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Feb. 17th, 2009 06:08 pmage
I am quite accustomed to being called "Mrs. O'Brien" at the local Safeway. I no longer expect to be carded for liquor at stores. But I don't honestly know how old I look. A youngish homeless guy asked me for change outside of TJ's today. I was weighed down with a full grocery bag, sixpack, and juggling a paper coffee cup. Did this make me more approachable? Or was it my outfit? Honestly, it could have been nothing of the sort. I was happy to give him change, as my tiny change pocket was bursting, and he gave me a "god bless, miss" after explaining that the recycling place was closed and he just wanted something to get something to eat. I think of "god bless" as something you'd say to an older person, although it could also just be part of the register bums/homeless people use when asking people for change. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish what motivates the use of a higher register---age disparity? social disparity? context (asking a favor)?
A barista exchanged a few words with me last week, as I tried to find a seat inside out of the rain. I believe I've seen him a few times before, such that I remember his face. Did he make small talk because he recognized me as a regular? I was wearing a rather "boob-elicious" outfit that day---and we all know that boobs have a social gravitational field. I overheard him speaking to another customer and he said he was starting at UCSC in the fall (or was it start-ed in the fall?) which would probably put him around 19. I often wonder whether I'm distinguishable from college students. How old do people think I am when they see me downtown? Going for a run? In stores?
books
The public library and I are becoming good friends. I just wish the library weren't quite so popular. Last time I bundled up a haul of UofC Press books on various anthropological topics as children's myths, baboon metaphysics, menstruation taboos/sociology, and the globalization of sexuality. This time I gathered up comics (B.P.R.D., The Last Man, Yoshihiro Tatsumi's The Pushman and other stories, and a random Fables. I can't seem to win at the title request game, however. My request for the Eclipse stagnated for a month and a half in the queue and I decided just to buy it as a bday present. My request for Coraline yielded the graphic novel, instead of the actual novel I thought I requested. I'm still waiting on The Graveyard Book, but it will take time for the 40 requests ahead of mine. My fishing for good scifi has had mixed results. One good series, and another I dropped after the first book. This time browsed the first half of the alphabet and pulled Beggars in Spain (the expanded novel)---hopefully my faith in the Hugo and Nebula Awards bestowed on the original novella will be rewarded. I also grabbed H.M.S. Pinafore, since know more references to than I have memories of.
running
I have a love-hate relationship with my running. I hate it before because it's exercise, love it immediately after because of endorphins, and it hates me later in the form of tender toes and mild joint pain (mostly in the hip). I haven't had any shin splints yet, hooray! Hopefully the good shoes I bought will stave them off. While I appreciate the fact that it's not 20 degrees outside, I still haven't found a good alternate for raining days. Unfortunately, I don't have many choices. Gyms and exercise equipment are expensive. Since our tv broke, it's even more annoying. I'd love to try yoga or pilates or something, but most of those instructional media require a VCR/DVD. The library does have an audiobook or two, but the title request game strikes again! I will have to wait for it to be free.
friends
Sushu and Jono had a slumber party with us last weekend. Friday we watched Gurren Lagann and I got to play nurse for Sushu (bring tea and medicine, etc). Later Jeremy and I were introduced into to the black hole that is TV tropes, and we stayed up late laughing at the articles with Jono. ("What do you mean it's not AWESOME?!!!" and "I'll EAT a POTATO CHIP!" bringing us the most mirth) On Saturday morning, Sushu and Jono helped me overhaul my resume. Due to rain and Sushu's hot/cold ying-yang being out of balance, we got mexican food and hung out in bookstores instead of hiking in the afternoon. I miss living with Sushu! (Jono: I am totally jealous that you get Sushu cooking, Chinese lessons, cuddletime, etc. all the time and I only get them once a week! ENVYYYY.)
job
Ah, yes, my omnipresent dilemma. There's a job that's been re-posted that I was passed over for last time, and that combined with the lack of bites on my other applications makes me figure I need to change something up. With the advice from Sushu/Jono, I've started a master resume and I'm trying to come up with better bullet points. I've got most of it down, but I'm still having trouble with points for my JAS positions... As for my cover letter, I've redone that more recently and more often, but I'm becoming less confident in it over time.
communication
Jeremy and I seem to be getting on each other's nerves a lot lately. On the one hand, he's under pressure from school and I'm stressed out my unemployment---when two people are stressed and live together, it's not surprising to bicker. On the other, it's frustrating that even though we've been a couple for ages and this is still an area of communication failure for us. I pick up on body language and non-verbal communication (pretty well, I like to think). When I notice someone has negative posture---if they seem scared, annoyed, angry, sad, or uncomfortable---if it's directed at me, I especially want to know the reason. I want to know if I've caused a problem, and if I should change my behavior. If the non-verbal and the verbal aren't matching up, I notice! When they don't match up, particularly with someone I'm close to, like Jeremy, my feelings are especially hurt---I feel like I'm being lied to!
It becomes more complicated when my behavior is something that is difficult to change. If I'm being annoying wanting to tell you story while you're trying to focus on school work, that's easy to accommodate. If I'm being annoying because I'm around the house all the time because I'm unemployed, that's more problematic. *sigh*
birthdays
I'm always fond of playing the "How Old Are My Sisters?" game. I tend to forget our actual ages, since they have less bearing on my life than our relative ages. Anna is 3 years younger than me. (Or: I am 3 years older than Anna.) Nina is 3 years older than me. Kristen is 4 years older than Nina. Birthdays are easy: Anna's is Feb. 21 (she turns 21 on the 21st!). Nina is July 31. Kristen is Nov. 10. But if you asked me how old X sister is, I almost always have to do the math.
