freewriting

here i am again at my desk as the intern. the novelty of working in an office has worn off, but at least the fun of dressing up is still every bit as fun. except for these past weeks that i've been dogsitting - cleaning up dog crap in a dress before work is not fun. (scratch that, cleaning up dog crap is never fun ... no inside pets for me.)

i've taken to throwing on my sneakers to run around with the dog in my dress each morning - a positively stylish combination but altogether necessary because the dog is irritatingly affectionate and needs me by its side. it's always rubbing up against me. on car rides (i do like to take the dog for hikes) i get so drenched in slobber that i just embrace it, believe it or not. my mom came with me to pick blueberries one night and the dog was all up in my space and i said - "see mom, this is why i have never been an animal lover! i need my personal space! and animals don't care about that! ughhh!" she said, "hey you're the one who's always saying 'i just wish i had a dog to snuggle with ..." "okay i know i say that, but i only want it to be on my terms ..." (hahaha story of my selfish life, Lord have mercy) this dog doesn't understand my terms.

i also need to be wearing the sneakers to kick the cats away. i just do not like cats. it was my understanding that these cats were half wild and wouldn't require attention, but as soon as i pulled into this house they were all up in my space too, like i was a freaking catnip bush or dead mouse or whatever cats are attracted to.

but that's housesitting and it ends today (hallelujah!) while interning lasts another month. i'm writing a few articles and needed to take a break from all that methodical writing and channeled thinking for some freewriting. five minutes of freewriting i told myself, and i decided it's going to be about a ridiculous five minute incident from yesterday ...

i was humming along to this song at the gym yesterday,"you've got such a pretty smile, it's a shame the things you hide behind it ...", feeling depressed like the song intends and apparently lost in thought too, because when i went to sit down on the rowing machine i FELL OFF. not in one slick motion but SEVERAL as i tried to get my butt back on the moving seat. anyone else probably could've used their hands to catch themselves but these hands were busy guzzling water from a waterbottle, and i proceeded to spit all of that water everywhere (my shirt, the floor, so ladylike) as i started laughing out loud at myself. a slightly embarassing scene considering the cute gym boys were right next to me cleaning off the cardio machines. actually they're not even cute, but even though i've gone to that gym three years now i'm still incredibly awkward around them. i refuse to take the blame for all of the awkwardness though, because i'm always perfectly pleasant with a big smile and "hi/hey/hello" when i walk in, only to be grunted at?! sometimes a head nod or mumbled hello, but really boys? you're getting paid to stand at a desk, at least fake a smile and make some eye contact. but maybe they shouldn't, or they'll soon be faking smiles a lot and humming along to songs and hurting themselves on rowing machines ... hmm.