An old college friend recently inadvertently reminded me that I had been seriously neglecting my blog. Partly that's because it was on MySpace, and I never spend any time on there anymore ... so I created a Blogger account to get back to it.
So here's a rundown of what I've been doing since my last post nine months ago:
1. I was fortunate enough to find a graphic design job in Indianapolis at a small marketing company the week after my last day telecommuting for McClatchy. Talk about timing. Seriously awesome. I commuted an hour each way from my parents' house for the first month and a half. That was seriously unawesome. (Nope, I haven't stopped making up words.)
2. On December 30th, I closed on my house in Indy ... a purchase I had wanted for at least four years prior. Finally things were feeling like they were coming together. About three weeks later, I admitted to myself and others that I fucking hated my new job. What a brilliant plan. Saddle yourself with a mortgage and realize you can't stand your job in a shitty economy. Yep, totally felt good about that.
3. I celebrated my 30th birthday. Hooray. Really, I only say that with a little sarcasm. I was at least back in Indy ... I certainly thought my life would be different now than it is ... but if I were still in D.C., I think the milestone would have caused a lot more emotional turmoil.
4. On May 22, I was laid off from my job. I had lost all respect for the owners of the company by that point and couldn't have been more relieved to be walking out the door. Now a month later, I'm feeling pretty crappy to be such a noncontributing member of society, but I'm still relieved to not have THAT job.
5. I have no desire at all to have another graphic design job, so I'm going back to school. Right now, I'm looking at becoming a dental hygienist, a physician assistant or maybe a pharmacist. I'm not looking forward to going into debt for school since I've made it a point to, and succeeded at, not being in debt for anything other than a house and a car to this point in my life ... but I also can't see myself being miserable at work until I retire.
6. I started dating a really great guy. He's sweet and cute, perfectly sarcastic, gives great hugs ... makes me feel a way that I haven't felt about anyone in a long, LONG time. Spending time with him makes me really happy, but he also comes with as much or more of a problematic relationship history, and that worries me. I seriously hope we can eventually work each other through that, but right now I'm not sure we see our futures the same way.
7. And most recently ... I spent a good eight hours of my life copy pasting my blog archive to start this one. Stupid, shitty MySpace.
6.22.2009
9.15.2008
You think you’re better than me?
Even though I've been up since 4:30 a.m., I felt compelled to write about my day because never before have I been made to feel less valued than another human being. And it turns out it's a funny story.
I spent the day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway working the MotoGP for my parents' business. For those who don't know, my family owns a special event concession company that has the contract for ice cream, lemonade and pretzels at the track and other places. I worked an ice cream cart. (It wasn't a good day for ice cream sales. Ick.)
The ice cream prices are $5 this year across the board. Yes, I know that's pretty expensive, but you're at an EVENT. People make comments from time to time, but they can wait to get to the gas station before they buy their Dove bar if they really want. No biggie.
I've worked events for years, and I've never encountered such a rude customer.
A 10- or 11-year-old boy approaches my cart alone from what I can tell at this point.
Me: "Can I help you?"
Boy: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a Dove bar with almonds."
Me: (Kind of confused as to what that meant, if he was consulting himself, etc.) "OK, you want the almond one?"
Boy: "Yeah, one of those, and hold on. That's what you want, too, right?" (Waving to his dad.)
Dad: "Yeah, two Dove with almonds. How much is it going to be?"
Me: "It'll be 10 dollars, please."
Dad: "10 dollars!!" (Opening his wallet to reveal a LOT of cash inside.)
Seeing how well-dressed he and his son were and how much money he had stashed away, I should have known this guy was only saying something to be a dick. Note name change from here on.
Douche: "10 dollars. Wow. You should be wearing a mask."
Me: (Still trying to be polite.) "I'm sorry, sir. I'm only staffing the cart. I don't set or have any say in the prices."
Douche: "What? I SAID you should be wearing a mask. You should have a better comeback than that. A mask. That's robbery."
At this point, I'm startled because I'm quite unaware I'm supposed to be coming up with clever retorts for customers. I gave him his change from the $20 he shoved at me, and luckily another customer approached, so I was able to focus on others.
