I am constantly being ignored. No, this is not merely an attention-craving rant by a narcissistic “what about me?” Generation X-er. I am a member of Generation X. And I do crave attention. But neither one of these facts has anything to do with this.
I was always the kid in school who would put up her hand and never get called on. Unless it was during math class. I always got called on in math Class. I think the teacher secretly enjoyed my blank, clueless expression and stammering. But all my other teachers seemed oblivious to my very existence.
Even as a grown-up, my presence is often over-looked. Particularly in line-ups. The other day, I was next in line at the deli and the server asked the woman behind me what she wanted. After years of this sort of thing happening, I have grown bolder and simply said to the woman behind me, “I guess I am invisible.” Cheeky, eh? The server looked astonished that I had called her out on her blatant disregard for my paltry synthetic smoked poultry needs. “Oh, were you waiting to be served?” She asked. Seriously, did she think that I was standing in line because I was short of better things to do?
This “ignore that red-head girl” attitude is not only foisted upon me by my fellow humans, but machines tend to ignore me too. Especially automatic doors. They refuse to open for me. I could do Richard Simmons-styled arm flailing followed by a dash of Elaine Benes‘ awkward kick-dancing and still, the doors won’t budge.
That would look like this with a touch of this added
Not exactly something that is easy to ignore, is it?
At first, I attributed my failure to be noticed to my extreme lack of height. It’s easy to overlook someone that is a foot shorter than you. I ignore kids all the time. Oops. Did I say that?
But then, another thought occurred to me. What if I’m not being ignored? Maybe I’m invisible. Or worse. What if I am simply a figment of my own imagination and I do not exist at all? Note to self: Stop filing income tax. I bet that will get me noticed.
1) Sometimes being ignored at the deli counter is not a bad thing. What the heck is mock chicken anyway? Something else pretending to be a chicken? And, I’m sorry, but baloney is just a flattened hot dog. And we all know that hot dogs consist of a slurry of leftover animals parts. And what’s with meat/macaroni loaf? We know the meat isn’t meat, but is the noodle noodle?
I suppose it could be worse. If I ever walked in to the Walmart canned meat section and found a can of water bugs–not just the ordinary ones either, but the GIANT ones–I would drop my groceries and flee the store emitting a scream so shrill that it would put Richard Simmons to shame. I know. Quit picking on the poor man.
Well, apparently our friends in Thailand do not possess this North American squeamishness. Canned tuna is for wimps. Cloverleaf salmon for the faint at heart. If you want a hearty meal, whip up a water beetle salad sandwich.
Okay, that time I really did throw up in my mouth.
2) There may be some things worse than a bug salad sandwich, albeit not many. One would be a sandwich lovingly prepared by someone’s feet.
Yes, that’s exactly how comedian Rob Williams of Austin, TX likes his lunches. Foot made. Gross? Very. But his nimble toes have earned him the Guinness World Record for the fastest sandwich made with one’s feet.
He whipped up a culinary masterpiece stuffed with baloney (he had to remove the rind), cheese (his toes managed to rip off the plastic wrapper), tomato, mustard, mayo, pickles and lettuce , complete with olives on sticks, in a mere 1 minute and 57 seconds. This included slicing the sandwich in half with his toes. That’s some fancy footwork.
Toe jam sandwich, anyone?
Homer Simpson only has four toes. He could never make sandwiches with his feet.
3) I’ve always maintained that TV can be highly educational. Unfortunately, I gravitate to more low-brow fare; therefore, my nightly education is limited to…well…this–the stuff you see in my blog.
Last night’s episode of Shipping Wars proved very enlightening. To me. One of the shipments turned out to be a 400 pound replica of the Simpson’s clan sitting in their trademark pose on the family couch. According to the seller, only 86 of these movie theatre props were released to the public.
As much as I love it, I seriously could never justify dedicating a prime sofa location to fibreglass people–no matter how cute they are. Plus, they look like a bugger to dust.
Photo Credits: canned bug (www.sodahead.com), foot sandwich (http://www.robsho.com/), simpson clan (www.trendhunter.com), Bart (www.photoshoppix.com).
The Embiggens Project 
So funny!!!! I’m short too!! I am constantly overlooked!!…it’s not always bad…I can get away with more stuff!!!
And we don’t have as far to reach for things on the ground.
Hilarious! I love it!!
Thanks!
Why is it that being short and overlooked all the time doesn’t apply when someone is looking for a volunteer? It’s one of those things I always ponder. (Scary – I know.)
Making a sandwich with your feet to prove you can is one thing. EATING the sandwich while someone else is holding it in his feet…..I just threw up in my mouth too. Blech.
To funny thanks for the morning lift!
