i couldn't possibly write anything funny enough to accompany this video:
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
they're called boundries people, use them
do you start random personal conversations with people you barely know?
i don't, but i'm also kind of out of touch and i'm not sure which side of normal i fall on this one.
as a general rule, i save my detailed personal info for people that are routinely updated on my life. but what do i know, maybe i need a lesson in socialization skills. maybe i'm contributing to the self-centered mindset that many people claim is taking over our population.
maybe my need to protect my small and insignificant matters is seen as an unwillingness to participate in regular society. who knows.
what i do know is that my neighbor ambushed me in the laundry room yesterday as i had my head in the washing machine to warble in an oddly undulating squeak "i just found out my sister-in-law has breast cancer."
and i should be clear, i don't know this woman's name or much about her other than what you can infer from seeing someone walk to their car once in a while.
this gut punch of a conversation starter had an exquisite effect of unfolding emotions on me. first there was anxiety, 'does this crazy lady really want me to do this with her? talk about someone elses boobs and cancer?!'
next there was sympathy, 'ugh, this poor lady probably has no one else in her life to talk to about this and it must really be bothering her.'
there was also a distinct sense of insensitivity, 'how can i be polite and at the same time get the hell out of here to catch that 12:46 train this afternoon?'
as i tried to find the appropriate tone for my 'gosh i'm sorry' and 'oh' and 'uh-huh' responses, she began talking about sharing this news with her church congregation and how she was asking for prayers.
this ignited yet another intense emotion for me which i almost can't even name. being raised as a (barely) practicing jew, i have never in my life felt comfortable with churches. even the mention of activities inside churches are enough to make me squeamish to the point where i want to shed the conversation like you would wet clothes.
as her monologue drew to a close, i felt the most overwhelming sense of relief.
unfortunately, that relief has not lasted. i am still going back to that conversation in my head and asking myself 'was i wrong to not offer more genuine consolation?' or 'was she completely crossing a line by trying to incite my involvement in her emotional well-being?'
truthfully, i cannot imagine reacting any differently should this scenario occur again tomorrow. call me the crazy one, but that is exactly why i would never put a stranger in a position like that.
i don't, but i'm also kind of out of touch and i'm not sure which side of normal i fall on this one.
as a general rule, i save my detailed personal info for people that are routinely updated on my life. but what do i know, maybe i need a lesson in socialization skills. maybe i'm contributing to the self-centered mindset that many people claim is taking over our population.
maybe my need to protect my small and insignificant matters is seen as an unwillingness to participate in regular society. who knows.
what i do know is that my neighbor ambushed me in the laundry room yesterday as i had my head in the washing machine to warble in an oddly undulating squeak "i just found out my sister-in-law has breast cancer."
and i should be clear, i don't know this woman's name or much about her other than what you can infer from seeing someone walk to their car once in a while.
this gut punch of a conversation starter had an exquisite effect of unfolding emotions on me. first there was anxiety, 'does this crazy lady really want me to do this with her? talk about someone elses boobs and cancer?!'
next there was sympathy, 'ugh, this poor lady probably has no one else in her life to talk to about this and it must really be bothering her.'
there was also a distinct sense of insensitivity, 'how can i be polite and at the same time get the hell out of here to catch that 12:46 train this afternoon?'
as i tried to find the appropriate tone for my 'gosh i'm sorry' and 'oh' and 'uh-huh' responses, she began talking about sharing this news with her church congregation and how she was asking for prayers.
this ignited yet another intense emotion for me which i almost can't even name. being raised as a (barely) practicing jew, i have never in my life felt comfortable with churches. even the mention of activities inside churches are enough to make me squeamish to the point where i want to shed the conversation like you would wet clothes.
as her monologue drew to a close, i felt the most overwhelming sense of relief.
unfortunately, that relief has not lasted. i am still going back to that conversation in my head and asking myself 'was i wrong to not offer more genuine consolation?' or 'was she completely crossing a line by trying to incite my involvement in her emotional well-being?'
truthfully, i cannot imagine reacting any differently should this scenario occur again tomorrow. call me the crazy one, but that is exactly why i would never put a stranger in a position like that.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
i'm only blogging because i ran out of packing tape
on a scale of one to ten, ten being the most unusual, how weird is it to show up to work on a steamy summer night in brooklyn only to be told your parking spot is now reserved for the penguin guard?
i gave it about a six.
i mean, it is important that the forty or so penguins residing in the walk-in refrigerator be well protected with their own security detail from vandals and other such types who might wish to cause them harm or distress.
i can't begrudge them that.
it also helps that the past few months have been so insanely busy that i have become so much more easy-going than i ever thought was possible. i think it suits me well.
i've found life is easier for me if i roll with changes instead of attempting to enforce my rigid plans to achieve a desired outcome.
now, don't get me wrong, i think i might have a mental breakdown if i couldn't make lists anymore. but letting smaller things go, in general, has been quite exhilirating. it's almost like giving myself a reprieve from having to be "on" all the time.
and right now, things couldn't be better for me. b and i bought our first house in the burbs, i got a promotion at work and now get to be the head chef of my own events, and i have a beautiful and healthy daughter who is about to turn two years old.
so really, mr. penguin guard, you enjoy that conviently close-to-the-building parking spot and i'll walk a few extra feet. i really don't want to have anything to do with weird birds who don't fly and need to be refrigerated.
i gave it about a six.
i mean, it is important that the forty or so penguins residing in the walk-in refrigerator be well protected with their own security detail from vandals and other such types who might wish to cause them harm or distress.
i can't begrudge them that.
it also helps that the past few months have been so insanely busy that i have become so much more easy-going than i ever thought was possible. i think it suits me well.
i've found life is easier for me if i roll with changes instead of attempting to enforce my rigid plans to achieve a desired outcome.
now, don't get me wrong, i think i might have a mental breakdown if i couldn't make lists anymore. but letting smaller things go, in general, has been quite exhilirating. it's almost like giving myself a reprieve from having to be "on" all the time.
and right now, things couldn't be better for me. b and i bought our first house in the burbs, i got a promotion at work and now get to be the head chef of my own events, and i have a beautiful and healthy daughter who is about to turn two years old.
so really, mr. penguin guard, you enjoy that conviently close-to-the-building parking spot and i'll walk a few extra feet. i really don't want to have anything to do with weird birds who don't fly and need to be refrigerated.
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