post-quiz puppy!

I love professors sometimes.


Following my Genetics quiz tonight, I was delighted to see an extremely excited (though pleasantly chunky) yellow lab running down the stairs ahead of me to exit the building.  Sadly for me, I soon spotted the dog in question's owner; clearly a UCLA professor.  It's always my secret hope that I will "have to" adopt any four-legged friend that comes my way. 


"Oh, is this your dog?" I asked, always ready to engage a dog owner in conversation.  One never knows if those few extra seconds provided by talking to the owner will result in an extra behind-the-ear scratch.  Yes, you guessed it, I only talked to the owner to increase my dog-petting chances.  I never regret my strategy. 


"Well, he's not a student!" replied the professor good-naturedly.  


To put this in context, I love love LOVE witty professors.  They have to deal with sarcastic, obnoxious students all day anyway, so when they can dish it out as well it offers me endless amusement.


"Haha," I laughed, "He's probably smarter than most students though!"


I thought I was being sooo clever, engaging in his banter while still trying to corner the energetic pooch.  But he wasn't out of snide comments yet.


"He's probably smarter than most professors!"


Yes sir, you are right.  He probably is.  I tip my hat to you that you are willing to say that, not only on your college campus, but also presumably while you leave your classroom and talk to a student.  His pure disrespect for his fellow educators was so hilarious to me that I actually had no response other than to laugh and watch (somewhat sadly) as the yellow lab's rapidly-wagging tail whipped out of petting range.


So in the end, my "talk to dog owners" strategy, though usually just a selfish ploy to be able to play with the dog, actually resulted in the most entertaining conversation I'd had today.  This is definitely the universe's way of telling me that, no matter whether or not I make contact with the furry object of my pursuit, my habit of talking to dog owners is beneficial to my happiness.

minor interlude

So to make up for my long absence, I'd like to do a funnier post today, the topic being the similarities and differences between the midwest and LA.  Since I've been in LA for about 8 months now (whaaaaaaaaaat?) I feel like I have had a decent amount of first-person experience with which to back my statements up.  But these will, of course, be wildly broad generalizations, so take them as you will.

Similarity:
In both places, people will compliment you on your outfit.

Difference:
In LA, people want to know EXACTLY where you bought it/who the designer is.  (My favorite thing is telling people when I got things at Forever 21.  I can see them inwardly questioning their fashion sense that they actually got tricked by the evil affordability of XXI Forever.) Same for makeup: I have extended conversations about OPI nail polish while working at Banana Republic sometimes.

Similarity:
Everyone thinks they are fantastic drivers but actually all SUCK.

Difference:
In the midwest, "driving time" is roughly analogous to actual distance traveled.  For instance, a Wisconsinite will tell you it takes an hour to get somewhere if it is 60 miles away.  In LA, especially during rush hour, "driving time" and actual distance traveled are nowhere near being close.  It can take up to 60 minutes to go 3 miles in the worst traffic.

Similarity: Everyone loves complaining about the weather.

Difference: In Wisconsin/Chicago, people will complain when 1. There is no snow on the ground in December when it's supposed to be "pretty," 2. There IS snow on the ground in March, 3. It's so cold you can't feel your fingers/nose/toes/*insert arguably necessary extremity here*, or 4. When it's humid and 90 degrees in the summer.  In LA, people will complain when it rains for 5 minutes or if the temperature dips below 60.  In both cases, Los Angelenos apparently believe a puffer jacket to be appropriate attire.

Similarity: Women in rich suburbs, whether it be any Northshore Chicago 'burb or Brentwood in Los Angeles, believe yoga pants to be God's gift to butts.  They can be found in any situation at any time of day or night, and I can guarantee 90% of the butts occupying said yoga pants are neither going to nor coming from yoga class.

Difference: On my Northwestern Memorial Hospital volunteer ID badge, my picture is weirdly stretched so my face looks fat.  On my UCLA Health System ID badge, my face is weirdly stretched so I look skinnier than I am.

Similarity: I've always kept up with and enjoyed watching awards shows on TV, like the Grammys and Oscars.

Difference: Here, not only can I watch the awards shows, but I feel a special bond with them, as they mess up my commute because of the traffic heading to the venues.

Ok that was just a sample, I'll try to add more as I think of them.  I'm a big fan of pros and cons, so looking at these two lifestyles head to head was a lot of fun!  I hope you enjoyed if you got this far, and have a good week!