Today, during a break in the class I was instructing, a guy asked me if he could ask me a personal question. I got a little nervous, luckily the question was simply, "Are you German?" I told him that I was not, but thanks for asking. He said he was just wondering because I really reminded him of someone who he used to work with. I suppose that person was German.
I have been asked before if I was German. At that time, the person thought that my maiden name, Hocken, sounded German. It isn't, thanks for asking.
Today the question made me wonder if I look German. My new last name isn't even close to German, it is polish. My Stereotype of what Germans look like, is that they are tall and blond. The two Germans that I know are tall and blond. Maybe I AM tall and blond. Sure, I don't think I am, but I could come up with a whole philosophical argument about perception and just because I perceive myself as a 5'2" brunette, that doesn't mean that the rest of the world doesn't see me as a 5'10" blond. In fact, I am now sure that is how the rest of the world sees me. America's next top model, here I come.
Perhaps there is a slim chance that I am not perceived by others as a 5'10" blond. In that case, there is still one way I might be mistaken for German. Just this weekend my Grandma was talking to my two blond cousin in laws about how neat and tidy they are. I think she used the word immaculate. She suggested to the German cousin in law that it was because she was German. According to my Grandma, all Germans are immaculate and that is why Jenny is immaculate. The other immaculate blond cousin is not German. The thought is that she learned to be immaculate from her mother in law of German decent.
This leads me to believe, that people are mistaking me for German because not only am I a 5'10" blond, but I am also very neat and tidy and clean. I must dress very sharply and I must be amazing at cleaning house. Now, I never thought of myself this way, but it is obvious to me now that the confusion is only being caused by my faulty perception of myself.
Why have none of you told me that I am tall, blond, and immaculate? Is it because you figured I already knew? How do you perceive yourself? How do you think others perceive you?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I love cats...
...they taste like chicken.
When I was a kid, I loved cats. I especially loved kittens. I would run through the neighborhood petting and cuddling with all the neighborhood cats. I was delighted when my cousins got new kittens, they were just about the cutest thing I had ever seen.
My mom always knew that I had been out chasing cats. She knew because when I came home my eyes would be red, there would be tears streaming down my face, and I would be covered in snot. All of this because I am allergic to cats. My dad is more allergic than I am. Everytime I got a chance to wish, whether it was a shooting star or a birthday cake full of candles, I always made the same wish.
"I wish for 3 more wishes. Then I wish that I was not allergic to cats, that my dad was not allergic to cats, and that we can get a kitten."
As I got older I avoided cats more and more because I understood the trouble they caused me. Cats also understand the trouble they cause me and they are always able to pick me out of a crowd to come rub against.
Because of all this cat drama in my life, I no longer love them like I once did. I don't hate them, but I don't love them either.
The lady who sits next to me at work LOVES cats. This made it very awkward when two of my coworkers recently stopped by to chat at my desk.
Friend 1 and Friend 2 (I have to protect their identities because I know a lot of you out there are crazy cat people) were at my desk. Friend 1 mentioned how she had to get rid of her dog. She mentioned how she missed him, but her family just couldn't take care of a dog. Friend 2 mentioned how he was about to get rid of his cat. Friend 2 loves animals and has a ton of pets, but his cat was getting very old and was squirting liquid cat poo all over the house. Friend 2 mentioned that he would probably have to put the cat down, and that the cat was currently locked in the basement. The cat was in the basement to avoid further mess and to help with the heart break of when it would eventually be put down.
We probably joked about this a little more than we should have. I realized it had gone too far when the woman who sits next to me got up and left her desk in a huff 3 or 4 times.
After my friends had left, I tried to break the ice by bringing up the cat conversation. She was super pissed and said that she had a few choice words she wanted to share with them, but held herself back because she was at work. I thought maybe we joked a little too much about it, but I didn't think it was that bad. I had no idea what to say. All I could say is, "I have no response to that." Then I turned around and faced my computer again.
Now that I think about it, that response could get me out of a lot of strange situations. Someone says something rude, annoying, or just bizaar...I say, "I have no response to that" and walk away. I love it.
Do you have a good saying to instantly end a conversation? Do you want to share it? Would you have told off my friends for talking about killing their cats? Do you think that cats are very sneaky and definitely go after allergic people because they know they can cause trouble?
When I was a kid, I loved cats. I especially loved kittens. I would run through the neighborhood petting and cuddling with all the neighborhood cats. I was delighted when my cousins got new kittens, they were just about the cutest thing I had ever seen.
