Weather

Friday, December 14, 2007

Living in Arkansas (or the South in general) means dealing with many, many different forms of insanity.

Take the current weather for example. In the past two weeks our temps have fluctuated from the 70's to the 30's. One day it will be 70 and the next 55.

Frankly, it's getting a bit old. It's a little bizarre when you can go from wearing a sweater to a short sleeved shirt in two days time.

The other thing with Arkansas is people's reaction to the weather. For instance: I am worried about facing the people who are going to flock to the stores when they hear that we have a minuscule chance of getting snow/freezing rain tomorrow. Doesn't matter that it will be too warm to stick. People hear snow/ice and they freak.

And naturally we have to go to the grocery store for the usual things plus all the makings for the cookies we will be baking Sunday morning. I think I'm going to push for a 3am grocery run. Heh. R will love that!

Having said all of the above I am very thankful that we aren't facing the weather problems that so many others have been facing the past week or so and my thoughts are with everyone who is/has been dealing with these disasters.

The Wedding

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

So my 21 year old half-brother is getting married December 22nd. I think it's kind of a last minute thing as he left for basic training in August and I just got word of the upcoming nuptials in November.

Sadly, I will be unable to attend for numerous reasons. The main one being I don't want to run into my father for the first time in 21 years at my brother's wedding.

I tried to rationalize that he would not even recognize me but R pointed out that at some point it is very likely he will overhear someone introduce me as C's sister. If I could guarantee that he would not approach me I would go. However, there are no guarantees and I'm not a saint by any means. It would be hard enough being in the same room with the man but if he approached me I don't think I could hold my shit together and I really don't want to ruin my brother's wedding.

I know I should suck it up and deal with it for my brother but I honestly don't think I can. I do have to be in Memphis the morning after his wedding which is like 500 miles away. While I could fly to his wedding and then to Memphis that would leave R making a 3 hour drive to Memphis alone with the dog. Not to mention it would probably cost me around $1,000 for the flight, hotel room and rental car. All of which are valid excuses.

So why do I still feel like hell for not going?

Will wonders never cease?

Monday, December 10, 2007

So my proposed boycotting of the exchange of Christmas presents failed for the second time so R & I have been busting our asses getting shopping done.

We went shopping Saturday. And let me just say sweet Jesus people have lost their ever loving minds. I will say that this whole Christmas shopping thing just solidifies my belief that people are inherently evil. And I'm not even talking about myself this time.

Just one example: We were checking out at one store and I said that we had been unable to locate a salesperson in a particular department--was there anyone working the floor over there? Her only response--no. WTF? She didn't ask if we had found what we needed (we hadn't) nor did she offer to get someone over there.

There was a whole line of people behind us including a couple of very elderly ladies who probably wouldn't have appreciated any fit I threw. So I let it go. Yes, you heard it here first. I let it go.

The increasing number of my random acts of kindness is beginning to frighten me.

Customer service has died and I keep getting nicer. Maybe this IS the season for miracles after all!

Nice!

Friday, December 07, 2007

I want to know who thought this design was a good idea.

Well, I guess if you want to fit in with the cocaine snorting crowd without that pesky addiction you can always flash this as your stash.

College

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Reading this post at Syd's made me think of some of the things I did in college.

One of my favorite memories includes a stolen 6' tall cutout of Bill Dance, a hand-written sign and an outdoor bulletin board on one of the main campus walkways.

Or the "imprint" of my face on the side, glass door of our dorm that stayed there for at least an entire semester.

Or the time a friend convinced our math teacher that I had pawned the school issued calculator.

Or the time she had one of our entire intro classes convinced I was sleeping with the professor for a good grade.

And I won't even get into the really mean things we did to one another or hell even start on the things we did while drinking.

It's a miracle we never got into real trouble. It probably helps that I look sweet and innocent.

Niceties

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

What in the hell has happened to customer service/the general niceness of people? I honestly dread going to just about any retail location because I know I am going to:

1) get horrible service;
2) encounter rude people; and
3) become even more disgusted with people in general.

What has happened to people? When did we dispense with the niceties? Because I think we should go back.

I have worked in customer service. Hell, just about every job I have had has had some customer service function in it. Except when I worked in social services. But, even then I started out trying to be nice to the clients until I realized that just painted me a sucker in their eyes. But, I digress.

What happened to the days when you went into a grocery store or what have you and the clerk greeted you--or hell just acknowledged your presence? What about the days when these same clerks said thank you or hell even verbalized anything?? There have been times I have gone through a check out without the cashier making any sound, not even to acknowledge my greeting. On days when I am already pissy I usually say "you're welcome" in a very irritated voice when the transaction is complete and just walk away.

Or how about when they stand there and talk to their co-workers refusing to even acknowledge your presence?

And the people I encounter! They would rather run over you than be nice to you. I was in the store Friday and a woman in an electric scooter was trying to get toilet paper off the shelf. She was struggling and people were just walking by, not even noticing. I walked up, helped her out and was on my way in a matter of seconds. Why did everyone else that passed her before I got there ignore her?

I was in the Post Office Saturday morning and this woman was holding a toddler and a package; the kid dropped his toy and I reached down to pick it up for him. The woman looked shocked. Tell me there's not something wrong when people appear more shocked when a stranger gives you a hand than when someone does something rude to them.

When did people become so callous towards one another? When did customer service die?

Sleep

Monday, December 03, 2007

Well, the weekend is over again. Too fucking soon if you ask me. But, then again I really hate Mondays.

I can never, ever sleep on Sunday nights. I usually resort to taking a Benadryl or two to knock me out, but some nights even this doesn't work & I spend the whole night tossing & turning. Alternated of course by glaring at R & the dog who are snoozing peacefully. This of course makes me mad. How dare they sleep while I lay here wide awake? R has woken up many times to me saying (not so quietly), "I really hate y'all," or "You two fucking suck." Aren't I a gem?

I used to have problems sleeping Sunday nights after I slept in all weekend. I don't really do that anymore. Which is absolutely shocking to my mother. When I stayed at her house for Thanksgiving I was up the next day at 6:00. In the morning. Without the aid of an alarm.

I am the person who used to sleep till noon at the earliest. Sometimes more like 4:00 p.m. When R & I first met I was still like this. Gradually (and with the help of having a normal 8-5 job) I began waking up before noon on weekends. Now, I don't like to sleep in past 9:00 a.m. I feel like I've wasted a good chunk of my day if I do.

What the fuck happened to me? I know I don't stay out partying until 7:00 a.m. anymore. Hell, we rarely stay out past midnight. We get together with friends for dinner & drinks & we're all yawning at 10:00.

While I no longer need 10-12 hours of sleep to feel human( read: detox after a night of partying), I do need at least 6 good hours. Preferably 8 to ensure my smiley, happy disposition (read: my not ripping someone's head off, only slightly pissy disposition).

Needless to say (if you can't already tell from the above ramble) I didn't sleep well & I'm barely functioning. If you need me I'll be the one with the coffee pot & the straw.