Am I terrible? - you decide - this is why I hate everyone

This morning, I went over to one of my favorite breakfast haunts for some protein, caffeine, and fat.  I enjoy going to this place because the staff is really good at their jobs and pretty much leaves me to my own devices without making me feel like I'm alone (to protect the innocent, I have changed the names of people and places).  In fact, I am actually quite familiar with the breakfast staff at Gwen's as I am there, almost without fail, every weekend for at least one day.  Eddie, the ever present staffer is pretty awesome, though, I don't know much about him other than he's married, he has a Kindle, and he's about my age, maybe a little older (like I said, I'm left to my own devices unless necessary, which is the way I like it).

Today I went promptly at 10am.  I ordered a ham and cheese omelet with wheat toast.  This is actually a departure from my regular order of over easy eggs, sausage, and an english muffin, so I should have been prepared for a mind altering experience. . .

About 5 minutes after I sat down, two young(ish) men came in and sat down relatively closely to me.  Eddie came over to them and said, "hey, what can I getcha?".  The "prettier" of the two boys barked out the next sentence, "Well, we will need time to read the menu, and in the mean time you can get me a bloody mary."  I took notice.  It was a terribly arrogant way to address Eddie.  But in true classic Eddie, he graciously created a wonderful looking bloody mary and set it in front of "pretty boy" (that'll be his name from now on).

Once Eddie set the bloody mary in front of Pretty Boy, Pretty Boy said - "HEY - when did you all get so fancy around here"?  Eddie said, "well, about 8 years ago".  Pretty Boy did NOT believe this and proceeded to do what I might call some "schooling" to Eddie about how long he'd been coming to Gwen's and how this had NOT been the case.  Eddie, politely listened and then took their order.

The next 10 minutes I sort of tuned out, but basically it was Pretty Boy telling his friend (we'll call him SideKick) about how things were a particular way and such and such and so and so was this way. . . You see, Pretty Boy seemed VERY knowledgeable about everything.  I think you all know these kinds of people.  He's pretty much a text book case of why I hate everyone.  Note that SideKick was taking it all in, nodding in agreement and pretty much not getting any words in edgewise.  Are you surprised?

Ever the professional, Eddie asked if he could get them anything else.  Pretty Boy needed another bloody mary, "without all of that. . . food" (waving his hands around to show his disdain).  And sure enough another bloody mary turned up complete with NO food.

Two sips in, Pretty Boy decided he wanted to pay and leave (they had been there less than 20 minutes for real).  He goes down where Eddie is prepping and says, "Mark. . .Mark. . .hey Mark!".  Eddie responds by saying, "did you just call me Mark"?  Pretty Boy says, "yeah, I just heard someone call you Mark".  Eddie, says, "my name isn't Mark".

Pretty Boy is annoyed, but pays and tips.  He then takes some matches and goes outside to smoke.  I'm so incredulous about how Eddie's been treated, I guess my face shows it.  Eddie comes over to me and says, "can I help you"?  I am laughing and say , "no, you can't help me."  But Eddie gets me some more coffee because he says that he can help.

SideKick is sitting there still texting on his phone.  When Eddie comes back with the coffee, I ask him, "Do you think that guy knows how much of a douche he is?"  At first, Eddie doesn't know who I mean since Eddie is used to dealing with crazy, stupid Douche bags on a regular basis.  When I mention it's the guy who's just left, he laughs and says, "um, no, there's a pretty good chance, with that kind of ego, there is no way he knows."

SideKick gets up and goes out to talk to Pretty Boy. . . you can all guess. . . I'm being tattled on.

Pretty Boy finishes his cigarette and he and SideKick come back in.  Pretty Boy picks up his stuff, then comes over to me and says, "I just wanted you to know that you are really pretty".

AH - I SEE - what to do, what to do. . .

I'm in a dilema here. . . Does he really think I'm going to feel badly for thinking he's a douche?  BUT - I am afraid Eddie won't be tipped (as I'm not actually aware if this happened when he paid - Eddie, later assures me they did).

