That's Just Who I Am This Week

Last night, my brother, his wife and I took my sister, Mrs. Urie, to see Fall Out Boy.

I like some of their music, but they fall into the same category as Panic! At The Disco. Which is, there are millions of badly dressed 12-17 year old emo girls who LOVE them and will do ANYTHING to be NEAR them. As an adult at a concert, you are almost obviously a chaperone. But then, most chaperones are parents. I am not nearly old enough to be a parent to anyone of that age.

Being a twenty-something in a crowd of ‘old people’ and teens leaves you feeling…a little odd. The last time I went to one of these shows, a girl said, “What are you, FORTY?” Now, this wouldn’t have been so bad if I were forty, but I was 24. I am also a little hot tempered and am not used to being disrespected so frequently and obviously – and that doesn’t make for a good combination when the offender is a minor. It’s not like I can really punch them, which is how I would solve that situation at, say, a bar. So, I leave pissed off and frustrated and a little insecure.

This time?

We owned that shit.

My brother was THAT Guy. You know? The really loud, “YEAH BABY!!” Dancing like a freak, drunk guy? Yep…he was That Guy. Before he even finished his first beer. But, you really have to know that my brother is always That Guy. It’s just funny in public.

Here he is being That Guy at Mom's.

He was also That Guy who would smell a cigarette and find the person smoking so he could tell them to snuff it. Hahah! Yup, he’s That Guy, too.

Kristina and I? We were Those Women. She was That Woman who yelled at the emo kids and told them their clothes looked dumb (totally true).

I was That Drunk Woman who kept falling into people and screaming “WHOOOOOO!!!!!” in their faces and crazy dancing. Except I wasn’t drunk…I had to drive my 12-year-old sister an hour home! It was just funny. And it kept EVERYONE away from me. I had realized the secret that all the “old ladies at concerts” had held all these years. And I liked it!

The train ride back to the car was an especially funny part of the evening when That Guy was making very loud jokes to the cars full of Fall Out Boy fans. “Raise your hand if you’re emo!” Hahaha. That Guy!!

Worst part of the evening? When I let Mrs. Urie go off by herself to get an autograph from Cobra Starship. Then she didn’t come back for a long time. And I looked for her. And couldn’t find her. And I spent the entire Paul Wall set and most of The Academy Is… set trying to find my baby sister, telling myself that the idea of some pedophile stealing her was absurd. (It was, of course.)

The best part? Hearing her gush about how “Gabe” signed her arm, hugged her and TOLD HER HE LOVED HER.

Best quotes of the night:
“Show us your boobs!!” Me, kind of (I tried to throw my voice) to the girls wearing tops that were entirely too low cut.
“HE wasn’t at the show!” That Guy, to a very “highly” happy looking guy at the front of the train car. Only funny to those around us, who recognized the reference to the emo crowd.
“I just saw a drug deal!” Kristina, to me outside the Target Center.

Haha, Kristina, help me out with some more…I’m totally brain dead today.

Do You Annoy Your Co-Workers?

I came across a great 'quiz' today...see how you do!


Do You Annoy Your Co-Workers?

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

Every office has at least one jerk, pest or loudmouth who drives the rest of the workers crazy. Could it be you? Take this quiz to find out how annoying you might be: How many of these statements describe you?

1. You make provocative statements to "foster dialogue" or needle others.
I don't know what you mean by this, Kate. I'm a bitch sometimes, if that's what you're asking, but it's because they needle me - not the other way around!

2. You often find yourself delivering a discourse consisting solely of buzzwords and catch phrases.
Uhhhhhh.....huh?

3. You make up nicknames for all of your co-workers and refer to them only by these monikers. (e.g. "Good job, Chachi!", "I'm going to have to disagree with you there, T-bone!")
OHHHH…BIG TUNA!!! Haha, NO.

4. Your office is completely decorated in your children's pictures and artwork.
Yes and so effin what if it is???? (Also, Dilberts and pictures OF my kids).

5. You have plastered your cubicle with photos of yourself taken with famous people.
I’ve never had my picture taken with a famous person – but one of the women I dislike (death laugh one) has framed articles about her hanging up.

6. It is your trademark to recite rhyming or other cutesy messages as your voicemail greeting.
Come on, who does that, really??

7. The questions you ask at meetings are preceded by long monologues of your views and accomplishments.
If I ask a question at a meeting it is preceded by “Wait, wait, wait…WHAT???”

8. You routinely eat odiferous lunches at your desk.
I’m not sure if my lunches are ODIFEROUS (That is TOTALLY the word of the day!) but the lady who sits next to me always brings in stinky leftovers.

9. You bring in dishes that you tried to cook, but didn't turn out quite right as "special treats" for your co-workers.
No, but GREAT idea!!

10. People seem tense -- even panic-stricken -- when they see you coming their way.
I wish.

11. Others back away from you as you speak.
I stay in my bubble…it’s these Others that I back away from.

12. You send flurries of e-mails to the rest of the company telling them what you are doing. (e.g. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom.")
Again…GREAT IDEA.

13. You vigorously chew or pop your gum.
YES, I actually do! Sometimes, I get multiple bubbles going. It’s fun. Job is boring. Deal with it.

14. You wear strong perfume or cologne.
I’m sensitive to allergic or asthmatic people's needs, so I try not to.

15. You assume your co-workers are fascinated by your personal problems and exploits.
Assume? They live for my stories!!

16. You interrupt others while they are speaking or are deep in conversation.
I'd like to...oh, would I like to!

17. You are moody and don't care who knows it.
So. Guilty. I even curse loudly and assume it will be okay since I’m in a bad mood.

18. You often give others assignments as they're walking out the door for lunch or to catch the train home.
Another one that goes the OTHER WAY AROUND (and I WISH we’d get a damn train!).

19. You borrow staplers, scissors and tape from others' desks and forget to return them.
That’s not called borrowing, sweetie. And I use my own items for fear of Office Germs.

20. Your dialogue with others often end with the other person shouting "You are so annoying!"
LOL, not yet.

If you only counted one or two... not to worry, you can quickly make changes before you're labeled a pest.
Oh, good...I'm only SLIGHTLY annoying. (They deserve it, anyway.)

If your actions match three to five of these statements... take heed.
You are on your way to becoming the source of many an eye roll.
If you do six or more of these on a regular basis... chances are you are already on the office watch list and have been anointed by your co-workers as annoying.
It's time to do a reality check and make some changes.
Ask your boss and colleagues for feedback, and be ready to listen.
If what you hear doesn't fit your self-image, ask them to help you understand what they are saying by giving examples.
You might say: "Tell me more about what I do that leads you to believe that."
Then listen, without arguing, defending or justifying your actions.
Remember, there are countless ways to aggravate co-workers -- you can even annoy them by trying too hard to please or being too nice!
As long as you avoid the aforementioned behaviors, use your energy for the good of the organization and treat others as you would like to be treated, you should be all right.
And remember, it's perfectly OK to annoy others sparingly. It reminds them that you still exist!
Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other CareerBuilder writers contributed to this story.


If you’re actually looking TO annoy your co-workers…try this. (SO Funny!)