Bank of America and Racial Commentary

Every day, I make sure to do a little something that is just for me. It keeps me healthy. Today, it was replacing my check card. Bank of America allows you to select from a bunch of different cards, mostly sports and charities. Wanting to find the best and/or most ludicrous option, I decided to go for this:



As I was navigating their website to find the number to make the change, I run into their advert for their service...



I couldn't help but notice that they have an Asian woman with a gift bag/pink turtleneck to represent Hello Kitty and a white dude with folded arms/muscles and a crappy Nascar shirt for Nascar. Not to mention the pink and blue arrows to make sure you know that these are the best checking account options for these individuals.

My special touch with teenage boys.

Yes, you read that subject line correctly. That could be interpreted a whole host of ways.

The other day I'm in Michaels with my sherpa, Rachel. She is a knitter extraordinaire and was purchasing her latest batch of supplies for a sweater she is making. We get in line and there is this super cute kid, probably about 19. He has these cool cropped dreadlocks, so I say: "I like your hair."

His response: "I like YOUR hair." Time goes by, we chat. He smiles sheepishly, then says: "I like your scarf. I like the colors."

That was that. Teen heartthrob number one.

This morning on the bus, a fellow passenger starts out of nowhere:

Teen Heartthrob number 2: "Are those Converse All Stars?"
Me: "Yes."
TH#2: "Aren't those, like, really old?"
Me: "Well, I don't know. I've had this particular pair for a year or so."
TH#2: "No, I mean, they're old. Anyway. I like your scarf. I like the colors. I like yellow. And green."

This was the same scarf I was wearing at Michaels. Incidentally, there is no green in the scarf I was wearing. Conversation continues like this for a while. He asks where I work, what I do, where I'm from, how long I've lived in Boston, etc. After answering with the most vague answers I can muster, we arrive at the train station.

I lost him! Awesome. But... no. He has followed me.

TH#2: "Were you here when the train took forever?"
Me: (thinking: when does the MBTA ever NOT take forever?) "Oh, I don't know."

Pause.

TH#2: "What are you? Like twenty? I turn twenty-one in six months."
Me: "Actually, I'm almost twenty-five." (Not entirely true. I also turn in about six months, but this kid doesn't need to know that. I say "kid" because there is no way in H this kid was almost 21. He looked 16.)

Pause.

TH#2: "Do you work on a computer?"
Me: "Yes, I do."
TH#2: "I just got an email address. Do you have an email address?"
Me: "Yes."
TH#2: "Do you want to give it to me so I can write you?"
Me: "I don't think so. I better not."

Train arrives. I say goodbye. He goes back up the stairs, and I realize he wasn't waiting for the train at all. End Scene.

Welcome back, Kotter.

Hello darling Infamous Dance readers! Oh, how I've missed thee.

I recently spent a couple weeks in the grandeur that is El Paso, Texas. I feel alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic. Nothing like the sun to perk up a pasty New England dweller.

My 2009 began with Europe. No, not Europe. EUROPE! (we're heading to Venus! and still we stand tall!) Good start to what I am sure will be an excellent year.

I have some good goals lined up for this year, and they are all realistic. (One of 'em: going to bed by 11p and waking up by 7a on school/work nights. I made it out of bed at 7:20am this morning - pretty dang close! My typical is rollin' out of bed when I should be walking to the train. Not good.)

I am feeling really positive about everything. That probably makes for an annoying post. Don't bloggers need to be super emo? Oh well. So glad that mini-bout of depression was left in 2008.

The slogan: Make him mine in 2009! (No, there is not a particular "him", but if I don't get kissed soon I think I'll die.)