Because my last post was a little on the Negative Nelly side, I thought I'd do well to balance out the universe with this one.
In the style of Taza from Rockstar Diaries, I decided to make a list of little things that delight me beyond words.
If you don't read her blog, you should. She has an amazing ability to highlight the magical details of life.
Things I Love/Lurve
-my Pandora station titled "Crap I pretend not to listen to"
-Bachelorette Mondays and So You Think You Can Dance Thursdays
-Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with pomegranate oil
-pulling into my driveway, turning the car off and sitting in silence for about 10 minutes
-tall women who wear high heels and have excellent posture
-my cupcake rainboots
-scratching the ever-loving snot out of a bug bite
-rediscovering favorite seasonal foods (nectarines!)
-getting away with blaming products of indigestion on someone else
-living vicariously through Lisa, who just got a new puppy
-unabashedly picking every single carrot out of my pad thai
-pretending the fly that just tried to go up my nose is actually a friend of mine who was mistakenly transformed into a fly and is now attempting to send me messages
Showing posts with label Details. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Details. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Suck it, monkeys! I'm going corporate!
Here at my place of business, I have a pet peeve.
Okay, well I have several, but I'm just going to focus on one for the moment.
The "security system" we have at this building consists of a breezeway with a locked door and a phone. Should you come to this door, you have two options:
1) Use the phone and the instructions provided to call me so you may identify yourself and then I will come let you in
2) Ignore the phone and knock really loudly until I hear you and come let you in
While the second one is a little irritating, it's effective and gets the same result.
Now, in the morning, we receive several deliveries from FedEx, UPS, Campus mail and, of course, the USPS. I generally prop the door open for a few hours so they can come in with less of a hassle.
If I forget to prop the door open, the first three will either call me or knock on the door. They've got boxes and packages, so in this case, I find the knocking to be totally understandable.
The USPS, however, will simply leave the tub of mail at the locked door and drive off, without picking up the outgoing mail.
Today, I forgot to prop the door open, but I heard her drop off the tub. So, I ran (and I do mean RAN) from my office and saw her sprinting back to the mail truck, as though she knew I was right behind her. I even yelled, "No, come back!" It didn't matter, for she was already back to the safety of her van.
What took place for the next ten minutes may only be described as a serious hissy fit.
I was throwing things, very forcefully chucking envelopes into their respective cubbies and, of course, talking to myself. The discussion I was having with myself wasn't that quiet mumbling you often see or hear about. Nay, this was a straight up tantrum I was having that probably sounded a little bit like this:
"GOD FORBID she actually pick UP the mail. I mean, who REALLY NEEDS their mail to go out on a REGULAR BASIS? IN FACT, why don't I come to HER and just come GET THE MAIL? THAT WAY, she never has to actually LEAVE the comfort of HER OWN HOME! AND BY ALL MEANS, don't knock or anything, because then I might LET YOU IN and help you, I don't know, DO YOUR JOB!"
Now, you might be thinking, "Sara, is your world so small that you have to get this jacked up over something so stupid and insignificant?"
Yes, yes it is.
My perspective is a little skewed right now as I don't have a lot going on and I'm in somewhat of a waiting period. I've got three months where I'm just hanging out until I head to North Carolina, and I'm not doing much else.
In the meantime, I think I get bored so I get all worked up over little things to keep me entertained.
Either way, I should take it down a notch and try to remember that there are more important things going on in the world. Even if the mail DOES get picked up, there is still poverty and suffering in the world.
Plus, the USPS can eat my poo.
Okay, well I have several, but I'm just going to focus on one for the moment.
The "security system" we have at this building consists of a breezeway with a locked door and a phone. Should you come to this door, you have two options:
1) Use the phone and the instructions provided to call me so you may identify yourself and then I will come let you in
2) Ignore the phone and knock really loudly until I hear you and come let you in
While the second one is a little irritating, it's effective and gets the same result.
Now, in the morning, we receive several deliveries from FedEx, UPS, Campus mail and, of course, the USPS. I generally prop the door open for a few hours so they can come in with less of a hassle.
If I forget to prop the door open, the first three will either call me or knock on the door. They've got boxes and packages, so in this case, I find the knocking to be totally understandable.
The USPS, however, will simply leave the tub of mail at the locked door and drive off, without picking up the outgoing mail.
Today, I forgot to prop the door open, but I heard her drop off the tub. So, I ran (and I do mean RAN) from my office and saw her sprinting back to the mail truck, as though she knew I was right behind her. I even yelled, "No, come back!" It didn't matter, for she was already back to the safety of her van.
What took place for the next ten minutes may only be described as a serious hissy fit.
