Etiquette @ MindSay

I was sleeping last night, when I heard a knocking on my bedroom door just after 2am.  I sat up and said, "come in", which MIGHT be foolish 'cause I couldn't see who it was, but I justified it by saying, "the killer never knocks; roommates do".  I figured it was Aaron telling me our toilet was re-broken, but even that was a little sketch because he's literate and could leave a note on it to say 'hey, don't use me, I SUCK'.

It was Ann, the woman who lives in one of the rooms upstairs.  Ann and I have been the 2 complaining most about being cold; the boys have mentioned it infrequently, but Carman especially seems the most apathetic to our plight.  To be fair, I'm ALWAYS cold, so even I don't hold my complaints of being chilly with a lot of merit, because I say it when it's 89 degrees out and I'm running around.

So Ann comes in, and I turn on the light to make sure she's okay, like not sick and needing me to drive her to the hospital or anything.  No, no:  she's coming in because she's complaining about the heat situation.  She's up in her room 'curled up in a little ball' and it's too cold, she's really upset, etc.  And I'M really upset it says '68' on the wall thing but it's probably only 50 because it's clearly not working, but it's also... 2am.  She admitted she knew it wasn't my fault, and she knows I'm not mechanical and don't know how to fix it myself, and she 'doesn't want to fly off the roof' (which I guess is her version of 'get really pissed and overreact'), but it still seemed weird to come into my room at 2am to tell me this.

Meanwhile, I just bought a blanket/comforter that is still in its bag (wanted to save it for extra layer in winter months), so I get out of bed and get it out for her, thinking she could use an extra blanket to help her sleep for tonight when I can't fix it.  "Oh, no, I'm okay under the covers, it's just... I need to be able to spend time in my room".  Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

Am I wrong for thinking that this exchange, while not the worst thing in my life (She left at about 2:10 and I was back asleep by 2:40), was incredibly weird?  And maybe...not the way to handle it?  I think it's great that Ann, who is pretty shy/reserved, feels close enough to me to come to me with her problems, but at the same time... tomorrow night when I'm home from teaching is a great time.  Hell, get up an hour early this morning when I'm already up.  But this...just seemed excessive.

You know those people? The ones who have absolutely NO cell phone etiquette whatsoever? They're the ones you see in stores, talking on the phone while interacting with a clerk. Or on their phone while in the drive-thru at a restaurant. They use their phones absolutely everywhere, with no regard for the rest of humanity who has zero interest in their lame-o lives. You definitely know those people, they're everywhere.

 

Well, I am not those people. Not at all. I pretty much avoid talking on the phone unless it's necessary and even then, I always feel like I am inconveniencing someone. I won't answer it if I am in line at Target or at a drive-thru or wherever. I figure I can just call the person back after I deal with the person right in front of me. It's just me, who I am. Plus, I silence my phone all the time. I figure they make the silent feature for a reason. When I walk into a movie theater--silenced. When I go to work--silenced.

 

Then, we have today. I am walking into work. Normally, I pull out my key card, from my jacket pocket (where my cell phone also resides) and scan into the building, then drop the card back in my pocket and pull out my phone and silence it. It's a routine. I do it every time I go to work. So today, I am walking into work and as I scan the door, it opens and one of my coworkers is coming out. He holds the door for me and I step in and we stand there and chat for a few minutes. Well, while we were talking I put my key card back in my pocket without thinking and....routine interruptus.

 

Fine. No big deal. Yes, I work in a library, but it isn't a silent library, there isn't even a policy about cell phones. I probably couldn't sit at my desk and talk on it, but if it is on, it wouldn't be a problem. Like I said, it's just me.

 

So I get to the desk to start my shift and I am taking over for my boss, so we're standing there chatting and my coat is hanging over the back of my chair. Suddenly, (yes, I know you know where I am going with this) my phone starts blaring at full volume. As loud as it can go-and let me tell you, it's pretty loud-just singing away. Bad enough, right?

