EEK. You all over-estimate me and my abilities! Look at you telling me to sell NikkiZ’s clothes at a consignment shop! I’m scared of those places - I can’t do that.
You see…I’m scared of a lot of things I’ve never done before. The average person would follow this up with “…like skydiving, bungee jumping, snorkeling…” But not me. Nope. I’m scared of the mundane things I’ve never done before. Like getting something altered.
I’ve never gotten anything altered before. (Other than my wedding dress, of course, but that’s easy. They do it at the store you buy it from.) I don’t know where to go or how to ask. Do I wear the item I need altered and do they pin it for me? Or do I pin it myself? What if I pin too much? Too little?
There are definite protocols to getting something altered, and I’m scared if I do it wrong, I’ll look like an idiot/moron/fool. Then - all of the seamstress people will laugh at me when I leave.
The same goes for consignment shops. I don’t know how to use one! And what if I take in something that is obviously not going to re-sell. Will they yell at me? Mock me?
Other things I find intimidating:
- Ordering wine. Will the waiter know I’m ordering the wrong wine for my food? Am I allowed to just say “something pink”? How do I pronounce the wine? What if there are no prices? Can I ask how much it costs?
- Valet services. Is it stupid to use a valet when I drive a piece-of-shit car?
- Test driving cars.
- Upgrading my cell-phone. I know how to use mine, I’m scared of the fancy ones with their “blue tooth” and “ring tones.”
So, why don’t you come to Huntsville and walk me through using a consignment shop. Or better - why don’t you tell me what mundane thing you’re afraid of.
(MrZ is scared of drive-thru banking. But don’t tell him I told you that.)
i’m afraid of being successful and i’m also afraid of living on the street
and cat poop
I am also scared of the drive-up teller at the bank! My husband seems to do this with no problem and I’m always amazed … (how sad!).
Also, my sister and I still joke about how we once valeted - is that the correct spelling? - her old piece of crap car.
However, I have never used a valet service on my own and probably will never do so. It is scary for me, too!
I am scared of parallel parking. I did it for my driver’s test and passed on the first attempt at age 17.
11 years later and I have never parallel parked again. And I never intend to do so - too scary!!
I could probably think of a zillion more …
I am scared of dinner parties. Seriously. Lame, I know. But what am I going to talk about and not sound like an idiot?
I’m afraid of getting the oil changed in my car. Auto mechanics intimidate me.
When I first moved to NYC I was afraid to change trains. Even subway trains… Since living in NYC? Im no longer afraid of much… although I will admit to an absolute phobia of cockroaches. I wonder if that’s also related to living in NYC…..
i WILL NOT USE THE DRIVE THROUGH BANK! what are those crazy tubes of death that you put your deposit into?
NO. NO. NO.
I’m afraid of consignment shops, too. I worry that they’ll just look at what I bring in and laugh at me like, “how could you possibly think this would be something we would buy?”
I’m also afraid of calling people for work - I’m always worried that I won’t sound professional at all. I email as much as possible.
I always feel like I’m being judged when I order wine too, at least when I order it with food. Oh, and if I have to actually “approve” it when the waiter brings it? I feel like a freaking moron.
Another thing I find intimidating is talking on the phone to anyone I don’t know. I get all freaked out and stumble over my words and just generally sound like an incoherent idiot.
Calling out on the phone - except to talk to Mr.M or the kiddos. It takes courage to make a hair appointment - and if I have to find someone new I’m a complete mess it could take days.
Because I love wine & don’t really know anything about it, I routinely ask for a glass of the “house red (or white).” It’s usually the cheapest & that way I don’t have to pronounce cabernet slawvanblank. xoxo
I’m afraid of full service gas stations.
I don’t know about the wine…I haven’t found one I don’t like because they all taste like drinking a mouth full of pennies to me.
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The Valet thing…they like the tip. Unless you are valeting at a place like a hospital. Ours does it free and will refuse tips because it is a service they provide. I was the same way at the full service carwash…I was always afraid to tip. Now I love to tip. I think they do a better job on my car because they know I tip.
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I too am deathly afraid of testdriving cars…especially new ones. Because what if I total it? I mean I know they have insurance and stuff…but that is a BRAND NEW CAR.
