Party Poopers

Greetings friends!

Please, come and take a journey with me.

Imagine you have been invited to a party.  By the time this party occurs you have been anxiously looking forward to it for months.  Why are you looking forward to it?  Because of the party favors.  Seriously, this thing is going to be intense.  What would be your dream party favor?  For me, it would be... a free piano?  That sounds great.  Or, if you have a hard time thinking of this, imagine that you have been invited to attend Oprah's Favorite Things show.  (Yeah, I know it doesn't exist anymore.)  Now, you come to this party/show with a bunch of other adults knowing that there is enough for everyone.  It isn't some Black Friday sale, this is for everyone who was invited.  The moment arrives, the party favors are laid out/the magic door opens showing you what you have been waiting for.  All you have to do is go and get it.  Exciting, eh?

Now, as the door opens, there are about 3 out of the 50 people attending that run frantically and take as much as they can for themselves.  They get as much as they can, put it in their car, and then frantically run for more.  They push others to the side and are only thinking of themselves and how great it is going to be.  What will they do with all of the extras?  You don't know.  All you know is they are taking from everyone else there because they are selfish.  Are you angry?  Are you disappointed?  Are you sad?  Do you get in and fight at their level, or do you stay with you friend with the broken leg who can't get in there as fast as everyone else?

It sounds pretty ridiculous, doesn't it.  What adults would actually act that way?  I mean, I'm sure there are some.  Would you clap for them?  Would you be disgusted and complain?  What do you do in this kind of situation?

Even though that story seems a bit ludicrous, let's change the setting a little bit.

Maybe you are at a 4th of July parade.  And it's not you that is excited, it is your son or daughter.  You have worked very hard to teach them manners.  When the candy starts flying, they look to you for reassurance.  You tell them, that yes, that piece of candy 18 inches away from them is theirs for the taking.  As a wide smile spreads across their face, and they move to reach for the candy, they are pushed out of the way by other kids.  This exciting time becomes a sad day.  They wanted some candy too.  (And let's be honest, to the average 4 year old candy is as big of a deal as a piano would be to me.)  Instead of being a happy, joyous day, they leave feeling sad, dejected, and possibly physically hurt.  (Some of those kids push hard!)  As a parent (or aunt, or good friend) how do you feel?  What do you want to do about it?

This may seem pretty random, seeing as it is October.  However, Saturday my Ward had a Trunk-or-Treat.  We attended.  I didn't plan on getting much for #1, she's too young for that.  But it was fun to go and watch all of the kids.  Some of those little 4 year old kids were so cute!  There were probably about 40 kids, and about 15 cars.  Totally enough for everyone.  But there ended up not really being enough.  As the kids started going for candy, the older kids ran from car to car.  Their greedy hands excitedly took handfuls out of the offered bowls.  If you were lucky enough to catch one, you could make them put some back, but it was obvious that many of these kids had this down to a science.  Then they made the rounds again.  And again.  While trying to take care of #1, I was not as able to police my bowl of candy as I hoped.  Soon, I realized that most of my candy was gone, and all I had left was a meager offer.  When this happened all of the cute small kids were just making it around for the first time.  I happened to have the right kind of candy for some, but not for others.  How sad I was that I couldn't make all of the kids happy.  Something that bothered me the most was this conversation I heard between a mother and daughter:

Mom:  Darling, how many times have you made it around this circle?
Daughter:  (While holding a bulging bag of candy)  Oh, this is my 3rd or 4th.
Mom:  (Laughing now)  Wow, you are sure busy.  How fun.

WHAT?  Are you encouraging your kid to act this way?

As a Mom, this really troubles me.  What am I supposed to teach my kids?  I know that I should teach them to share, to not be selfish, to make sure you care about others.  But, if Saturday night is the norm, then it taught me that by having well behaved children they will be stuck with a plastic pumpkin full of Smarties.  Not that Smarties are bad, but seriously, a little variety is nice.  I realize that my kids don't need a ton of candy, but the event is half of the fun.

I won't teach my kids to be selfish.  I will stop the bad behavior that I see.  But I am seriously saddened by what I have witnessed.

Shouldn't we all teach our kids to be kind and to share?

What's With The Haters?

I quite enjoy the internet.  I love how it can be used to share goodness all around the world.  However, there is one thing that really bothers me.

It is a breeding place for haters!  I guess it may be because they can be anonymous, but there are so many people that are so mean!  Why do they have to put others down?  Why do others assume the worst of everyone?

Two recent examples:

1.  I LOVE The Piano Guys.  They recently put out a video that can be seen here .  It makes me happy.  But then I read comments about how it's so lame, and it doesn't take any talent to hit a piano (though I will say that doing so in time, including busting out some triplets when there is a basic eighth beat going on, does take talent.)  WHY?  Why must you be a hater?  Is the video hurting you?  Is it offending you?  Is it taking away some of your freedoms?  No?  Then you should probably get over yourself.

