Andrea's Top Embarressing Moments (caught in public):

I have quite a history of doing really clutzy and embarressing things. Puking on the side of the metro Wednesday night would be one of them. But that's not really clutzy, is it? Well, after reading Dez's blog about my lack of hand/leg/eye/overall body coordination at aerobics class I've decided to just embrace my tendency to fall-get stuck in-bump into-and-forget things and just lay all my cards on the table for your enjoyment.

Getting stuck on the metro. The Washington Metro system is merciless. You know how most elevator doors have a safety mechanism so it doesn't, oh, chop off people's limbs accidentally? Apparently that's one feature the washington metro lacks. I was transferring to the Green line one morning on my way to work, and was wearing my backpack cuz i brought gym clothes. The doors were closing, but Kathleen and I decided to make a dash for it despite wearing our work pumps. Bad decision. As Kathleen slips on through the doors, I come behind her - and ah! I make through in one piece! But then as i take another step in, I realize that i can't move...i'm stuck! The metro doors had closed right between my back and backpack and meanwhile i'm looking like a stubborn cow thinking that if i lean my head forwards and TUG, somehow it'll persuade the animated doors to release. Well thank goodness for kind strangers, cuz two gentlemen pry the doors open with their hands while reassuring me in a southern drawl, "it's alright, little lady...." I haven't worn my backpack on the metro ever since.

Running into a post. While most people have to be inebriated with alcohol to do this, I was perfectly sober. I was walking home from a lecture on Monday and something made me turn my head around. Before i know it - WHAM- and i run smack right into a large and stubborn light post on the sidewalk. To my defense, there was a legitimate distraction - there was a fire a couple blocks away!! But yes, my forehead didn't appreciate the excuse and for the next 2 minutes I had my friend literally pointing AND laughing - no, gawfaffing - at me. Lovely.

Riding the metro in the wrong direction....four times. It's understandable that when you're getting to a know a city, you might take the metro in the wrong direction. Well, i had been in DC for over a month and not only did i take the metro in the wrong direction ONCE but when i hopped off the train and moved to the opposite side so i could go back, I ended up taking the wrong line and moved even further from my intended destination. Then I took the wrong direction AGAIN and got even further. Then when i finally got back to point B, i ended up doing the exact same thing!! I was 40 minutes late to my meeting. Whoops.