So - here's what I said, "well, now I can add liar to the list with douche".

off he goes. . .and I don't feel a little bit guilty.

I hate people (these specific kind of people).  The world does not revolve around YOU, douche bag, and you have no right to treat people like your personal entourage.

Tell me, what do you think I should have done?  Am I now in my own category of people I hate?

How we met

Again with the false promises of updating my blog regularly. . . my apologies.  But now I have a bit more time to do so since I'm not working 14 hours a day, running a theather show AND planning a wedding?  Why, you ask? 

Well, work has slowed down since it's the holidays, so 8 hours is all there is. .. always more work, but it can wait until the next day.  Rocky Horror is finally over - sad, but true.  AND - I got married.  Yep, it's official, I'm no longer single.  Though, honestly, I haven't been single for about two years.

So, I figured I'd give you guys some stories.  I mean, that's why you read this right?  So here you go. .

How we met
Mikal likes to say we met at church. . . those that know Kristin, know that it wasn't EXACTLY church.  It was a Sunday, though.  Kristin had just finished her very first very difficult work deployment (software) and was visiting her local watering hole to relax and have a well deserved drink.  She was talking on the phone outside the building when, across the way, she saw a very handsome man in sunglasses.  After she got off the phone she went into the bar.
This is where the story differs depending on to whom you speak. Both believing his or her story is the correct one.  No one will ever know and they are both so stubborn, they won't conceed.

Mikal says that the ENTIRE BAR was open and when she came in, she thought "how cute is he, I'll sit down next to him." 

Kristin says that she frequently visited this bar and although the seating in the entire bar was open, at the actual bar, there were two seats open.  One next to him and the other in front of the video gambling machine.  So, she sat next to him to get her drink and read her book as she often did.  It was hard to read and spread out in front of the video gambling machine.
What happens next isn't up for debate.  Mikal got the courage up to ask, "what are you reading?".  Kristin replied, "The Golden Compass."  Mikal brightens, saying, "my daughter read that!" (Lauren has since disputed that she's ever read this book)

What followed was a very fun and funny conversation about Lauren, Mikal's daughter, what we did for a living, how Kristin knew the manager, how Mikal knew the owner, and other generally interesting things.  They talked for several hours and Kristin then got up to leave, as she had to work the next day.  Mikal gave her his number because he wanted to make Kristin feel comfortable AND he didn't want to be given a number that was a "wrong number."
When Kristin got home, she texted Mikal (getting home took only 5 minutes).  Mikal had gotten up to leave, but when he received the text, he ran back to the bar in case Kristin had come back.  She had not, but they soon started dating and the rest is history!
.

Getting married

So...getting married in a month. Pretty lovely story. Check it out.

Day 5 - pain levels

well. . . I knew it wouldn't last.  Yesterday, the pain returned.  I was at a pain level of 6-7 and muscle spasms abounded.  Yuck.

And quitting smoking sucks really really badly.

Quitting Smoking. . . AHHHH

Ok - I have to say, this sucks so bad.  I really really want a cigarette.  The worst part about it is that I only really have one a day.  And not even having the one is killing me.

The best part?  Holy ravioli, I have to say, the best part is that when I post on Facebook, I get so much positive encouragement.  How could I not quit?  I might disappoint all of you.  I'm staying strong and having some lasagna.  . . . unfortunately, it's my second choice sine my Chicken Tikka Masala is not going to happen (Annapurna is closed - AHHHH).  I know, food isn't the best replacement, but to be serious, I haven't eaten since 2pm, so it's not so bad.

Thank you everyone.  Much appreciated.

BTW - pain level is up to 5 - I am having bad spasm, especially in my upper peck on the right side.  Driving me crazy!

Pain level Journal - Day 1 (though, really day 4)

The neurosurgeon told me I needed to keep track of my pain level until I meet him again.  Since my appointment is not until Friday, May 27th, I have a couple of weeks to keep track.  I'm going to start with the day of the injection until now.   The first day is a bit verbose because you have to keep track every hour for several hours.

