And another thing...

I hope you don't think I'm a complainer...well, fine sometimes I enjoy a good bitch fest.  So here goes.  Yesterday I had several appointments back to back so of course I ended up rushing around like a mad woman and didn't think to pack some food to snack on so by 4.00 I was STARVING!  And I had exactly two hours to get from San Francisco down to Santa Clara and also write 24 'Break-A-Leg' cards for the cast of Midsummer Night's Dream.  So I was, again, forced to rush around and as I was passing the Chevron on 6th heading out of the city I decided to stop and grab something to snack on.  Well, they evidently were experiencing some plumbing problems and weren't allowing anyone inside the store but they assured me that if I approached the window and told them what I needed they would run and get it.  Well, nice an offer as that was...I declined.  I didn't KNOW what I wanted to buy so I decided to haul ass down to Santa Clara and grab something to eat before show time.  Mind you my blood sugar level had reached a dangerously low level and God help anyone who might have pissed me off on my way as I tend to get a tad cranky when I'm hungry.

So I finally get down to Steven's Creek Blvd. and I pull into a strip mall which, to my great pleasure, has a Quizno's.  Finally!  A lucky break!  I was day dreaming of a Veggie Sam all the way down 280 and now I could practically taste it.  

I look at the menu when I get inside, you know that HUGE menu that is pasted to the sanitary window between you and the food prep stations.  And when the lady asks for my order I say, "A veggie sami, please" to which she replies, "We don't do that."

I look back down at the menu which has a list of their sami sandwiches (by the by, a sami is a small CHEAP flatbread sandwich and my personal favorite) and of course I see chicken sami, turkey sami, etc., and the last little sami listed is the VEGGIE SAMI!  So I say, "But it's on the menu" to which she replies, pointing to the menu posted on the wall above her head, "It's not on that menu."  I smile and say, "But it's on this menu."  She does not smile and says, "Only use this menu."  I sigh, knowing that I will lose this battle, and order a small veggie sandwich.  It was delicious but TWO DOLLARS more than I wanted to spend and to tell you the truth I am more annoyed at the principal of the thing then anything else.  I mean it's ON the MENU!  If you aren't going to serve it then do not post the full menu!  Sheesh!  Get a girl's hopes up and everything.  And WHY won't you make the veggie sami?!  You've got all the ingredients.  Damn the man, make me a SAMI!

And the asshole award goes to...

So yesterday I arrive to work at a very nice elementary school, which shall remain nameless, in a posh neighborhood in San Jose.  I got there a few minutes before school let out and the parking lot was lined with parents parked in their cars awaiting the release of their children.  I was worried that I would be forced to park down the hill thereby making me late for not only this rehearsal but for the rehearsal that followed across town.  Then I spotted the only empty space in the place and I began to make my way over.  That is when I saw that the parking spot was being blocked by one of the parents' cars as he sat waiting for his son or daughter to emerge from school.  I smiled at the father and pointed to the parking space, mouthing the words 'I need to park there.  Can you back up?'.  He shook his head and pointed vaguely at something on the opposite side of the parking lot.  I turned hoping to see an empty spot but there was nothing available.  I looked back at the man, gestured again to the empty spot and pointed to the ENTIRE car length of space he had behind him to back up and the father shook his head AGAIN and looked away.  

Mind you the parking lot is FULL of parents just sitting in their cars watching this whole exchange.  Well, I need to park my car so I get out and approach the guy's car and, seeing that his window is down, I say, 'Excuse me, sir, could you back up just a bit so I can park in that space?'.  He looks me straight in the eyes and says, 'No'.  I have to stop myself from laughing at this point because I'm so shocked at his answer.  Finally I reply saying, 'Well, I am directing the school play and need to park my car and get inside for rehearsal so please move your car'.  He rolls his eyes and sighs before backing up at a snail's pace.  I walk back to my car, park in the space, and make my way into the school without even a glance at the man again.  I mean, really?!  No?!  REALLY?!?!  I...I mean...WTF?!

Shoulda bought Geico fo yo money.

