Valkyrie

Thanks so much for reading and for all the awesome comments. It was fun reliving the story

Even troglodytes have their epiphanies. And yup.

Robbie's not known for using the best judgment, although he has his moments

I like the way you think. Robbie is awesome, isn't he? I had so much fun writing him.

You go, girl!

I love your comments and reactions

I've had people not read the tags and then stop reading the story, so I like to make sure readers are aware of them. I look forward to your continued comments

LOL definitely BFFs

I'm so glad to have you here Just a word of warning, though... read the story tags/warning if you haven't already. Thanks for reading!

Working full time while taking 16 credits is a lot of work! Sales positions are tough, so I feel for you. I have a friend who's what I consider the perfect extrovert. She's not overbearing, but has an outgoing personality and can walk up to anyone and have their life's story within five minutes. It's quite amazing to watch. I think part of the problem with introverts in general, is that we don't like small talk. We tend to like meaningful conversations that have purpose. So engaging in small talk can be tantamount to torture sometimes, because we just don't see the point. I work on improving social skills with a lot of my individuals, and part of that is improving conversation skills. Your questions at the end are exactly on point. Being a good conversationalist involves a lot of observation--visual and auditory. Did they mention going out the night before? Where? Are they wearing something that identifies an interest... a tie with spaceships on it or something like that. Make sure to comment on or acknowledge the other person's statements. Ask questions to keep the conversation going, or if the topic is dead, introduce another topic. Keeping abreast of current events, movies, TV shows, sports, and having a good, general world knowledge helps with conversation. I'm not into sports, but I keep up to date on the major things happening with our local sports teams because so many of my individuals are into sports. Starting with "What do you think about...." is a good way to get someone talking. Keeping an eye on the other person's reaction is a good thing, since you can gauge their interest level. If they look bored... end that topic and move on to another one. Pauses in the conversation are perfectly fine, as long as they don't stretch into awkward minutes. You can always fall back on talking about the weather. I hope this helps.

I'm a fellow introvert, so I feel your pain. It sounds like you've got a great handle on your strengths and weaknesses. I know what it's like to work in a less than ideal environment. Your current bosses sound like jerks. There's being extroverted, and then being a bull in a china shop. I work with a couple of those and have learned to not put up with their BS. I've found that people like that tend to view introversion as a weakness, when it's not. They prey on that weakness and try to exploit it. Don't let them. You are strong and good at what you do. I'm a bit of a contradiction when it comes to introversion. I am in no way an extrovert, but can act like one if I need to. People tend to look at me as a leader, and I've taken that role many times, including serving as president of two different professional board of directors for several years. When I say I can act like an extrovert, I'm not talking about the obnoxious, arrogant, effusive type, but rather a more quiet type who knows how to call a meeting to order and tell people to quiet down when needed. I'm a good delegator and organizer and know how to make matter-of-fact statements with confidence, even if I don't feel it. This was not always the case. I've worked in plenty of places where I was railroaded for being quiet and not part of the 'in' crowd. I didn't know how to speak up and stand up for myself back then, but I've since learned how, even though it still causes me a lot of anxiety. Cassie's got some great advice as far as using scripts or email and rehearsing situations prior to encountering them. Sometimes I get very thrown when something goes off script. Asking open-ended questions designed to get people to talk about themselves is a great idea too. As Cassie said, people love to talk about themselves. I totally get what you mean about being more extroverted with your friends. I'll chat for hours with good friends of mine and people I feel comfortable with. With strangers... not so much. I can't help you with your first question. All I can say is apply to as many jobs as possible and don't be afraid to negotiate and clearly state your needs. As far as your second question... I'll tell you what I tell my students. Fake it. You may walk into a meeting feeling like you don't know anything and it's going to be like walking a gauntlet, but keep your head up and speak with confidence and authority, even if you don't feel it inside. I know... easier said than done. And I know how exhausting it is, too. But you may need to do that until you find your ideal job where you won't have to. Best of luck. I hope this helps.

I was thinking the same thing. I really liked his stories as well.

Nothing wrong with looking

Spicy... what a great name for a stallion! I lived in Tuscon for a year quite a few years ago and worked on a ranch there. I've been back on the East coast since then. It's probably a good idea to avoid riding untrained stallions. I'm nowhere near your age and wouldn't dream of such a thing. I don't bounce as well as I used to! Sorry to hear you were recently hospitalized. I bet you're glad to be home.

I'm definitely an animal person. I have two cats and am a horse person. So you own a cryptorchid? They can be a bit of a handful sometimes.

Exactly. Flowers are for chewing.

Thank you for your comments. We all do stupid things, especially when we're hurt. lol on the catnip flowers. That would have been funny to include! Penguin is based on my own cat, Joker.

I read and respond to all reader comments, unless I inadvertently miss them, so please feel free to comment on the story. I'm thrilled to get new readers and am glad when my older stories get attention. I hope you enjoy the story.

Your comments make me want to re-read this story

Well now I'm hooked.

I've read a few of The Zot's stories and really enjoyed them. I'll be sure to check this one out.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through.