Jury Update: I sat in an overcrowded room with a static-y tv blaring for 8 hours and did not even get called to a courtroom, let alone selected for a jury. TOTAL BUST.
Moving on.
Am I the only one who spends an embarrassing amount of time crafting elaborate backstories for near-strangers? Like, if I find myself in a crowded restaurant, it takes actual effort for me not to listen in on the conversations of those around me. Or! On the train? I can spend an entire commute imagining what combination of factors conspired to create that guy who wears dockers and Mephisto shoes with a Boblbee backpack and huge hip-hop style headphones. (True story. I see that guy regularly and he is a total puzzle.)
But by far the greatest source of fodder for this hobby is our building. There are some weird people living here, y’all. Nice! Very nice! But WEIRD. Remember the disappearing dress? Yeah. Weird.
Most recent case in point: Neighbor 1 just sent out an email reminding us that our windows are being washed tomorrow, so we need to remove our screens. No more than five minutes later, Neighbor 2 sends an email saying “great, thanks for the reminder, I’ll do that tonight! Thanks for setting this up, [neighbor 1]!”
Normal, right? Except Neighbor 2 is married to Neighbor 1. They live in the same unit. They actually both work from home, and thus (presumably) see each other fairly regularly. Why, then, the reply all to thank her husband for setting up the window washing? SO ODD.
And don’t even get me STARTED on the girl who recently purchased a new stroller. For her dog.
I have some enigma neighbors and am always totally up in their (imaginary) business.
Bwahahahahahaha – a stroller for her dog? You have one of *them* in your building? Oh my…
I was in Bed Bath and Beyond in NJ a few months ago and a woman had her pug in baby sling. True story. I think I was too stunned to have the human decency to take a photo for the world to laugh at.
Also, pick a good weekend for me to come in; I need to see people! Plus, we can totally create backstories – people watching is by far one of my favorite things. I just wish there wasn’t that whole creepy stalker stigma thing attached to staring at total strangers. Ha.
I can only think that maybe the wife is feeling a little TESTY towards husband and his uptight, organized, window washing and group emailing ways, and the reply was actually sarcasm akin to a slow clap? Or possibly he was mad at her because originally SHE was supposed to arrange it, and by emailing her thanks she was either sincerely saying, “Hey thanks for doing that for me,” or sarcastically saying, “Stuff it buddy- I know you ended up in charge of a task you didn’t expect. You didn’t need to email me to remind me I dropped the ball.”
Or wow, maybe I am the CHAMPION of inventing back stories.
I just got a jury summons. Nervous! I wouldn’t mind sitting around all day and not getting called. Sounds like a break! But getting called, no thanks. I know more than a few people who had to go to therapy after their cases were over. UGH.
And I’m loving the slow clap perspective on the wife’s email. Hilarious!
Oh, I do this alllll the time. I love it. My favorite is to arrive at the airport or train station early to people-watch and make us stories. So! Fun!
The only thing I can conclude from this email exchange is that Neighbors 1 and 2 were concerned that people wouldn’t remove their screens, or appreciate their work in setting this up, and were somewhat passive-aggressively trying to set the tone? Very strange.
This is all very curious. Perhaps you should come pitch a tent in my backyard and forget the condo.
eesh, i’m with maggie – the last person i know who got called for jury duty was so scarred by the case (and their inability to convict the murderer she personally thought had done it) that i’m petrified to have to go through something similar myself.