Three more people came up to make purchases and the douche and his son were still lingering under my umbrella grousing to each other about how ludicrous the prices were as they opened the boxes to their Dove bars. After the other customers leave, it's now an obvious ploy to be able to stick around to cause more of a scene.
Douche Jr.: (Holding up his empty box.) "Do you take trash?"
Me: "No, I don't have a trash can at my stand, but there is one right over there." (Pointing to the trash can no more than six steps away.)
Douche: (Interrupting me.) "For these prices you bet you take trash."
Douche Jr.: (Handing his box to his dad.) "Yeah."
Me: "No, sir, I'm sorry. I don't have a trash can."
Douche: "I bet if we just leave them on top of your cart you take trash."
Douche Jr.: "I know."
Me: (Somehow, I am only now starting to lose my pleasant, customer-service attitude on the outside.) "Sir, that's really pretty rude."
Douche: "Rude? I am a guest of this track, and YOU are an employee. Here's your trash!" (Slamming the two boxes onto the top of the cart.)
They start to walk away, and I am completely livid and shocked at this point, so I call after him, "That's really nice for you to be so rude and arrogant and set such a great example for your son!!"
Douche turns and waves his hand backward at me while Douche Jr. rolls his eyes.
This was all before it POURED down rain and a giant tent came flying across Georgetown Road about 8 feet airborne in 60 mph wind gusts. Then it nearly flipped over the chain-link fence that encloses the track before getting stuck in electrical wires where it hung precariously until it crashed back down into the street about 20 yards from where I was standing. Fun.
Though the race ended six hours ago, my toes are just starting to de-prune.
Final note about the track: Men should never wear crocs.
I spent the day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway working the MotoGP for my parents' business. For those who don't know, my family owns a special event concession company that has the contract for ice cream, lemonade and pretzels at the track and other places. I worked an ice cream cart. (It wasn't a good day for ice cream sales. Ick.)
The ice cream prices are $5 this year across the board. Yes, I know that's pretty expensive, but you're at an EVENT. People make comments from time to time, but they can wait to get to the gas station before they buy their Dove bar if they really want. No biggie.
I've worked events for years, and I've never encountered such a rude customer.
A 10- or 11-year-old boy approaches my cart alone from what I can tell at this point.
Me: "Can I help you?"
Boy: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a Dove bar with almonds."
Me: (Kind of confused as to what that meant, if he was consulting himself, etc.) "OK, you want the almond one?"
Boy: "Yeah, one of those, and hold on. That's what you want, too, right?" (Waving to his dad.)
Dad: "Yeah, two Dove with almonds. How much is it going to be?"
Me: "It'll be 10 dollars, please."
Dad: "10 dollars!!" (Opening his wallet to reveal a LOT of cash inside.)
Seeing how well-dressed he and his son were and how much money he had stashed away, I should have known this guy was only saying something to be a dick. Note name change from here on.
Douche: "10 dollars. Wow. You should be wearing a mask."
Me: (Still trying to be polite.) "I'm sorry, sir. I'm only staffing the cart. I don't set or have any say in the prices."
Douche: "What? I SAID you should be wearing a mask. You should have a better comeback than that. A mask. That's robbery."
At this point, I'm startled because I'm quite unaware I'm supposed to be coming up with clever retorts for customers. I gave him his change from the $20 he shoved at me, and luckily another customer approached, so I was able to focus on others.
Three more people came up to make purchases and the douche and his son were still lingering under my umbrella grousing to each other about how ludicrous the prices were as they opened the boxes to their Dove bars. After the other customers leave, it's now an obvious ploy to be able to stick around to cause more of a scene.
Douche Jr.: (Holding up his empty box.) "Do you take trash?"
Me: "No, I don't have a trash can at my stand, but there is one right over there." (Pointing to the trash can no more than six steps away.)
Douche: (Interrupting me.) "For these prices you bet you take trash."
Douche Jr.: (Handing his box to his dad.) "Yeah."
Me: "No, sir, I'm sorry. I don't have a trash can."
Douche: "I bet if we just leave them on top of your cart you take trash."
Douche Jr.: "I know."
Me: (Somehow, I am only now starting to lose my pleasant, customer-service attitude on the outside.) "Sir, that's really pretty rude."
Douche: "Rude? I am a guest of this track, and YOU are an employee. Here's your trash!" (Slamming the two boxes onto the top of the cart.)
