Comments (11)

By kilax, July 13, 2008 10:10 pm

Whew. What a weekend. I’m so happy I took tomorrow off as well. I need to rest.

We went to our first Cubs game today…

The nerve wracking 9th inning

The Cubs lost, but we still had fun!

On our way to the ballpark, while we were still in the Loop, a woman stopped me on the street to ask how to get to the Cubs game. Long story short, I told her how we were getting to the game, but that I wasn’t sure if that was the right way to go.

A man shows up at her side and says, “Maybe if you didn’t get your education at Iowa State University, you would know where you’re going.”

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

I look at this guy, and it is my boss from when I worked at ISU for the Environmental Health & Safety Department! His wife saw people wearing Cubs shirts (us) and stopped to ask for directions, even though he didn’t want to. What are the odds of that encounter? He lives in Ames and I haven’t seen him since May ’07 (we’ve only been in contact through email).

We rode to the game together, and I gave him my business card and asked that we meet again before he leaves town (he’s in for a conference). I hope we get together again!

In other news: When my sister was packing her car for the drive home, she found a package addressed to me behind the bushes at our home! WTF? It arrived on Wednesday, and I didn’t even know it was there. I wasn’t expecting anything. To my surprise, it was an early birthday present from Gina! A cute little vase (that looks like a milk jar) with two gray kittehs that says “Friends”! I feel so awful that I didn’t know it was there. THANKS GINA!!! I can’t wait to use it. (I don’t mean to look demented in this photo, but like I said, it’s been a long weekend!)

Comments (11)

By kilax, June 24, 2008 1:03 pm

Sometimes, for the life of me, I can’t understand why something interests another person.

It’s often television or sports. When someone is talking to me about those things, I have to pay very close attention, so that I don’t start daydreaming. I ask a lot of questions, to keep myself engaged.

I still enjoy the conversation, but the passion just isn’t there. I like to think that having these discussions means it’s more likely that I’ll enjoy these things in the future, but who knows.

So that’s the naked truth about me. I’m sure a few other people are the same way.

But then there are those people who just brush off all of your interests. They make broad statements when you start talking about something, such as “I don’t like ‘fill-in-the-blanks-of-whatever-you’re-talking-about’ ”

This happened awhile ago in a group conversation I was in. I was telling someone that I was going to my first Cubs game this summer, and that I was excited to see what it was like. I went on to ask that person how it is determined who makes the playoffs (or whatever they’re called), because it seemed to me like the teams play a ton of games, and I didn’t understand how it worked (and was genuinely interested!).

Before that person could begin to explain it to me (and I asked him because I knew he was a baseball fan), another person at the table went into their spiel about why they hate baseball and baseball games. Why I wouldn’t have any fun at the game. How I’d probably have more fun working then being at a game. How I might as well not go to the game.

Um. Okay.

Obviously, that person’s issue is bigger than being bored by other people’s interests. But, come on! Remember that saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”? I think it’s important to remember that one from time to time, especially in mixed company.

I am guilty of this sometimes, but I try to make an effort, because I am fascinated to learn what interests other people, whether or not it something I personally like.