Don't Discount Being Courteous
Originally Posted at 04:04 PM on Apr. 08, 2004
Me: Hello?
Tammy: Hello sir, how are you? My name is Tammy and I'm performing a survey on how people perceive charitable foundations. Can I have a moment of your time please sir?
Me: (In a nutshell) No.
And let me tell you why. My sometimes dubious view of charitable foundations aside. First, I had just finished consuming my dinner for the evening, and I was enjoying an episode of Scrubs courtesy of Yiggy before this interuption to my evening's relaxation. But more importantly, for someone giving a survey, Tammy should've left me time to respond when asking me how I was before cutting to the chase. Of course, to be honest, had Tammy waited, this rant would probably be about why random people calling should give a damn how I am doing - perhaps to gauge how I will react to their sales approach. I half wanted to interrupt her and say "I was doing well until you called Tammy," but alas there was no time, and I wasn't feeling like that much of an ass hole, when it could be resolved two sentences later. Although, I must say, I really do like my Scrubs.
Furthermore, Tammy didn't even know my name, it was a random phone call! If I had answered, and Tammy discerned from my voice that I am female, the conversation would've begun "Hello Miss..." She didn't know my name, and she wasted my time. Damnit Tammy, I know it's not your fault, it's your job, but courteousness goes a long, long way with me, and yours was fake. Fake off Tammy.
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So, I was at the Media Library two days ago to watch this stupid 3.5 minute clip from a movie of which I hadn't previously heard (or rather, in talking english - a movie I'd never heard of). I looked online to see if there were any clips available before I left - there were 6 on reserve, 4 were checked out. Sweet! I moseyed across campus, and walked up the stairs to the Media portion of the Library. I inquired about the clip and was told, I was out of luck, all the copies were out. But! There were some people in a viewing room if I wanted to join them. Cautiously, I headed over.
I opened the door and peaked my head in, and was warmly greeted by two young ladies (although to be honest, one was my age, and the other was at least a year older - and as a matter of fact, today, both still are). I got settled, and we exchanged introductions. And both said they recognized me. Apparently, I'm the kid who always asks if that seat is taken, even though it's obvious that it's not, and then politely says thank you before sitting down. Courteousness, however unnecessary, goes a long way. I had unwittingly made a favorable impression on both of them prior to actually interacting with either of them.
I was completely unaware anyone was...aware that I always did that. If someone is next to an empty seat, instead of assuming it is open, the polite thing to do is ask.. and I'm to the point where I do it without even asking. Odd. Weirder that people are actually aware of this, but we have been in the class together for over three months now - I should have recognized these girls, but I was unable to do so. The kicker is that we all were aware of one another yesterday when we were in class.
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In class, we watched "Citizen Kane" the #11 best movie of all-time according to the voters at IMDB.com, although I think it may have been AFI's #1 movie of all-time, so there were high expectations going in. It was released in 1941, and I missed the first minute or two of the movie, in which Charles Foster Kane utters his famous last word, "Rosebud." Although I can say I'm familiar with it, as I can recall an episode of the original Ghostbusters cartoon that I have taped at home from the 80s which starts off similarly. And also, the Simpsons, which uses Mr. Burns teddy "Bo-Bo" in lieu of "Rosebud." And Family Guy, where Peter rented the movie from the video store, and taped over the beginning with "It's his sled. There, I just saved you two boring hours." I heart Peter.
The movie was pretty good, although I think as time goes on, it becomes a little harder to appreciate, due to the timeliness of the story. Newspaper moguls are few and far between these days. But I guess the story of a remarkable man's life should be intriguing nonetheless, and it was... I guess.
I was quite annoyed with the woman they cast as his second wife, her voice was so high-pitched and loud (possibly due to the volume, but possibly not). I actually had to cover my ears when she was talking.. I walked out of the movie with a pretty bad headache.
Addition
I've had 9 advil in the past three days. Three days, three headaches, three advil at a time. Today was the first day this week I haven't had one (of either), but the day is yet young. I just spent 2.5 hours at the library working on the paper again. It was interesting to meet with fellow classmates, all disliked the assignment, and the video it was based on. No surprise. I just need to do a bit of typing and reworking and it's a solid B paper, if my prof knows what's good for him...
Now, stolen from Lenny, on her birthday (Happy Birthday Lenny!)
Name: Scully.
Birthday: May 4th (Hmm, it's that season starting tomorrow, isn't it?)
Rank: All Around Awesome, Triple-A
Sexual Preference: I likez the ladies.
Any Siblings: One sister.
If so, what order are you (oldest, youngest, middle): Young
er.
