in response to her complaint that she might have to work and do college during the summer, I suggested that I quit my job and she quit school and go off together to backpack around Europe for the summer. However, when we realized we both had no money to do this with, we decided that it might not be the most prudent plan. The conversation then continued...

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jay: if i won the lottery that would probably be one of the first things i would do...so if i disappear one day and start updating my blog from norway, you'll know what happened
jay: that or drive across america
taryn: lol
taryn: no, cuz i would be going with you, right?
jay: uhhh...yeah sure....i wouldn't just fly off on the red eye and leave you
taryn: no you wouldn't
taryn: i would hunt you down and find you!
taryn: and then i'd... well i guess i'd go home cuz i wouldn't be able to afford anything else
taryn: lol
jay: nah..i like to think that i am a loner..but i would have to take at least one person i knew on a trip like that...so either you or josh or jesse or someone like that would have to go with me
jay: someone i could hang with for 2-3 months without killing them
jay: or vice versa
taryn: i think i'd win out
taryn: cuz i have breasts
jay: that does tip the scales in your direction