Hum a little hum
Realized the other day that my ATM card claimed to have expired in January '02; it still works, but the plastic coating is kind of fraying around the edges, so I figured it was worth looking into. I called, they told me the card is valid 'til 2049 but I could order a replacement anyway, I ordered a replacement, all copacetic.
The reason I mention this at all is that at some point during the transaction, while she was entering some data, the woman I was talking with said, under her breath, "Doo d'do do do." Or words to that effect. And I was amused, because it's the same little tune/rhythm I do when I'm engaged in a brief task; it sort of means "let's see, this is what I do next, right?" and it sort of means "processing," and it's not really under my conscious control, though I notice when I'm doing it. I've heard plenty of people doing it, but not usually with that particular rhythm/melody (hers was unvoiced, so almost without intonation), and usually not customer-service people on the phone. I was amused, but also intrigued: where do these little ditties come from? How does one end up using a particular one? I imagine linguists must've studied this.
And speaking of origins, anyone know the origin of the phrase "render unto me a break?" Josh used it the other day; I realized I'd been using it occasionally for a long time and had no idea where I'd first heard it; there are half a dozen web pages that use it, but that's not many, and there's no attribution; it's entirely possible I picked it up from Josh many years ago, but I'm wondering if there's another source for it.