What color are your eyes: Depends on my shirt, but topless, they default to a lovely green color.
What color is your hair: Brown with random auburn/copper highlights. My hair is way cool, especially when I don't put any mousse in it, and we're in good lighting (like the sun). My hair is s
ooo-weet.
The "If You Could" Section
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If you could have any one super power: Telekinesis. The one where I can move stuff with my mind. Heh, that'd be pretty cool. And my mind just took a swim in the gutter. And now so did yours. Sorry everyone!
If you could live in any time period: The Future.
If you could be the best at one thing: Life.
If you could have anything to eat right now: A nice juicy steak, that spent a week marinating in delicious sauce.
If you could have fries with that?: I'd like fries with that, make them homestyle, wedge, normal, Applebee's style/seasoning, seasoned, and potatoes lorraine (the really really thin ones).
If you could own a franchise: The Lakers.
If you could go anywhere for vacation: Well, if I had someone special to go with, I'd go, with them some place warm, quiet, and cozy.. with good food.
If you could go anywhere to live: Somewhere with similar weather to Boulder, but less hippies. And is completely non-smoking.
If you could get it on with any celebrity: Well, I'd like to learn their personalities, but it's a toss up between Kristin Kreuk and Elisha Cuthbert.
If you could get it on with any videogame/anime character: Uhm. Hmm. Offhand, I can't really think of any. Maybe one of them beach volleyball chicks from that one PS2 game, but that's because that's about it for my experience in videogames/anime. Come to think of it, I don't play enough video games.
If you could kill any one person: Gum-Cow-Chewers/People who click their pens incessantly/People who can't sit still.
If you could shoot funky webs from your wrists: I'd hang out a lot. (Oh (wo)man, bad pun!)
Favorites! Everyone has favorites (lousy boss!).
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Favorite Food: Italian-American, Mexican-American.
Favorite Band(s): I like The Beatles, Michelle Branch, Queen, ZZ Top, AC/DC, Don Davis, Juno Reactor, Rob Dougan.. ish stuff
Favorite Name: Michelle has been pretty good to me, historically. And Scully, because everybody loves the Scully!
Favorite Anime/Videogame Character(s): Mario. And Kyle Katarn.. because being a Jedi is fun stuff.
Favorite 8-bit Theater Character: Que?
Favorite People: People who know what pisses me off, and avoid doing it. Thank you so very much.
Favorite Poem or Lyric(s): "Scully and angels on the kitchen floor." Just because it's funny. It's from a Sheryl Crow song, but I don't remember which one, sorry!
Favorite Dream Job: I'm gonna go with Actor, because then I can get paid big, big bucks, receive preferential treatment (and the props for oftentimes deferring it), be adored by millions, and best of all, be anything and everything. Although I'd still put money that it's hard work, but with such a cool payoff, it'd be worth it. Hmm...
Favorite TV Show(s): In no particular order, South Park, Family Guy, Simpsons, Scrubs, Chapelle's Show, SG1, Enterprise, Futurama, Laker Games!
Favorite Movie(s): It all depends on that for which I'm in the mood.
Favorite Book: Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan stuff, and Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.
Favorite Method of Relaxing: Sleep. Or at least laying in bed.
Randomness of the complete and total variety
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If you've felt enlightened in the past week or so, please share: For some reason, since Spring Break, I have been far more susceptible to paper cuts than previously. Something is very wrong, and I don't know what. I've got my year's quota of paper-style cuts in that span of time. Damnit!
Groovy: Werd.
Where were you last Friday at about 8pm?: I was watching SG1 end, and contemplating going to the rec center. At 10:30pm, I went, and was there til 12:55am.
Please drive through and come again: "Thank you, come again!" Mikey, Erin, do you remember when that was on my answering machine? Hah!
If Mississippi wore Missouri's New Jersey, what would Delaware: Delaware, you mean Missouri wore New Jersey's Mississippi?
So Brain, what are we doing tonight: Electroshock therapy on you, pinky. Attach these to your ears.
What is the address to the Simpson's house: 742 Evergreen Terrace. Teehee, I cheated, but I knew the street name anywho.
How do you take your coffee: In the form of Dr Pepper. I don't drink coffee, or warm drinks, thank you very much. I dislike the smell of coffee intensely.
Is the cup half-empty or half-full: Hey man, are you sure it's a cup? It looks kind of like a glass to me. But if there's something in it, doesn't smell to bad and is room temperature or colder, what the hell, I'll make it an empty cup (glass)!!
Did they forget your fries again: No, but they gave me pickle and onions, AGAIN!
Go to your room!: Way ahead of you. In the words of Sean Connery in Finding Forester,
"You're the man now dawg!"