There's an extremely talkative man who I see every once in a while in the hospital. He was here for a while for his mom, but she died a few months ago so it's been a while since I've seen him.
I saw him this morning. And this was a morning like no other. In my life.
First I saw him sitting at the tables next to the coffee stand. I avoided his gaze because I was hoping he wouldn't come talk to me. I was doing a good job until I heard, "Oh my god, Suzanne!?" He couldn't believe I was still working here (yeah, tell me about it). He reminded me that his mother had died, and proceeded to show me pictures of his family. At the funeral. Then came a picture of the casket. Then came a picture of his mom in the casket. Then came a picture of his mom in her hospital bed. Right after she died. I'm talking head back, eyes closed, mouth open. The way a person falls asleep on the sofa. But not asleep. dead.
WHAT!?!? Who is this person?
The first couple of times he came I gave him the benefit of the doubt - he's extremely friendly, and it just seemed that maybe he needed to talk. He didn't talk to me about anything deep, just a lot of friendly small talk. Then a girl who works with me told me that he'd asked her sister, who volunteers at the hospital, for her number. I thought that was a little strange, but whatever.
After the pictures, he began to seem very interested in how my life is going for me. Why I'm still working here, what area of town I live in (don't worry, he wasn't trying to get specific), how long I've lived there, what places I've been to recently. When he asked that last question, I assumed he meant restaurants or something like that, so I asked him if he'd heard of Black Sheep, which is where I went last night. He said, "I'm assuming... that's a band?" No. I told him about it, where it was, how it tasted. He asked about other restaurants I liked. Now believe me, at this point, I realize that my retelling sounds like he was a creepy guy from the start, but believe me, he wasn't. He just sounded like a really friendly person who wanted to learn. So then he starts telling me about all the places where he used to deliver pizza in the fan, and this is punctuated by pointless little stories about the time he went to visit his friend the mechanic and he wasn't there, or the time his cousin stayed with him and ate all of his cereal.
We're nearing the end of the conversation, which has felt like a really odd dream, and he says, "You know, we should go to Black Sheep some time!" And I say, "Yeah," but in a way thats like you're just saying that but we won't actually do it. Because you're creepy and old. Then he asks me to write down my number, tells me he'll call me Saturday. Is Saturday a good day for me? No, I'll be out of town with my parents. I write down the wrong number. He verifies it with me and leaves. And now, of course, I'm afraid that he'll be at the hospital some time when I'm here and ask me why my number didn't work. Why, why, WHY didn't I have the guts just to say "No, I don't think so." How hard would it have been? That was so dumb. I'm so dumb sometimes.
I realize that the creepiest part of the story happened at the beginning... but this was the creepiest thing that has ever happened to me in my life. Ever.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
I really mean it this time
I'm serious. This is important.
Imagine you're in a club. Yes, you. Even if you're antisocial. Even if you don't like to dance. Even if you've never been to a club in your life, imagine you're in a club. It's hot, it's crowded, and you're probably sweaty since you've been dancing for a while. Your friends are there too, but you haven't seen them in a while because you've each been absorbed by the music and the lights and the crowd. You're in your own element, dancing like crazy because you know that nobody is paying attention to what you look like. Arms are flailing, head is down, lights are crazy, and this song comes on, so loud you're sure you won't be able to hear in the morning:
Imagine you're in a club. Yes, you. Even if you're antisocial. Even if you don't like to dance. Even if you've never been to a club in your life, imagine you're in a club. It's hot, it's crowded, and you're probably sweaty since you've been dancing for a while. Your friends are there too, but you haven't seen them in a while because you've each been absorbed by the music and the lights and the crowd. You're in your own element, dancing like crazy because you know that nobody is paying attention to what you look like. Arms are flailing, head is down, lights are crazy, and this song comes on, so loud you're sure you won't be able to hear in the morning:
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
sex and cilantro and weddings and oatmeal
Is that how you spell that? Nuptials? Nuptuals? Google spell check tells me it's nuptials.
Before I begin anything I'd like to say that the oatmeal I'm eating right now is delicious. Hence the "oatmeal" in the title of this post. That's all.
Sister got married this weekend!
The night began with tears (duh) as my dad walked my sister down the aisle in a beeeeeaaaauuuuutiful outdoor ceremony at my parents' farm. The night ended with about 30 people in the pool in either their undies or their dress. Add about 1,284 bobby pins from the bridesmaids' hair, a twelve-pack of broken Beck's (Bruce), several broken votives at the bottom of the pool, two cut feet, and ridiculous joy at how the night was ending. Another successful Thomson family wedding which will be talked about nonstop until the next one. Jim Thomson, you're up next.
Speaking of up next: Sex and the City 2. In my last blog I said I would address it later, and now it's later, so I'm addressing it. I hope I've given those of you who want to see it enough time to see it. I probably won't spoil anything except your expectations. Here was my biggest problem with SATC2: You know that magic you feel the moment the first movie started? That feeling of giddiness because you LOVED the show and they canceled it but now it's back!? That isn't there in this movie. Not once. It all feels... forced. The ladies look like they're almost too old to be doing this anymore. The writing was pretty bad. That witty banter that they usually have is ill-timed. For pete's sake, they spend more of the movie in Abu Dabi than in New York. Sure, they went to Mexico in SATC1, but they spent about 30 minutes there. This movie even starts with that Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song about New York, and we barely see them there.
