The One With Monica or Phoebe

One of a few television shows that my friends and I have always enjoyed watching is “Friends.”  This is a program that speaks to my generation, though in my mind I feel it transcends all generations.  I wonder if people felt that way about “Leave it to Beaver?”  That show is a bit of old-school, black and white awesome. 

I’m not stupid enough to believe everyone loves “Friends,” but most people I hang with watch it as much as I do.  Here’s a shout out to TBS for keeping the episodes alive for a couple of hours everyday.  I own a few seasons but someday will buy the entire big, black box set.  Probably when the price drops to $50 because I am so cheap.  I really wish it was streaming on Netflix.

Many times my friends and I will relate certain personalities or mannerisms to the show’s characters.  Of course, I always thought I was level-headed and had my crap together and would say I relate to Monica.  Unfortunately for me, my friends are maybe a tad more observant.  They said I was more like Phoebe.  It wasn’t just one friend that said this about me, it was multiple.  Not cool, people. 

In my mind, I think I am all about order and being on top of it but, apparently to the outside world, I am a bit on the ditzy side.  I do make up songs to mundane things and stuff like that, but I still didn’t really see it as “ditzy.”  I had to kind-of take a step back and assess the situation.  It still wasn’t clear to me until people began pointing it out.

I may over-react in certain situations.  I may not make the most practical decisions in my everyday life.  I choose to ignore certain things that others may deem as “important” or “required.”  I usually end up taking the road less traveled but not because I want to but more because I got lost along the way.  I still end up at the same place (and on time) but  just a tad more stressed. 

I guess I could see that maybe I was a bit ditzy.  Not in a stupid way, but more of a common sense way.  I’m not an idiot, unless they give engineering degrees to idiots.  Note to self: contact university and ask.  Maybe I fall into the “typical engineer” trap of no social skills or common sense?  I have social skills, and comparing to other engineers, my common sense meter is pretty strong.  But is this like comparing your reading abilities to those in the low blue group in elementary school (no offense to lower group members)?

Although maybe to my friends, I am a Phoebe, at work I would probably be a Monica (or Ross if we are talking nerdy).  At work I am all about order and being on time.  To a fault maybe, but I enjoy the challenges of being over prepared.  I also take on more responsibility and a bit of an over-achiever.   An over-achiever who still created a welcoming environment for others and to maintain my status in the social cube.   Maybe that is the Phoebe side of me.  The Monica side of me went so far as to buy a Swiffer Wet Jet and clean the floor around my area.  This is actually true because the “company” decided they wouldn’t wash the floors very often and the nasty tile would get pretty gross.  In their defense they would sweep once a week, but it was still pretty bad.  Thanks, government agency.  

So, maybe I am balancing out the universe by maintaining both qualities of a Monica and Phoebe.  So, in the end, is it fair to compare me “Phoebe?”  Maybe…