I usually don’t go in for New Year’s Resolutions. I just don’t see the point in waiting until then to make a change in oneself or one’s life. Just seems like a way of delaying having to do or stop doing something. If you are going to delay it, you will most likely not follow through with it. At least, that has been my experience and observation. That is why I didn’t wait until January 1st to quit smoking. I quit – cold turkey, so to speak – in July (I think)… maybe August. Not sure.
BUT
I am making a resolution right now. I resolve to stop thinking that everything will work itself out. I kind of have that problem. I feel that if something is supposed to happen, it will happen. That is not to say that I do not work for certain goals, or try to achieve things on my own, but I do everything that I can and let “fate” take over. I have to stop doing that. I should really try and come up with a way to continue working to get something/somewhere until I do or I am told that it won’t happen at all.
Don’t give up, I guess. Yes, that would be the most succinct way of putting my resolution.
As far as having the old year exit on the right note, I have some things to say:
S – You are an excellent mother and very good friend. I am sorry that things are hard for you, but I cannot do any more to help you. All it is doing is enabling you to be lazy and not take responsibility for yourself. I have gathered the courage to be more open with you, but I just don’t have the courage to say this to your face. I do not want that argument. There is too much at risk for you to feel slighted by my bluntness, but I know that down the road, you will agree that it is exactly what is happening.
J – I am not running. I am going nowhere. I will stop standing idly by while you emotionally shred yourself. You must change that or there will be many conversations about it leading to actually arguments. I do NOT want you to “pretend” that everything is great, either. I want you to realize that you are worth more than the constant barrage of negativity you unleash upon yourself. I will do anything I can to help.
Trolls, haters, and racists – Fuck off and die. Eat shit. Gag on mass quantities of Drano. How else can I put this? You are no better than the KKK or Jesse Jackson. I wish for you in the New Year to be faced with having to rely on someone that you hate to save your life. Yes, I want you all to be beaten, car or airplane wrecked or anything to within moments of death, only to have your worst “enemy” be the one to save you. With your mentalities, it still won’t make a difference.
Motto for 2007: Be good or be good at it!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
PISD has me PISSED
My son is 5 years old. This is relevant because my son is in kindergarten in the Plano Independent School District (PISD). The PISD has come out on the subject of Christmas with a “We will not favor one religion above the others, so we will call it a Winter Break and the children can have a Holiday Party” stance.
I feel just fine with that. I think it is ridiculous, but I can live with the complete absence of any religion in the classroom.
Then tell me, why did my son make a menorah in his class? Is that not a religious icon for Hanukah? Is that not a Jewish holiday?
Don’t get me wrong, I really could not care any less if the schools want to have a Christmas party or Yule celebration or have the kids make Kwanza stuff. I want my son to LEARN about the world, so teach in school.
BUT, if you are going to say that children cannot bring candy canes to school for other children because they are signifying the shepherd’s crock, and thusly, Christ as the shepherd and all that shit (yes, it happened a couple of years ago right here in PISD), do NOT have my son make a drawing, cut-out, coloring or anything else of any religion!
I love freedom, but this shit has GOT to stop! No more pandering to the minorities, regardless of whom or what they are. We, the citizens of this country, must take action to get this rampant “political correct” pandemic under control. I fear it may already be too late, but here is what I suggest:
When you see someone trying to take advantage of the system so that they can continue to not have to be responsible for their actions (i.e. frivolous lawsuits, manipulating the Welfare system, trying to set someone else up for a quick and easy buck), call them on it. Get their personal information and spread the word. There is no law forbidding the telling of the truth.
There are more people that are honest than there are that are dishonest. That means, we, the honest folks, are the MAJORITY. Let’s use that weight and force our representatives in power (that we were supposed to have put there) to start SOLVING the problems instead of dancing around them.
I am just so sick of everyone trying so hard to make sure that no one gets their feelings hurt, so no one stands up and says, “You are acting like a child. You are wrong!”
There are people like this in EVERY race and EVERY religion. Call the wrong-doers out and take a stand.
Theodore Roosevelt, in a letter to the American Defense Society in 1919, said this:
"In the first place we should insist that the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equity with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
And for shit’s sake, stop getting all up in arms about the stuff that doesn’t matter in the long run.
Thanks for listening. I rambled a bit, but I have had some things on my chest, and now they are off.
I feel just fine with that. I think it is ridiculous, but I can live with the complete absence of any religion in the classroom.
Then tell me, why did my son make a menorah in his class? Is that not a religious icon for Hanukah? Is that not a Jewish holiday?
Don’t get me wrong, I really could not care any less if the schools want to have a Christmas party or Yule celebration or have the kids make Kwanza stuff. I want my son to LEARN about the world, so teach in school.
BUT, if you are going to say that children cannot bring candy canes to school for other children because they are signifying the shepherd’s crock, and thusly, Christ as the shepherd and all that shit (yes, it happened a couple of years ago right here in PISD), do NOT have my son make a drawing, cut-out, coloring or anything else of any religion!