2.  I am a follower of the NieNie Dialogues.  She is a good woman who is doing her best.  She has been through horrific experiences and chooses each day to find good in the world, despite her hardships.  I have never heard (or I guess read) a mean word from her.  (Unlike myself cause I am now using my blog to complain about others.)  Yet, instead of always being met with love and respect, she is often criticized.  For what?  Rising above challenges?  Persevering through hardships?  Doing her best to be a kind and loving mother?  I guess people are critical because she advertises on her blog thus making her a "money searching jerk who is exploiting her children for her own benefit."  EXCUSE ME?  She brings hope to people every day!  I'm sure her medical expenses are insane.  If she can make a few dollars because I am choosing to read her blog and be uplifted, then good for her.  I call that being resourceful, not being a jerk.

Why has society become so hateful?  Why has it become the norm to say hurtful things?  Since when is it considered OK to say whatever you want and be inconsiderate?  Is that what people are teaching their children?  If I said things like that when I was a kid I would have been punished and then I would have had to go apologize.  Why has the internet taken that away?  It truly makes me sad.  I wish we could all be kind.  Yes, it is true, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  But I was taught that if I didn't want to say anything nice, it was best to keep my mouth shut.  Some seem to have forgotten that important lesson.

(And yes, I realize that I just said mean things so maybe I should take my own advice and keep my mouth shut.  But I'm angry, and in my defense... I didn't criticize a specific person.... does that make it a little bit more OK?)

So... JUST BE NICE!

Are You The Queen?

Here I am, ready to rant again.

SO, Friday, I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription for #1.  (Nothing major, she just takes 1 ml of re flux medicine a day.  It's pretty important, but she's not sick or anything.)  In our recent move, the closet Wal-mart is always busy.  And the pharmacy is insane.  Because I was a slacker I hadn't ordered the prescription refill until we were out of the medicine.  At the time of this story, #1 had missed 2 doses of her medicine.  She was not a happy camper.

There I am, waiting in a super long line to pick up #1's prescription.  It was just me, and because #1 had been asleep when I first got there I was carrying her in her car seat.  So, she was heavy.  But of course as soon as I got in line, she woke up.  I didn't want to pull her out, cause then I couldn't carry her, the diaper bag, and the empty car seat.  Instead I was crouching on the floor, holding a pacifier in her mouth and rocking the car seat back and forth.  It wasn't really working.  She still hated it.  And she was screaming!  I'm slowly moving up in the line, trying very hard to take care of my screaming baby.  It was quite stressful.  Then, finally, I was next in line!  I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Then, a dark cloud covered the pharmacy, and an evil woman swooped down.  (Ok, not really, but that's how it should have happened!)  She walked over to the drop-off window and I heard her say, "Hi, I need to pick up a prescription." To which the employee responded, "Sorry, ma'am, but this is the drop-off window."  Miss Queeny then flashed a flirtatious smile and said, "Yes, I know, but I'm in a hurry, and I didn't want to wait in that long line, so I thought you could help me here."  She was told no, and so she started walking towards the pick-up area.

Right as this happened my turn came up.  As I went to pick up the car seat, evil-selfish-I-Think-I'm-All-Important-woman rushed in front of me with a quick smile and a "sorry" and butted in line.

EXCUSE ME???  I was in too much shock to really say anything.  The Wal-mart employee didn't care and helped her first.  

Um... Hello!!!  Do you see me?  I've been waiting in line for 20 min!  And my daughter is screaming!  And you're mean!  I don't care who you are, get in line crazy lady!

After she was done she turned to me again, and said, "Thanks for letting me go first, I'm just in such a hurry, I'm on my lunch break."

To which I replied "I didn't let you.  You jumped in so fast that anyone with less than lighting speed reflexes had no choice, you selfish mean lady."  (Ok, I didn't say that.  But I wanted too!   I think what actually came out was, "Uh... er..."  Yep, I'm that good.)

I don't know where this lady got off.  That was just mean.  I'm sorry that you are in a hurry.  But if it is now your lunch break and it is only 2 PM and the pharmacy doesn't close till 9 PM I'm sure you could have come later!

I was very unhappy.  

That's Not Very Nice!

This morning I had been awake for about 20 min, when I got a text from a friend.  He informed me that my gmail account had been hacked, and I needed to change my password.  WHAT?  That totally whomps.

Let me explain to you the worst part of this:  my gmail account is my "professional" account.  The one that is paily.smithsonian25  instead of warmfuzziebunnyslippers.  This is the account that I use when I am applying for jobs.  Not only was my account hacked, but in the hacking the not nice person decided to email everyone I have ever sent an email too.  So, that lady that I sent an email to in 2008 when I was applying for a job in Texas (where I haven't lived for a full 2 years) got a hacked e-mail today.  Wow.  That looks professional.

