Note to self

talk about people who always call out awkward moments

OK so someone at work talked about awkward moments tonight. And I said "I don't feel awkward. I've been in way more awkward situations than most." It only gets awkward if you feel awkward. If no one is talking, and you're all just looking at each other, don't call out the moment as awkward. Say something about something you see. Or just say nothing until someone has a thought. There's nothing awkward about just waiting. Don't make it weird. That's what someone I know said. You make it weird and awkward. No big deal. Seize the moment. Seize the castle. Seizure. Seize him.

Basically: don't talk about awkward moments when they're happening. Don't watch that show on MTV that has the word awkward in the title. You know why? Because "awkward" is not an easy word to type. And I am typing it because I want you to stop saying it. It's somewhat trendy to say that among new kids. Like kids under 20. I'm not that much older but I feel the division.

I think my little brother, Isaac, has an easy time with "awkward" moments like I do. It's no big deal. We don't depend on funny social butterflies to lift up the moment with a funny story or a series of jokes. We make dumb jokes ourselves. Maybe they're not funny, but they keep it going. Keep the ball rolling. Keep the fire burning. Keep of the castle.

It's a form of confrontationalism, for me. It weeds out the people who can't withstand a lack of finesse in social interaction. That's a sign of a good person to work with in a people-centered environment. And I don't want to work with things.

That's what my parents always used to ask me. Do you want to work with things or people?

I said things at one time but that leads to social atrophy and I'll start buying androids for companionship once they come out with affordable substitutes for real people. That's scary.

I want to improve. That's one of my mottos, and something I get from Papi. That, and frustration that I can't hear well sometimes. Usually I can't hear people in the noisy kitchen when they yell things across the room and don't enunciate. Jerks.

Committed to self-improvement.