Sunday, October 12, 2003
CRACKER BARREL
Today my roommate and I went for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I enjoy eating there but the crowds! I would have skipped out on it altogether but since I had my heart set on hash brown casserole and eggs, I stuck through it. To make the pain of waiting for a table easier to bear, the store has a gift shop teeming with quintessential knick-knacks for every season and occasioon- in every size, pattern, and color. Everything is squeezed into a teeny tiny place, which makes browsing possible but damn right uncomfortable. We occupied ourselves by walking around the motley assortment of candles, Christmas tree ornaments, brooches, and stuffed animals. I confess I'm not one for knick-knacks- mostly because I try to stifle my ratpacking tendencies (everything is sentimental to me) and also because I don't have any room for shit like that. At this stage in my life, everything is about practicality.
In my perusing I did see a large cloth mat with black and gray checked squares. Even more interesting was the fact that there were large checker pieces with which to play the game of checkers. $9.99. I almost bought it- I thought my students would enjoy playing if we ever had a spare moment of freetime during class or after school. I wanted to buy it, but I didn't. I have learned that when I'm tempted to buy things I should really give myself 24 hours to think on it, so I don't become an impulse shopper. 24 hours to "think about it" helps to cut down on unecessary expenses. (Another trick I try is to only buy stuff if I can pay for it with cash. It's a great system and works out quite nicely. I recommend it to all.)
The thing that made my day at Cracker Barrel- and I hope I can brag on here without getting chastized- is that twice in one hour someone walked up to me and said "Wow- you're pretty." Before I go on, I should clear up two things. For one, this was not a situation akin to the lecherous men I discussed in a previous post. Second, the people who said this were older women. One of them asked if I had ever considered modeling.
Now, I do not have what would be considered a modeling body; furthermore, I have no interest in that profession. I also want to make it clear that I would never go up to people and say- "I'm pretty", because this is not what I typically think of myself. I actually think I have to work a little to look presentable for the public at large- and on the days when I don't try- it shows. I have always found it odd that people say things like that to me and wondered if they weren't just saying something to say something- you know, like when you pass someone in a tight hallway on your way to the restroom?
I don't think I'm pretty. I think I'm ... hmmm.. I think I'm attractive. On a good day- I think I can be pretty- but not always. I think that what people look at the most is the way I wear my hair. I have found that when I do interesting things with my hair, people look at my face more, and are prone to make such comments. Yesterday, I wore it in two braids and I think it framed my face quite nicely- thus eliciting the comments.
Another thing is I think that I take good care of my skin. I wash my face daily with Sal Ac- it works wonders. I've never had a problem with acne, but I use it anyway. The other thing is I don't wear a lot of makeup. In fact, I wear close to none. Apart from my eyeliner and some red lipstuff, that's about all I wear. I think that it could be the color of what I wear on my lips against my skin color that people find interesting.
Sigh. Maybe I should just stop analyzing the compliment and take it for what it is. A compliment. Thanks ladies. You made my day.
:)
Today my roommate and I went for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I enjoy eating there but the crowds! I would have skipped out on it altogether but since I had my heart set on hash brown casserole and eggs, I stuck through it. To make the pain of waiting for a table easier to bear, the store has a gift shop teeming with quintessential knick-knacks for every season and occasioon- in every size, pattern, and color. Everything is squeezed into a teeny tiny place, which makes browsing possible but damn right uncomfortable. We occupied ourselves by walking around the motley assortment of candles, Christmas tree ornaments, brooches, and stuffed animals. I confess I'm not one for knick-knacks- mostly because I try to stifle my ratpacking tendencies (everything is sentimental to me) and also because I don't have any room for shit like that. At this stage in my life, everything is about practicality.
In my perusing I did see a large cloth mat with black and gray checked squares. Even more interesting was the fact that there were large checker pieces with which to play the game of checkers. $9.99. I almost bought it- I thought my students would enjoy playing if we ever had a spare moment of freetime during class or after school. I wanted to buy it, but I didn't. I have learned that when I'm tempted to buy things I should really give myself 24 hours to think on it, so I don't become an impulse shopper. 24 hours to "think about it" helps to cut down on unecessary expenses. (Another trick I try is to only buy stuff if I can pay for it with cash. It's a great system and works out quite nicely. I recommend it to all.)
The thing that made my day at Cracker Barrel- and I hope I can brag on here without getting chastized- is that twice in one hour someone walked up to me and said "Wow- you're pretty." Before I go on, I should clear up two things. For one, this was not a situation akin to the lecherous men I discussed in a previous post. Second, the people who said this were older women. One of them asked if I had ever considered modeling.
Now, I do not have what would be considered a modeling body; furthermore, I have no interest in that profession. I also want to make it clear that I would never go up to people and say- "I'm pretty", because this is not what I typically think of myself. I actually think I have to work a little to look presentable for the public at large- and on the days when I don't try- it shows. I have always found it odd that people say things like that to me and wondered if they weren't just saying something to say something- you know, like when you pass someone in a tight hallway on your way to the restroom?
I don't think I'm pretty. I think I'm ... hmmm.. I think I'm attractive. On a good day- I think I can be pretty- but not always. I think that what people look at the most is the way I wear my hair. I have found that when I do interesting things with my hair, people look at my face more, and are prone to make such comments. Yesterday, I wore it in two braids and I think it framed my face quite nicely- thus eliciting the comments.
Another thing is I think that I take good care of my skin. I wash my face daily with Sal Ac- it works wonders. I've never had a problem with acne, but I use it anyway. The other thing is I don't wear a lot of makeup. In fact, I wear close to none. Apart from my eyeliner and some red lipstuff, that's about all I wear. I think that it could be the color of what I wear on my lips against my skin color that people find interesting.
Sigh. Maybe I should just stop analyzing the compliment and take it for what it is. A compliment. Thanks ladies. You made my day.
:)
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