(If you haven't seen the movie, you might want to skip this paragraph.) Furthermore, this movie is so negative. I understand that every character needs a conflict, but come on. I can understand Carrie's reaction to Big wanting to take two days a week off from their marriage - that sucks. But she's plagued by it for the entire movie and there's nothing else good in her life. Charlotte's problems with her kids are understandable. I can definitely get the frustration and helplessness of taking care of a child who cries all the time. But the issue of the nanny who doesn't wear a bra? Really? That's only a "scared my husband's cheating" problem if the husband actually shows signs of being interested in the nanny. Come on, it's Harry. That would never be believable. For her to be obsessed with that the whole time they're in Abu Dabi is contrived. And please... let's talk about Samantha. She's using dozens of pills and creams to slow menopause and her conflict in the film is that.... they're confiscated at security? That's it? So she has to deal with the same thing everybody else deals with at her age. Big deal. Honestly, the most entertaining part of the movie is Miranda, who has quit her job and definitely shows a more carefree, excited attitude while they're abroad (which made me laugh out loud several times).
I'm not even going to touch the karaoke scene.
Here's my problem. I love Sex and the City. Like truly, sincerely love it. I've seen every season several times. I just watched season six (for probably the seventh time) while I was unpacking my apartment. I can't count how many times I've seen the first movie, since I turn it on without fail every time I see it playing on the movie channels. Going into this movie, I thought that it didn't matter how bad the movie was because it's still Sex and the City. It's not as though the movie has ruined the whole franchise, but I wish so badly that they'd left it at the amazingness that was the first movie: a perfect wrap up to the series.
Having said all this... I will probably watch the movie several more times. I don't know what will happen, if I'll feel better or worse about it, but I need to see every detail a few more times.
You know, it's taken me so long to write this that I feel as though it should be later than it is. It's 9:36am. It's too early. I still have two and a half more hours here at work. So let me tell you about....
Chimichurri sauce! I almost forgot that I wanted to write about this. Last night Corbin and I cooked our first meal in our new kitchen: flat iron steak with chimichurri sauce, grilled zucchini, and corn. It was delicious, but VERY smokey in a kitchen without a vent. Usually we make this meal on the grill, but seeing as we don't have an outside space to have a grill, we made it on a two-burner grill pan on the stove. We had fans running, windows open... we were afraid we'd set off the smoke alarm, until we realized we don't have one (what?). Anyway, it was great. But you NEED this recipe for chimichurri sauce because it is deliiiicious. Put it on everything. Even a cracker.
1/3 cup packed fresh cilantro
1/3 cup packed fresh parsley
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Combine all ingredients in a small food processor. Process. Enjoy.
Before I begin anything I'd like to say that the oatmeal I'm eating right now is delicious. Hence the "oatmeal" in the title of this post. That's all.
Sister got married this weekend!
The night began with tears (duh) as my dad walked my sister down the aisle in a beeeeeaaaauuuuutiful outdoor ceremony at my parents' farm. The night ended with about 30 people in the pool in either their undies or their dress. Add about 1,284 bobby pins from the bridesmaids' hair, a twelve-pack of broken Beck's (Bruce), several broken votives at the bottom of the pool, two cut feet, and ridiculous joy at how the night was ending. Another successful Thomson family wedding which will be talked about nonstop until the next one. Jim Thomson, you're up next.
Speaking of up next: Sex and the City 2. In my last blog I said I would address it later, and now it's later, so I'm addressing it. I hope I've given those of you who want to see it enough time to see it. I probably won't spoil anything except your expectations. Here was my biggest problem with SATC2: You know that magic you feel the moment the first movie started? That feeling of giddiness because you LOVED the show and they canceled it but now it's back!? That isn't there in this movie. Not once. It all feels... forced. The ladies look like they're almost too old to be doing this anymore. The writing was pretty bad. That witty banter that they usually have is ill-timed. For pete's sake, they spend more of the movie in Abu Dabi than in New York. Sure, they went to Mexico in SATC1, but they spent about 30 minutes there. This movie even starts with that Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song about New York, and we barely see them there.
(If you haven't seen the movie, you might want to skip this paragraph.) Furthermore, this movie is so negative. I understand that every character needs a conflict, but come on. I can understand Carrie's reaction to Big wanting to take two days a week off from their marriage - that sucks. But she's plagued by it for the entire movie and there's nothing else good in her life. Charlotte's problems with her kids are understandable. I can definitely get the frustration and helplessness of taking care of a child who cries all the time. But the issue of the nanny who doesn't wear a bra? Really? That's only a "scared my husband's cheating" problem if the husband actually shows signs of being interested in the nanny. Come on, it's Harry. That would never be believable. For her to be obsessed with that the whole time they're in Abu Dabi is contrived. And please... let's talk about Samantha. She's using dozens of pills and creams to slow menopause and her conflict in the film is that.... they're confiscated at security? That's it? So she has to deal with the same thing everybody else deals with at her age. Big deal. Honestly, the most entertaining part of the movie is Miranda, who has quit her job and definitely shows a more carefree, excited attitude while they're abroad (which made me laugh out loud several times).
