I went to a birthday party today with a close group of friends that, due to my busy-ness, I just don't get to see that often. It's great when you haven't seen people for a while, because the fall-back questions still apply: How have you been? What classes are you taking? Where do you work again? The weather sure is frightful, eh? How long have you had that hideously unfortunate pimple?
Luckily, as a poor college student, many of the simple frivolous pleasures are pretty cheap. I brought the birthday boy a pack of six thick pads of neon sticky notes. When I give presents like that, I always hesitate for two reasons: (1) What if he thinks it's stupid? (2) My mind is racing with ridiculous ideas of what I could do with this many sticky notes! ...But don't worry, I gave them to him. He was quite excited.
Then the conversations go on, and the fall-back questions have been exhausted. So you frantically think of the last injury you've incurred, or the last costume party you went to, or what the most recent movie in theaters you watched was. People are laughing and joking as you go on, until you realize that in your nervous acquiescence to your self-motored mouth, you've only been talking about yourself. Don't worry, just say you need to go to the bathroom. Text another friend while you're in there about what you're doing, that usually relieves stress. But you can't stay in there too long, or it will only be even more awkward when you come out.
We ate cake (which Josh, the perfect medium, cleverly turned into brownies on a moment's notice) and ice cream--I liked "Sneakin' the Cake Batter" the best, I'd never had that kind--and began playing musical chairs as we swapped seats when we no longer had anything to contribute to the conversation or heard much juicier gossip coming from the other side of the room. After spending a good amount of time enjoying myself, it was time for me to go home and finish up some homework.
First of all: If you are with a group of friends, and you need to leave to do your homework, NEVER tell them that's the reason you're leaving. 76% percent of the time they will be able to convince you to stay longer. Just say you have to go. In my case, I didn't have a vehicle, and the temperatures without the house were nigh unto absolute zero. If you find yourself in this situation, but don't want to awkwardly encourage someone else to leave too just so you can get a ride, there is a simple trick you can do. Find some kind of 'wrap-up' activity you want to accomplish before you leave. This way, others will feel that the party is ending as well, and at least one other person is bound to decide to leave with you. I just told everyone that I wanted to make sure we had a group picture together before any of us left. Lo and behold, after the picture, I had two options for a ride home! Really, these tactics work wonders.
When these new fancy cameras try to detect faces in the picture, they can only find so many. If you're in a large group, it will only pick up those people with the most distinct facial features. All others are just kind of extra stuff that doesn't get as focused on. I think it's important for each of us to really find what our defined "face" is...meaning our personality. We can only go so long floating around in social circles before we are forgotten or naturally left behind, out of focus. I feel like I don't always have the most defined face when I am in certain social circles. Who am I? It's a difficult question to answer. You might do well to join me, and try to figure out what "face" people are seeing when they meet you (though I'm not talking about your physical face, looking in the mirror does wonders). Is it defined and recognizable? Is it the face you want others to see? The beauty of our personality's face is, we can change it with just a thought or decision, in an instant.
Who are you, anyway?
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