Nice People

This didn't actually happen directly to me - but it makes me wonder how my area would react if say, the Potomac River were to flood the DC area in the same manner as those in Fargo, ND are anticipating the Red River.

I was watching CNN this morning, and saw an assembly line of Fargo residents volunteering to prepare themselves for the flood of literal epic proportions. The river is currently at 40.67 feet. Beating the current record set in 1897 - 112 years ago - that was 40.1 feet. Here are some pictures of Fargo residents. I'll continue my thoughts after the photos:

Images courtesy of the New York Times.



I think you get the idea. I can't picture this happening here. I don't see our "communities" getting together to stop the Potomac River from flooding our areas. I was talking to some other people and we appear to agree on this: The people in this area would flee. They would be stepping all over each other just to get the hell out as fast as possible.

Growing up in a relatively small town - it's something that I miss. Often. There's no sense of community. I know that I've hammered this home a lot here, but it's one of the biggest things I dislike about this area. I don't know my neighbors - which is probably the reason that we've had 13 burglaries in our building - nobody's watching out for each other.

So what would happen if the Potomac River were to rise to epic proportions? I don't think we'd see what you see above that was in Fargo, ND. I think it would just be a mad rush out of the area... Maybe that's just me being a cynic. Read more...

Gym Cheese Person

This is the true meaning of my blog's title. My sister and I have this uncanny aura around us that causes people, often weird people, to just come up and start conversations with us. Completely random conversations, about nothing, that go on for some time. Those are Cheese People. So on with the story.

My iPod froze this morning. Basically, it hates me. But, I still needed to go to the gym and exercise. I went down to the gym and decided on the second treadmill from the end. There was a gentleman walking on the end one. Let it be known, that there were two treadmills open - in either case, I would have had to run next to someone.

I was lazy today, I walked for sometime. When I started to run, I placed my towel over the time thing... I hate staring at that. I am not a good distance runner, and I grow impatient - constantly glancing at how long (or little, really) I've been on the treadmill.

"Does that really work?" He asks me.

Here comes the Cheese person.

"I'd like to think so," I respond. It is so hard not to respond to a person when you don't have your headphones in. So, I engage in the convo... because, well.. Basically, I'm too nice. "It's just so hard to just run and not stare at the clock."

"Well," he says, "I've heard that it's easier to exercise if you have a conversation companion."

So it starts. Here's my thought process: If I continue a conversation with him, I will keep running. I hate running and I'm ridiculously out of shape. I claim to do "intervals" when I'm on the treadmill, but it's really me being lazy and not wanting to run for more than a consecutive five minutes, and then resort to walking.

So we continued our conversation. We spoke about our workplace. He's been there for almost 25 years (me, 2). We talked about the weather (like all people do), activities (he plays pool), and general things. He finished his workout, and I continued running. I ended up running for over 20 minutes! So my gym cheese person helped. Sometimes Cheese People are helpful - and it's kind of nice to have a conversation with someone new. I'm glad I can attract Cheese People - remind me that I said that, next time the situation presents itself.

Then the treadmill started making really loud clanking noises. It was broken. Read more...

We Have a Nice Neighbor!!!

Walking downstairs to the store last night, a uniformed gentleman and his young son with a green truck were walking down the hall as well. I decided that I was going to look this guy straight in the eye and say hello.

"Hi," I say.

"Hey! How's it going?" he asks.... wait, he did more than a grunt? Yes, yes he did.

"Good, thanks. You?" I respond.. still a little shocked.

"Good, thanks."

And we walk on... As I'm walking towards the stairwell I hear his little boy say, "Who was that daddy?"

"Our neighbor," he explains. Wait, he just called me his neighbor? That's preposterous! Nobody has ever called me their neighbor!

"What's her name?" the little boy asked.

"I dunno," his dad replies.

"Me neither!" the little boy says, sounding a little concerned.

Next time I see them I will introduce myself to our neighbors.

It's not horribly hilarious, but it's so good to know that at least someone on our floor considers us neighbors. That rocks. And it sounds like that little boy would like to know my name. Read more...

The Friendly Experiment Update

It's been about a month since I've spoken about my friendly experiment. This will be a brief update (a Carolina-Duke basketball game is screaming my name in the background.) So first, I'll list my findings so far and then finish with my experience tonight that prompted my post:

Current Findings

• People tend to say "good night" more, one on one rather than in a group of people in the elevator.
• Expanding on that - people will have conversations more often when you are one on one.
• Wearing a Steelers hat brings friendly conversations.
• People use their mail as an excuse not to make eye contact - dood, it's junk mail.
• Sometimes I don't like talking to the people in the elevator either.

