My life as an experiment in social skills

This is the situation: I'm driving on the highway, and one lane - usually the right - is clearly obstructed ahead. I get into the alternate lane as soon as possible, even if it is going slowly. People continue to pass me on the RIGHT lane (yes, the one that is obstructed ahead) going way too fast. Then, they don't bother to merge until the lane actually is completed obstructed, causing everyone else to go even SLOWER and sometimes even slam on their brakes because the people moving from the right to left lane don't yield as they should.

I HATE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT, THEY'RE JERKS.

Then I was thinking... I've done that a few times. Once or twice, when I didn't realize the situation. So if everyone in the world does it accidentally once or twice in their life, is that enough to account for all the people I call jerks?

I don't think so. Besides, it's much more satisfying just to think that they're inconsiderate jerks.

So Bloom, a grocery store near my apartment, has this horribly inconvenient setup that does not allow you to take your shopping cart to your car. This leaves you essentially two choices, if shopping alone: try to ergonomically arrange all of the grocery-filled bags along your suddenly-too-short arms, or leave your entire cart of groceries unattended while you run to the car, pull it around, and try to steal a 10-min loading spot. Ugh.

This morning I was grocery shopping, and I had just 2-3 bags too many (of pop) to carry on my weak little arms. As I was trying to determine what to do, a man walked by, and I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was observing my situation. He slowed down. In the end, he kept on walking. I have the feeling that he came very close to stopping and asking if I needed help.

I wonder what might have tipped the scales? If I had looked up and made eyecontact as he slowed down and walked by me? If I had been a cutie in short shorts and a tank top? Or maybe he just decided he was too busy or that the situation would have been to weird?

Huh.

No new updates, except that I'm starting to feel more comfortable talking to less familiar people for more extended periods of time.

Possibly my desire for face-to-face interaction has increased. I told a girl at work who was talking about taking cooking classes that if she wanted company to give me a call. It doesn't seem like much, but when I think back it's actually far more than I ever would have said a few years ago. I think. It's hard to keep this all in perspective. Which is partly why I'm journaling it, I guess.

Since I've turned 25, there are two things I've noticed.

1) When people ask if I'm married, and I say no, their response is now a gasp/shocked look.

2) Whenever I gain a few pounds, (which has been unfortunately often recently) at least 2 people ask me if I'm pregnant.

Aggggh. Society is nosey. :) Though I suppose I am too, so I can't complain too much.

Today, I attempted for the first time ever to initiate a friendship outside of work with someone that I met in work.

I gave her my phone # and told her to call me if she ever wanted to do anything on the weekend. Or particularly this weekend, Halloween, as she has never been trick-or-treating before.

Now to wait and see.

Also, I joined a gym on Monday.

Did 110 lunges/squats on Tuesday.

Went back to the gym to work my arms on Wednesday.

Limped and favored both arms on Thursday.

I'm supposed to go back to the gym tomorrow at 6... and I have karate at 7. I just want to stay home and nap.

I am such a wimp!

I socialized with 2 strangers (m) at the dog park on two different occasions. In both cases I managed to make smalltalk for 15-20 minutes.

I'm getting better at smalltalk in work situations, too. Sharing, showing interest, responding.

I think I'm getting better.

"A novel is not an allegory. I said this as the period was about to come to an end. It is the sensual experience of another world. If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won't be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you read a novel: you inhale the experience. So start breathing."

I found the first book of Stephen Donaldson's third Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series! Only 1.75 at a used book store for a nice big hardcover. Great! ... Or so I thought.

Then... I wiki Donaldson only to find out that was supposed to be a nice final trilogy has morphed into a quadrology. Or whatever.

The point is, he needs to finish that series already so I can start reading it. Apparently I'll be waiting until 2013 to wrap this one up.

Guh.

I wish I was a balla.

I wish I were in the market for a house. Cute houses popping up cheap in an area that's usually so expensive:

http://www.searchinmontgomery.com/details.php?mlsid=36-MC6987995&nolog=1531384&aid=4748

Poop.

Btw, this journal is friends only. If you've been keeping track, add me. :)

Uh... this is my new journal.

I decided giving my previous journal the same name as my AIM contact was not such a good idea. There is no drama behind this, just, uh... being cautious. :)

So accept my invitation, bastards.