10:22 a.m. - 2006-10-06
avoiding awkwardness
Well, sorry to disappoint you but I skipped out on the Sassy Sensations part of the party. I did attend the "purse" part of the evening, but my exhaustion due to fighting my on-going illness prevented me from shopping for anything, um, sassy.
The funny part of the party, though, was that a couple of women brought small children with them. The little ones were wondering around, especially fascinated with Haley's chocolate fountain. I think Haley kept forgetting they were there because she kept dropping 4-letter words right in front of them. This little blonde girl kept looking at Haley like she was afraid of her. But I think the chocolate fountain won her over.
Something that always amuses me about people selling knock-off designer purses is that they act really offended when someone suggests that they aren't real. I mean, first of all, it is totally illegal to be selling these things. Because either they are fake and were made by enslaved children somewhere, or they are real and were stolen off a truck by Christopher Maltasonti or someone. So when someone whispers to her friend that no, they aren't real, and the vendor gets all cranky, I just want to say, oh, ok, then who got shot so you could sell this $400 bag for 30 bucks? Especially when "Gucci" is spelled wrong on the purse anyway.
OK. I have a confession to make. I think Michael Bolten is amazingly good looking know that the balding mullet is gone. He was on Rachel Ray this morning. He looks like he should be in a J. Crew ad, on a beach, throwing a piece of driftwood for a golden retriever. I guess that ad could be for almost anything...a mutual fund, Rogaine, Viagra....
Well, the man has aged incredibly well but his music still sucks.
So I'm leaving today for this retreat. I'm very nervous, or well, I guess more like a little nervous. Because, once again, I find myself in a situation, where everyone else in the group is a Doctor, Lawyer, Philanthropist or CEO of a large company....and then there's me. How does this happen this frequently. I feel like it's my lot in life to be appointed to feel horrifically inadequate. I have developed a really good face that I hope communicates "Gosh, I'm just glad to be here with all of you important folks. Don't ask me any questions because I really don't know anything at all about public television programming. Want some veggies and dip?"
My latest social problem that NEEDS a consistent solution: It seems that people are often unsure as to whether or not they have met someone. You are introduced and one person kin d of squints, thinking and says "Have we met?" and the other person NEVER knows the answer to this question. The response is never "No." And it is almost never "Well, yes, we met at Jenny's party last year." It is usually "Ummm...I don't know...." Then someone has to move the conversation along with some horrible comment like "Well, you must have one of those faces." or "Well, we'll figure out where we met at some point...one of us will realize it after we've left! Haha."
Ugh.
See, you say "Have we met before..." because the person looks vaguely familiar and you don't want them to think that if you have met them that they are totally not memorable. But the problem with that is that you put THEM on the spot. Not very nice.
I propose the following: After you are introduced to someone you think you may have met before, just say.
Hi Megan! How are you? (enthusiastically.)
See, this way, if they do know you, they will take your enthusiasm as you recognising them. If they recognise you, they will probably give you some clue as to how you know them. If they don't know you, they'll just think you're a very friendly person. Totally avoiding awkwardness!
