Try something new....

We used to live right around the corner from one of the best take-out Chinese food joints in Boston.  They would deliver to any place within biking distance.  We were within biking distance, so we ordered occasionally.

The first time we ordered, we got what we wanted, tipped reasonably, and were quite pleased with our meal.

The second time we ordered, we got nearly what we ordered, tipped somewhat generously, and were quite pleased with the meal.

The third time we ordered, we got nothing close to what we ordered, tipped generously, and were quite pleased with the meal anyway.

The fourth time we ordered, we got nearly the complete opposite of what we ordered, but we tipped generously and were still quite pleased with the meal.

The fifth time we ordered, we actually got the complete opposite of what we wanted: a seafood dish for a Kosher Jew, a pork dish for a vegan, and a peanut topping for someone with a peanut allergy.  We had already tipped generously, but we called in to ask for what we had actually ordered.  We were told:

"TRY SOMETHING NEW!!"  *click*

At the time we were kind of blown away by that.  It became a saying at first, meaning, "you can't change this anyway, so why worry?"

Then it became a catch phrase for doing new things.  It started with a navel piercing in a bad part of town, explained with "Try something new!"  Before long, one of us would be doing something kind of crazy like climbing some rock no one had climbed before and the explanation would be, "Try something new!"

So tell me, have you tried something new lately?

Sharing too much...

...Once upon a time, I would've responded to the question of "what were you doing in X, Y, or Z" with pretty much all of the greatest hits from my resume.  I've had some pretty decent hits, and I know I'm good, so I'm pretty sure I came across as a major braggart...  Typically this would kind of shut down a conversation as the other person tried to figure out what to say next.

A few years back, a friend of mine from undergrad told me that he didn't wear his Brass Rat because he preferred to make first impressions without that and surprise people later.

Tonight I was asked what I was doing in Rhode Island, and I answered simply, "Oh, I did a masters there."  He said, "Oh, that's really neat!  You've hit both coasts, then!"

Sometimes I wonder whether my prior, blatant self-promoting approach was better (for me), or whether my current approach is better.  Maybe I've gone too far.

Anyone out there still read this and have advice?