I am quite accustomed to being called "Mrs. O'Brien" at the local Safeway. I no longer expect to be carded for liquor at stores. But I don't honestly know how old I look. A youngish homeless guy asked me for change outside of TJ's today. I was weighed down with a full grocery bag, sixpack, and juggling a paper coffee cup. Did this make me more approachable? Or was it my outfit? Honestly, it could have been nothing of the sort. I was happy to give him change, as my tiny change pocket was bursting, and he gave me a "god bless, miss" after explaining that the recycling place was closed and he just wanted something to get something to eat. I think of "god bless" as something you'd say to an older person, although it could also just be part of the register bums/homeless people use when asking people for change. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish what motivates the use of a higher register---age disparity? social disparity? context (asking a favor)?
A barista exchanged a few words with me last week, as I tried to find a seat inside out of the rain. I believe I've seen him a few times before, such that I remember his face. Did he make small talk because he recognized me as a regular? I was wearing a rather "boob-elicious" outfit that day---and we all know that boobs have a social gravitational field. I overheard him speaking to another customer and he said he was starting at UCSC in the fall (or was it start-ed in the fall?) which would probably put him around 19. I often wonder whether I'm distinguishable from college students. How old do people think I am when they see me downtown? Going for a run? In stores?
books
The public library and I are becoming good friends. I just wish the library weren't quite so popular. Last time I bundled up a haul of UofC Press books on various anthropological topics as children's myths, baboon metaphysics, menstruation taboos/sociology, and the globalization of sexuality. This time I gathered up comics (B.P.R.D., The Last Man, Yoshihiro Tatsumi's The Pushman and other stories, and a random Fables. I can't seem to win at the title request game, however. My request for the Eclipse stagnated for a month and a half in the queue and I decided just to buy it as a bday present. My request for Coraline yielded the graphic novel, instead of the actual novel I thought I requested. I'm still waiting on The Graveyard Book, but it will take time for the 40 requests ahead of mine. My fishing for good scifi has had mixed results. One good series, and another I dropped after the first book. This time browsed the first half of the alphabet and pulled Beggars in Spain (the expanded novel)---hopefully my faith in the Hugo and Nebula Awards bestowed on the original novella will be rewarded. I also grabbed H.M.S. Pinafore, since know more references to than I have memories of.
running
I have a love-hate relationship with my running. I hate it before because it's exercise, love it immediately after because of endorphins, and it hates me later in the form of tender toes and mild joint pain (mostly in the hip). I haven't had any shin splints yet, hooray! Hopefully the good shoes I bought will stave them off. While I appreciate the fact that it's not 20 degrees outside, I still haven't found a good alternate for raining days. Unfortunately, I don't have many choices. Gyms and exercise equipment are expensive. Since our tv broke, it's even more annoying. I'd love to try yoga or pilates or something, but most of those instructional media require a VCR/DVD. The library does have an audiobook or two, but the title request game strikes again! I will have to wait for it to be free.
friends
Sushu and Jono had a slumber party with us last weekend. Friday we watched Gurren Lagann and I got to play nurse for Sushu (bring tea and medicine, etc). Later Jeremy and I were introduced into to the black hole that is TV tropes, and we stayed up late laughing at the articles with Jono. ("What do you mean it's not AWESOME?!!!" and "I'll EAT a POTATO CHIP!" bringing us the most mirth) On Saturday morning, Sushu and Jono helped me overhaul my resume. Due to rain and Sushu's hot/cold ying-yang being out of balance, we got mexican food and hung out in bookstores instead of hiking in the afternoon. I miss living with Sushu! (Jono: I am totally jealous that you get Sushu cooking, Chinese lessons, cuddletime, etc. all the time and I only get them once a week! ENVYYYY.)
job
Ah, yes, my omnipresent dilemma. There's a job that's been re-posted that I was passed over for last time, and that combined with the lack of bites on my other applications makes me figure I need to change something up. With the advice from Sushu/Jono, I've started a master resume and I'm trying to come up with better bullet points. I've got most of it down, but I'm still having trouble with points for my JAS positions... As for my cover letter, I've redone that more recently and more often, but I'm becoming less confident in it over time.
communication
Jeremy and I seem to be getting on each other's nerves a lot lately. On the one hand, he's under pressure from school and I'm stressed out my unemployment---when two people are stressed and live together, it's not surprising to bicker. On the other, it's frustrating that even though we've been a couple for ages and this is still an area of communication failure for us. I pick up on body language and non-verbal communication (pretty well, I like to think). When I notice someone has negative posture---if they seem scared, annoyed, angry, sad, or uncomfortable---if it's directed at me, I especially want to know the reason. I want to know if I've caused a problem, and if I should change my behavior. If the non-verbal and the verbal aren't matching up, I notice! When they don't match up, particularly with someone I'm close to, like Jeremy, my feelings are especially hurt---I feel like I'm being lied to!
It becomes more complicated when my behavior is something that is difficult to change. If I'm being annoying wanting to tell you story while you're trying to focus on school work, that's easy to accommodate. If I'm being annoying because I'm around the house all the time because I'm unemployed, that's more problematic. *sigh*
birthdays
I'm always fond of playing the "How Old Are My Sisters?" game. I tend to forget our actual ages, since they have less bearing on my life than our relative ages. Anna is 3 years younger than me. (Or: I am 3 years older than Anna.) Nina is 3 years older than me. Kristen is 4 years older than Nina. Birthdays are easy: Anna's is Feb. 21 (she turns 21 on the 21st!). Nina is July 31. Kristen is Nov. 10. But if you asked me how old X sister is, I almost always have to do the math.