Day 1 - May 12, 2011

• Starting Pain level (out of 10) - 7
• 15 minutes post injection - 2
• 30 minutes post injection - 1
• 1 hour post injection - 2
• 2 hours post injection - 2
• 3 hours post injection - 4 (though, I think this had to do with the injection site)
• Then I slept
• 11 hours post injection - 3
• 12 hours post injection - 3
• 13 hours post injection - 3



see the red on my neck?  That's the injection site!

• 14 hours post injection - 3

I have to say - a 3 out of 10 feels like HEAVEN!!  (pretty funny the apple photo effects randomly picked my injection site!)

Day 2 - May 13, 2011

• Pain level - 4
• No muscle spasms

Day 3 - May 14, 2011

• Pain level - 4
• muscle spasms started in the evening around 7pm

Day 5 - May 15, 2011

• Pain level - 4
• muscle spasms right away in the morning - needed to take muscle relaxers. . . they only died down for now.  Needed to take multiple times during the day.

Anyway - we'll see how it goes!

new leaves. . .

Willing it to Shine!

Yesterday I tried to quit smoking. . . and I failed on the first day.

Today is a new day.  Today I am going to try again.  Today I will be stronger.  Today I am stronger.

I think I let too much of the other things in my life be excuses to my ability to be better.  It is truly those things that make me who I am and make me better.

This week I found out several things that are. . . .let's call them. . . "opportunities to grow" - things I suggest above are my excuses.  Perhaps I can use these as excuses, but really, they are the things that make you better, stronger, more alive.   I need to make this the time to turn over a new leaf.  Not just in smoking, but in other ways too.  First the things that I use as excuses for not being the best person I could be.

Mikal found out he has severe femoral nerve damage.  We don't know what the future holds for him in that arena, and so we move forward to try to work within that world - for an active man, it's a hard blow.  Lots of internet research to understand the long term affects aren't all that encouraging.

On the heels of that, I had an MRI and a reading of that MRI.  The result?  I met a neurosurgeon. . . My tasks here?  Well, on Thursday I had an injection in the area of C7 where I have a herniated disc.  The neurosurgeon has asked that I journal my level of pain so that he can help determine that surgery may or may not help.  The theory here is that if the injection seems to help, surgery is likely to also help in a more permanent way.

Internet searches are my enemy.  I have decided that people only post when it's negative because it's on their minds.  If they have had success, then why think of it at all?  Whether this is a delusional thinking or not, it's what I'll choose to believe for the time being.  I have wonderful friends that have given me names of folks that have had this type of surgery with much success.

After this news, I felt it was time to quit smoking.  I don't do it much anyway, however, smoking is smoking is smoking.  When I successfully have not smoked for a year, I will be much healthier anyway.  Unfortunately, I am a social smoker especially when alcohol is involved.  And last night, my will did not stand.  I had a great time at a friend's auction event.  There was wine - and it was "included" with my ticket.  So. . .I had three cigarettes.  This is actually more than I normally have.  I usually only have one or maybe two a day and can go days without it.

I also did something pretty horrible.  I forgot a very good friend's birthday.  I hate that I cannot keep up with all of the most important things in my life.  I need to re-prioritize.  So, I take today to do so.  

New leaves - no smoking, no excuses, no forgetting, no getting bogged down in the "what ifs".  On Monday, I actually posted a picture of the back of my head - I was willing a good sunny day - it didn't exactly work until the end of the day.  I'm using it as one of the pictures in today's posting because it's sort of a representation of what I want to do for the rest of my life - I'm willing it to be sunny.

Open Circle Theater Needs Your Help

Many of you may have gotten my mass email and if you have, please forgive me for spamming you again - as well as the official 'ask' I'm about to do (and my apologies if you have gotten this from someone else at OCT). As many of you know, I'm deeply involved in the fringe theater community in Seattle - and as any of you who support or participate in the performing arts (or other types) yourselves, you know how hard it is to keep a non-profit going. As the letter will explain, Open Circle Theater, where I'm currently the Managing Director and have worn as many hats as Stage Manager, Bartender, Box office attendant and general cleaner-upper, has a fantastic theater space - one of the best in the fringe community here for sure and we'd like to keep it. But we do need community support quickly if we're to maintain the space further into the year. 

