busy woman all the time

kaitlyn rhodes. occasionally charming people into keeping their gym memberships, but if you want some rhodes pr magic in your life, ring me and i'll see what i can do.

[zacsylvester]

You know what summer has me thinking about? All those nostalgic snacks from the 80s and 90s that you can no longer find these days, like they're discontinued or they just don't mass produce it anymore. Started to wonder if I shouldn't add a candy counter in the store with some of those candies and snack foods, if I can find them. I'd consider some of the nostalgic drinks, too, but I don't think I can fit a cooler in the shop to keep them in. Because let's be honest, if you find a drink in a store that you haven't had since you were a kid, you're gonna wanna drink it as soon as you buy it and who wants a warm drink, am I right?

[kaitlynrhodes]

Um, yes? Absolutely. I already like frequenting the store for nostalgia purposes as it is, but if you get some of my old fave candies and snacks from growing up in the 90s? I'm sold and you will probably see my pretty face be stopping by even more on the off-chance you get any in. Besides, I can never discourage anyone from developing their brand and expanding. Good on you for accessing more of that business brain, Z!

[kaitlynrhodes]

from the sleepover meme: what are your top 3 songs that get you pumped at the gym?

Definitely not a consistent enough gym girlie to have a locked in answer for this even though I work at one. But, hey, I have been a bit more inspired to work out lately, so there's that! Anyways, let's go...

Stronger by Britney Spears

Physical by Dua Lipa

Survivor by Destiny's Child

[zacsylvester]

Oh don't you worry, I've never been one to follow the hearsay of trends and all of that nonsense. Plus, all of those older 80s and 90s romcoms prove for the most part that it's the nerdy guy who gets the girl in the end, anyway. Sometimes. Okay, maybe it's more 90s and 2000s, not so much the 80s. Anyway, yeah, trust me I feel like the term common sense is kind of an oxymoron. It's not really as common as we'd like it to be...you and I being exceptions to that of course.

[kaitlynrhodes]

You know, I don't consider myself too big of a romantic, but even I love a good romcom. And you're right, the dorky guys do tend to come out on top, and honestly? Good for them. Obviously everyone has their different tastes and things they're into, but me, personally? I don't think it can be stated enough how attractive intelligence actually is. I do have to give you credit where credit is due. You've definitely got more common sense than most of these meatheads at the gym.

[brodywestonx]

God forbid I ruin the whole “insufferable bastard” brand I’ve spent years perfecting. Glad to know I’m still safely in morally gray territory. It would’ve been deeply inconvenient to discover I’ve gone soft.

[kaitlynrhodes]

Hey, I never said you can't diversify your brand if you want. All I said was that it was a bit surprising to hear from you. Though, yes, I have to admit you have done a really good job at the "insufferable bastard" bit over the years. I mean, let's be real, you definitely do have a soft side in there somewhere, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone.

[charlierhodes]

Ewwwwwwww. See, the fact that you didn't deny the sweat print means I am officially traumatized on your behalf. Management needs to hazard-pay you for it at this point. But please, I am begging you to actually use the clipboard method. If management asks, just tell them it's a new 'customer feedback initiative' to track gym member engagement. They love corporate buzzwords like that.

[kaitlynrhodes]

No, actually, I really do deserve hazard-pay for these things. Oh my god, when were you going to tell me you're an actual genius? Okay, I'm suddenly really excited for my next shift just so I can implement this and see the look on their faces when I rate them. Did you learn all this corporate lingo working at the bank or what?

[camille-diane]

I think the real mystery is how they always manage to pick the exact moment someone is trapped and can't politely escape.

You're at work. You're literally being paid to be there.

At that point it's less flirting and more an ambush.

[kaitlynrhodes]

An ambush sounds pretty accurate, not gonna lie. Don't get me wrong, I think most of these dudes are harmless if a bit stupid, but yeah, there's definitely ones that fall into the 'ambush' category, too. I feel for anybody that has to deal with those guys more often than not.

[nick-duval]

Okay, I'm gonna have to be a slightly dissenting voice here -- only slightly though. I actually get the appeal, I do. But there's a time and a place for it, and hitting on the receptionist ain't it. At that point they're either arriving and shouldn't be disgusting yet, or leaving and should've already showered. Plus there's just questionable ethics to legitimately hitting on someone in a customer service position who can't actually tell you to get lost, at least not without risking their job. (And I say that as someone who shamelessly flatters anyone and everyone who provides me with coffee first thing in the morning, which I maintain is the proper way to show appreciation for a vital community service.)

[kaitlynrhodes]

No, I mean, you're completely right. It's definitely not the time or place. Sometimes I find it mildly entertaining based on how bad the dude's pick-up lines are, but yeah, more often than not? Definitely not okay, even if I can still find some humor in it. That being said, if anybody dares to really disrespect me, I will certainly not be quiet about it and whether that loses me this very glamorous job or not... eh, I think I'll be okay. (And, hey, for what it's worth, I personally enjoy shameless flattery that's relatively harmless, so you wouldn't get any complaints from me there.)

[brodywestonx]

Am I a terrible person for secretly enjoying the absolute chaos of a public meltdown over something entirely trivial? Because watching two grown adults argue over the last parking spot at the bistro today was genuinely the most entertaining theater I've seen all year.

[kaitlynrhodes]

Wait, hold up. You care whether or not you're seen as a terrible person? Wow, you're going against your whole brand, Weston. Anyways, no, it doesn't. Even the nicest, most saintly people are capable of enjoying other people's public drama.

[zacsylvester]

Okay, so we can add this to a list of why me not going to the gym on a consistent basis is more of a pro, because it makes me at least a level up from those creeps. Not that being a gym bro was ever in the stars for me, anyway. I’m pretty sure basic hygiene should be the bare minimum before anyone even attempting to flirt with a pretty lady. Like the gym does have showers, right? Are they aware of this?

[kaitlynrhodes]

Honestly, thank God you're not or I probably wouldn't be able to stand talking to you right now. Never let anyone tell you women only want men with big muscles, Z. Don't get me wrong, they're nice to look at and touch, but I'm much more likely to give a guy the time of day that doesn't have them where his brains should be. And, you know, it definitely does and you'd think they would be, but I work in a gym and it's not exactly rare for me to encounter many men without common sense.

[charlierhodes]

You are definitely not wrong, that is absolutely vile. Please do not tell me someone's left a sweat print, because I will genuinely gag. There is a massive difference between "post-workout glow" and "biohazard," and someone needs to print that out and tape it to the front desk. OMG, no. You know what you should do? Just start rating their pickup lines on a scale of one to ten right to their faces. I bet the second you whip out a clipboard and tell a guy his alpha-male pheromones are scoring a solid two, the problem will solve itself pretty quickly.

[kaitlynrhodes]

I mean... you told me not to tell you, so I won't. But I've seen things, Char. Disgusting things I wish I'd never seen before, let's just say that. And I honestly would do that if management wouldn't get on my case for being rude. But that second idea right there? That is a novel idea, sis, and I might just have to borrow that straight from your beautiful brain. Plus, I do just really love humbling men in general, so that's right up my alley.

[kaitlynrhodes]

Can someone tell me why gym bros think it's even remotely okay to come over and hit on me while they're sweaty, gross, and musty? Like, I get it, I'm hot and I'm usually not doing much but tapping away on my phone at my receptionist desk. Go ahead, shoot your shot! But come on, dude, at least have the decency to wait until you don't stink to do it. It's not just me, right? Literally nobody likes that. I mean, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong and you actually like the sweat. I promise I'll try my best to only judge you a little.