Sunday, September 09, 2007

Sometimes People Are Just Too Nice

If you're wondering where all the Simpsons pictures are coming from, there's a site which Serenity Later found to convert a photo into an equivalent Simpsons character. Yes I'll be on some FBI security database now, but it's highly addictive. I love the "barrel with straps" outfit.

A funny story happened a few weeks back and I've finally developed some guts to share it. It's quite rare that visitors come through our office, so if someone does, most people in the area will take notice. On this day, one of the most reserved, quietest ladies in the team had a female visitor going through some project work. Later on I casually asked my co-worker who the visitor was, to which she eagerly asked if I was interested. I was quite emphatic that my query was more out of being curious rather than interested and am certain that's how I left things.

A few hours later, my colleague came by asking if I was free. Thinking this was work related I obviously obliged, however when I got to her desk, I realised she had the visitor from earlier in the day. From there she introduced me to her, and promptly mentioned that she had her lunch already, but this new person needed food and to be shown the bistro downstairs. Ooookay...that took me by surprise, but being a standup gentleman, I took her down to the cafe and made small talk along the way down and back again. The eating area is a pretty sterile environment, with middle aged, gossiping groups, happily scoffing down artery attack meals each lunchtime.

I came back to my desk to some smiling colleagues eager to find out what happened. The bland story of going downstairs, making small talk and coming back up didn't really excite their day. Later, the afternoon coffee group went off and there seemed to be an unusual amount of chatter which I didn't really take much notice of. A few minutes later, I received a phone call from one of the guys asking me to elaborate on what happened earlier. Apparently people had been talking about the meeting, and it turned out that the visitor was asked/told:
1) Was she single?
2) Was she interested in meeting someone?
3) That there was someone who wanted to meet her

Typically I'd like to plan ahead for these sort of things. Not in the invading England to conquer London sort of planning, but at least 1 or 2 minutes to prep. Also it made quite a difference afterwards knowing that I was supposedly a horny, superficial male out to try and pick up anything that moved. I spent the rest of the day thinking about what I said and should've done... None the less, it made for an interesting afternoon, certainly more entertaining than doing any actual work...And no I haven't pursued it further. I don't think I can keep a straight face if I were ever to talk to the woman again... I'm manfully hiding under the desk when she comes by now...

In other uninteresting news, 2 gigs have gone by with Brooke Fraser at the Athenaeum -one of the most beautiful venues I've been to- and Something For Kate at the Forum. The former was a very talkative artist with some really nice songs and enthusiastic crowd, while SFK performed brilliantly, showcasing a wide variety of songs including an Elliott Smith cover. (The violin just adds that little bit extra...)

5 Comments:

At Sunday, September 09, 2007 9:27:00 pm, Blogger Steph said...

wow, how bored are your co-workers? lol.

 
At Monday, September 10, 2007 8:10:00 am, Blogger yossarian said...

this made me chuckle, jonno! and even though you prefaced it at the start by suggesting it'd be kind of weird to write about, you did a nice job...it made me wonder though - are you one of few males working amongst a gaggle of females? it could partially explain their overenthusiasm, or their misplaced "good" intentions?

 
At Monday, September 10, 2007 6:59:00 pm, Blogger jfox said...

haha, i like your story jonno - sounds like a fun diversion. i guess those situations will always be slightly awkward. unless, as a horny superficial male, you often go on random blind dates? ;p

anyway, i'm curious about which elliot smith song SFK covered? i love elliot!
have been meaning to go get SFKs last record, would you recommend it? will you have time to do a write up pls?

 
At Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:15:00 pm, Blogger Jonno said...

steph - Yes... What can I say... at least it made the day interesting! I think your pranking shenanigans seem to make a more interesting office

yoss, it's pretty even, but not many single males under the age of 30... actually probably only 2. At times under the spotlight unfortunately or someone's pet project...

jfox - lol no... can't say I'd do the random blind date thing! For the Elliott Smith cover they did Waltz #2. I hadn't heard it until that night, but will be buying XO shortly... Violin and guitar, quite brilliant. For SFK, I don't have The Murmur Years yet, weighing it up because its a best of and only a couple of songs I don't have. For Desert Lights, I did a quick write up here. I personally really enjoyed it

 
At Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:39:00 am, Blogger jfox said...

aw, i love waltz#2, and with violin? nice! you're in for a real treat with XO ;D

ooh i meant gig review! i'm all about the live experience - did they measure up compared to their recordings? audience banter?

but cheers anyway for record review, think i'm going to revisit SFK's back catalogue...

 

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