I just can't help thinking about Tony...

As far back as my memory stretches (which, courtesy of mental illness, drugs and determination isn't terribly far) I've been one of those insufferable sorts that can quote entire poems, speeches, or comedy sketches from memory. No moment can be allowed to pass without a reference to some preferably obscure moment in literary or entertainment history. Not enough to have a near perfect phonographic memory I'm a Truman Capote I am capable of remembering entire conversations, those in which I am involved and those that I watch or hear on recordings. If this were a marketable skill I would have much less time to myself as I would be tied up with the talk-show circuit all of the time.
Instead, I just remember things and I feel it is my civic duty to spread the limited expanse of my knowledge. Innocent victims of my altruism are often caught off guard in the midst of their coffee.
"Oh-man, I was watching MTV2 the other day and I saw that Outkast video with that guy from that comedy show. Remember?"
"No."
"The one where the guys wore dresses because there were no women in the cast. You know the one."
From two tables away I mumble under my breath, "Kevin McDonald and that would be every show that doesn't star Dawn French or Jennifer Saunders."
Anglo-phile git.
I will put up with the conversation until they make me long to cry with their foolishness. How could one not know these things?
"Excuse me, I'm so sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help but overhear..." following which I will walk away with a self-righteous glow. It's one of the rare moments being caught in my head is pleasant. Usually it's very much prisonesque. That's why I keep a distance even with the people I'm close to-I'd hate to let down my guard, if you'll pardon the phrase, and subject a bystander to my punishment. Best kept quiet. Even in these interweb confessions there's a lot of emotional angst kept nice and quiet. I'm here to amuse-not depress.
Back to the original note...
On top of my annoying habit of remembering if I enjoy something I obsess upon it until I have amassed every scintilla of information available within the realm of the law. So say I like a candy, I will read about that candy, look for references to the candy in popular culture, I will learn about the history and changes of ingredients of said candy. If t is information to be had about the candy I will know it, and because knowing isn't enough I will tell you or anyone else all about the candy. I will talk about it obsessively, think about it all the time, eat it at every possible moment. I will become completely consumed by candy.
Until I get bored, usually halfway thu a snack. Then I'll drop the remainder, walk away and only revisit the candy in moments of nostalgic whimsy.
Some things last long, ages, and not everything falls out of favor, but even the things that do I still have all of the facts.
I am one of those misdirected intellectuals. Rather than use my memory for advancement in school or work (not that I have any of that) I can act out with a fairly decent bit of mimicry if I do say so myself entire Kids in the Hall routines.

Someday I'm going to write my memoirs (not that a person pushing thirty should be writing memoirs--that doesn't bode well so I'll call it something else reflections or anecdotal evidence or something) and that, I think, is how it should start.