Uuuummmmm. . . .Thanks?

Hi all --

Back from a four day meeting in Austin! 

SO glad to be home.

I really like this particular group in Austin though.  The people there are SO affirming.  They were nice enough to notice that the white suit I was wearing was really baggy.  (Especially my friend Marta.  She is my favorite!  I mean, she is ONE OF my favorites!  Hi Deb!  Hi Kathy!)

And Gabe e-mailed me a workout I did in my hotel room.  It wasn't like having the REAL Gabe there, but it was better than nothing.

I asked my Austin friends their opinion on a comment made to me a couple of weeks ago.  I want to hear your opinion too.

I was at a meeting I attend every week.  Typically, I order lunch at this meeting.  Sometimes I have soup and a sandwich, but usually I have a cheeseburger and fries.  With a coke.  Yum. 

Yep.  You heard me.  I eat cheeseburgers.

I like 'em.

As many reps as Gabe makes me do every session?  I earned that damn cheeseburger. 

So anyway, I am sitting in the meeting, with my cheeseburger, and chatting with some of the other people. 

As we are chatting, a woman casually says "I was going to compliment you on how much weight you've lost, but then I saw what you are eating for lunch."

Blink. Blink.

What does one say to that?

Do I apologize for eating a cheeseburger in public?  Because people who are losing weight are not supposed to be eating cheeseburgers. 

I am not going to apologize for having lunch.

Do I say "Thanks"?

Do I say "Fuck off"?

I really wanted to say "Thanks.  Fuck off."  But I didn't.

I didn't know what to say.

I just looked at her, stupidly blinking, mouth slightly open, when fortunately, the meeting started and my attention was required elsewhere. 

So. .. if I had the moment to live over again. . .or (which is more likely) the next time she judges me for my choice of lunch. . .what do I say?

What would you say?

Accenting the Obvious

Because I grew up in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, I have somewhat of a Chicago accent.


I like this accent. It’s useful.

I tend to be very direct. I say what I think. A Chicago accent gives me the leeway to be blunt. People south of St. Louis expect Chicago to be full of Pushy Broads, so when I act like one, no big deal.

Living in South Texas, I find that I have to work at keeping my accent. For example:

In South Texas, “Insurance” is pronounced IN-shur-ence. In Chicago, it’s in-SHUR-ence.

In South Texas, “Y’all” refers to a few people. “Alla y’all” refers to many people.
In Chicago, “You guys” refers to a few people. “All you guys” refers to several people.

I find the biggest misunderstandings in restaurants.

When I order a can of pop (pronounced “acanna paap”), I want a Coke Zero. I am frequently asked to clarify.

And for some reason, when I say something simple like “Baked Chicken and Steamed Vegetables”, waiters hear “Chicken Fettuccine with extra Alfredo. And a Tiramisu. With acanna paap.”

Regional differences. Whaddya gonna do?