After work yesterday I spent perhaps 45 minutes chatting with a coworker in the parking structure. We talked about my perspective on relationships, his current situation, gave each other feedback, etc. I realized that I have these mature conversations all the time with people who may suggest a criticism and I’ll think about it and either agree or dispute it and give my perspective on it, and they’ll take it and work with that, and it’s fine. No one takes things personally, no one gets defensive and yells “I ALREADY told you,” etc. I think with one guy I dated, he took a lot of things personally which shouldn’t have been taken thus; he’d make a blanket statement such as “If a girl got close with my parents, that’d be grounds for breaking up with her already.” I’d get into the discussion by trying to see what the borders of this statement, if any, are, and I’d say, “Why do you feel that way?” or “Would you feel that way if this were your wife?” and he’d get all annoyed and raise his voice and say, “I ALREADY told you, if it’s just a girl I’d feel that way. WHY would I have a problem with my WIFE being close to the family?!” I’d have to back off because for some reason, statements he makes are apparently not up for discussion and if it seems vague to me, then I’d just have to live with it and not question him. So the coworker and I wrapped up the conversation and said our goodbyes, with him throwing this gem at me as he walked away: “Your legs look amazing, by the way.” I thanked him appreciatively. It’s nice to have my efforts at the gym acknowledged.

On my drive home, I spontaneously decided…and people who know me well will know how shocking this is…to go grocery shopping! Yes, $71 on raw edible nutriments. English muffins, milk, eggs, healthy cereal, nectarines, potatoes, carrots, some canned goods. Here’s the second gem. As I was turning from one aisle to the other, an elderly woman stopped me with an “Excuse me, miss… would you like some coupons?” I had just finished telling my coworker how I never get approached by strangers because apparently, as I’m told quite frequently my whole life, I tend to look angry and intimidating. “Excuse me?” I asked her. She walked toward me and showed me a handful of coupons. “I have these coupons that I’m not using, would you like some? Here’s a dollar off of Juicy Juice…” I ended up taking a coupon for $0.75 off 2 gallons of Dreyers ice cream, which Ralphs doubles for $1.50 off, and got Vanilla Black Cherry Swirl frozen yogurt and Churn Style Mint n Chip Lite. THIS IS FOR YOU NORTHERN CALI ICE CREAM FREAKS!