> > > an elastic hair thingy (what *are* those
> things called, anyway?) in the other pocket.
> >
> > "Scrunchie" is the term I've always used.
>
> By way of confirmation, yes, that is what those
> elastic hair thingies are called. I know this

Well, this is probably another one of those interesting regional things
or somesuch, but I don't call "elastic hair thingies" scrunchies. I
call those "hair bands" or something. To me, a scrunchie is a particular
type of hair band which is... foofier than just an elastic band. They
tend to have wide cloth wrapped around the elastic or some such.

See, here's the distinction. With a scrunchie, you can do one of two
things to tighten it around your hair: you can either push the
scrunchie closer to your head, or, you can divide your hair into two
pieces (if you have the ends hanging out) and pull them apart to
move the scrunchie closer to your head.

I would never do either of these things with a plain old elastic hair
band, because it would pull my hair and HURT. Thus, you cannot "scrunch"
with them.

Don't ask where I learned this distinction, but there it is.

ahmo"long straight hair"acah