I was throwing things, very forcefully chucking envelopes into their respective cubbies and, of course, talking to myself. The discussion I was having with myself wasn't that quiet mumbling you often see or hear about. Nay, this was a straight up tantrum I was having that probably sounded a little bit like this:
"GOD FORBID she actually pick UP the mail. I mean, who REALLY NEEDS their mail to go out on a REGULAR BASIS? IN FACT, why don't I come to HER and just come GET THE MAIL? THAT WAY, she never has to actually LEAVE the comfort of HER OWN HOME! AND BY ALL MEANS, don't knock or anything, because then I might LET YOU IN and help you, I don't know, DO YOUR JOB!"
Now, you might be thinking, "Sara, is your world so small that you have to get this jacked up over something so stupid and insignificant?"
Yes, yes it is.
My perspective is a little skewed right now as I don't have a lot going on and I'm in somewhat of a waiting period. I've got three months where I'm just hanging out until I head to North Carolina, and I'm not doing much else.
In the meantime, I think I get bored so I get all worked up over little things to keep me entertained.
Either way, I should take it down a notch and try to remember that there are more important things going on in the world. Even if the mail DOES get picked up, there is still poverty and suffering in the world.
Plus, the USPS can eat my poo.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Don't sweat the small stuff? Girl, bitte.
If you recorded my actions and speech for 24 hours on any given day, you would learn very quickly that I am all about the details.
Does this mean I'm detail-oriented? Heck no. Does this mean I have excellent attention to detail? Not in the way you might think. Does this mean I need to attend a national conference regarding the newly vital subject of synergy? I certainly hope so.
This simply means that I am easily affected (both positively and negatively) by little things... but honestly, who isn't? Everybody has a handful of idiosyncrasies they received at birth (although there are those who definitely went back for seconds when God was dishing out the crazy). Luckily, most people have different combinations of personal pleasures and pet peeves.
For example, my friend Sonya Rae does not like to wait... for anything. She's a woman of action and I think it ever so slightly chips away at her soul when someone says to her, "Just a minute" (I know this from personal experience, by the way). She usually responds with, "Nope, right now."
In the way of personal pleasures, my college roommate, Cara, absolutely loves things related to organization and ambition. If you want to get her all giddy and worked up, just show her your briefcase or your Filofax (and no, those are not euphemisms). I once got her school supplies for her birthday, if that paints a better picture.
My friend Lises Pieces is annoyed by sneezing. This applies to both the sneezes of others as well as her own. She can't really explain it, either. I actively enjoy sneezing, so I can't really wrap my mind around this, but I've got my own jar just overflowing with crap that makes no sense, so I don't judge.
My brother has a lot of pet peeves, most of which I would guess are related to music and stupid people, or some combination of the two. I recently learned, however, that there was a giant squid sighting about 4 years ago, and this got Sam all sorts of excited (a feat not easily accomplished). Never would've guessed.
Now, for those of you who know me, you are aware that I get easily excited as well as completely bent out of shape by really small, stupid things.
About two years ago, a friend and I went to Panera for lunch. When I go to Panera, I would say 90% of the time, I get the Frontega Chicken sandwich. It's completely delicious and about 2/3 of my daily caloric intake. It's about the only reason I go to Panera (although they do have excellent coffee) and I see nothing wrong with that. This is the conversation that took place:
Me: I'd like the Frontega, please.
Jackass Panera Employee: We're out.
Me: I'm sorry?
JPE: We're out.
Me: For how long?
JPE: Until we get more.
Me: I'm sorry, I guess I'm missing something. Can you not just... make more?
JPE: No, we're out.
I'm aware, on some level, that this is not the end of the world, but at the time (and even in retrospect), I was pretty irritated and allowed this small injustice to consume me for the next half hour or so. I just sat there, eating my sub-par sandwich and making snarky comments under my breath. Is that a valuable use of my time and energy? Probably not, but the thing is... I don't care.
On the flip side, I had a minor experience this morning that made me downright perky. I came to work with coffee and a breakfast sandwich, both of which were highly enjoyable. When I finished my coffee, I realized I had an urgent matter to take care of involving my morning regularity.
While I'm aware that everybody poops (that's right, I read the book), I think most people prefer to do it in the privacy of their own home, me included. So, at work, timing becomes very important. If you go too soon (between 8-9am), you run into the custodial staff. If you wait too long (9:30-11am), you run into people who are having the same urges. So you see, there's a very small window for privacy, and even then, it's not guaranteed.
This morning, however, I had the whole 7-stall bathroom to myself. OUTSTANDING.
I am still so happy about this that I'll probably mention it in at least 3 of the e-mails I'll be sending later this afternoon.
