No one does anything on fridays anymore
23 March 2007Tomorrow my entire department is leaving for sales conference (in florida, where the humidity will do truly awesome things to my hair). I’ve learned today that the day before sales conference is kind of like the day of prom– everyone leaves at noon to “get ready.” Of, if you’re on my floor, you just don’t come in at all, apparently. I’ve been moving stacks of paper from one side of my cube to the other for the last few hours waiting until something inside me says “Okay, it’s alright to go home and do laundry now.” I suspect that moment will arrive shortly. Until then, I am in debt to jeremy and need to pass along this blog thing that is dangerously close to a chain email but will allow me to challenge people to do things they never, in their wildest dreams, imagined.
Leave a reply and…
1: I’ll respond with something random about you.
2: I’ll challenge you to try something.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you.
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you.
8: If I do this for you, you must post this in your journal.
Please note that I’ve changed the spelling of “color” to eliminate that annoying anglophile “u” that somehow got in there. I also don’t mind if you don’t put this in your own blog, I think the “must” is kind of strong there. And I don’t want to exclude people who don’t have blogs. I mean, what if my dad wants to know my first clearest memory of him?
In response to Jeremy’s question (Why do you like pirates so much?): I’m not sure. During recruitment, my sorority had a tradition of telling stupid/dirty/silly jokes while we were all jammed in the house waiting to entertain “potential new members” (rushees) and during my senior year I told a series of pirate jokes back to back. After that, girls in my sorority started forwarding me pirate jokes or saying things like “We talked about pirates in my Colonial America class and I thought of you.” Roommate Allison and I spent a month planning our Twin Slutty Pirates Halloween costume, and after that I was pretty much a goner, pirate-wise. Some are born great, some become great, and some have greatness thrust upon them– I have no idea which is was for me and the pirates, if I was always destined to love them, or if I was made to love them by others’ associations. (Let me also point out that this was 2002, way in advance of the Johnny Depp pirate craze. I was the tipping point). Even though this wasn’t a conscious decision (as, I think, many obsessions are– I recently found myself thinking “I’d really like to get into Prince. And Woody Allen movies.” That can lead nowhere good), as far as unintentional life choices go, this has been a great one. Pirates are freakin phenomenal. Right after graduation I read Under the Black Flag: The Romance and Reality of Life Among Pirates and having an intellectual framework for it made me feel a lot better about what might otherwise be a fairly childish preoccupation. Currently, I’m starting to wonder if it’s getting out of hand– yesterday I wore my pirate shoes to work, and today I’m wearing a similarly printed shirt, albeit with normal shoes. I’m lucky that there’s so much merchandise out there to feed this issue (if I loved, say, vikings, I don’t think I would be as well attired), but there’s a fine line, isn’t there? At some point I’m going to turn into that crazy lunatic who shaves the skull and crossbones into her dogs’ coats. Something to look forward to.
17 Responses to “No one does anything on fridays anymore”
March 23rd, 2007 at 11:49 am
Me first! (please)
March 23rd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Cathy! Ready, okay!
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: When I first started seeing your comments, I thought you were my friend Cathy from my sorority and I was all “wow, i didn’t know she watched the hills!” but now I know better. You two are very separate but totally equal in my heart.
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: See if you can find any of the kids from Engaged & Underage on MySpace.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: A really awesome green. Like hunter green but more jewel-toned.
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: You have an excellent set of priorities when it comes to how you should spend your time in the office.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: See above with the Cathy/ Cathy confusion.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: a jungle cat.
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: Will you marry me?
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
As the one who is ultimately responsible for this cathristin love connection, I’m interested to hear your #5 about me (as well as all the rest, obvs).
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Nora’s turn! Ready, okay!
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: Nora and I are the same shoe size. Also, she was blonde when we met. Not so much any more. And if we had never worked together I like to think we would have found our way to one another via Tifaux Maggie.
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: Within the first two weeks of April, you must go to a bar you’ve never been to in a neighborhood you rarely frequent and try a new beer.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: a really rich mahogany color.
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: your taste in books and music and your enthusiasm for High School Musical.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: My first knowledge of you was probably when Anna alerted our work clique to the impending addition of a new member. My favorite/ clearest memory is standing at mile 25 of the NY marathon and listening to you yell “YOU’RE ALL WINNERS!” to the runners that clearly wanted to kill themselves. That scene is totally my happy place.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: a baby panda bear.
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: What do you think my next haircut should be? I’m really conflicted.
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Words neither of us would’ve ever thought I’d say to you: “Do me!”
March 23rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Dan! Go!
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: Dan and I used to run into each other at the “health center” at school all the time. I thought I was working out, but I was mostly just laying around on the situp mats and gossiping.
