~* You're Making Me Blush *~

I got the most unexpected compliment last night at work. It wasn't from a beefy guy or a girl complimenting my chiseled physique (yet!). It was from a girl I work with, but the compliment had nothing to do with my work ethic, stellar customer service skills, or my ability to whip up a wicked smoothie creation. She looked right at me and said "I wish I had your confidence. I have to start channeling my inner you". I was blown away. I still kinda am, actually.

I know I am one of the most confident people I have ever met. I didn't realize that I broadcast it quite so clearly.

It's funny, because I was a terribly shy kid with absolutely zero self confidence. I didn't start coming into my own til I was about 19 and I started working in bars and clubs, and even then, it took a few years to fully develop. Like a reeeeeeeeeallllyyyyy slow-drying Polaroid. The picture was there, but the details were fuzzy for a long time.

This girl at work, I'll call her Jem, is a sweetheart. Not the brightest bulb in the box, and she talks a lot, but she's pure southern-sticky-sweet. A lot of people have picked on her in the short time she has been working at the gym because sometimes she comes across as shallow and dim-witted, and she's not exactly a quick-learner. I think that she is just maybe a little sheltered and naive and young. The thing that blows my mind is that no matter how much she is picked on, she's still sweet to everyone. Maybe it's because she doesn't realize it, but maybe it's just because she really is a nice person. Hopefully, she stays nice. But when she told me she wanted to channel her inner me because she's too shy to have a conversation with a guy, I had to tell her the truth. It comes with age and experience.

Maybe I could learn a little bit from her, too. Maybe I could be a little nicer to people around me. I'm not gonna get my hopes up, but maybe.

~* I'm Not Actually Betty Crocker! *~

So, there's a battery lunch this week. That's interesting. Kind of cool, kind of inconvenient...I'm working nights most of the week, so it's not ideal, but still something to look forward to. Strange that they're planning to grill out in the middle of January, though. And I can't stand the kids that come to these things...nothing against kids in general, but come on people, control them! Everyone has been asked to bring something, and Sean suggested I make my fantabulous PB & J chocolate cupcakes. Ok, no problem. I have everything here that I need to make them anyway, I just needed to get some disposable cupcake tins.

We were in the store yesterday, and I grabbed 4 trays, each of which holds 6 cupcakes. He asks me " How many cupcakes are you making? You do realize this is a battery lunch, right? And there's, like, 120 people in the battery...". Yeah, I know. ..."So...why don't you make some more?".

I may be pretty awesome in the kitchen (if I do say so myself). However, I'm not ACTUALLY Betty Crocker. Not even a distant relative. Everyone is asked to bring something so that everyone has something, not so that everyone has everything! I'm not Jesus feeding the masses! I am one woman, and a pretty busy one at that. I'm taking time out of my already filled schedule to bother to make anything at all, so pleeeeease don't complain about what I'm making or how much of it I'm making. Try to take into consideration the fact that I'm making food for people that I don't really know, for an event that I don't really have time to go to, and that I have to transport all of it myself. How the heck would I transport 120+ cupcakes by myself???

So, with all of that said, if it's not enough...feel free to tie on an apron and hop in the kitchen yourself.