They start to walk away, and I am completely livid and shocked at this point, so I call after him, "That's really nice for you to be so rude and arrogant and set such a great example for your son!!"
Douche turns and waves his hand backward at me while Douche Jr. rolls his eyes.
This was all before it POURED down rain and a giant tent came flying across Georgetown Road about 8 feet airborne in 60 mph wind gusts. Then it nearly flipped over the chain-link fence that encloses the track before getting stuck in electrical wires where it hung precariously until it crashed back down into the street about 20 yards from where I was standing. Fun.
Though the race ended six hours ago, my toes are just starting to de-prune.
Final note about the track: Men should never wear crocs.
8.26.2008
My last blind date ... out with a bang
Date Lab is the Washington Post's version of "Blind Date." They take and review applications, match people up supposedly based on those answers, have you go out for a paid dinner and interview you after. It appears in the Post's Sunday magazine and online. They RARELY do a good job setting people up.
Web-troller Jen reads them religiously even though she has never lived in D.C. She begged me to sign up, and I laughed at her for actually finding them to read since she didn't live there. Eons later, I was bored enough to fill out the application, and I told her it was her birthday present. (Thank god I was bored because it was NOT a short freakin' application.)
That was in April.
Months passed, and I forgot about it … except for when my friend, Melina, asked me if they had responded. (She was slightly obsessed hehe.)
In June, I decided I was going to move back to Indy, and the next week, Date Lab e-mails that they had found me a match. Surprise, surprise … nice timing.
I was not going to do it since I was moving, but both Jen and Melina said I HAD to do it anyway. I finally agreed even though I felt a little guilty.
The dinner was nine days prior to my leaving town. The set up finally showed up in this weekend's Post. You can read it here.
According to the comments, fellow D.C.ers didn't agree with Melina and Jen's assessment. Thanks, guys. :)
Web-troller Jen reads them religiously even though she has never lived in D.C. She begged me to sign up, and I laughed at her for actually finding them to read since she didn't live there. Eons later, I was bored enough to fill out the application, and I told her it was her birthday present. (Thank god I was bored because it was NOT a short freakin' application.)
That was in April.
Months passed, and I forgot about it … except for when my friend, Melina, asked me if they had responded. (She was slightly obsessed hehe.)
In June, I decided I was going to move back to Indy, and the next week, Date Lab e-mails that they had found me a match. Surprise, surprise … nice timing.
I was not going to do it since I was moving, but both Jen and Melina said I HAD to do it anyway. I finally agreed even though I felt a little guilty.
The dinner was nine days prior to my leaving town. The set up finally showed up in this weekend's Post. You can read it here.
According to the comments, fellow D.C.ers didn't agree with Melina and Jen's assessment. Thanks, guys. :)
8.05.2008
Moving, lack of blogs, other random
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6.18.2008
She’s just not that into you
I'll admit that I read some advice columns. A lot of times it's because during work, I have to go through newspapers to search for graphics or illustrations our company can request from contributors.
I had to share this one because it is one of the most hilarious questions I have heard from a situational standpoint:
Dear Amy: My girlfriend is a bit of a neat freak.
This weekend, things were getting amorous, and we were heading to the bedroom when I lost track of her. Her explanation for the delay was that she stopped to clean the cat litter box.
I found the mental imagery disgusting, and it ended my interest in cuddling.
She is completely unapologetic. She insists it's no big deal and that I'm being a baby.
I cannot get her to understand how unromantic it is to clean the litter box somewhere between passionate kissing and lovemaking.
—Upset Boyfriend
Dear Upset: I'm with you.
Also, when your partner denies that something you find upsetting should be upsetting, she is denying your right to your own feelings and reactions.
Even if she doesn't share your reaction to this, your girlfriend should confirm your right to your own feelings and do her best to see things from your perspective.
If your girlfriend can't imagine how this interruption would make you feel, then perhaps the next time she is feeling romantic, you should take a little "break" and rotate your tires.
I say it could be because she's making out with a guy that uses terms like "amorous" (ick), but no matter the problem ... dude, she couldn't have been THAT into it if she got sidetracked by the cat litter box. Seriously. You've got bigger problems.