I love freedom, but this shit has GOT to stop! No more pandering to the minorities, regardless of whom or what they are. We, the citizens of this country, must take action to get this rampant “political correct” pandemic under control. I fear it may already be too late, but here is what I suggest:
When you see someone trying to take advantage of the system so that they can continue to not have to be responsible for their actions (i.e. frivolous lawsuits, manipulating the Welfare system, trying to set someone else up for a quick and easy buck), call them on it. Get their personal information and spread the word. There is no law forbidding the telling of the truth.
There are more people that are honest than there are that are dishonest. That means, we, the honest folks, are the MAJORITY. Let’s use that weight and force our representatives in power (that we were supposed to have put there) to start SOLVING the problems instead of dancing around them.
I am just so sick of everyone trying so hard to make sure that no one gets their feelings hurt, so no one stands up and says, “You are acting like a child. You are wrong!”
There are people like this in EVERY race and EVERY religion. Call the wrong-doers out and take a stand.
Theodore Roosevelt, in a letter to the American Defense Society in 1919, said this:
"In the first place we should insist that the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equity with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
And for shit’s sake, stop getting all up in arms about the stuff that doesn’t matter in the long run.
Thanks for listening. I rambled a bit, but I have had some things on my chest, and now they are off.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Customer Service
Because my job also has me working partly in Customer Service, I have high expectations to any service I receive. I will try to keep in mind that the person on the other end of the phone is NOT responsible for whatever my problem is. I will say things like “please” and “thank you”. Basically, I will show them respect.
I know – first hand! – how frustrating it is to work in this field, so I give a LOT of leeway to the representative or agent I am working with. I also, if the situation warrants, will call to PRAISE the rep that I dealt with to his or her supervisor.
There is absolutely NO reason for ANY rep to get bitchy with me. I remain calm, even if I am not getting the satisfaction I am looking for.
So now, I rant:
I called the power company because the power went out all over my apartment complex. All business and housing AROUND my complex was still operational, but I was in the dark. I checked with neighbors, same situation. I called, and after a long time on hold (to be expected in this situation), I spoke with perhaps the rudest rep ever! She was antagonistic from the get go. She spoke in a short, tight manner as if I was a child and understood nothing.
I usually try and find fault in my half of the conversation for the attitude of the rep to which I talk. Yes, I do lose my temper every now and again. Frustration can only be checked for so long. But this time, I did nothing wrong… honestly!
I got her name and proceeded to inform her that I was only calling to make sure that someone was aware of the issue and, if so, see if there was an estimated time to restoration of power. Her flagrant disregard for civility and manners is a prime example of why her company is losing customers left and right to smaller companies. That and the ridiculous rates they charge the customers. She began to snap back and I interrupted her, telling her that she was not worth the time or the energy it would take to argue with her.
I hung up and immediately called back. When I got another rep, I asked for a supervisor. She tried to assist, but I refused to talk to her or anyone else that wasn’t a supervisor. I did this in a very calm and rational tone. When the supervisor came on, I explained the situation fully and calmly. She said she would speak with the rep and pull the recording of the conversation if there was one.
Will she do it? I don’t know. I really don’t care. I just want to make sure that I, the consumer, am heard.
I advise ALL of you reading this to stop taking poor service. Demand professionalism and respect.
This is ESPECIALLY true for waiters and waitresses. If I get poor service, I tip poorly. I generally start at 20% and the level of service I receive either raises it or lowers it. If I feel that the service I received was truly abominable, I will leave only what coins are left after the change is returned. Conversely, if the service I receive is spectacular, I will (and have done this this very week!) leave as much as 50%. I do not care if you’re counting on my tip; I reward good service and refuse to reward bad service. Want a better tip, provide service worth it.
Gratuity: 1. a gift of money, over and above payment due for service; tip 2. something given without claim or demand.
Where, in that definition, does it say anything about tipping being required? We, the customers and consumers, have the power to change this state of affairs. We can, but only if we stop rolling over and taking what is given to us.
Where you see a cane, I see a crock.
Where you see a crowd, I see a flock.
I know – first hand! – how frustrating it is to work in this field, so I give a LOT of leeway to the representative or agent I am working with. I also, if the situation warrants, will call to PRAISE the rep that I dealt with to his or her supervisor.
There is absolutely NO reason for ANY rep to get bitchy with me. I remain calm, even if I am not getting the satisfaction I am looking for.
So now, I rant:
I called the power company because the power went out all over my apartment complex. All business and housing AROUND my complex was still operational, but I was in the dark. I checked with neighbors, same situation. I called, and after a long time on hold (to be expected in this situation), I spoke with perhaps the rudest rep ever! She was antagonistic from the get go. She spoke in a short, tight manner as if I was a child and understood nothing.
I usually try and find fault in my half of the conversation for the attitude of the rep to which I talk. Yes, I do lose my temper every now and again. Frustration can only be checked for so long. But this time, I did nothing wrong… honestly!
