Seven Steps

Seven Steps to a situation I would have taken care of differently.

Situation: About three years ago my eldest cousin turned thirty. She is very age sensitive, very. She is also a comedian. Being the genuis that I am, I decided to buy her a gag gift. Not a smart idea on my part. I bought her an over-the-hill card, with a tombstone on the cover, and an anti aging kit filled with anti aging materials, such as skin creams and a denture kit. Needless to say she did not find my gift funny, which I found rude. I thought that since she liked to joke about her age, and everything else under the sun, she wouldn't mind if I did. She didn't speak to me for two weeks.
I should have done things different, and here's what I should have done:

Step 1:
I was communicating the love I have fo rmy cousin by celebrating her birthday with a gift. I wanted to acheive putting a smile on her face. Instead of giving her a complete gag gift, I should have onoly given her the card, along with a real gift. It never occured to me that she'd be that mad, but I should have known since she never tells anyone her age.

Step 2:
My cousin more than likely,expected a heart felt gift from me. I should have asked her how she felt about her age and what she would have liked for her birthday.

step 3:
I should have never given her a gift as the one I did, in front of everyone she knew. I should've known that she wouldn't have taken so well to getting a gift of that caliber in front of her boyfriend, at the time. I should have anticipated the attendance of her boyfriend as well.

Step 4:
I should've asked her for a list of things she might have wanted for her birthday. Also, I should have considered her apprehension she alwasy has when it comes to her age.

Step5:
Both gifts together was a bad idea. I should've never given her both gifts without thinking about when, where, and how she would feel about the gifts.

Step 6:
I could have goven the gift to her by first telling her that it was a gag gift and second, by having a back up or true gift.

step 7:
I should've considered how I would have felt receiving such a gift. Also I should have asked my mom or my aunt how they would feel getting such a gift.


All together I could have handled my cousin's birhtday a lot better. I am just thankful however, that she speaks to me again and I will never make this mistake again.

A Little About Me!

Hi world -waves-

My name is Marissa Houston and ,as those who have already taken Comp with me, know I am a very quiet person. I don't know why I am, but I am (of course if you asked my bestfriend, or mother, they would both say I never shut up).

A few things about myself before I begin blogging:
I seriously think I have OCD when it comes to my school work. I am obsessive about everything from the actual paper I am priniting, or writing on, to the work itself.

I am a Harry Potter fanatic. I think Harry Potter is the sole reason for my generations literarcy. My favorite HP character would have to be Bellatrix Lestrange. Yes, I know she's crazy, but crazy isn't always bad.

I do enjoy writing. Writing is a form of freedom and I think that it does need to be valued.

Reading is a favorite pastime of mine. I am never without any type of books. My favorite books are The Book Thief (thanks Kristi), The Lovely Bones, Saving Sarah, We were the Mulvaneys, The Team, all the Harry Potters, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tale of Two Cities, and a few more I can't think of right now. I won't read a book (on my own) if it's less than 200 pages and isn't of good quality. I do have a few exceptions to this however.

I am a very weird person, but hey normal is overrated.

A few of my favorite movies are Fight Club, New Moon, Harry Potter 1-6, Conversations with Other Women, Sweeny Todd, Purple Rain, 10 Things I hate About You, Blood Diamond, and a few more things.

My favorite actors are Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp, Dmjouin Honsu, Jonathan Jackson, Queen Latifah aka Dana Owens, Sophia Vargas, Tyler Perry, and some I can't think of right now.

Music wise, I love really anything except for country and heavy metal. I am really fond of older music from the 60's through to the early 80's. I also enjoy early jazz from the 20's.

Film wise, I know absolutely nothing. I know though that I really enjoy the works of Tim Burton and Tyler Perry.

There are a few more things about myself I'd like for others to know, but sadly I must be off. I will leave all with this final note. I am not an ignorant person and I do expect the same respect I give to people. Also I can't be anyone but me and sometimes I don't know who I am. Deal with it.