encounters of the em kind

AT WORK:
I work with a woman named Mo. (Short for Monette, which is pronounced "mo-nay") Some of the things she says make me laugh.

A) "My daughter-in-law is a beautiful singer. She wins karaoke contests all the time."
**I love that her second sentence apparently qualifies the first.**

B) Break room conversation--
Mo: What are you reading?
Me: The Gift of Asher Lev
Mo: The Gift of Actual Love?
**I quickly corrected her. I never want to be mistaken for someone who would read a
book called The Gift of Actual Love**

Also, Mo wore a wolf shirt last week. Seriously. A howling wolf in front of a majestic peak and full moon. All day, I kept wanting to ask her, "Are you aware of wolves?" I refrained. Who knows? Maybe her checkbook is "nothing but wolves." I wouldn't want to offend.

ON THE BUS:
Another woman I've met this summer is named Wanda. She rides my same bus route at the same times I do. Last month, I had the idea to start a summer series on my blog called "Commuter Profiles." I would interview one fellow bus patron each week share their stories with my lovely audience. Many times on the bus, I contemplate the lives of the other riders, and interviewing them would allow me to get a deeper look into them.

It didn't too long to realize that most bus riders consider their fellow commuters to be strangers, and therefore feel uncomfortable sharing personal information with them. I guess I'm the only one who feels the RTD bond with Wanda and co. I know from personal experience.

After about a week of harboring the idea of my Commuter Profiles series, I finally got up to courage to conduct my first interview. I selected Wanda because I had already introduced myself to her, and that day, the bus was nearly empty because we were nearing the end of the route.

It became evident right off that I made her uncomfortable. Hindsight tells me that I shouldn't have been so forward. Instead of saying, "Hi, Wanda! I write a blog, and am starting up a Commuter Profiles series. How would you like to be my first featured bus rider?" and pulling out a notebook and pen, I could have just started up a conversation, and taken mental notes. When I muster up courage for something, I sometimes end up with too much courage.

She let me ask some vague, impersonal questions, but I did not come away with the in-depth glimpse I was looking for. For example, when I asked her what sent her downtown everyday, she replied, "my job." I followed by asking what her job was. She replied, "finance." Poor Wanda. I think we were both glad when her stop arrived. Before she disembarked, however, I threw caution to the winds and said, "So I'm guessing a picture would be too personal?" She confirmed my assumption. Now, whenever I see her, it's like bumping into someone with whom I had a bad first date. It's awkward. But then it makes me laugh to myself.

six for saturday

1. On my way to the bus on Thursday, I distinctly remembered hearing my water bottle sloshing in my bag, but when I got to work, it was gone. I love this water bottle and mourned its loss. As I approached my stop yesterday, I saw this happy sight! I must have taken it out while fishing around for my book in my cavernous bag and left it. Miraculously, it stayed there for 24 hours until I could reclaim it!

2. After an 11-hour work day yesterday, I called Charlotte, and we got Big Gulps together, then talked on the phone for over 20 minutes until my bus came. It was great!


3. Sarah was home alone waiting for me to get from work last night, so I called her once I stepped off the bus and she and Moosey met me on the walk back! I loved seeing her and Moosey running down the hill to meet me.

4. This is the essence of Saturday at the Wood home. Mom and I are both working around the house today, which results in emptied cans, glasses, and snack containers.

5. I suffered from fashion indecision last week, so instead of laying out one ensemble to wear to work the next day, I set out three.

6. This is my last weekend as a teenager. I love birthdays, especially my own.

*Do you set out your outfits the night before?
*Have you ever found something you thought was lost for good?