I'm not even going to touch the karaoke scene.
Here's my problem. I love Sex and the City. Like truly, sincerely love it. I've seen every season several times. I just watched season six (for probably the seventh time) while I was unpacking my apartment. I can't count how many times I've seen the first movie, since I turn it on without fail every time I see it playing on the movie channels. Going into this movie, I thought that it didn't matter how bad the movie was because it's still Sex and the City. It's not as though the movie has ruined the whole franchise, but I wish so badly that they'd left it at the amazingness that was the first movie: a perfect wrap up to the series.
Having said all this... I will probably watch the movie several more times. I don't know what will happen, if I'll feel better or worse about it, but I need to see every detail a few more times.
You know, it's taken me so long to write this that I feel as though it should be later than it is. It's 9:36am. It's too early. I still have two and a half more hours here at work. So let me tell you about....
Chimichurri sauce! I almost forgot that I wanted to write about this. Last night Corbin and I cooked our first meal in our new kitchen: flat iron steak with chimichurri sauce, grilled zucchini, and corn. It was delicious, but VERY smokey in a kitchen without a vent. Usually we make this meal on the grill, but seeing as we don't have an outside space to have a grill, we made it on a two-burner grill pan on the stove. We had fans running, windows open... we were afraid we'd set off the smoke alarm, until we realized we don't have one (what?). Anyway, it was great. But you NEED this recipe for chimichurri sauce because it is deliiiicious. Put it on everything. Even a cracker.
1/3 cup packed fresh cilantro
1/3 cup packed fresh parsley
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Combine all ingredients in a small food processor. Process. Enjoy.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
New apartment
Hello dear friends,
I am writing to you from my new apartment. I'm in my bedroom. Corbin is in the living room watching television. The door between us is shut. I'm excited about this because we actually have doors between rooms that we can open and shut. We actually have rooms instead of room.
This morning I woke up in my bedroom. I walked through the hallway to the kitchen. I opened our full-size fridge. I took a carton of strawberries over to the large Ikea kitchen workspace that Corbin and I painstakingly put together on Monday. I cut them up into two bowls and walked into the living room to enjoy a strawberry breakfast with Corbin. Not only am I excited by this simple thing, but I'm excited that something so simple can excite me.
I'm sitting in bed writing to you and out of the corner of my eye I see my bridesmaid's dress hanging on a hook. That's right my friends, the blessed event is this weekend. Three days from now my sister will be married. Now, I've had friends in the past whose siblings have gotten married. Believe me, I know that my sister's wedding is not that exciting for you-- but I hope you'll understand how important it is for me and for my family. The first Thomson girl is going to be married off! Anyway, I'm headed up to the farm tomorrow afternoon, and Corbin will join me on Friday. It's going to be a very big weekend. And you know what else I'm excited about? That we get to come home to our new apartment.
Sorry - that's enough about the apartment. Some thoughts:
1. In retrospect, I still liked the ending of Lost.
2. I saw Sex and the City 2 on Friday night. It was bad.
3. I will elaborate on SATC2 more at another time.
4. This is how I spend my free time at work:
I am writing to you from my new apartment. I'm in my bedroom. Corbin is in the living room watching television. The door between us is shut. I'm excited about this because we actually have doors between rooms that we can open and shut. We actually have rooms instead of room.
This morning I woke up in my bedroom. I walked through the hallway to the kitchen. I opened our full-size fridge. I took a carton of strawberries over to the large Ikea kitchen workspace that Corbin and I painstakingly put together on Monday. I cut them up into two bowls and walked into the living room to enjoy a strawberry breakfast with Corbin. Not only am I excited by this simple thing, but I'm excited that something so simple can excite me.
I'm sitting in bed writing to you and out of the corner of my eye I see my bridesmaid's dress hanging on a hook. That's right my friends, the blessed event is this weekend. Three days from now my sister will be married. Now, I've had friends in the past whose siblings have gotten married. Believe me, I know that my sister's wedding is not that exciting for you-- but I hope you'll understand how important it is for me and for my family. The first Thomson girl is going to be married off! Anyway, I'm headed up to the farm tomorrow afternoon, and Corbin will join me on Friday. It's going to be a very big weekend. And you know what else I'm excited about? That we get to come home to our new apartment.
Sorry - that's enough about the apartment. Some thoughts:
1. In retrospect, I still liked the ending of Lost.
2. I saw Sex and the City 2 on Friday night. It was bad.
3. I will elaborate on SATC2 more at another time.
4. This is how I spend my free time at work:
Can you guess whose hair I'm wearing in each photo? Which is your favorite?
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