My mom always knew that I had been out chasing cats. She knew because when I came home my eyes would be red, there would be tears streaming down my face, and I would be covered in snot. All of this because I am allergic to cats. My dad is more allergic than I am. Everytime I got a chance to wish, whether it was a shooting star or a birthday cake full of candles, I always made the same wish.
"I wish for 3 more wishes. Then I wish that I was not allergic to cats, that my dad was not allergic to cats, and that we can get a kitten."
As I got older I avoided cats more and more because I understood the trouble they caused me. Cats also understand the trouble they cause me and they are always able to pick me out of a crowd to come rub against.
Because of all this cat drama in my life, I no longer love them like I once did. I don't hate them, but I don't love them either.
The lady who sits next to me at work LOVES cats. This made it very awkward when two of my coworkers recently stopped by to chat at my desk.
Friend 1 and Friend 2 (I have to protect their identities because I know a lot of you out there are crazy cat people) were at my desk. Friend 1 mentioned how she had to get rid of her dog. She mentioned how she missed him, but her family just couldn't take care of a dog. Friend 2 mentioned how he was about to get rid of his cat. Friend 2 loves animals and has a ton of pets, but his cat was getting very old and was squirting liquid cat poo all over the house. Friend 2 mentioned that he would probably have to put the cat down, and that the cat was currently locked in the basement. The cat was in the basement to avoid further mess and to help with the heart break of when it would eventually be put down.
We probably joked about this a little more than we should have. I realized it had gone too far when the woman who sits next to me got up and left her desk in a huff 3 or 4 times.
After my friends had left, I tried to break the ice by bringing up the cat conversation. She was super pissed and said that she had a few choice words she wanted to share with them, but held herself back because she was at work. I thought maybe we joked a little too much about it, but I didn't think it was that bad. I had no idea what to say. All I could say is, "I have no response to that." Then I turned around and faced my computer again.
Now that I think about it, that response could get me out of a lot of strange situations. Someone says something rude, annoying, or just bizaar...I say, "I have no response to that" and walk away. I love it.
Do you have a good saying to instantly end a conversation? Do you want to share it? Would you have told off my friends for talking about killing their cats? Do you think that cats are very sneaky and definitely go after allergic people because they know they can cause trouble?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Heroes vs. Villians
I don't know if I can do it. My friend Nikki really wants me to, but I don't know if I can watch Survivor - Heroes vs. Villians.
If you don't know what I am talking about, look here: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/
I missed the first season of Survivor, but since then I have watched all of them except this last one. Sure, there are heroes and villians in each, and sure some seasons are more memorable than others. I really like the heroes. I know people respect the villians for their clever game play, and as long as the villians stick to that, I can appreciate that as well. In fact, many of the villians are down right funny. I love funny.
However, the reason I didn't watch last season, was Russell. I watched two episodes and couldn't stand it anymore. Thursday is a big DVR day, and I found myself dreading watching Survivor because this man did more than just game play. He dumped out water and burned people's socks. That was just mean.
Russell is going to be on Survivor Heroes vs. Villians. So are some of my favorite heroes. Heroes like Colby, James, and especially Rupert. I am sure these fellas can take care of themselves, but I don't know if I can watch some jerk burning the socks of characters I already love. It was hard enough watching him burn the socks of strangers.
Anyway, I will try. If I don't, I will be left out of so many conversations. Plus, maybe my boys will rally to get rid of Russell right at the beginning.
Who is your favorite Survivor? Do you like heroes or villians?
(Feel free to comment "I don't even watch TV" if you want to be smug.)
If you don't know what I am talking about, look here: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/
I missed the first season of Survivor, but since then I have watched all of them except this last one. Sure, there are heroes and villians in each, and sure some seasons are more memorable than others. I really like the heroes. I know people respect the villians for their clever game play, and as long as the villians stick to that, I can appreciate that as well. In fact, many of the villians are down right funny. I love funny.
However, the reason I didn't watch last season, was Russell. I watched two episodes and couldn't stand it anymore. Thursday is a big DVR day, and I found myself dreading watching Survivor because this man did more than just game play. He dumped out water and burned people's socks. That was just mean.
Russell is going to be on Survivor Heroes vs. Villians. So are some of my favorite heroes. Heroes like Colby, James, and especially Rupert. I am sure these fellas can take care of themselves, but I don't know if I can watch some jerk burning the socks of characters I already love. It was hard enough watching him burn the socks of strangers.
Anyway, I will try. If I don't, I will be left out of so many conversations. Plus, maybe my boys will rally to get rid of Russell right at the beginning.
Who is your favorite Survivor? Do you like heroes or villians?
(Feel free to comment "I don't even watch TV" if you want to be smug.)
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