 

Well, I got me this new fancy cell phone a few months back (I know you've all read how much I love the camera in my new phone) and with this phone I can make it ring different songs for each person. Yes, my older phones could do that to, but those were just preprogrammed tunes. These are SONGS. So I can pick songs that remind me of people and program them in to ring when they call and text me.

 

Here's the funny part. The caller was my friend Kelly who I went to the NKOTB concert with back in October. The song that most reminds me of her, and is her ringtone, is Dirty Dancing by New Kids on the Block. In case you don't know the song....you can view the video below. (By the way, Kel....this is just a little treat for you--and I posted the link on your blog).

 

 

New Kids On the Block - Dirty Dancing

So it's the chorus that you hear on my phone:

 

Ooh, it's so crazy, she's like Baby, I'm like Swayze.

I said, Ooo, and I'm burning up so, lets turn it up, I said turn it up now!

She's dirty dirty dancing, dirty dancing on me
She's dirty dirty dancing, dirty dancing on me
She's dirty dirty dancing, dirty dancing, dirty dancing on me
She's dirty dirty dancing, dirty dancing on me

 

Yep. That's what started blaring. So my boss hears this; gives me this look and says "do you need to get that?" I am frantically diving into my coat to find my phone, but of course, in that teeny-tiny pocket, I can't find the damn thing and it just keeps going. I finally got it and ended the song and then I immediately silenced my cell phone. I told my boss that I didn't need to answer it, she'd just leave a message. She wasn't mad or anything, I am just trying to imagine her reconciling that song with the professional image I portray at work.

 

Ah well. That's life, I suppose. And it makes for a good blog post, so there's that. Plus, I think I just made Kelly's day...so there is an upside.

November 5th Etiquette

Good Morning My People -

After watching the final debate the other night, it dawned on me that Obama could actually win this thing.  If that happens, there will be a lot of people (some of our co-workers included) who will be afraid that an Obama presidency will usher in the end of days.  They'll be watching us on November 5th (the day after the election) for signs of the end times.

To keep the peace and keep a lot of folks from getting nervous, I think we should develop a list of acceptable celebration behaviors we should probably avoid - at least for the first few days:

1. No crying, hugging or shouting "Thank you Lord" - at least not in public
2. No high-fives - at least not unless the area is clear and there are no witnesses
3. No laughing at the McCain/Palin supporters
4. No calling in sick on November 5th. They'll get nervous if too many of us don't show up.
5. We're allowed to give each other knowing winks or nods in passing.  Just try to keep from grinning too hard.
6. No singing loudly, "We've come this Far By Faith"  (it will be acceptable to hum softly)
7. No bringing of barbeque ribs or fried chicken for lunch in the company lunchroom for at least a week (this may make us seem to ethnic)
8. No leaving kool-aid packages at the water fountain (this might be a sign that poor folks might be getting a break through)
9. No Cupid Shuffle during breaks (this could indicate a little too much excitement)
10. Please no "Moving on Up" music  (we are going to try to remain humble)
11. No doing the George Jefferson dance (unless you're in your office with the door closed)
12. Please try not to yell----BOOOO YAH!
13. Just in case you're wondering, Doing the Running Man, cabbage patch, or a backhand spring on the highway is 100% okay.

If I've missed anything feel free to add to the list.  I just want to make sure we're all on the same page when Obama brings this thing home on November 5th.

Now go get your early vote on and let's make this thing happen!!!

Why is it nowadays when some people find out that someone else (a casual acquaintance, co-worker, or friend of a friend type situation) is pregnant with twins (AGAIN NOT ME) they automatically make some comment about IVF as opposed to what you used to hear all the time which was "Oh does it run in the family?"  It's very rude, invasive, and none of their damn business.

Personally, I always go with "Wow!  Congratulations!  I hope she has a healthy, easy pregnancy."

Otherwise, what the heck business is it of yours?