A Few Bones to Pick
Ok...I've got many things to say about my friend, Chris. He's a real stick in the mud, I'll tell ya. Most are just little annoyances, but today I've been dwelling on a couple that I've decided I'm going to try to reconcile with him about.
One is how he handles my interest in cool tech products. For most guys a place like Best Buy is Disneyland. Even though he may not be able to afford anything there, he still loves to wander around and look at all the cool stuff. It's just what guys like. If it's not cars or sports, it's Tech, most likely all of the above.
I'm not exactly into sports or cars, but I do love tech stuff. And I know that Chris does too...but maybe not the same way I am. I think maybe he only enjoys the tech he can conceivably afford, and shuns the stuff out of his pocket price range.
Here's how it goes. I like to keep up with tech news and see new gadgets. I watch the Gadget Pr0n podcast, and listen to Tech5 daily. When I see something or hear about something awesome, I gotta let my friend in on the scoop. I tell him about some new thing that's coming out that I just learned about, or I show him something great at the store we're killing time in, but he always says the same thing; "Well, if I could afford it, I would buy it, you know?"
T__T
One recent example is this: I've been trying to convince Chris that he should be looking into a Mac for his next computer. I'm planning the same thing. But of course, we can barely afford crap, and getting the money together is easier said than done, but not 'impossible' by any means. It doesn't hurt to dream, right?
He's in a better position to buy a new computer soon than I am. Anyhow, we were browsing the local Mac Store, because I thought it was a neat place to look around and kill a bit of time (I also had a few questions for the guys there). I'd do what I always do. I'd see something neat and beckon him over and say "Check this out" or I'd quote some specs or whatever, and he'd always say "Well I'd love to have one, but I just can't afford it."
T__T That's. Not. The point.
And he said that about the last laptop he saw. And the desktop..And the other desktop. Would this guy buy one of each if he could actually afford it? I was close to calling him out on that crap right there. I 'just' want to share in what interests me. Is that so wrong?
(sigh)
The other thing that's been bugging me is something he does every once in a while, and last time was the last straw. I'm a pretty forgiving guy, and I let a lot of stuff roll off my back, plus I'm a terrible grudge-keeper, but I'm done ignoring this.
Here's a bit of info to build on: Chris has a tendency to give TMI. That's too much information, in case you didn't know. When he's asking a question, like directions, or being asked something similar, he somehow adds on a bunch of stuff about himself.
Here's an example. "Which way is 100 6th street? (that's plenty good enough..but..) ..'cause I need to find the DMV. I need a renewed permit because my wallet was stolen." This is a tame example. I've been around when he's given out more sensitive info that any normal person would be embarrassed to talk about. It's an annoying thing when he does this, but what comes next is worse.
I'm sitting there a few seats away on the bus, just chilling out and looking out the window, when Chris finds it prudent while in conversation, to start telling people details about me as well. Like how much money I make per month or what kind of apartment I have (it's an embarrassing apartment). I'm not kidding. These are real examples. He just obliviously starts talking away the kinds of things that someone wouldn't want to reveal, nor would ask someone about themselves. There are plenty of perfectly acceptable and harmless topics of discussion that he somehow doesn't know about.
It's gotten to the point that I become afraid when he strikes up a conversation with other bus-riders. When he starts chatting, I just sit there as inconspicuous as I can.
The last time this happened was when he spoke up for me when Nothing really needed to be said. We were riding home, and my stop was coming up. I pulled the string to beep the "Stop Requested", and anywhere would be fine and dandy. At any rate, there was an official bus stop coming up. But as we were nearing an 'unofficial' drop off point most drivers take, he was about to pass it (a new driver) and Chris has to 'save the day' by speaking up loud and clear.
Chris: "He needs to get off here"
Driver: "Well this where you tell me these things"
Chris: "Sorry, it's just that he didn't know."
And I'm sitting there, mad, and thinking. "You know, any place that would be convenient to stop on this whole damn street would be more than fine by me. Just take the actual bus stop a few blocks up there if you weren't sure where I want to be." It was damned embarrassing, and I just got up, walked off the bus without a word. It was at that point I decided to tell him exactly what pissed me off about him. I have yet to see him after that. He was planning on coming over this evening, but hasn't turned up yet.
I went for a walk and that's when all this crap started forming into words, and I wanted to rant really bad, but no one was online. Sooo I came to my long-neglected Gaia Journal to type it out. It's been a long time since I've entered anything in here. I can't promise any change in that behavior, but we'll see.
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Rye's Journal
This is my journal. I plan to keep track of semi-daily noteworthies here.
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aenru
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