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Be not afraid of the bluetooth. I have a bluetooth headset and it ROCKS! NO more evil tangles of cords when I am driving. It rocks. Plus you can have cool annoying ringtones that make people jump out of their skin I love that.
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Me—I am afraid of eucalyptus trees (I still have to do a post about that)…and I am afraid of mechanic/garage type places because I am always worried they will take advantage of me because I am a total girl who knows nearly nothing about cars…oh and I have a weird fear of horses. And Heights.
I’m afraid of consigment shops, drive-through anything (including fast-food), and calling anyone I don’t know.
NOT afraid of test-driving cars!!! In fact, I test-drove so many cars from the same dealership one time, the salesman handed me the keys to a brand-new Nissan Xterra and said “Just go. Don’t come back for AT LEAST 3 hours.” HA! It was awesome!!! I picked up my little sister and we went and had lunch. Best test-drive EVER. (Maybe it helps that I think car salesmen are so ridiculously hilarious and I have no problem taking advantage of them as they do so many customers.) My tip for test-drives? Go pretending to be someone else (though with your own name-they ask for a copy of your driver’s license).
I am scared of going in stores by myself. Period. Sales people focusing on me=would rather go naked
And consignment stores? What if they don’t like my stuff? Have I been dressing my kid in non-cute items? I couldn’t handle the rejection.
Generally, red wine goes with heavier stuff, red meats, etc., and white goes with fish, chicken, and lighter stuff, although those distinctions aren’t as hard and fast as they used to be. If the server mocks you, gently point out that it’s rare to meet an elitist who earns $2.65/hr. The most basic thing is to just ask for the “house red” or “house white.” Inevitably, it will cost too much.
If I’m confused about something like consignment, I call up the place and just say, I’m new to this process, how does it work? I’d much rather be the clueless idiot over the phone than in person.
Michelle,
I too am a fan of “clueless idiot on phone.” Then when you actually go in, you can pretend like you knew all along what was going on. Unless they recognize your voice. Then you’re screwed.
Consignment shops are a piece of cake - just take in your stuff (has to be on hangers usually) and say “I need to consign these”. They will go through them and make two piles, then eventually say “we’ll take this pile”. Then they write out a slip and give it to you and tell you when you can come and pick up your money.
Don”t be afraid to say “I’ve never done this before.”
*****
My husband won’t use anything drive thru - but it’s because of his British accent, he’s afraid they won’t understand him and that makes him feel stupid. I do’t like using the bank drive thru if the person can see me, I don’t know why. So I always go to the lane that is farthest away.
*****
I am not afraid of the cell company. I call them all the time. “can I get a new phone yet? How about now?”
*****
I HATE talking on the phone. The family I nanny for and I communicate exclusively by text message. I LOVE it.
OMG, I was *just* thinking about alterations. They said on Oprah this week to get your jeans altered but I don’t even know how to begin to do something like that. I was wondering about the pinning thing too. OMG.
And totally am afraid of calling anyone on the phone. Even someone I know (unless it’s my mom or husband).
Having been a drive up bank teller, I guess I never thought of people being afraid to bank that way. Wow!
I have a fear of calling people on the phone. I put it off until the last possible moment because I don’t know what to say. I also hate going into places by myself. I am somewhat shy.
I’m delurking to tell you how to deal with the alterations–can you believe that’s what it took for me to pop in and say hi after I’ve been reading forever?
Alterations are EASY. You don’t need to pin anything yourself. Just take the item you want altered with you (don’t wear it since you want to leave it there). They will have a little dressing room for you to put it on, then you come out and stand on a little pedestal thing in front of a mirror and they pin everything for you. They will suggest how high to hem things and such, but if you disagree, you can just tell them what you want. Then you leave it and when you come back, it fits perfectly! Yay!
I’m completely terrified of talking to people I don’t know on the phone–email is so much easier if it’s an option!
Ditto on the drive thru banking. I’m 26 and have NEVER used the drive thru option. Same with talking on the phone, especially to dr’s offices, my super trendy salon, etc…I will rehearse and rehearse and REHEARSE what I’m going to say before I call. I always worry too when taking my clothes to the resale place. I fear they are inwardly rolling their eyes at my vast wardrobe of Old Navy and Target.
I swear, I cannot order a pizza. I can breastfeed in Chili’s but I can’t order pizza. I don’t understand it. I think prior commenter Sarah and I would get along.
