Monday, January 4, 2010

From Ghetto To Granny

Most of the time, I think I'm pretty awesome.

It's taken years of shaking off expectations, the weight of other people's goals, and personal insecurities to have that general attitude. But I like myself, and generally other people do, too.

Sometimes the reasons why *I* like me and *others* like me are different. This story represents one of the latter.

In grad school, I spent a lot of time in the cubicle I was given. It would've been fantastic if I'd spent all that time studying, but much of it was actually invested in grading, venting, and watching YouTube clips from "Teen Witch" and "Music & Lyrics."

But there was also a lot of singing and dancing, at least when Meng and I were in the office together. We'd take turns playing songs (or letting Jason serenade us with TLC's "Scrubs"), but one day I opted for something different.

For Meng's entertainment, I belted out Blaque's "She Ain't Got the Boom Like I Do" at the top of my lungs.


No one else was around, so I did a few gyrations to emphasize the classy lyrics... and amidst her laughter, I heard a cough.

"Um... Ms. Olson?"

How in the world did someone find his way through the cubicle jungle without a sound?

Thank goodness for teacher glasses and pulled-back hair, because it sped the transformation from ghetto to granny.

Love you, local radio station, for reminding me today of this precious memory...

Have you ever tried to regain your composure and professionalism in a split second? Tell me more, puh-lease.

9 comments:

Jennifer [Aspiring Fashionista] said...

Haha! While I haven't had an experience like yours, I have been caught singing a little to loudly and animatedly before. I looked over at the car next to me and they were laughing. But Celine Dion will do that to you.

SurferWife said...

That is amazing. And I wish I could have seen it with my own eyes.

Ellie said...

Never choreograph when kinder kids and their mommies are on the way in. Or could be.

Anonymous said...

oh, alll too many times.

Lets see, one time I was doing a piroutte in my room for some female friends when my sergeant walked in...

ummm, i was dancing with a boy in the bridal shoppe when no one was there when my boss walked in.

Also, I got caught doing a Shakira impersonation by a client at one point.

Tom Bailey said...

A woman can pull off the transformation easier than a man. As a man - I have been "caught" with a gun on the desk but I think the gaining composure is on their side rather than mine at that point.

I think as a guy it is different things it is talking about your boss and then your boss hears you and you have to deal with that.


The thing that works the best to regain composure? Shoot to become the boss and make the rules and let the rest of the world squirm like I do now.

Best regards,
Tom Bailey

Kirsten said...

hahah amazing.

ps I LOVEE teen witch.. definitely have a few of the songs on my ipod.
Also, She Aint Got That Boom Like I Do is one of my favorites. I did a dance to it in 8th grade for our school's dance show ha so appropriate right? It wasnt until this year when I re-listened to that CD that I understood what they were talking about..

Jennifer [Aspiring Fashionista] said...

You've been tagged!
http://aspiringfashionista1.blogspot.com/2010/01/something-completely-different-i-was.html

Anonymous said...

also, get your pretty self over to my blog to claim your award!

Unknown said...

WARNER DANCE TIME!!!