Random Thoughts XI (Eleven Pipers Piping)
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The only way to get over talking in public is to talk in public. Hopefully about something you know about and understand.
Years ago I was asked if I would do a class at my job and for some stupid reason I agreed. They had an original plan that someone had put together so I had something to start with. I was so nervous the first time as I was told there would be 5-10 people and it was closer to 30.
The second time wasn't so bad and after that I kind of enjoyed it. I gave a presentation at a CA conference that went pretty well. I was really hoping that would lead to a presentation at CA World (All expenses paid) but that didn't happen
Make sure you have something to drink. It's amazing how your nerves make your mouth turn into the Sahara.
So true. I have to present to customers all the time (I'm in IT consulting) and over the years I've become very comfortable with it. It scared me to death the first few times, though, I won't lie. Literally, hands-shaking, knees-knocking, frightened to death.
It helped a lot that I got some nice feedback from the first CIO I ever worked for. She pointed out all of my nervous habits, and did so in a very nice constructive way. This let me focus on eliminating that behavior the next time I had to speak.
Another good thing to do is to shed all jewelry, especially watches, rings, bracelets. Most people will start playing with anything like this and does distract.
It has been a while, I will say. Lew still thinks I'm beautiful, so that's all that's important to me.
Having a man give you the once-over can be flattering or it can be creepy. Depends on the circumstances. But yeah, it's usually pretty obvious.
As a short but well endowed person, it was VERY annoying to have guys talk to my cleavage. It was hard to resist pushing up on their chins & saying "my eyes are up here..." Not a problem anymore, though!
Was out a Lord Fletchers on the lake a bunch of years ago with ISU buddy and his girlfriend. Out on the deck with lots of gals dressed for summer on big boats that dock there. Could have been the perfect setting for the old '60's tune I'm a Girl Watcher. Friends gal got a little miffed about my friends gawking. He defended himself by saying all guys look. Her retort was there was looking and there was gawking and than added "You friend Boxster here looks. He doesn't stare. He's very subtle. You gawk!" I took it as a compliment. Even more important now, as an ancient guy, not to gawk.* That would be creepy.
* PS: I am old, not dead. I still sneak a peek at LifeTime and all. Longer peeks at age appropriate older women.
This morning's sky and wind is pretty much April saying "I'm coming for you all and it ain't showers and flowers!"
Had a severe thunderstorm warning for New Ulm this morning in the middle of a blizzard warning for them. Ack.
Twin Cities forecast is a wide range of 8" to 16" of white stuff.
Had a severe thunderstorm warning for New Ulm this morning in the middle of a blizzard warning for them. Ack.
Twin Cities forecast is a wide range of 8" to 16" of white stuff.
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In the female teacher incident thread, I wonder if I should have added that the teacher I picked up from my kids conference happens to be my wife? I don’t think that’s a big part of the story.
When we were younger, I told PapaLew it didn't bother me if he looked, but staring or drooling or touching would get him smacked so fast his head would spin around like Linda Purl in the Exorcist.Was out a Lord Fletchers on the lake a bunch of years ago with ISU buddy and his girlfriend. Out on the deck with lots of gals dressed for summer on big boats that dock there. Could have been the perfect setting for the old '60's tune I'm a Girl Watcher. Friends gal got a little miffed about my friends gawking. He defended himself by saying all guys look. Her retort was there was looking and there was gawking and than added "You friend Boxster here looks. He doesn't stare. He's very subtle. You gawk!" I took it as a compliment. Even more important now, as an ancient guy, not to gawk.* That would be creepy.
* PS: I am old, not dead. I still sneak a peek at LifeTime and all. Longer peeks at age appropriate older women.
I was actually flattered by it. The only creepy thing about it at all, was just the newness of it. I started hormone therapy three years ago, and it's still doing amazing things to me. It's basically a second puberty. If I were to post side-by-sides of my face from before I started and now, I am literally two different people. I've been asked by several people that were acquaintances, if <my deadname> was my brother.
I think the main reason I even posted at all was just to run the encounter past the girls here and see if I was seeing things that weren't there, or if I should trust my instincts, which told me this guy was interested in me. I'm basically going through socialization again, learning the things at 44 that cis girls learned at 14, and I'm unsure if I'm catching all the social cues correctly.
I think the main reason I even posted at all was just to run the encounter past the girls here and see if I was seeing things that weren't there, or if I should trust my instincts, which told me this guy was interested in me. I'm basically going through socialization again, learning the things at 44 that cis girls learned at 14, and I'm unsure if I'm catching all the social cues correctly.
How fun is it to have a daughter going through the same thing?
If mine likes anyone in school, she hasn't let on, but I know which celebs she crushes on. Of course she is the one who is crushing on rock stars when they were young 30yrs ago (not their old busted out current states). Another thing I know about her is she likes guys with muscles. The other morning we were watching a clip of a goal by Christiano Ronaldo and of course he ripped his shirt off. The 14yr old says, "not even mad about that" and the 12yr old adds in, "whoa, nice abs".
Keep in mind even cis girls can have trouble reading signals. It's a learning process, and I certainly made my share of misreads! I really don't know anyone, of any spectrum, who hasn't at some point. You're just starting this adventure a bit later than most, and have some alternate history behind you. Enjoy the journey, and don't beat yourself up if you call one wrong every now and again.
I had a coworker who joined Toastmasters and was trying to get me to join. I probably should have but I didn't. She got a lot from it. There is something about facing your fears that is liberating and inspiring.
I used to have a deathly fear of heights but I had to overcome it when I worked at Hilton and Stephens in and after college. I always said that if I ever lost the fear entirely I was done. A small amount of fear is healthy and keeps us safe - whether it is heights, strangers, public speaking or whatever the pursuit.
As far as Toastmasters goes I would say go for it. Everyone who is there was probably where you are now or have at least witnessed scores of people like you start from scratch overcoming their fears of public speaking. I can't think of a group that would likely be more supportive of someone starting to overcome their fear.
Youngest was having Alexa play songs to see if I had heard of them. So I hit him with informer by Snow. Now he won’t stop playing it.
Cis is short for cisgender. Meaning, gender identity matches gender assigned at birth.
Compared to transgender, which is gender identity does not match gender assigned at birth.
Don't worry, I've been gender dysphoric all my life and had no idea what this word meant until a couple of years ago.
Thanks, I honestly am a live and let live guy, but my head starts to hurt with some of the new terms. If it doesn’t affect me I genreally don’t pay much attention so that’s probably why I fall behind.
We like to play Song Quiz on Alexa. You can pick the decade and play against someone (or multiple people). Sometimes the 90's category is loaded with R&B or hip hop songs we have never heard, but still a fun way to feel superior over people in the house. You get credit for song or artist, bonus points for both.
Love that! And 90s is in my wheelhouse, because every other song is Boyz II Men.
Do you play the Jeapordy! game?
Dropping a mix of rain and snow right now. If it was colder it would be heavy snow, that's coming. Thinking of running over to LifeTime and then stopping at grocery for curry chicken/potato ingredients. Never made that but saw NY Times recipe and craving it. Should be good spring storm eats.
Oh, and in the words of Sterling Archer, April can eat a buffet of *****.
Oh, and in the words of Sterling Archer, April can eat a buffet of *****.
Didnt know. Will have to try that. Problem of graduating HS in 90 means I’m not an 80s or 90s person. Plus when rap started rolling, I moved towards country more. My daughter fell over when She noticed I had “without me” by Eminem on my phone.
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