Today I met with Mike from Continental Catering at Starbucks in San Jose before work.  We met to discuss the wedding and after a 45 minute discussion I left feeling excited and confident about my wedding.  I went in feeling overwhelmed and nervous about the cost and the planning that goes into the catering of a large event but my fears were eased and I left feeling eager to continue my planning.  Life was going so well!  

And then I got in a car accident.  

I'm not going to go into the details because there are claims being filed, etc., but I do want to speak about the emotional and physical ramifications of the incident.

First of all let me just say that I've learned from this experience what one should and should not do at the scene of the accident.  For instance, when approaching the driver of the other vehicle, begin the conversation by asking, "Are you okay?" to establish whether or not medical personnel need to become involved.  Please remember there are two people involved in an accident and being a raging BITCH doesn't help in the slightest.   Also, remember to provide your name, number, and insurance policy carrier as well as write down the same information of the other driver.  And note the make and model of the other vehicle.   Try to see if there was anyone who witnessed the accident and ask for their name and phone number as well.  Remain calm.  Assess whether you are feeling any pain and if so go directly to a medical professional.   Do not wait.  Go to the ER if you need to and remember that no matter how minor the accident you can be injured.  If you've got a camera, or a camera phone, take pictures of your vehicle.  When you get home, let someone (in my case Mike Wozniak) look at the car and see if they can fix any of the damage BEFORE you call the insurance agency.  If you're lucky, like me, you won't even need to take your car in to the shop!

So, basically it was a very loooooong day filled with ups and downs and I'm very glad I'm covered by insurance.  And glad I know I good chiropractor.  I can't wait for my massage tomorrow morning.  God bless insurance.  God bless Geico.  When I finally did call in my claim, they were so pleasant and concerned, asking if I was okay and expressing their sympathies.  I was a little shaken after my extremely mild accident and more than a little tense and thankfully my conversation with Geico left me feeling much better.  Also, Mike got me some beer and that helped too.  Thanks, Mike.  And thank you Geico.

Delightful

Self deprecating humor can be quite funny.  And useful.  Back when I was an awkward insecure gawky kid (I know, I know..."So last week, right, Steph?".  Very clever.), humor became my escape.  My defense.  If they could laugh with me then they wouldn't be laughing at me.  Sure it was mostly at my expense but at least if I started the joke then I was in control.  It seems so counter intuitive but making fun of myself was the first step I took towards liking myself.  Anyone who's been the butt of jokes knows how that can really take it's toll on your self esteem.  After coming home crying every day after school when I was twelve I decided to start laughing instead and I really haven't stopped since.  

By the time I was in high school I was a clown most of the time, performing for the crowds and losing sight of myself.  In college it was worse.  I look back at the girl I was then and I hardly recognize myself.  I'm sure my choice of collegiate activities might have something to do with my distorted memories (wink, wink) but I'm pretty sure I was too caught up in getting people to like me to really understand how much I was stiffing my true self.  In fact, I lost even more of myself because I was made fun of for being too sensitive and always wanting to talk about my 'feelings'.  My new friends told me to suck it up and quit my crying.  Enter the clown.  I stopped caring even more.  I became super skilled at making the witty remark to avoid any actual personal interactions.   I even stopped caring about how I looked and whether or not I graduated.  I was extremely unhappy but hid it well behind some smoke and a smile. 

That was me.  I think I've made some very drastic changes since then.  A change of location and new friends definitely helped to shock my system back to a healthier me.  Slowly I'm finding my way back.  I'm happy.  I've got an amazing fiance, family, and friends.  For so long I've played it safe because I was so worried about failing and looking like a fool.  I never wanted to give anyone an excuse to reject me.  And so I never tried.  

Well no more.  I'm on my way to being that silly carefree proud little girl I once was.  I'm not there yet.  I still use my humor as a defence.  I find that when I'm around sarcastic deprecating people I can easily slip back into my old patterns.  I'm working hard to rein in that side of myself.  I'm trying to greet insults, however masked, in an earnest manner instead of the same superficial callous banter.  In simple terms, I'm trying to be kinder.  