I am afraid calling customer services, not because I’m afraid of talking to strangers. But I know usually it is something goes wrong that I need to call them. So I end up yelling at them.
Jennifer: YOu can order pizza on their website now. So easy. I do it a lot with pizza hut.
I’m scared to go to restaurants I’ve never been to. You never know if they’re some weird “go through the line, order, pay, then go sit and wait” kinda place, or if you “wait to be seated, order, pay w/ the waiter” kind of place, and oh my god, what if the food sucks?!? i’ll usually go to a “new” restaurant if I have someone with me who has already gone and “knows the ropes.” I almost had a heart attack when my boss took me to Le Madeline (or whatever) for lunch one time, cuz I had no idea what I was doing. *lol* I also ..well, i’m not SCARED, but i don’t LIKE to call people if they don’t know I’m calling. or to order food.
my fiancee makes fun of me.
delurking to say…I’m afraid of car washes.. what if I can’t line my car up and who knows about getting it into drive again at the end… how crazy that sounds, but true
I’m afraid of making any decision that might make any kind of difference in anything or to anyone. If it’s not as simple as what do *I* want to eat, I worry myself silly over what’s the right choice. Very dumb. Also afraid of driving to places I’ve never been before.
I’m afraid of getting a pap smear. Does that count?
I am afraid of autobody shops. I know so little about the car that I try to act like I am cool shit but I am not.
In general I usually don’t mind trying something new. I enjoy seeing how the people (ie seamstress, retailer, salesman) react.
I enjoy teaching people new things so I am thinking that others do to.
I’m TERRIFIED of vomit. Absolute phobia for me!
Why don’t you sell your stuff on ebay? It is pretty easy and its addictive and you can just do it piece by piece as you have time!!!
I’m afraid of giraffes, and I am not kidding. I posted about it this week. Yes, I know I will likely never encounter a giraffe, but I don’t even like to look at them — even Geoffrey, the Toys ‘R’ Us giraffe. Sometimes I hyperventilate a little bit when I think about or see giraffes. Yes, I am a freak.
I’m afraid of pulling in backwards into a parking space. Oh and of killling cocaroaches. Once I put a cup over one with something heavy on top because the thing was moving the cup, I had to look at that cup all day until my husband got home. I won’t even squish it with my shoe. That scares me the most. Oh and my husband told me he saw a cocarocah in the toilet once, and now I imagine one crawling where it don’t belong.
I realize I sound like I live in a roach infested house, I don’t really have a lot of cocaroaches, they just freak me out so much that the few instances we have with them are never forgotten. We have lots of them in AZ.
I know lots of people who know nothing about blogs or blogging and are scared to even touch the internet–they probably think you’re pretty intimidating with all that you do. I still meet people who say, “A blog? Wow I could never do that!” That must make you at least a little bit cool!
If I had read this post first, i would have seen your fear of consignment sales! Eeks!
Anyway, it’s really NOT that hard [at least, the one I just gave Tyler's goods to doesn't seem too hard]. They give you a template for your tags, simple instructions for labeling everything, and you drop them off.
As for mocking your choices of clothing? Ha! I’ve seen some of the goods they sell at consignment shops, you won’t be turned away. But, in the same respect, they have some ADORABLE things there too…we snagged Tyler some AWESOME Hilfiger pants for $1 last time, looked like you’d just pulled the tags off].
Here’s the link to the one selling soon…maybe if you shop around one day, you’ll see it’s not as bad as it seems.
http://www.kidsmkt.net/index.html
Okay, few things.
#1 - I heart Giraffes. Or, as my nieces say “Graffs”
#2 - Once, while getting a Pap Smear at the Student Health Center in college we had an earthquake. I am now afraid of pap smears, but I get one every year still. Yay me.
#3 - DON’T LAUGH - but, we aren’t allowed to pump our own gas here in Oregon, so I am afraid of doing that. Also, too lazy to do so.
Whoa do I feel better. I’m scared of crazy, freaky things too, as is my husband. I always thought it was just us!! Him–calling on the phone (esp. to order pizza, that’s my job). Me–lots of stuff, but the one that comes up most often is cute little restaurants that only locals go to. Do I wait to be seated or just sit? Why is everyone looking at me? Is it b/c I’ve never been here or am I just funny looking? It’s sad b/c I think I miss out on some good food b/c of that.
