Providential Response to Grumbling

Yesterday, people annoyed me. I whined about it on the interwebs.

Today people delighted me. Interwebs, here are the details...

Let's do some points, first.

Conversant: Class-Auditing Seat-Mate

Did not start conversation (I thought about it, but didn't do it...): 0 points

Location - class: 10 points

Length - 5 minutes + : 10 points

Comfort zone: 2 points

Total: 22 points!

What I learned: Classes are far more enjoyable when you audit and don't have to do the readings... or essays.

And, as for the delighted part - for this same class, I was assigned a partner for a presentation. I can't call her a stranger this week - I met her last week. But this week we conversed with the great conclusion that we're both a little sick of the small talk that seems to dominate the discussions of acquaintances. She apologized for getting into too much personal discussion - I certainly didn't mind... look what I do for fun.

(This blog, in case you're confused).

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble

It is hard to pinpoint the beginning of a cycle. There is one, but finding it can often be even worse than finding that first piece of toilet paper on the roll.

The particular cycle currently plaguing me involves the age-old tired/procrastinating cycle.

"I should do schoolwork," I say to myself.

"Yes, you should," I reply.

"But I'm tired."

"So work for a couple of hours and then go to bed."

"Good idea."

"Huh... you are tired. Look at you not focussi.. WHAT? There's a new episode of Project Runway?"

"Oh I couldn't possibly work until I've seen that!"

"True."

(Watch episode.)

"Make it work."

It's like he's speaking to me.

"And now, to work!"

(Stares blankly at screen).

"You can do it!"

(Stares blankly at screen).

"I'm really tired."

"You're just not functional anymore, are you?"

"Nope."

Suddenly, the light on the alarm clock is on the am side.

"I will just go to bed, and get up early, and carry on."

If you're the kind of person who finds themselves reading things on Blogger, you probably understand this cycle. You probably also understand that the next morning finds the cycle victim even more tired, and even less inclined to do work. It's hard to say whether the tiredness or the procrastination came first, but science proves they are complimentary. Science.

This cycle, combined with gloomy weather, has had the ultimate effect of creating a somewhat cranky Laura. Unfortunately, strangers often bear the brunt of this crankiness. They might not know it, but they do.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" I yell at strangers walking too slowly (in my mind, and mostly at first year students)

"WHY DO YOU ASK THESE QUESTIONS?" (Largely directed at first year students asking silly questions in class)

"HOW COULD YOU HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE 1990s?" (Largely directed at third year students - that's right - people born in the 1990s are now in their third year of university).

Etc.

Well, despite the crankiness, I did manage to carry on a chat with a third-year the other day.

Conversant: Born-in-the-1990s Lady Gaga Fan

Length, five minutes: 10 points

In class: 10 minutes

Comfort zone: 2 points

Total: 22 points

What I Learned: The folding seats in the University Centre auditorium are worse than those in the music building.

What I Did Not Learn: The price of general admission tickets at the upcoming Lady Gaga concert.

Lost in Rich People Territory

I went on about a 9 km walk this evening. I did not plan to go on a 9 km walk this evening. Drat. As you may have guessed, more than half of those km were spent being lost.

I currently live in a rather yuppie neighbourhood that is sandwiched between one of the richest and one of the sketchiest areas in Ottawa. Fortunately, I had the sense to get lost in the rich part, given that is was dark for all of the being lost time, and the I-know-where-I'm-going-again-time.

Observation: I think in being lost, it's not necessarily when you're lost that you realize that you're lost. It's when you see a place and recognize just how far you are from where you thought you were that the word LOST plasters itself to your brain. The realization for me was at St. Laurent Blvd. I'm still not really sure how I got there. I do know, however, that I hate crescents. Passionately. A great deal of hatred is especially being directed towards Farnham Cr. this evening, which I know I crossed over far too many times without realizing it was a crescent.

Well, all that to say, I ran into surprisingly few people this evening. In fact, I believe they consisted soley of: an older couple, a fisherman, and two separate instances of dog-walkers. There was also very little conversation - although, given that I am female, was alone in the dark, and didn't know where I was, the fact that there was little talking to strangers was not really an accident. To attempt to blend into rich people territory, however, I tried very hard to look like I knew where I was going, and would make eye contact and say "Good evening" in an especially assured tone of voice.

The most notable conversing took place with the fisherman. Actually, the only time I got out anything other than "Good evening".

Conversant: Luckless Fisherman

Points:

Initiated conversation: 10 points

Length - less than a minute: 5 points

Stranger on "street" (along the river, to be exact): 20 points

Comfort zone: 2 points

Total: 37

I might have to rethink this system... I don't think the encounter was worth that much.

What I learned: There are some teases among the local bass population.

What I also learned: I should really carry my cell phone

Another return...

Oh dear. It's been a year... over a year! And good heavens, that leaves THREE whole followers with nothing to muse upon!

Well, three followers (and my friend Lisa, who has been harassing me to get this going again), my apologies. Granted, one of those followers is my father... but, well... sorry Dad.

Sadly, the inciting incident for this return was not even an especially great conversation - rather, I went to comment on my friend Kendra's blog, and realized how terrible it would be if she in turn clicked on my blog and saw that NOTHING had been added in over a year. So, Kendra, should you find yourself here... know that three followers (my dad, my cousin's wife, and a former roommate) now have more information to absorb, thanks to you! Huzzah!

Well, in the interest of time (and the fact that I probably SHOULD be doing homework), I won't go into too much of a review here. BUT, in brief:

-I have talked to no more rockstars. Although I have gotten to know the boyfriend of a friend whose rather up and coming, at least in the Ottawa scene. Giant Hand - check him out. But that doesn't count anyway.

-I talked to several strangers at weddings. The friend weddings have begun - I must be old. But I'm not going to tell those stories, anyway.

-Public transportation continues to be an excellent source of strangers. One of those stories to follow directly:

HERE.

Stranger: French Literature Reciting Seat-mate

I think I might have said one other time (or maybe not) that I often don't try to start conversations with people I sit with on the Greyhound. It can just get awkward. But I didn't have to start this one!

Did not initiate: 0 points

Longer than half-an-hour: 20 points

Stranger on bus: 15 points

Comfort zone: 2 points

TOTAL: 37 points. Huzzah!

What I learned: The premise of Dollhouse was like the premise of a French novel. Also - if there is a zombie apocalypse, choose weaponry that allows for maintaing distance. The chainsaw, while macho, just keeps you too close.

What is with boys and zombies?

PS - dear Kendra once went out of her way to speak to me as a stranger. She has a fantastic food blog, here: http://kendraskitchenmusings.blogspot.com/