31 August 2012

things that say a lot about a person:


"the way in which they treat the waiter/waitress
how they feel about the weather
whether they dog ear pages or highlight in books
fingernails
and hands in general
their preferred creative outlet
how much they dread/enjoy talking on the phone
whether or not they drink coffee
if they ever forget to eat
how honest they are with themselves (and others)
if they correct your grammar
and whether or not they get nervous before haircuts." via.

I'm temporarily living in Colorado at the moment, and up until a month ago I was a waitress. I always treat them well and give a good tip even if they don't deserve it because I understand that sometimes, your boss was yelling at you minutes before or a teenager who you vaguely knew but was loved by people you loved died that morning. It's easier to give grace if you understand how hard it is sometimes just to smile at your table as you bring them another coke.

When it comes to the weather I relentlessly complain. I hate summer, it is too hot and too sunny and sometimes I'll lie awake in bed at night because it feels so hot that I can't breathe. Here in Pueblo, there've been times where I can't touch the steering wheel without burning my hands. I hate winter, it is too cold and too icy and my hands never really warm up. I love spring. I love fall. Rain is good too, and sunshine in moderation is good. Fall and spring are best though, no matter what the weather.

My books are well worn and well loved, neither dog eared or highlighted. If you flip through them though, there are plenty of pages with quotes underlined circled and starred. My best friend Alex says it's interesting to see which parts stuck out to me. (Confession: I pencil-underline in library books.)

Right now my fingernails are painted sparklycinnamon. ("Who needs Peeta when you have Cinna's buns?") I'm 98% sure this is Cinna's color from the Hunger Games line. I swiped it from my little sister and my fingers are glittering while I type this. Usually I bite my nails but they're gradually growing out and sometimes I just look at them proudly.

I have medium sized hands and tiny wrists and I wear one ring all the time on my right hand fourth finger. My wrists are layered with bracelets, some from Jordan, some made by little sisters, some stolen from aforementioned best friend.

When I was a sophomore I took Drawing 1 at 8am every Monday Wednesday Friday. I loved/hated it, as with most classes, but there were moments when I genuinely enjoyed it. Jack Kerouac says though, "Someday I will find the right words, and they will be simple." I think that mostly my preferred creative outlet is searching for the right words, whether in sporadically published blog posts, long and complicated journal entries, or equally long and complicated emails to Jillian.

Talking on the phone, especially to strangers, is an experience that I dread. I'll put it off as long as possible, make up excuses for why a phone call is unnecessary, and generally avoid them. Face to face conversations are far preferable.

I am a cliche in that I love coffee, and less of a cliche in that it's only sometimes. See, there are days when I'll pour out five or six cups into my mug and I drink them slowly and steadily; other days the thought of coffee makes me feel sick.

I like food too much to ever forget to eat. Although otter pops do make a good meal substitute every so often.

If I'm being honest I can say that usually I'm not very honest. Not to the point where I habitually lie, but I don't very often let people know if I'm feeling sad or upset. I don't know. Maybe that's just what I think. You'd have to ask my family to be sure.

If I correct your grammar, it's either subconscious or I'm trying to annoy you. Depends on the person and the time. I was on a coffee date with Liz and Ali the week before I left for Colorado, and I (subconsciously because I love her) corrected something Liz said. "If you know what I mean, don't correct me," she told me, full of sassiness.

Haircuts are complicated. I'm never nervous about the change to my hair or anything along those lines. What makes me nervous is being trapped for upwards of half an hour, forced to make conversation with someone I barely know. I've had nightmares like those.

14 comments:

  1. The beginning statement is crazy true. It's insane how much you can tell about a person from just those little facts!

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  2. oh, katie. every time you write, it makes me want to write something that will matter. I love your words. they're powerful and beautiful.

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    1. ps. you are so cute. I love that picture. lots of happiness.

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  3. gah. i just love this. ditto hannah.

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  4. Katherine,

    Loved all of this. Whenever I read anything you write there is this feeling somewhere that is not my head, but rather my soul that just resonates. We are so much alike it's scary and wonderful. Like that CS Lewis quote that says something to the effect of "Friendship is born at the exact moment that you say 'What? You too! I thought I was the only one".

    My name showing up on your blog makes my day.
    Love you a massive amount.

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  5. I loved reading this. I think a bit differently when it comes to things you can't help (like the size of your hands) but the others are really interesting. I was just talking with my boss about honesty with yourself and about talking on the phone. I used to dread talking on the phone when I was younger, probably until my freshman year of college, but now I can pick up the phone without any nervousness whatsoever. At my old job, my coworkers (who are well into their 20's and 30's) would feel a wave of nausea before having to pick up the phone to initiate conversation. But were totally fine face-to-face.

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  6. heyyy we have the same blog title font now. love it!

    I think this is really interesting.

    I try always to be polite to waiters but sometimes I'm just naturally aloof. I think I interpret too much from the weather, always wanting it to match my mood. I like to keep my books clean -- ragged and worn, but clean. My fingernails right now are a seafoam green, and my right nails are longer than my left because of guitar. As for my hands, I have long fingers (all the better for typing...) and they're generally free of any jewelry, save a watch during the school year. My preferred creative outlet is definitely writing, but that's not to say I don't enjoy taking pictures, painting, and a good interpretive dance every once in a while. I generally avoid talking on the phone if I can. My feelings toward coffee are much the same: I just don't really like it at this stage in my life. Like you, I could never ever forget to eat. That's just crazy. Sometimes I postpone eating because I'm too lazy to make anything, however. I like to think I'm fairly honest with myself, and I can be quite honest with other people, too, sometimes to the point of uncomfortability. But while I'm generally honest in answering questions and that sort of thing, I don't tend to offer out much of myself. I used to be more of a grammar nazi, and I still cringe when I see something out of place, but now I just leave things be usually. I am getting my haircut next week and I am a little nervous, not because I'm afraid it'll be ugly or anything, but because I've gotten so used to long hair and cutting off any part of me is kind of scary.

    wow, that was long. it does sound like a sort of autobiography. well, I really enjoyed reading yours! (and your sunglasses are the bomb, btw.) (just like you!)

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  7. katie. i love you heaps.

    i don't really have any words to say, just that this made me incredibly happy (and actually meant something to me) and i smiled really big when i saw your face. and that you're just a little criminal for pencil-underlining in library books. ;)

    okay, so i had a few words to say.

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  8. i reblogged that on tumblr some time ago, i just love it. what a great idea to turn it into a blog post.
    LF

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  9. I don't really know what to say to this but I feel like I should inform you of my reading of this, so yeah. I read it and I'm still thinking and re reading.

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  10. I despise talking on the phone. I don't have a cell phone (I do carry a Tracfone sometimes for emergencies) and I only answer the phone at home for my parents, grandparents, and select aunts and/or uncles. :)

    I agree...you can tell a lot about people by how they treat the waiter/waitress. I'm shy but I still try to be polite. It embarrasses me so much when people treat them like they're servants and we're in the Downton Abbey era or something. Sheesh.

    ~Kristin

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  11. I love you, even when you correct my grammar... and especially when you write. :)

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  12. "Cinna's buns?" Nice. We spent a short time in CO a few summers ago and I am dying to go back - I loved it there!

    PB

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go ahead. make my day.