The Mystery of the Basic Flake

December 19, 2018 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, life lessons, Dating, Life In Your 20's

When I ran into “Vanessa” - a name designation made only for the alliteration of “Vanessa the Vixen” - a few weeks ago, I hadn’t seen her in years. The last time I thought of her was probably two years before and only because her younger sister posted something on Facebook tagging her.

Growing up, Vanessa always existed in the periphery of my universe. She was the older, popular, valley girl-esque blonde who lived in my neighborhood and always seemed to be attached to some faceless jock. We went to the same elementary, middle, and high school and then even college, but I don’t think we ever ran into each other there. We may have 160 mutual friends on social media, but that hardly denotes being part of the same friendship circle.

The Case of the Mistaken Relationship

September 25, 2018 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Dating, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

I recently had to plan a dinner for an important figurehead at my university. At the last minute some seats opened up so I asked my friend Liza to come. Liza and I have been close friends for several years.

My other friend, Peter, signed up weeks before and usually was at these sorts of functions anyway. Liza knew less of the people so she stuck by my side at the beginning of the dinner. When Peter arrived, I introduced them. Soon Liza spotted another acquaintance and slipped away to chat.

How To Handle Rejection

September 18, 2018 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, life lessons, Life In Your 20's, Humor

Since 2005, I have committed a few faux pas on Facebook. I don’t think my sins will ever approach the gracelessness of a middle-aged mother on Facebook (that’s a jab at my own), but I am not some beacon of social media poise. I have accidentally poked, unintentionally shared, and once even tagged myself in a stranger’s profile picture. That last blunder may be most embarrassing moment – until last week.

I have known “Phil” for several years. We share the same friendship circle, see each other monthly, and have the rapport of managing elevator talk if we even communicate at all. However, by proximity, history, and mutual friends, I daresay we are more than acquaintances.

The Case of the Stolen Muffin

April 03, 2018 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

A few weeks ago, I got invited to a networking event. For the first hour, there would be an open bar. Of course, there was no liquor, which is my weapon of choice, but red wine would do. I needed to meet people.

The end of the hour drew near. I made my way back to the bar. The bartender had gone missing, but I noticed two glasses by the register—a glass of red and a glass of white.

A friend drew my attention. By the time the conversation ended, the hour had passed. The bartender asked for my credit card. I spotted the two glasses still there.

Facebook Friends Aren't Real

January 09, 2017 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

For a while, I’ve known that being Facebook friends means almost nothing. In early college, I went through a period where I added every soul I met on this earth, and years later, I have retained most of those acquaintances because I don’t defriend people. I don’t see the point in it. What am I hiding? You never know when you might need that connection one day.

Of course, people have defriended me. It’s always great when the dude you invited to your birthday in tenth grade now pops up under “People You May Know.” Hey…when did he cut me out of his friends list? Does our history not matter? I’ve known you since second grade.

Then there’s the senior class president of my high school. We knew each other all of high school, were Facebook friends certainly for all four years of that hellhole, and you would assume we would remain *Facebook friends* into the real world, not just because, you know, we were friends, but also because she was senior class president.

Do I Recognize You? Maybe Not? Should I STFU?

November 07, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

Last Friday I was at a bar with some friends when “Neal” joined us. He brought his lady friend who I immediately recognized. Now this is landmark for me. I rarely remember people. But I knew I had seen her before. And I assumed I must have seen her with “Neal” the last time we hung out.

So I said as much after Neal and “Mindy” sat down with us.

Me: “Hey, how are you? It’s nice to see you again.”

Mindy: “Oh, have we met before?”

Here was my chance to just say, “Oh, el oh el, probably not. Jay kay. I’m Cazey.” Instead, I persisted in my ignorant ways and said, “Yeah, I think you were with Neal last time I saw him.

The People We Know, But Don't Really

October 03, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

We’ve all been there. We meet many people in life. Often we forget their names (at least I do), but seldom do we forget their faces. And then, months later, we’re beside them in a checkout line or in the same elevator (hit the emergency button!), and we know we know them, but do they remember? Do we bring it up? Do we say hi? Or do we pretend we don’t recognize them? Or, even better, we don’t see them?

This most recently happened to me while I was at Kroger. Two guys live above me in my apartment building. We share many acquaintances (44 mutual friends according to Facebook), but we’ve run into each other about three times in the last year. The furthest our conversation has gone is “What’s up?” while one of us holds the door.

Suddenly I found myself at the self-checkout counter beside my neighbor. What do I do? Do I say hi? He’s focusing on his screen. Let me focus harder on mine. Or should I interrupt him to say hey? Am I rude to say nothing? Or is it weirder to say something?

Five Ways To Alienate Your Friends

April 27, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had some interactions with friends that I think were less than appreciated. I mean, I wouldn't appreciate them. In most circumstances I'm either not sure what I was thinking or I just wasn't thinking, period. Or I was drunk. Either way, I decided I should share these incidents so readers can avoid repeating my prat falls.

The first happened at dinner with my friend. We had finished eating when the waitress came over and asked if she could get us anything else. Maybe it was the pizza, maybe it was the rum and diet, but I said, "Sure, could I get coke?"

Painting with Ketchup

December 23, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

Paint Nites, if you don’t know, are events held at local restaurants and bars where a painter walks you through replicating some painting to the best of your ability while you sip on a cocktail. You sign up based on which painting you want to replicate. I recommend enrolling via Groupon vs. the actual Paint Nite site ($25 vs. $45, respectively).

I went to art school for a whole year in fifth grade. I don’t paint on any regular basis, but I do have creative bones in my body. There’s this one 3-D painting I created three years ago that I used to hang over my fireplace in my apartment until my mom visited and asked why I had it on display.

11 Tips For Eating Healthy Over the Holidays

November 25, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Richmond Brunch Review

Around the holidays we find ourselves at far more parties and big meals with friends and family we haven’t seen in a while. The sun also sets sooner, which means less motivation to go for a run. At least for me.

We then complain about gaining weight. But what if I told you there was a way to avoid gaining weight? And you could make $100K a year? And get the spouse of your dreams? Well, I can only promise you the first part – and I can’t even promise you that. But here are 11 tips for not gaining a turkey over the holidays.