Export thread

I feel like I know a lot about most of the rest of you, but don't talk about myself unless I'm ranting about my job or talking about my dinner, so ask away.

You ever go to eat a pork sausage, and find it's got hairs growin' all over it?

pancakes or waffles?

Describe the closest brush with death you've experienced that you're willing to share.

GasBandit said:

You ever go to eat a pork sausage, and find it's got hairs growin' all over it?

Click to expand...

That depends on your definition of hairs, I suppose.

stienman said:

Describe the closest brush with death you've experienced that you're willing to share.

Click to expand...

The closest that I've actually come to my own death is pretty far from it - it would probably be the time I did an unwilling Superman impression over the handlebars of my bike into the middle of an intersection. The closest I've felt to my own death is the panic attack I had a couple days before Thanksgiving last year when my blood sugar spiked to 427.

Small talk-- ok or infuriating?

Followup: How about this weather?

Cajungal said:

Small talk-- ok or infuriating?

Followup: How about this weather?

Click to expand...

Not just ok, but necessary. Between old friends, it helps fill all of the little spaces when you don't want total silence, but you don't need a deep and weighty discussion. And between new friends, acquaintances, or even people who've just met, it provides a stepping stone for further conversations. Very seldom can you successfully go from zero to deep conversation.

I'm not sure about your weather, but I am thrilled with the weather we have over here right now. Summer was good, but it was long, hot, and dry. Fall is a much needed break from that heat, and this week is the first week where we've had that deliciously cold pre-dawn air that breaks into pleasantly cool days. Now we just need a couple more wind and rain storms.

Do you have a preference for closed- or open-toed shoes?
How about positive v. negative heel?

--Patrick

Gared said:

I feel like I know a lot about most of the rest of you, but don't talk about myself

Click to expand...

I rarely talk about myself, too - not even to rant or complain or boast - so I'm curious: what do you know about me?

Can I go to you for my jewelry needs? Do you ever hear those commercials and think "man, I don't even know where to get diamonds much less shiny things to put 'em in?"

This guy at work smells bad and I'm kind of afraid to talk to him about it because what if it's something he legitimately struggles with? I mean it's probably worth the risk to just buy him some spray deodorant, right?

PatrThom said:

Do you have a preference for closed- or open-toed shoes?
How about positive v. negative heel?

--Patrick

Click to expand...

If I have to wear shoes at all, I prefer closed toe, positive heel, good ankle support, and skid resistant. I had a buddy once that did a bunch of cooking barefoot or in flip flops, even while camping. We had a 3 day campout where he was confined to a chair for most of it with a bucket of ice water after stepping on some coals that were hidden under a very thin layer of ash.

Gruebeard said:

I rarely talk about myself, too - not even to rant or complain or boast - so I'm curious: what do you know about me?

Click to expand...

Mostly just that you seem to be a fairly light-hearted individual who sometimes takes comedy too dark.

phil said:

Can I go to you for my jewelry needs? Do you ever hear those commercials and think "man, I don't even know where to get diamonds much less shiny things to put 'em in?"

This guy at work smells bad and I'm kind of afraid to talk to him about it because what if it's something he legitimately struggles with? I mean it's probably worth the risk to just buy him some spray deodorant, right?

Click to expand...

Well, you could come to me for your jewelry needs, but you'd probably be disappointed. I don't live in the right neighborhood anymore to have jewelry "fall off the back of the truck" to be sold to others. As to your smelly co-worker, it really depends on what kind of relationship you have with him. Are you strictly co-workers who would never hang out, even at lunch? If so, probably best to bring up the situation with HR/office management to get a general memo released about appropriate workplace hygiene. If you hang out at lunch sometimes, you kind of know a bit about him personally, and you've observed that he takes jokes well, you might surprise him (privately) with a can of deodorant. If you're besties - go for it. It also kind of depends on what the odor is. If it's just BO, or if it smells like maybe he runs/bikes to work and doesn't have access to a shower once he gets there, that's one thing. If his odiferousness slips into the realm of an overly-sweet, candy-like odor, you might want to advise him to see a doctor - that can be a sign of high blood sugar. Or, maybe he needs to eat fewer bags of funyuns.