So, yeah.  That's pretty embarrassing.  And, I find it interesting that Person Hacker chose the email account that I had for 3 years instead of the account I've had for 13.  I changed the password on my old account today, so I can tell you this now, but when I was in the 7th grade and I made that account I was STUPID and made my birthday my password.  I know, you're not supposed to do that.  However, in my defense in 1996-1997 I was ignorant, and to my knowledge there weren't that many hackers then.  I mean, really, the word "internet" wasn't considered a common knowledge word until 1996.  I was totally a cutting edge 13 year old!

The fact that I got hacked really is lame.  For me the strangest part is the feeling of violation I have.  I know it's just e-mail, but it was personal.  What did I ever do to them?  You should get your nose out of my business and stop trying to hurt people.

Really, why are people mean?  I know, there must needs be opposition in all things and all that, but can't we just quarantine all the mean people together?  Then they can be mean, and it's their business, and whatever.  The important thing is they would be leaving us all alone.  That is my wish.

Stupid hackers.  We are totally in a fight.

Bust Out The Buckets

Dear People of the Land of Buckets:

I bet you thought I had gone all mushy.  Didn't you??!??  I find a Scuttle and then start talking about all of the great things in life.  Blessings, service, nice people, things like that.  Well, it's OVER!  Ok, not for permanent, but for today.  I started this blog to vent... ish, and I am going to do it today!  Ready?  Set??  GO!

As previously discussed, I work at Subway.  Its not a glamorous job, but there are a severe lack of french fries so it could be worse.  Besides, have you seen the job market out there?  And you don't know my boss.  He totally rocks my knee-highs.  Every single time I have asked for time off, he has given it to me.  And my hours right now... PERFECT!  I don't have to get up early, I can pay my bills, I get evenings off to spend with people, and I haven't had to work a Saturday in over a month.  And free food every day I work.  See, now you're all jealous.

That brings me to the problem.  Subway Customers.  Now many of you are nice.  You are polite.  You can order your sub without being too needy.  Others.... Well, lets make a list of the wrong way to handle things as a customer.

1.  Don't talk to me like I'm 9.  I know, not a hard job.  A monkey could do it.  But I am doing it.  This isn't because I'm stupid.  It's because it works with my schedule.  I know you're a Dental Hygienist/Receptionist/Construction Worker/Teacher/Hair Dresser.  Yes that takes more skill than my job.  I still have a brain.  I'm in college.  I'm smart.  Don't downgrade my intelligence.

2.  Don't tell me where to put the meat.  Seriously.  We're super busy.  We are getting all of you through the line in less than a minute each.  That means 10 people, a 10 minute wait.  That's pretty impressive.  So when I am frantically putting your sub together, I'm sorry if one piece of turkey is not perfectly folded in half, thus resulting in an 1/8 inch hang over off of the bread.  Can you get over it?  There are people behind you... we're working fast.  It's all going in your mouth anyway!  

3.  Think before you say "Yep, that's it."  If you say that you don't want anything else on your sub, we are going to very quickly close it, cut it and wrap it.  Don't blink, because you will miss our super-lightning speed hands.  Why is it every time we are almost done wrapping you have to interject, "Ooops, I REALLY need salt and pepper on that too.  Sorry."  Lets be honest.  You're not sorry.  And why do you have such severe salt and pepper needs?  That's just strange.

4.  Please, PLEASE hand me your payment.  Do you see my hand? Do you see how I am holding it out in the open position so you can easily put your 28 cents into it?  Then why are you putting everything down on the counter?  I'm not hoping to catch some random gold nugget that may fall from the sky.  I want your money.  I want your money so we can get you out of here and help the next customer.  Oh wait... they just asked for salt and pepper.  We have a minute.  But that doesn't mean I want to spend that minute picking up all of the 37 pennies you just put down on the counter. The counter is slippery.  Unless you have amazing fingernails, it is hard to pick up the change.  Really.  Why did you put it down so close to my hand.  See me?  I'm right here!

5.  Please don't expect all problems to be handled in .2 seconds.  I'm sorry that our soda fountain is having problems and the soda is flat.  Meanwhile, we have 20 other people in line.  There are only 3 of us.  That means we can't run outside and change tanks right now.  Sorry.  Drink water.  It's better for you anyway.

Most people are nice.  Most people are reasonable.  Some people are insane.  "Can I have the softest bread please?  Now will you toast it?"  "I know you're still making half of my order, but can I get that sub right now and start eating it?"  "I know that you need to ask me a lot of questions, but I'm going to stand here on my cell phone, popping my gum and twirling my hair around my finger ignoring you.. like, ok?"

AAAHHHHH!!!  Sometimes I want to jump over the counter and slap you.

That is all.  Thank you for taking all of these suggestions into consideration.