How I became Jerry Gergich from Parks and Rec

Did you guys jump on the Parks and Rec band wagon?

ummmmm WHY NOT?!

Ok. well it is not too late. Get off this blog- go to Netflix or Hulu- and jump on board.
For two reasons. Mainly, it is super funny. GEEEZZZZ.
Secondly you will better understand this next sentence.
At clinical, I became the Jerry Gergrich of the office.

The doctor constantly introduced me as Carla to his patients. I felt awkward interrupting/correcting him so I simply let it slide. I let it go too long. I eventually started introducing myself to patients as Carla!!! When I finally corrected him (the second to last week) he smiled and said "ok". Then we went in the next room and called me Marilyn to the next patient.

Trying to act cool about this name change, I casually leaned back against the wall with a faux-intellegent smile and nod. Telling myself that Marilyn is probably just an incredibly smart student I remind him of- RIGHT?
Click. I accidentally turned off the lights with my "lean back" while he was doing a hernia check.


"Hi, I'm Carla. The student working with Dr. B. But you can call me Marilyn."


Then awkwardly, when it was time for him to fill out my evaluation at the end, he read the name at the top of the form:

"Carly?" with a peculiar look
"Oh yes sir, Carly is my legal name."
"Hmmm. ok"

I mean really, what else was I suppose to say here?

For reals guys. Someone how I graduated.



"God, they're both horrible."

The One Where Carly Speaks Russian

This is how I feel trying to learn Russian. On my drive home I am listening to my "Drive and Learn" CD's and if anyone heard me practicing they would probably cry.

"Ah De Foof!'

The reality of an over-sharer

My dad is not a fan of the "internets". I will never worry about him creeping my facebook page or writing an embarrassing twitter. I can understand why. Sometimes it is startling all the private things in our life we  choose to make so public. Almost seems narcissistic. I recently read in Reader's Digest (which my dad is a fan of and in fact renews my subscription to every year) that there is quite a bit of controversy over photos people upload on Facebook.  From what I understand, once you upload them, Facebook and the entities you "like" basically have the rights to them. Makes me reconsider my blogging and Facebook addiction.... for only a moment.
When it comes to blogging, I often laugh at myself for being egocentric enough to think the world wide web wants to hear from me. How I consider that my fascinating life, crafts, thoughts, and musings need to be shared. Sitting here sharing my life with strangers. I don't even know if they have kind faces!
And once I saw Julie and Julia, the fantasies began spiraling. Mr. Movie Director should be emailing me any day now to discuss the contract for a screen play based on my blog/life. OK... maybe not a movie... but for sure a publisher is going to want  me to write a book.
 I rarely even keep up with this blog. It has no direction, theme, continuity, or consistency. Why do I continue to get such a high from hitting Publish for a new post?
Pride.
Insecurity.
Probably both.
But I also think I have always been a chronic over-sharer. I spill the beans on secrets and sins usually the first night of going to a new small group.  Word-vomit regret is a daily emotion I encounter. That tight knot in your belly you get when you walk away from a conversation saying "why did I tell them that?" happens at this once a day. I am grateful that I have a thing for "awkward moments" since I classically create them daily.
I value transparency but do I cross the line into over-divulging.
Aaaahh. There I go over- sharing and over-thinking.

HR Week High Five Moments

1. Discovering I can wear TCH T-shirts with my scrub bottoms. Pajamas basically. I will wear pajamas to work while the rest of the world puts on their business casual. I came home yesterday and Jon thought I was wearing a Track suit. I get to wear a royal blue track suit to work.

2. My Benefits = Free Baby. ok. That does not sound right. But basically the hospital (as long as I go to TCH/St. Lukes) is free -100% covered- when you have a baby. Steal of deal... even better than the rug from the last blog. End the rumor before it starts: I DO NOT NEED THIS SERVICE YET! I am just thinking of future baby. Sorry Mom and Kelli, didn't mean to get anyone excited. Take a moment to regroup if you need to.

3. When introducing ourselves to the HR rep we were supposed to say our name and then the unit we have been assigned. For example I said, "Carly, rocking the PICU." urggggh... I know. Word vomit. See what I am talking about with the awkwardly trying too hard to be cool.

But the story gets better. One girl said, "{her name}, acute care." A concern and confused look overcame the face of our HR lady and she emphatically responded "of course I care!" I could not hold back my annoyingly loud gasps for air as I laughed. No...... Don’t get it yet? She heard "do you care?” instead of “acute care.” If you saw how surprised and perplexed the HR women looked you would see the funny here. Once again, it is the simple things that make me happy.

4. My fist bump with Mark Wallace. Thanks to new friend crush Adrienne A for making that happen. Mark Wallace is the CEO of TCH. Adrienne called him over (see why the crush) when we saw him walking in the lobby. He wished us good luck in our new jobs by offering our small group some celebratory high-fives. Except when it was my turn I guess he wanted to mix-it–up a little because I got a “pound it” then he politely asked permission if it was ok for him to “blow it up” which of course I answered, “YES, let’s blow it up.” Maybe next time I will teach him the “jelly fish”.

Looking for a Gayle.

I am trying to play it cool. I am meeting new people and bringing the A game in the effort to make a good first impression. Hopefully they will think I am sweet, friendly, and maybe a little funny. Really I just want to say, LIKE ME! BE MY FRIEND! SIT WITH ME! CALL ME! ;)

Good grief...When did I become so crazy? Historically, I am the friend-maker. Up for the challenge. Witty, friendly, and creatively finding ways to avoid the awkward "don't know what to talk about next" moments when getting to know new people. This is why I find it paradoxical that I am stumbling over words, letting the silence linger to that uncomfortable point, and seriously getting hot flashes when I am talking to people that I am starting to be smitten with (the friend-crush kind of smitten). I am tiptoeing the line of friendly and stalker-like.

What I really want: Is a Gayle. A Jennifer Aniston. A Dionne Davenport. A Rose.

Or switch it around: A Oprah. A Courtney Cox. A Cher from Clueless. A Blanche.

I am going to spend some time with the hubs this weekend regrouping. Give the new people I met a chance to forget some of the socially awkward moments that I accidentally created and start fresh Monday. :)

Oprah image via People

image via PBS on how to make friends. yeah. I read it and plan to put it in action. Talk to me next week

about it or maybe not. Because I might be to busy with all my new friends that this article helped me get.