Yes, I am also very “visible” when someone needs a tedious or boring job done. Hm.
I wonder if Subway’s “Foot-long” sandwiches have actually been measured by a “foot.”
Well you just changed my lunch plans for today….
You’re funny 🙂
1) If you want attention, come bunk with me for a year. In this country, it seems, staring at people who looks even the tiniest bit out of place is the national pass time. I do recall you telling me some time ago that you’re 5’2, or did I read that in one of your posts. Anyways, if it makes you feel any better, the average Indian woman is 4’11”. Now you may not see this so prominently in the cities, but the moment you walk into a rural area, it hits you in the face. Therefore, you’d be perfectly normal here and I’d be the giant.
2) Back Bench-er Rule #1 – NEVER raise your hand to answer anything. EVER. If you’re wrong, you’ll be humiliated and they’ll talk about it until graduation. If you’re right, which is significantly worse, you’ll become your school’s only hope of getting a 95%+ in the board examinations. If you do become the latter, your life is over. Being the Golden Child isn’t easy. They’re all expecting you to win but they’re all hoping that you won’t. Therefore, avoid the pressure and remain invisible. Its better than being singled out.
3) If you combine the videos of Richard and Elaine, it will look like Chef and I were dancing.
4) You can’t say I didn’t warn you when I told you about the ‘Drink Pure Susu’ thing.
5) Feet sandwiches? Ew. Comedian’s feet sandwiches? Ew-er.
6) Excellent observation, Master. I never noticed how poor Homer lacks a toe.
7) I have absolutely no idea about this Shipping Wars business (unless it is about the Americans privatizing military operations, thus once again screwing us all over – including their own citizens) but I do agree that the replica would be very difficult to dust. Anything is difficult to dust, especially if you happen to be a Lazy.
1) correction: who look
grammar correction: ‘…in one of you posts?’
6)…lacks a toe in EACH foot.
It’s okay. I knew what you meant in case 1 and I didn’t notice the error in case 6.
But I knew. I cannot stand errors in writing. I’m a little obsessive about that.
I am a fellow grammar-addict.
My red hair might make me stand out a bit in India, but I would love to be surrounded by fellow short people! Hm. Note to self: Look at migrating to India.
I think I can do “invisible,” but there is no way I can do “silent.” I think my head would explode.
I’d love to see you & Chef dancing! Sounds awesome.
I am allergic to dust.
OMG! I’m allergic to dust too! I’m jumping up and down in my chair, out of sheer glee! I’m so happy! I thought I was the only one with that stupid allergy! If you’re allergic to dust, please move to the Netherlands. India will have you down in bed two days every week. I don’t think I can help you with the silent thing, though. I do all my talking at home so everybody in school ends up thinking I’m this horribly reserved person. I think I can try to try to dig up some old (and embarrassing) pictures of Chef and I but I really can’t promise anything. Cameras weren’t in vouge back then. Once again, I’m so glad you have a dust allergy……
I just read that again.
I didn’t mean it the way that it looks like I did.
This will probably make you do cartwheels. Dust mites are one of the most common allergies here. You are definitely not alone.
I must ask–why the Netherlands?
Less moisture + Less heat = Less Dust Mites,
QED Netherlands is the best place for people such as you and I.
Ah. I didn’t know that. I was there when I was a teenager. Too bad I didn’t know that then. I would have paid more attention to my lack of sniffles.
Oh, nice! Wait, are you’re Dutch?
No. Boring old Irish/English.
I have to confess. I kind of had a feeling you were Irish. You mentioned lots of red hair and that you are, as the Hawk calls it, ‘vertically challenged’ and Gerald O’Hara came to mind.
Who is this Gerald O’Hara? I’ll have to google him.
Scarlet O’Hara’s father. He’s a secondary character in Gone With the Wind.
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I love your blog!! Thanks for linking me up.
HAHAHAHAHA! Toe jam. Cuz he made it with his toes (his FOUR toes by the way which is totes something I never noticed before and I love me some Homer. Shows how much I pay attention to the little details lol). And yes, I am currently trying to make a sandwich with only my feet. And yes, it’s harder than it looks. Actually, it looks pretty darn hard. why am I making sandwiches with my toes again? Toe jam. Cuz he made it with his toes. HAHAHAHA!
As long as you don’t lick’em when you’re done.
I died, came back, and still found this funny.
Glad you came back Wuzz!!
OMG! I do the Elaine kick-dance at every opprotunity just to embarrass my kids! You make me laugh, literally, out loud!
I think it takes much more talent to do the Elaine dance than to dance well!
My youngest thinks that is how I really dance. Hahaha. I’ll have to buy him Just Dance’s Michael Jackson and show him how his mama can tear it up! =)