That being said, I'm never going to be all sweetness and light.  I've got an deep sarcastic streak in me and I love to poke fun with people.  As long as it's all done in jest and we are laughing WITH each other and not at the expense of each other, it's all gravy.  Which brings me to the title of this blog.

Delightful.  It's one my favorite words though I find I use it purely in a sarcastic manner rather than in the tone with which it is intended.  Seriously, try using delightful in a truly sincere way.  It's virtually impossible.  You sound like an ass.  But say 'delightful' with your tongue in cheek and you're almost always guaranteed a smile.

2009 So Far

I cheated accidentally and had soda yesterday (oops) and then we had a pizza for dinner (double oops) but I went to the gym today (okay, not bad) and I'm about to clean the kitchen (well done).  I will say that the gym was pretty packed today, filled with determined individuals with satisfied smiles on their faces.  Oh, it was a beautiful sight.  Meanwhile I'm waiting ten minutes for a spot on a treadmill very much looking forward to sometime next week when most of these gung ho exercises peeps give up and go home.  And truthfully, I might be one of them but at least there will be no lines.

Point of interest:  The term 'gung ho' originated from the Madarin Chinese phrase 'Gonghe' meaning 'industrial worker's cooperative (work together)' but during World War II the term made it's way through the U.S. Army and is now a commonly used phrase meaning 'excessively enthusiastic, overzealous'.   How did that change occur?  And how weird is it that we completely changed the meaning of a Chinese phrase?  Language.  Fascinating.

Okay, I'm off to continue being totally awesome.

Also, two posts in two days?  I think I'm setting an awfully high precedent.

And a Happy New Year to you!

So it's 2009.  Whoot whoot.  Here's what I thought about the 2008, New Year's Eve in general, my specific New Year's Eve festivities, and my resolutions and predictions for 2009.

2008 was a good year.  Not great.  We had some huge milestones (Obama!) and some grave disappointments (war, recession, prop 8, Harold Pinter, etc).  But overall, things were not bad.  Britney made another comeback, China held the Olympics, some 'dude' got pregnant.  Of course Bush is still president, terrorists attacked Mumbai, and Patrick Swayze is dying.  So things could be better.  Personally, life was good this year.  I did some theatre, read some books, went to some excellent keggers at Dave's house, got a kitten, sold a house, and started to plan the Maniak wedding.  Some family members have been sick, some have died, sisters have been wed, brothers have had babies (but not the way some 'dude' had babies), some friends have moved to Kazakhstan while others have seen me get 'married' to some Italian guy.  That's 2008, people.  It didn't suck.

New Year's Day is a national holiday because New Year's Eve is usually spent downing copious amounts champagne or some other alcoholic beverage so we need a hangover holiday to recover.  Isn't that silly.  I'm not complaining at all but it seems odd that we ring in the New Year by getting drunk and stupid.  We make all these resolutions for the New Year (eat healthy, run more, drink less) but come midnight we are shitfaced, stuffed full of deep fried olives, passed out on a couch.  I guess January 1st doesn't count.  We get a one day cushion before we really have to change our behavior.  And why do we have to make resolutions?  Why do we have to become better people because time is passing?  It's a odd holiday, all right.

That being said, I had a blast last night.  Friends, games, food, and drink.  FUN!  But just like the rest of 2008, it wasn't all fun and games.  We were reminded of the grimmer side of things when we caught Dick Clark hosting the countdown.  In the middle of all the New Year's festivities there was a man who's obviously suffered this year and it was very hard to watch.  But that's life.  Awkward and hard to watch.

My 2009 resolutions are simple and slightly generic, because I've already established it's a silly custom.  Go to the gym more, eat better, make more money, save more money, keep the house clean, get an agent and become a member of an Actor's Union.  Okay, the last two might be less generic but for the most part they're pretty common.  I think resolutions are just reminders to be better people.  To keep ourselves healthy and happy.  And so I predict that while I might not be able to accomplish all of my New Year's resolutions, I will be a better person for trying.  And I think 2009 will be a great year.  New president.  The end of the recession (hopefully).  The end of a war (hopefully).  A chance to do things differently.  A chance to make things better.  Hopefully!