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: Improv class! Do it! It’s such a good idea. It’ll rock your world.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: Orange! No idea why.
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: You have an extraoridnary way with words.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: I think it involves APO spirit committee and playing Fuzzy Bunny. Ohmygod Spirit Committee! I didn’t even know I still remembered that until right now.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: the DC baby panda bear. Apparently I think everyone is a panda bear. What a great world that would be.
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: What’s your theory on how the dinosaurs died?
March 23rd, 2007 at 3:35 pm
ooh ooh, pick me pick me!
I’m probably going to regret this.
March 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Oh, baby. Do me!
March 24th, 2007 at 5:53 am
Ok, what is your first clear memory of me?
LYF
March 25th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Kyle! Here we go!
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: Kyle knows all the words to the following songs: Love at First Sight/ Kylie Minogue; All Night Long/ Lionel Richie; Cry Me A River/ Justin Timberlake.
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: Use the sentence “Maybe those democrats really do have their heads on straight about something” without a lack of irony sometime in the next month.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: Green and Gold, specifically the stripes on your rugby jersey. Specifically, the one you’re wearing in the picture that you set as my desktop wallpaper sophomor year when you broke into my room and password protected my computer. Without telling me the password.
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: You’re the most loyal person I know.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: Beating everyone else on our respective freshman halls to Baskin Robbins during one of those awkward orientation socials, circa the third day of college.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: A bear (non polar this time).
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: What does rabbit taste like?
March 25th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
SSE! (Sorority Sister Elisabeth!)
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: On many more than one occasion, I’ve wished I had your inherent beauty. (cheese alert! Really, though)
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: Run a 5k this summer. I’m doing one May 20 and I’m more nervous about it than anything else in my life, so I think you should join me.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: warm yellow.
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: How articulate you are. I’ve never seen you stumble over your words or search for ones that aren’t there.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: My favorite one is from when we were practicing recruitment rotation before rush senior year and I had you and all the other #1s acting as PNMs (yeah, this response just got confusing for anyone who’s *Non-initiated*) and you guys started introducing yourselves at the door with fake names– you and barbara went on a harry potter kick, and at one point you shook my hand and intro’d yourself as Crookshanks.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: Since I’m on a bear kick, I’m going with koala bear for you.
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: outside of who killed JonBenet, what other burning questions have you come across since college?
8: If I do this for you, you must post this in your journal: E, I’m leaving this mandate up for you.
March 25th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
FINALLY, I have lured my father into commenting on my blog! That only took two years! (Aunt K, you are next).
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: When I was 16, you once called me at work to ask how to work our microwave. I made fun of your for having a doctorate in something other than Basic Appliance Manipulation. You’ve obviously since blocked that out since you deny it ever happening. Not unlike how you deny telling me that “when {I} have five degrees, four from ivy league schools, then {I} can eat in the living room.”
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: Indian food. Trust me. Also, my stepmom totally owes me one if you go through with this.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: Orange and blue (like the rugby shirt you wear. Every day.)
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: You have created some seriously fantastic offspring. Also, in retrospect, whenever I think about a difficult decision I had to make, I realize that you knew the right answer all along and you still let me get to it (or, miss it entirely) myself. That has got to be really hard to do.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: My first memory, period, is of those dogwood trees that used to be in the front yard. My first one of you, I think, involves the record of Christmas Eve on Sesame Street you used to play for me before I went to bed, back when I was in the tiny bedroom. And a lot of you pulling my pigtails back when I was foolish enough to let you & mom do my hair.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: An owl? I’ve run out of bears. Going for the wise-ness aspect. Alternatively, something with an enormous head. Thanks for passing that along.
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: Okay, seriously, C-R-I-S-T-I-N?? What were you THINKING? Subquestion: When I was born, did you have any ideas about who I’d grow up to be? How many of them were right?
March 26th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
This is an unbelievable awesome excercise! I’ve learned so much about everyone, even the peeps I’ve never met.
…Now do me!!
March 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am
oh me oh me!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Emla! Here we go!
1: I’ll respond with something random about you: I love that you loved Little Golden Books as a child. Who knew??
2: I’ll challenge you to try something: use a slight accent one day at author mail and see if anyone picks up on it.
3: I’ll pick a color that I associate with you: Gold (your ring, the Emla earrings)
4: I’ll tell you something I like about you: You care deeply about how your friends are doing and want everyone to be happy.
5: I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you: Probably the view of your back from my subrights office as you stood near Leah’s desk circing acquisition materials.
6: I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of: a baby jungle cat
7: I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you: Seriously, what should I do with my hair? You have good hair and are good at research. Thoughts?
March 30th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Count me in.
April 2nd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Oh man! I was in Arizona – I didn’t even realize this was happening! I want in.