"Get some rest, Pam. You look tired."

Yes, that is a quote from the Bourne Ultimatum, the final installment of the best modern trilogy known to man (dramatic, I know).  Suspense, action, little bit of romance / love, and of course, Matt Damon.  This particular quote is said to Joan Allen's character as Jason Bourne chats with her on the phone, looking on secretively from another building.  It is in this circumstance, and no other, that I will let the 'You look tired,' statement slide.

As a government contractor, there are moments of high stress / panic in my day-to-day...and there are also moments of extreme boredom. Nevertheless, there will always be people that are more tired, more stressed, more mentally exhausted than the likes of me, I assure you. Regardless of how tired / busy I am, when it comes to clients, I will always put on a 'happy face' and act my most professional-self until I can slouch back down at my desk and stare at the SE (south-east) DC construction out my enormous cube window (not bragging, just a fact).

This particular afternoon, I had to find the effort to produce and drop off a binder at a building half a mile away, which entailed hoofing it down the street in heels (I'm a lady...) and climbing two flights of stairs (rinse and repeat for the trip back).  I'm not complaining, either; I love getting out into the fresh air when possible; cube life is excruciating if sitting all.day.long. Now, to accommodate the client, this had to be done under a time crunch.

Upon arrival...

Me: Hey, Jim. How are you.
Jim: Hey! How ya doin'!
Me: Good, just dropping off [blah].
Jim: Oh great. So really, how are you? You're looking.... weathered. You ok?
Me: [amazement]..... oh yeah, you know. It's congressional season. Makes everyone weathered, I guess....
Jim: Yeah... I guess....
---further awkward conversation ensues about his wife and the turmoil with her business trip.. because that's relevant---

Really? Really, Jim?  Weathered?!  I'm sure Mrs. Jim would appreciate it if you called her weathered after a long day of doing work for YOUR boss and catering to YOUR schedule.... I bet you kick puppies for fun, too, don't you. Son of a ...

Lesson learned for all readers, male, female, shims: telling people they look tired, weathered, etc., is another way of telling them they look like shit.  Unless your name is Matt Damon and you're trying to escape the confines of an FBI operative program that has you listed under 'people to shoot on sight,' DON'T tell me I look tired.  Unless you want a left hook to the soul.  That's all.

Now... on to some food porn.  More on that later...