I completely understand we are just another hand out among many that are asking for your financial support right now - but I'm asking you personally - and letting you know that truly anything you could spare would make a difference. 

Thanks to those of you who've come to support us in the past and even if you're unable to donate, don't be a stranger and come on down to see a late night, hear a play reading or do the Time Warp when Rocky Horror opens near the end of March.

Much love,

~kp (or Kristin for those of you that don't know me as kp)

****************************

Open Circle Theater needs your help!

 

OCT is on the cusp of its 20th anniversary of being a fringe theater in Seattle. This is almost unheard of especially with the recent news of many theaters closing due to the current economic conditions. Two years ago we moved from South Lake Union into Belltown and created Seattle's finest fringe theater space - just check out any of the reviews!

 

Who could foresee the economic downturn that has hit everyone so hard? In response to this change, Open Circle Theater has a new Artistic Director, a new Managing Director, a new acting Board President and in the last year has added at least eight more company members. In addition, we reached out to the community and asked for collaborators. Unfortunately, we couldn't fill that need in the timeline we had. Because of that, we're in jeopardy of losing our space.

 

Here's where you can make a difference in the Seattle arts community. We are asking for your support. Even the smallest donation can help us continue our craft and save our theater.

 

Please act now! You can donate while you are watching one of our great late nights in the next two weeks OR you can mail in a donation.  Here is our address:

 

Open Circle Theater

2222 2nd Avenue, Ste 222

Seattle, WA 98122

We thank you and look forward to continuing to serve you some of the best theater in Seattle!

Much love,
kp Ramsdale
Managing Director
Open Circle Theater
kp@octheater.com

Engaged! Come Join Us to Celebrate

So. . . if you haven't heard, I got engaged last weekend on Friday, February 11, 2011 to Mikal Viencek.  I'm so happy to announce this!  If any of you have followed my blog, you have read about my past and understand that this type announcement is really huge!

We would love you to come and join us to celebrate!  This weekend and next weekend we'll be spending our time at Open Circle Theater (those of you that know me, know this is NOT a surprise).  We want you to come and join us at the theather for three VERY special shows.  Mikal and I will be there either enjoying the show and your company or working the show and enjoying your company!

Friday, February 18th is Sylvia and Tor's Cabaret.  It's the AWESOME cabaret with great singing and entertainment from Sylvia of the famous Bacon Strip.  If you have seen her stuff, you KNOW you'll want to be there.  The COOLEST thing about this Friday, is that it's Pay What Ya Wanna.  You can reserve seats (and it's recommended) on Brown Paper Tickets.  She is hilarious!  It'll be a good time and you can come down and toast to Mikal and me with a special drink (I won't spoil what it is if you're gonna come!).  It starts at 8pm, so come on down to Belltown.  If you wanna have dinner before, you can try the new Dope Burger (great reviews) or Mama's Mexican Kitchen.

Saturday, February 19th is Mitzy's Ditzy Glitzy Variety Show.  It starts at 10pm and is really cool for several reasons.  First, I'm the tech person, so come see me be a slave to the lights and sound.  Secondly, there are some ridiculously talented Burlesque dancers, poets, drag queens, and of course bartenders and crew (that's me and Monica!).  The show is for those of us that need to recover from our Valentine's day.  If you ask Mikal, he needs to recover from my woeful attempt at being romantic.  Let's face it, he and I are SERIOUSLY a mess, so comiserating with the rest of the group will be some great therapy. 

Then NEXT weekend is OCT does CSI: Miami.  It's a TRUE disaster but HILARIOUS!  It's a "script in hand" improv of the television show.  If you came to see OCTV does Battle Star Glacatica, you will LOVE this.  I'm doing tech for the show, so come and see how much I screw up with some scotch!  It'll be a good time. 

At any rate.  Mikal and I want you to come out and toast with us.  It'll be a good time and you'll be helping out my greatest love that isn't a human.  It'll be great!