The Comfy Corner

My friend Megan recently introduced me to a new term, a term which I have just discovered directly applies to my entire personality: kidding on the square. Urban Dictionary (the most reliable reference source on the internet) defines it simply as "joking, but also meaning it." For example, let's say that it's 9am and you just met up with some friends when you suddenly look at them and say "Hey, we should totally be wasted right now. Wanna go to a bar?" Then you follow it with an awkward laugh and a glance around hoping that the "joke" is met with actual approval. My problem is that all of my jokes have a little bit of truth to them, and sometimes, I end up hurting people's feelings (completely unintentionally) or coming across as a total asshole.

Now, allow me to dig myself out of that ditch. My jokes are usually harmless (I hope. If you are sitting at home right now crying because of something I said to you, please let me know). For instance I comment on someone's sweater or something by being like "Wow, you definitely won't get hit with a car wearing that." Laugh. Awkward pause "I'm joking. The sweater doesn't actually offend me, I was just commenting on the fact that it was a very bright color." OR oftentimes my jokes come across as blatant narcissism. For example, I was walking down the street once with my friend Beth freshmen year and I turned to her and said "Ya know, I don't understand why people have so much trouble getting their work done. I get eight hours of sleep every night and I still manage to get everything done." I was joking, but I meant it. And it didn't come across as a joke to Beth, it came across as a bitchy remark. That moment haunts me to this day. Every time I complain about how stressed I am or about how I'm behind schedule on a paper, one of my classmates will gladly put on a smirk and say "Oh, I thought you always managed to get your work done on time?" To which I typically respond, "I'm sorry, but a lot of things just come to me easily. I can't help being Asian."

So I guess we can safely conclude that the more you get to know me, the more you realize that behind the kind Southern aura and the goofy smile is a sassy bitch waiting to strike. To the untrained eye, however, I'm only joking. ;)