I had to share this one because it is one of the most hilarious questions I have heard from a situational standpoint:
Dear Amy: My girlfriend is a bit of a neat freak.
This weekend, things were getting amorous, and we were heading to the bedroom when I lost track of her. Her explanation for the delay was that she stopped to clean the cat litter box.
I found the mental imagery disgusting, and it ended my interest in cuddling.
She is completely unapologetic. She insists it's no big deal and that I'm being a baby.
I cannot get her to understand how unromantic it is to clean the litter box somewhere between passionate kissing and lovemaking.
—Upset Boyfriend
Dear Upset: I'm with you.
Also, when your partner denies that something you find upsetting should be upsetting, she is denying your right to your own feelings and reactions.
Even if she doesn't share your reaction to this, your girlfriend should confirm your right to your own feelings and do her best to see things from your perspective.
If your girlfriend can't imagine how this interruption would make you feel, then perhaps the next time she is feeling romantic, you should take a little "break" and rotate your tires.
I say it could be because she's making out with a guy that uses terms like "amorous" (ick), but no matter the problem ... dude, she couldn't have been THAT into it if she got sidetracked by the cat litter box. Seriously. You've got bigger problems.
5.10.2008
Apparently I’m pregnant
Jemaine: "I made all of the ladies in the first two rows pregnant." -Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros
Yeah, we were in the second row of the Flight of the Conchords show tonight, so the lyrics applied. They were closer to me for part of the show than my office mate in the next cubicle. It was awesome, and I didn't even have to make any effort for the tickets. Thanks, Mike. :)
For all of you who immediately clicked on this blog because of the title and its rumorous implications ... you didn't REALLY think I was pregnant did you? Hahahahaha. Sorry. No. No. Negative. Not.
OK, now that that's out of the way, great show. "If You're Into It," check. "Mutha'uckas," check. "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room," check. And Nick, if you were there, this could have been you during "Business Time":
They asked if anyone in the auditorium could play drums, the room was silent, and it totally took this dude at least 15 seconds to speak up. I couldn't believe it. You could have been up there in a flash from where we were sitting.
And did I mention, I <3 Bret.
That's all I've got. Good night.
Yeah, we were in the second row of the Flight of the Conchords show tonight, so the lyrics applied. They were closer to me for part of the show than my office mate in the next cubicle. It was awesome, and I didn't even have to make any effort for the tickets. Thanks, Mike. :)
For all of you who immediately clicked on this blog because of the title and its rumorous implications ... you didn't REALLY think I was pregnant did you? Hahahahaha. Sorry. No. No. Negative. Not.
OK, now that that's out of the way, great show. "If You're Into It," check. "Mutha'uckas," check. "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room," check. And Nick, if you were there, this could have been you during "Business Time":
They asked if anyone in the auditorium could play drums, the room was silent, and it totally took this dude at least 15 seconds to speak up. I couldn't believe it. You could have been up there in a flash from where we were sitting.
And did I mention, I <3 Bret.
That's all I've got. Good night.
5.06.2008
And she married the creep
"I scouted her out for a month," he said. "I wanted to see her routine, and I wanted to see what time she came in, see how consistent she was. And sure enough, she was like a machine. She would come in right after work and get on the treadmill and do her abs. And finally, I build enough courage after about 3½ weeks. And I said, 'I know you are going to go do some abs after. And do you mind if I join you?' "
Smoooooth.
Oh, these days of being skeptical of everyone. I read that and I think, "GAH! And I would be FREAKED out and change gyms. Immediately."
But no, this woman* marries the guy that bluntly admits he has been stalking her routine ... one young Alex Rodriguez. (He also apparently passes out at births. Puss.)
I guess I'll miss out on my ticket to millions. I mean ... if I went to the gym. ;)
*She says she did not know he was a celebrity at the time.
Smoooooth.
Oh, these days of being skeptical of everyone. I read that and I think, "GAH! And I would be FREAKED out and change gyms. Immediately."
But no, this woman* marries the guy that bluntly admits he has been stalking her routine ... one young Alex Rodriguez. (He also apparently passes out at births. Puss.)
I guess I'll miss out on my ticket to millions. I mean ... if I went to the gym. ;)
*She says she did not know he was a celebrity at the time.
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