Oh, and gas?? When I first started driving, I was afraid to pump myself. Now, I’ve been pumping for myself so long that I’m afraid of full serve. I’m such a freak.
I think the main root of my fear is that I don’t know the “culture” of something. *How* does a particular gas station handle the full serve thing? How does a restaurant do seating (and what about unmarked prices)? If everything were clearly laid out, life would be much easier for me.
I’ve never gotten anything altered either! I emailed one place about a month ago to ask if they could hem someo jeans into long shorts for me (like duh, that’s what they DO) but I never had the guts to actually take my jeans there. Wuss.
I’m also afraid of calling in food orders. (I usually get the mister to do it, heh). Oddly enough, though, I have no problem calling customer service with a complaint.
Valet parking is about convenience NOT babying your car. Park whatever heap you want there
You won’t have to run through the rain or carry a million things blocks and blocks. As an added bonus, there’s no fear of the car jockeys joyriding in your heap!
Oh my gosh! I am terrified of alterations too, for the very same reasons you mentioned. The problem is that I’m too short for regular pants and just a bit too tall for petites, and I have a job where I sometimes need to wear suits, so I really should figure out the whole alterations thing. (I love delurker Sarah for explaining things, but I’m still chicken.) So instead, I buy regular pants and wear them with gigantic heels, and really? They’re still a bit long. And anyway, what if I wanted to wear low shoes one day? It’s a crippling fear, I tell you. I should probably get my suit jackets altered too. Maybe then I’d start to look like an actual grown-up.
I’m afraid of taking a cab by myself. I’m OK if I’m with someone else who will tell the driver where we need to go, and figure the tip, and all that. I just hate having to do it myself. I’m always nervous about making small talk with the cabdriver and afraid I’ll give totally the wrong tip or that I will have vastly underestimated how much the ride will cost and have not enough money to pay and I’ll get yelled at like an “Amazing Race” contestant.
I’m also afraid of uncontrolled left turns. I drive an extra block to get out of my neighborhood in order to come out at the light to turn left.
Making phone calls. Will you call to schedule to get my oil changed? I think…I’m just afraid of calling somewhere I’ve never called before. Or if I need to call somewhere but don’t know who i need to speak with.
I prefer not to drive thru anything.
also full service gas stations. I will drive out of my way to not go to one. But..in New Jersey, they’re all full service…or at least were last time I was there…
But weird things? I’m afraid to ask where the bathroom is if I’m in someone’s house that I’ve never been to. Please show me because I will hold it until someone else goes so I know where it is.
OH, I love seeing that I’m NOT ALONE in my struggles. I’m am scared to death of doing anything new. ANYTHING. I drive to the same gas stations, same stores, etc. I will do new things, however, if I have my husband along. He’s the talker, and I lurk behind him trying not too look so stupid. I even dragged him along when I had to go shopping for jeans! He is my bravery.
And I’m with the person who is also afraid to call people on the phone. I can’t stand to do it. I don’t even answer the phone if there’s someone else here to do it.
If it wasn’t for my kids (and the fact that I HAVE to do new things for them sometimes) I think I would be a hermit - or agoraphobic (the right word?)
I used to work valet parking for museums and parties and stuff.
I totally understand your fear, or at least hesitation.
Did you know that thre really IS no substitute for a Porsche when it’s time to make a beer run after the wedding starts and before everyone leaves for the reception?
Okay, I need to fess up: City busses, and to a lesser extent cabs. I have never, ever ridden on a bus that wasn’t a charter or owned by my school district. Wouldn’t know what to do, other than look for Sandra Bullock.
*I am afraid to go to a new hair salon for fear that they will screw up my hair beyond repair!
*I am afraid of customers at work when I have to give them a different answer to a question than the answer they were hoping for. I get shaky and you can hear it in my voice b/c I start messing up my words. There is one guy who has issues and everytime he comes in he starts twisting your words around just so he can argue with you; I avoid him like the plague. I’m afraid of what I’m gonna call him and then end up losing my job.
*I am scared of hurting people feelings; I will avoild conflict at all costs!
*I am terrifed of bugs! I hate them all! If I see one I won’t kill it with my shoe, I will find some kind of spray stuff (air freshener, 409, suntan lotion..whatever) and just suffocate it!
That’s all I can think of right off the top of my head!