some people never learned how to talk good

A laboratory attracts a, um, different kind of work force. For some, it’s that they are much better with chemistry than they are with people, and then there are some that aren’t scientists, but are here for a low stress, straight forward job. And then of course there are some that are a combination.

So when I go out into the real world, and interact with a wider variety of people, it is quite refreshing. And if I were go to a nice department store on my lunch break, I wouldn’t expect to run into people like Bathroom Lady, who immediately size up and then comment on my faults (I’ve heard about my hips numerous times now). No, I give the other people of the world the benefit of the doubt and assume relative normalness.

So I wasn’t expecting to be subjected to this when I went to a make-up counter at the department store to replace one simple item:

Me: “hi, I’d like to get some foundation – the same thing as this.” (show empty container, feel proud of myself for knowing what I want, since I usually don’t pay attention to names.)

Tall, young, beautiful, make-up girl wearing a thick mask of make-up and looking slightly disconcerted: “…ok… Do you have any cover-up?”

Me: “Yes, I just need the foundation.”

TYBMUG: (looking a little more troubled) “all right…” and turns to get my item. She turns back and looks at me again, “Do you have our cover-up? Ours is the best.”

Me: “yeah, actually I do. …I’m just not wearing any right now….”
I’m starting to get a little embarrassed at this point, and am wondering what unsightly blemish(es) have emerged on my face since I last looked in the mirror.

TYBMUG: still trying to be a little diplomatic, “Which kind do you have? Is it the (fancy name)? Fancy name really works better at covering things up."

Me: “No, I have the liquid. I like it fine.”

TYBMUG: dropping all pretense now, “I mean, do you LIKE your freckles??”

Ah, and suddenly I know what she is saying. Since the moment she saw me, she felt deeply troubled that I was walking around in the middle of the day with all these freckles on my face. Cover-up is used for small spots – or so I thought – I never thought I would need to “cover-up” my entire face.
She next insisted on showing me how well it could work for me, and after applying to a very small patch of skin, got tired, and just pointed to the little area as an example.

The sad part is, I bought the stupid cover-up. I was so dumbfounded at my freckles being found so awful, that I let TYBMUG win.
I have never tried to put it all over my face, though. So take that, TYBMUG. You keep buying those expensive products, and looking all perfect with that inch of make-up on your face, and I will keep not following your advice and looking… uh… not perfect…
Is this kind of like when I tried to demonstrate my dislike of my high school Spanish teacher by doing poorly in his class? Yeah, I know how to show ‘em.