Other small things that will make my day:
Flossing
Seeing a squirrel fall out of a tree (trust me, it's funny)
Breakfast for dinner
When the temperature is above freezing
Being the first person to open and use the new peanut butter
Other small things that will ruin my day:
Manilla folder cut (ten times worse than your standard paper cut)
Hearing "Harper Valley PTA" on the radio
Any computer error or malfunction
Seeing any Olive Garden commercial, but especially the one with the giggly college girl
Finding mayo on my sandwich after I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR NO MAYO
So, whether you are enraged by double-sided tape or completely delighted with people who overuse the word "duties", I think it is not only logical to sweat the small stuff, it should be required.
Does this mean I'm detail-oriented? Heck no. Does this mean I have excellent attention to detail? Not in the way you might think. Does this mean I need to attend a national conference regarding the newly vital subject of synergy? I certainly hope so.
This simply means that I am easily affected (both positively and negatively) by little things... but honestly, who isn't? Everybody has a handful of idiosyncrasies they received at birth (although there are those who definitely went back for seconds when God was dishing out the crazy). Luckily, most people have different combinations of personal pleasures and pet peeves.
For example, my friend Sonya Rae does not like to wait... for anything. She's a woman of action and I think it ever so slightly chips away at her soul when someone says to her, "Just a minute" (I know this from personal experience, by the way). She usually responds with, "Nope, right now."
In the way of personal pleasures, my college roommate, Cara, absolutely loves things related to organization and ambition. If you want to get her all giddy and worked up, just show her your briefcase or your Filofax (and no, those are not euphemisms). I once got her school supplies for her birthday, if that paints a better picture.
My friend Lises Pieces is annoyed by sneezing. This applies to both the sneezes of others as well as her own. She can't really explain it, either. I actively enjoy sneezing, so I can't really wrap my mind around this, but I've got my own jar just overflowing with crap that makes no sense, so I don't judge.
My brother has a lot of pet peeves, most of which I would guess are related to music and stupid people, or some combination of the two. I recently learned, however, that there was a giant squid sighting about 4 years ago, and this got Sam all sorts of excited (a feat not easily accomplished). Never would've guessed.
Now, for those of you who know me, you are aware that I get easily excited as well as completely bent out of shape by really small, stupid things.
About two years ago, a friend and I went to Panera for lunch. When I go to Panera, I would say 90% of the time, I get the Frontega Chicken sandwich. It's completely delicious and about 2/3 of my daily caloric intake. It's about the only reason I go to Panera (although they do have excellent coffee) and I see nothing wrong with that. This is the conversation that took place:
Me: I'd like the Frontega, please.
Jackass Panera Employee: We're out.
Me: I'm sorry?
JPE: We're out.
Me: For how long?
JPE: Until we get more.
Me: I'm sorry, I guess I'm missing something. Can you not just... make more?
JPE: No, we're out.
I'm aware, on some level, that this is not the end of the world, but at the time (and even in retrospect), I was pretty irritated and allowed this small injustice to consume me for the next half hour or so. I just sat there, eating my sub-par sandwich and making snarky comments under my breath. Is that a valuable use of my time and energy? Probably not, but the thing is... I don't care.
On the flip side, I had a minor experience this morning that made me downright perky. I came to work with coffee and a breakfast sandwich, both of which were highly enjoyable. When I finished my coffee, I realized I had an urgent matter to take care of involving my morning regularity.
While I'm aware that everybody poops (that's right, I read the book), I think most people prefer to do it in the privacy of their own home, me included. So, at work, timing becomes very important. If you go too soon (between 8-9am), you run into the custodial staff. If you wait too long (9:30-11am), you run into people who are having the same urges. So you see, there's a very small window for privacy, and even then, it's not guaranteed.
This morning, however, I had the whole 7-stall bathroom to myself. OUTSTANDING.
I am still so happy about this that I'll probably mention it in at least 3 of the e-mails I'll be sending later this afternoon.
Other small things that will make my day:
Flossing
Seeing a squirrel fall out of a tree (trust me, it's funny)
Breakfast for dinner
When the temperature is above freezing
Being the first person to open and use the new peanut butter
Other small things that will ruin my day:
Manilla folder cut (ten times worse than your standard paper cut)
Hearing "Harper Valley PTA" on the radio
Any computer error or malfunction
Seeing any Olive Garden commercial, but especially the one with the giggly college girl
Finding mayo on my sandwich after I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR NO MAYO
So, whether you are enraged by double-sided tape or completely delighted with people who overuse the word "duties", I think it is not only logical to sweat the small stuff, it should be required.
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