Okay, I've decided to tell the J. story just because, well, the more I think about it the crazier it really was. Seriously. Paige was dead-on when she said I should write a script. It really would be good one. I picture Brittany Murphy as J.
At any rate, this thing will sort of "unfold" over what I'm sure will be many, many entries. There's a lot to it. Maybe I could also tell the M. story at some point. In many ways, it's actually crazier and might be cathartic. I'll decide on that later. With no further ado --
I worked for a large, nameless company in Atlanta. I had moved to Atlanta from Michigan as my parents moved to Athens, Georgia when I was in college. I had a political science degree. I had to live somewhere for free...
Most of my friends in Atlanta were people that I worked with or had worked with in the past. Say what you will about that company (and believe me, it's all been said before), they hire great people. It seems that I also used the company as my own personal dating service. Over the eight years that I worked there I was probably more often than not seeing someone who I worked with. Well, maybe not more often, just a lot. Choose whichever off-color adage about getting your meat where you get your bread, I paid heed to none of them and never learned my lesson.
Well, that's not true. I learned my lesson with J.
I worked in IT when our story takes place. We were a small department consisting of a handful of characters in a couple of rows of cubes. One of the characters was, not to mix words, a player. He was recently divorced and seemed to be attempting to take solace in the arms of every woman in the office. Whether he was actually receiving said comfort is a subject of much debate, but there is certainly no denying that he was making every attempt. Player was several years older than I was but had recently attracted the attentions of a young thing in another department. She was constantly hanging out at his cube flirting and making puppy dog eyes. Player wasn't interested, he insisted. She was much too young for him. Truth be told, she was much to young for me as well. But, for some reason, I was suddenly intrigued...
Posted by mikewolf at January 08, 2003 09:55 PMOoh, Ooh, can I tell the B. story really quickly? So this girl that Mike's messing around with (rather inappropriately, I might add) says to him: "I love you."
His Response?
"Right back at you, babe."
How can you not love this guy?
Posted by: Kirsten on January 8, 2003 11:29 PMsigh...
In retrospect I feel pretty bad about that response. I was young and her timing with that response was pretty bizarre. What was I supposed to say? "Whoa, there. Let's not get goofy..." It just sorta came out...
She did dump me several months later when I still wasn't "at the same place" as she was with the relationship. That was probably a bad move on my part. I always really dug her. I was just young. She's now a really successful attorney and was always super duper sweet.
Wow. This could become like a depressingly pathetic thread!
Kirsten, you know one epic story that will absolutely, postively not be blog fodder. Deal? Good...
Posted by: mrw on January 9, 2003 12:14 AMDeal.
Sorry if the B. story was a bit too much to share, but it makes me smile every time I think of it (Kind of like Mr. Winkle). And I agree, it wasn't that bad of a response considering the situation. You've gotta have a sense of humor about stuff like that.
And yeah, she was very sweet, but think about the amount of baggage she had at the tender age of 18. Imagine what years in the legal profession have done to her!
Posted by: kirsten on January 9, 2003 01:07 AMOh, c'mon. I know you love that story. It's not a problem. I was actually in touch with B. about a year ago (after I moved) but she changed firms and I lost track.
Yeah, it probably wouldn't have been the best situation. I just don't think I was capable of making those sorts of calls when I was 20 :-)
Also, you do all know that Mr. Winkle is real, don't you? Cassie thought he was fake. Nope. Real live freak dog.
Posted by: mrw on January 9, 2003 08:38 AMWhoa! Let me also clarify that Kirsten is talking about B., a girl I dated in college. Not J. J. is as likely to be an attorney as I am to be an NFL linebacker.
Posted by: mrw on January 9, 2003 09:25 AMI'm on the edge of my seat...more...I want to hear more...
Posted by: Cassie on January 9, 2003 10:15 AMSeriously, you can't just post that little bit. You've got to give the readers what they want. And even I didn't know it started through "player." (Am I glad I'm fat. Sometimes it's good not to be desirable.)
Posted by: Meredith on January 9, 2003 02:30 PMAh, see, it's the art of the tease. I'm posting a lot more. I'm just going to mete it out in little digestable chunks...
Posted by: mrw on January 9, 2003 02:41 PMAh you little devil...you're killin' me. (Is "player" who I think it is?)
Posted by: Cassie on January 9, 2003 04:32 PMWait - I've seen this movie. It stars John Cusak, right?
Posted by: Paige on January 9, 2003 06:52 PMIs player my LEAST favorite person who always ended up out with us? First initial M? or am I totally off base? The red head ugly dude?
Help!!!! I must know...I forgot all about J until I read this, I think the M story is just as bizarre, like Paige said, and "it stars John Cusak", only these have some crazy twists!!!
Cass & Holly -
Oh, my. No. The "player" is not who either of you are thinking of. No one you ever met.
Posted by: mrw on January 9, 2003 08:07 PMHow could I have not met them? I worked there during the whole scandalous "J" affair!
Posted by: holly on January 9, 2003 08:22 PMHolly was still here during the J thing? I thought she was long gone by then.
Posted by: Meredith on January 10, 2003 02:53 PM