Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not often “That Guy” but it happens more than I’d prefer. In certain circumstances I find myself grasping at straws in order to find common ground with an individual who has a job I find interesting. This has now happened to me twice.
For those of you who don’t know, I like TV, sure I try not to spend my time sitting on the couch and watcingh TV but while I’m cleaning and what not, it’s on. I get this from my mother. In particular I enjoy crime dramas. I’m not sure why because they are basically all the same:
- (1) A quirky lead who’s “best of the best”
- (2) A cast of models with badges (Also Ice T, Law and Order anyone?)
- (3) Supporting role struggling to understand the lead
- (4) The rest of the seemingly useless police force
- (5) Will they? Won’t they? Sexual tension among the leads
- (6) Guest stars from other shows who almost always end up being the bad guy.
Whatever the reason, I like them and watch them regularly. So, when I meet someone such as, Oh I don’t know, my friends Step Dad and he says “I’m a Crime Scene Analyst.” My first thought and words are, “Oh, Like on CSI?!” How terrible is that? Not only do I despise that show because it’s so outlandish but I can almost guarantee this guy does as well and I just compared his real world job to it. But fear not I covered it up by saying “Don’t you hate how unbelievable that show is?” Good save right? Not so good… Luckily our friends Step Dad is very kind and extended the conversation beyond my awkward introduction.
Fast forward a year to two weeks ago. I see an old youth student at the gym. It’s been about two years so I wanted to see what she was up to. Turns out she’s studying to be a Forensic Anthropologist. How cool is that!? The bummer about this is 3 weeks ago I started watching the TV show Bones. The main actress of Bones is… you guessed it, a Forensic Anthropologist. So of course my first words on this topic was “Oh! I just started watching Bones!” Like that matters? Why does she care that I just started watching a fictional TV show where they use 3D holographic images to ID people based on their bone structure? She doesn’t… as noted by her response “Oh, it’s nothing like that, though some of the bone stuff they do is real.” At least she let me down easy… Thanks Nicole without an “H” you’re the best!
It’s said that third time is “the charm” I’m hoping that means next time I have a chance I won’t compare someones awesome job to Law & Order or their struggle with OCD to Monk. Pray for me that I am able to redeem myself and I can no longer be “That Guy”.
Have you ever been “That Guy” or “That Girl” at a party? Got any good stories to share?
Like my actual stepdad is a criminalist, haha
Ha yeah I know, I meant to say the situation was hypothetical not your step dad… ha. He is very real as was my humiliation.