I'm a little nervous about how expectant I am that something good is about to happen. If there's one thing I've learned in life (and I'll be lucky if I've learned that much), it's that nothing ever happens when you're expecting it. For real: Whatever you're expecting, right now, is not going to happen. Something else is. Could be better, could be worse. Won't be what you're thinking.
Every really good thing that's ever happened to me has been a total mistake. I met one of my best friends at the worst company I ever worked for. I found my beautiful apartment by allowing a realtor to take me to a different part of Boston than I initially wanted. Every time I've met a future boyfriend, I was caught completely unawares. (And I was usually wearing paint-stained sweatpants or something similarly unappealing.)
I think of it as the Science Class Theory of Life. Science was my least favorite class in school. I sucked at it, I didn't care, and you had to have a lab partner, which was only slightly less humilating than being picked for teams in gym class. I wasn't totally friendless, or anything -- but I think I was the only one of my friends who ever went to class on a regular basis.
Anyhoodle, some days I'd be shuffling morosely down the hallowed halls of NHS, feeling like death in band t-shirt, and science class would seem like the last goddamn straw. I just couldn't take it. Probably I would spontaneously combust with annoyance and hormones and shame as soon as I crossed the threshhold of my classroom.
Sometimes, though, I'd feel like that, and when I'd get there, the teacher would have decided to show a film strip instead of having class. And it was THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD. I couldn't have been happier if there'd been a bomb threat.
Now that I'll all grown up and whatnot, I find that the Science Class Theory still holds. I'll be feeling like crap, and someone will e-mail me and suggest going for a beer, or I'll find five bucks in my coat pocket when I thought I was broke, and I feel all better. Maybe I'm not as excited by these small reprieves as I was when I was 16, but they still mean a lot. I like to think it's a sign of my positive attitude, but I fear it may just be low expectations.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
If ya got em
My acupuncturist smokes.
I didn't realize that until my session yesterday, because up until a week ago, I smoked myself. It's totally weird. My friend Cathy K. is a vegetarian and she says it's the same with leather jackets once you stop eating meat -- all of a sudden, the smell is overpowering. She wrinkled up her nose when she said it, as if the smell of a leather jacket were the worst thing in the world. I, on the other hand, took deep cleansing inhales of my acupuncturist's smokey smell, and felt comforted. I bet it slowed my pulse almost as much as the needles.
I hope this doesn't bode ill for my new smokefree way of life.
I didn't realize that until my session yesterday, because up until a week ago, I smoked myself. It's totally weird. My friend Cathy K. is a vegetarian and she says it's the same with leather jackets once you stop eating meat -- all of a sudden, the smell is overpowering. She wrinkled up her nose when she said it, as if the smell of a leather jacket were the worst thing in the world. I, on the other hand, took deep cleansing inhales of my acupuncturist's smokey smell, and felt comforted. I bet it slowed my pulse almost as much as the needles.
I hope this doesn't bode ill for my new smokefree way of life.
Ach hoo!
I am allergic to your cat. Yes, your cat. No, not his cat. Not her cat. Well, okay, theirs, but yours too.
Oh, that's interesting. No, I've never heard that before. Your cat doesn't give people allergies? Your cat is magical and hypoallergenic? By all means, let's have Mr. Mittens climb right up on my lap and make himself at home. No, no -- my eyes always look like this. I always cough like Welsh miner. Don't worry.
While we're at it, have I introduced you to my pet? His name is Mr. Poison Ivy. You have to pet Mr. Poison Ivy, or I'll be terribly offended. No, don't worry. He never gives people rashes. Oh, I know some poison ivys give people rashes, but not mine. Because he loves you.
Ha, ha, do you see what I did there? I am allergic to your cat. Your cat makes me sniffle and sneeze. She gives to me the hives. My nose runs in his presence. My tonsils, they are like balls of molten lava. I resemble a super-flu victim in "The Stand."
Let me tell you something else. Your boyfriend, who isn't allergic to your cat? He is. He's pretending to have a coke habit so that he can get into your pants, but in reality, the cat hair on your sweater is making the teensy blood vessels in his eyes explode.
And your allergies, which act up around every other cat, but not yours? They don't exist. You are mildly irritated in the presense of twelve pounds of pet hair, as anyone would be, but once you get around to vaccuuming your apartment you will breathe easily once more. Don't be offended. I am allergic to dust in much the same way.
I am allergic to your cat. I am.
Oh, that's interesting. No, I've never heard that before. Your cat doesn't give people allergies? Your cat is magical and hypoallergenic? By all means, let's have Mr. Mittens climb right up on my lap and make himself at home. No, no -- my eyes always look like this. I always cough like Welsh miner. Don't worry.
While we're at it, have I introduced you to my pet? His name is Mr. Poison Ivy. You have to pet Mr. Poison Ivy, or I'll be terribly offended. No, don't worry. He never gives people rashes. Oh, I know some poison ivys give people rashes, but not mine. Because he loves you.
Ha, ha, do you see what I did there? I am allergic to your cat. Your cat makes me sniffle and sneeze. She gives to me the hives. My nose runs in his presence. My tonsils, they are like balls of molten lava. I resemble a super-flu victim in "The Stand."
Let me tell you something else. Your boyfriend, who isn't allergic to your cat? He is. He's pretending to have a coke habit so that he can get into your pants, but in reality, the cat hair on your sweater is making the teensy blood vessels in his eyes explode.
And your allergies, which act up around every other cat, but not yours? They don't exist. You are mildly irritated in the presense of twelve pounds of pet hair, as anyone would be, but once you get around to vaccuuming your apartment you will breathe easily once more. Don't be offended. I am allergic to dust in much the same way.
I am allergic to your cat. I am.
Rar! Jennie smash!
Many of you do not have the big big love for anger. (Digression: Did you hear that the Pixies are getting back together? I heard that they are. Who wants to go?)
I am not one of these people. I am, in fact, anger's biggest fan. Oh, no, you say. Jennie! Don't be angry. It's so unattractive. It's so bad for you. You'll get high blood pressure. No one will invite you to their parties.
Well fuck you. I am gorgeous in a high irish. Everyone invites me to their parties. They all want to have sex with me when I'm angry, that's how hot I am -- all of them, gay men, straight women, everybody.
In addition to making me absolutely beautiful, my anger has made me strong. I can lift you right up, just like the Incredible Hulk. I can smash through walls like Mr. Kool-Aid. I am only five foot two, but I have the proportionate strength of an ant. Find me a giant piece of corn. I will carry it over my head.
I am not one of these people. I am, in fact, anger's biggest fan. Oh, no, you say. Jennie! Don't be angry. It's so unattractive. It's so bad for you. You'll get high blood pressure. No one will invite you to their parties.
Well fuck you. I am gorgeous in a high irish. Everyone invites me to their parties. They all want to have sex with me when I'm angry, that's how hot I am -- all of them, gay men, straight women, everybody.
In addition to making me absolutely beautiful, my anger has made me strong. I can lift you right up, just like the Incredible Hulk. I can smash through walls like Mr. Kool-Aid. I am only five foot two, but I have the proportionate strength of an ant. Find me a giant piece of corn. I will carry it over my head.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
