Author Archive for Girl Friday

Stupid Things People Say

Published
by
Girl Friday
on April 11, 2008
in Office Stories
. 1 Comment

I’m sure we could all compare stories of how many stupid people we encounter in our everyday lives.  Since this is my blog, I am going to take the spotlight for now.

Yesterday I talked to two well-meaning (I’m sure) students.  They said all sorts of ridiculous things, but it got me questioning again what I’m doing with my life.  Generally I love advising students, but sometimes I wonder if what I do will make a difference with people like this:

Girl Friday:  (in a calming voice) It’s ok that you don’t know what job you want after college, but close your eyes and tell me what is the biggest thing you could dream for yourself.

Student 1:  I see myself homeless.  I think I’d like that.

Girl Friday:  (incredulous) Honey, you don’t need a college degree if you want to be homeless.

Student 1:  I mean I don’t want to have a home.  I want to travel.

Girl Friday:  Ok, have you considered studying abroad?

Student 1:  No, I definitely don’t want to study abroad.

Girl Friday:  (confused) You want to travel but you don’t want to take the opportunity to study and travel at the same time…?

The conversation went on like this for some time.  It ended on this cherry:

Student 1:  I don’t want to be one of those people who works in an office and does boring stuff all day and leads a meaningless life.  I feel sorry for those people.

Girl Friday:  (examines her tiny office and stacks of boring paper) So basically you don’t want to end up like me–

Student 1: –Not like you!  I mean…

She suffered from a true case of foot in mouthitis.

My next conversation came on the heels of that train wreck…

Student 2:  So, I noticed that your program is small, does that mean it’s not competitive since no one wants to be in it?

Girl Friday:  (inward groan)  Aren’t these the kind of things you ask Admissions before applying?  (feeling rather put out already)  You shouldn’t be judging our program based on the student class size, in fact, being small is a good thing!  Have you considered the quality of the teaching faculty?  That is more important than how many students we admit.

Student 2:  I think a lot of guys try to get admitted into Women’s Studies because they think it’s funny.

Girl Friday:  I think your friends are joking with you.  What prospective student would do something that inane?

Student 2:  (laughs insipidly) …

And curtain!

So there you have it.  Two people who live their lives carelessly and say whatever comes to mind.  Well, it’s my turn now.

You suck.  Like majorly.

A Place for Memories

Published
by
Girl Friday
on March 30, 2008
in Homegirl and Life
. 1 Comment

My parents are selling their house, well, my childhood home, to be more specific.  A house isn’t just a place for your stuff, it’s a place for memories.

On our first Easter there were red tulips, yellow daffodils, and purple irises in the front yard.  We had a rock box in the back yard because my dad is a neat freak and didn’t want us tracking in sand.  I had pool parties every year for my birthday.  I can’t imagine how many hot dogs and hamburgers have been consumed on that patio.

In junior high I made an ideal babysitter because I was centrally located in the neighborhood.  I could walk myself to and from my jobs.  My dad would deliver me a meal on wheels.  I never really liked SpaghettiO’s and my mother always insisted that I eat salad with every dinner.

My high school girlfriends who lived across town benefitted from my knowledge of where all the boys in my neighborhood lived. (The cute ones and the not so cute ones.)  My front drive way was the scene of a few awkward almost-sort-of-pseudo first dates.

There’s a piano in the living room that sits and mocks me because I haven’t mastered my chords. There’s a trace of the aqua paint in my bathroom that turned out to be a spectacularly bad idea.  My boxes of diaries, postcards, newspaper clippings, old pointe shoes and tutus just won’t fit in at this new place. I’m convinced.

I’m afraid that there will be no trace of the family—of the girl that became Girl Friday—that loved that place for 21 years when we finally say good bye.

casa friday

The Time That Ticks

Published
by
Girl Friday
on March 21, 2008
in Life and Office Stories
. 1 Comment

By my utter lack of posting I guess you could tell that Girl Friday hasn’t been much in the mood for reflection.  It’s been a tough winter, but I think with spring coming ’round so should I.

What helps the minutes pass by in the dreary working world?  Not that I don’t like my job, but when you spend  upwards of eight hours in an office forced to deal with people that may have been raised by wolves you look for the little perks in life.  I’ve discovered that a smile from someone unexpected is as good as gold.  I’ve found that a thoughtful act can remedy a month of having your feet in the fire.

I think we should all aim to be a little kinder to our coworkers, even when they have been unkind to us first.  I am making a promise to myself to reserve my eye rolling, keep back my snarky comments, and check the muttered groans…at least eight times out of ten.  If I can manage to do that I will bring much needed levity to my life and hopefully I’ll be in the mood for blogging again.

Smile, someone is thinking of you.