Your hidden talents

This week's pet peeve: forced fun

We are having a talent show/ display of sorts at work this week. We can bring in our crafts, art, writing, perform a song, read a poem, whatever we want as a way to wrap up the winter season. Corny to say the least.

I decided to make something origami. I figured people wouldn't have a clue that I fold paper in my spare time. And sometimes not in my spare time- I do it to keep my hands busy. Some people doodle- I make paper stars and balls n' such.

I made a lily plant out of paper and put it in a vase. If I take a picture I'll post it for posterity.

So to get to my point, who gives a flying hippopotamus about what Joe S. Blueberry does when he's not at work? Who cares that I fold paper? We have to come together and pat each other on the back and say, good job Mary Strawberry, you made some great antler art. And you, Freddie Banana, great painting. Awesome. Betty Pineapple- love the quilt.

Plastic smiles. Fake pats on the back. Oh and refreshments- did I mention those? Yeah- we get to have cookies and punch while our fake smiles hurt our faces.

I'm not complaining, but merely predicting what will happen. My department is busy up to our eyeballs with projects and we have to take a break to participate in the festivities. Sometimes it's nice to break away, but when you chit chat with people for a while and in the back of your mind you're thinking of all the work you have to get done before 5:00 you are not really enjoying yourself--- you're ultimately adding more stress to your already stressful day.

But alas, it's fun for my own good, right? Moral booster- get to know your colleagues.

Yippee.

Happy Easter

May the Easter Bunny be very kind to you this year. And don't eat the black jelly beans. We all know what they REALLY are.

Exoskeleton

Ever wonder how an insect feels when it sheds its exoskeleton? Is the bug saying to himself, "Ah yeah. That feels so good. I love getting rid of this ol' thing" Or is he feeling pretty naked and paranoid about it, like " Oh God! I'm so vulnerable. And cold too! What if I get in a fight?" Or maybe a little of both?

People can be like that in a sense too. We try new things and try to develop our own outer self. We stay warm in our own little worlds for a while but sooner or later you have to shed that exoskeleton. You have no idea what's going to happen. You take a risk.

Say you work on a huge project for your job. You're feeling pretty good about it and confidently show it to your boss, expecting small changes. Instead of getting the praise you thought you'd get, you're told that wasn't what they wanted. You've made yourself vulnerable in the first place and now you've been given a hard blow. You shedded your exoskeleton, your armor, and now you're naked and cold and hurting.

When people knock me down I usually take it well in front of the "knocker" but away from that person I'm a mess. I get depressed. I vent. I may cry. I get angry. I think of responses to say to that person later on, when the oppurtunity is gone and kick myself for not being more witty at the crutial moment. I blame myself for things out of my control. (All this is not necessarily the most healthy of behavior, but it is my way of coping.) Then the next day things don't seem as bad. The exoskeleton seems a little stronger, slowly building itself up for next time.

On the other hand, hearing good news, like learning that you get a "decent" (operative term) raise makes you feel like the blows you've been given were a wee bit worth it. And others know that you can handle the blows, at least on the apparent surface so they know that you can be trusted and are a hard worker- and not a whiner. You have to put a positive spin on it somehow, right? You don't want to be knocked down too many times, that's for certain, but you also want to learn from the blows and make yourself better for next time.

Wind

There's lots of it in Wyoming
You need it to breathe
But if it's too strong you can't breathe
People complain about too much of it
Or too little on a hot day
Most feel embarrassed when they break it
but yet they also feel liberated
It makes lots of noise
but yet it is very quiet
Can move things by force
And will make things float and spin in the air
then drop
and pulverize
Helps birds and airplanes
Hinders birds and airplanes
It's thinner the higher you go
It's heavier the lower you go
There's none in space
You can see it on a cold day
You feel it and it can soothe
Or you feel it and it burns
It's necessary

Melancholy Sunday

I wish I could be in Gettysburg hanging with some old friends, but I'm a bit of a ways away in physical distance and mental capacity. Thanks for the memories of the scary Bates motel and cigars and "Ay-Blinkin" and Jenny Wade bakin' bread (so they say).