The Most Recent Experience
Coming home from work tonight, I stopped in our convenience store, and then went to the elevator. An older man (could have been my father) in a suit, rushes in and slams down his briefcase (yes, briefcase.) We hit our respective floors. He's continuously mumbling and grunting fishing around in his pockets... Alright, that sounded bad - It appeared that he was searching for his keys.

It's my floor.
"Good night," I say, looking at him before I leave.

**crickets**

Yeah, he didn't say anything.
Friendly Experiment Fail

More often than not, though, people will at least grunt. One time I got a "Yeah." Read more...

Crossword Puzzles

I love doing crossword puzzles while I'm on the train. My coworker makes fun of me and says that's what old people do, but that's another story. One time I was doing my crossword on the train, and the older gentleman next to me started helping me. It was helpful... really! I was at the point where I'm on the verge of giving up. He gave me some real helpful hints. Enough so that I basically finished the puzzle. I'm never able to do that.

So. This leads me to my two recent experiences and corresponding questions:

1) The other night, on the train ride home, I was standing up and the older man that was sitting down next to me was working on the crossword puzzle that I had been working on earlier. I noticed that some of his answers were wrong, and he appeared to be stuck on some clues that I had already been able to answer. I kept quiet, but what would you do? Do you help the guy out like the nice gentleman did next to me?? Or is it a different situation, because I'm standing up and in my situation, the gentleman was sitting next me... Which leads me to the next experience...

2) Last night, again on the train ride home, I sat next to a guy that was working on the crossword puzzle of the day. Is it wrong to offer to work together? I mean, I'm sure that if we were working together, I wouldn't have given up as early as I did... Two heads are better than one, right?

Part of me feels as though these situations would be different if I lived in a different area. This metro area is so anonymous (just like my apartment building)... People just buy into this norm of ignoring the people that are near them. I think I probably make eye contact with maybe two people on my train rides to and from work... and often it's when I have to get up for someone as they leave the train...

That last paragraph was kind of a rant.. What do you guys think? Would you have tried a "group work" environment with the crossword puzzle? Or just work on it by yourself? Read more...

Another Morning List

Things That Make Me Smile on the Metro in the Morning:

• The man who gives me my paper.
• When it sounds like the train announcer guy likes his job.
• When the person next to me doesn't smell like mothballs (not today though!!)
• Tony Bennett in the morning.
• Jack Johnson in the morning.
• Walking through an awesome snowfall on my way into work.
  

Read more...

The Friendly Experiment Updates

Brief Update #1

Getting into the elevator yesterday morning (sometimes I just don't like walking down four flights of stairs), there was a man in the elevator.

"Good morning," I say.

He silently turned his back towards me and stared at the floor buttons.

Granted, it was about 7:30am (yeah yeah, I was late) and he may not be a morning person. But you know what? Neither am I. A simple smile would have sufficed.

Friendly Experiment Fail.

Brief Update #2

Sunday night I had run to Target to grab some stuff. I waited for an elevator (there are three) with another gentleman. Two elevators come down at once. I hold the elevator door open for him, and he goes into the other elevator.

Would you have done the same? Or am I experiencing the area's antisocial behavior? Read more...

The Friendly Experiment

I live in a large apartment building (say, 200 units or so). Granted, this is my first time living in a building like this, but I think it's the DC metro area that makes it ok for people to ignore others that they pass on a daily basis.

A couple of weeks ago, I realized how much easier it is to be friendly to a person. Rather than divert the eyes or pretend to look elsewhere as you pass. Couple this with the fact that we've had thirteen (13!) burglaries in our building in the last couple of months. I feel like this is the perfect time to come together and start acting neighborly.

So what is the experiment? I'm going to start off small - small quarters: The elevator. No awkward conversations in the elevator. Just eye contact and a smile as they get on. Often I'm the first person off (don't fault me for taking the elevator to the fourth floor!) so, I will casually say good night/morning/have a nice day as I leave the elevator.

I've been doing this for about two weeks now. Most responses have been similar: a somewhat surprised sounding, "Good night" or whatever time of day it is. In addition, the smiles have been returned.

Up until last night.


Meet grumpy woman. The woman on the elevator was probably younger, but I like this picture anyway. I had just gotten on the elevator with my milk purchase. It's early evening, and I see her coming towards the elevator, so I hold it for her. No thanks, nothing. She hits 7, I've already hit 4. Long story short, I say good night as I excuse myself from behind her... Nothing. I guess that's why her face is in a permanent frown. Or maybe she was a Ravens fan offended by my Steelers t-shirt. Either way, if that perma-frown sticks, she'll grow up to look like that lady above. Sucks for her.

In general, the friendly experiment is going well. I just hope that it continues with other people, and the ones I say hello and goodbye to will do this to others.

Next step? Saying hello to the person that sits next to me on the shuttle. Read more...