I got her name and proceeded to inform her that I was only calling to make sure that someone was aware of the issue and, if so, see if there was an estimated time to restoration of power. Her flagrant disregard for civility and manners is a prime example of why her company is losing customers left and right to smaller companies. That and the ridiculous rates they charge the customers. She began to snap back and I interrupted her, telling her that she was not worth the time or the energy it would take to argue with her.
I hung up and immediately called back. When I got another rep, I asked for a supervisor. She tried to assist, but I refused to talk to her or anyone else that wasn’t a supervisor. I did this in a very calm and rational tone. When the supervisor came on, I explained the situation fully and calmly. She said she would speak with the rep and pull the recording of the conversation if there was one.
Will she do it? I don’t know. I really don’t care. I just want to make sure that I, the consumer, am heard.
I advise ALL of you reading this to stop taking poor service. Demand professionalism and respect.
This is ESPECIALLY true for waiters and waitresses. If I get poor service, I tip poorly. I generally start at 20% and the level of service I receive either raises it or lowers it. If I feel that the service I received was truly abominable, I will leave only what coins are left after the change is returned. Conversely, if the service I receive is spectacular, I will (and have done this this very week!) leave as much as 50%. I do not care if you’re counting on my tip; I reward good service and refuse to reward bad service. Want a better tip, provide service worth it.
Gratuity: 1. a gift of money, over and above payment due for service; tip 2. something given without claim or demand.
Where, in that definition, does it say anything about tipping being required? We, the customers and consumers, have the power to change this state of affairs. We can, but only if we stop rolling over and taking what is given to us.
Where you see a cane, I see a crock.
Where you see a crowd, I see a flock.
Monday, December 18, 2006
I got PROOF!
Check this out:
Wow. I never wouold have guessed!
| Your Social Dysfunction: Normal Being average in terms of how social you are, as well as the amount of self-esteem you have, you're pretty much normal. Good on you. | ||||
| ||||
| Take'>http://www.quizgalaxy.com/quiz.php?id=72">Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com Please note that we aren't, nor do we claim to be, psychologists. This quiz is for fun and entertainment only. Try not to freak out about your results. |
Wow. I never wouold have guessed!
Friday, December 15, 2006
My son, my fear, my problem
My son, my 5 year old, hit (or “punched” as was reported to me) two other children in his class, yesterday (December 14). As if that wasn’t enough, one of those kids was a girl.
A GIRL!!
What the fuck?
I have always emphasized that he, as a boy, NEVER hits a girl – he PROTECTS them from others that would try and hurt them!
Please reference the two entries on Degrading Women for more about how men should behave regarding women.
I asked him why he did it, and he said that they were calling him names. I asked what they were saying and he said that they called him a crybaby. When I went off (and I did) about him hitting a girl (one that was supposed to be his girl-friend), he said that he did it because she told him she didn’t want him.
Get used to that one, son! Some women will totally fuck with your emotions and your head. On the flip side, so will some guys (to women). They are present in both sexes, these assclowns.
I really wanted to spank him. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated and deserves corporal punishment, but I just couldn’t do it. I should have tanned his ass, big time! But, after everything I have been through in the past 2 years, I am afraid. I live in fear that the state of Texas will swoop down and claim me an unfit parent and take him away. I worry that he will mention getting a spanking and then CPS will step in and I will lose him, as I lost my daughter.
My son deserved a spanking, but I am second guessing all of my parental decisions because of my fear of an overzealous arm of a heavy handed state government. This is not a good situation. My son knows better. He has been taught better than this… at least, I thought he had been taught better than this.
I will say this much, if he EVER hits another girl, I WILL spank him for it. I will make sure that my anger has subsided and I am calm and rational, but I WILL make him understand that you NEVER hit a girl, and his ass will feel the sting of a couple of good swats to help him remember it!
Yes, this one will keep me on my toes.
A GIRL!!
What the fuck?
I have always emphasized that he, as a boy, NEVER hits a girl – he PROTECTS them from others that would try and hurt them!
Please reference the two entries on Degrading Women for more about how men should behave regarding women.
I asked him why he did it, and he said that they were calling him names. I asked what they were saying and he said that they called him a crybaby. When I went off (and I did) about him hitting a girl (one that was supposed to be his girl-friend), he said that he did it because she told him she didn’t want him.
Get used to that one, son! Some women will totally fuck with your emotions and your head. On the flip side, so will some guys (to women). They are present in both sexes, these assclowns.
I really wanted to spank him. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated and deserves corporal punishment, but I just couldn’t do it. I should have tanned his ass, big time! But, after everything I have been through in the past 2 years, I am afraid. I live in fear that the state of Texas will swoop down and claim me an unfit parent and take him away. I worry that he will mention getting a spanking and then CPS will step in and I will lose him, as I lost my daughter.
My son deserved a spanking, but I am second guessing all of my parental decisions because of my fear of an overzealous arm of a heavy handed state government. This is not a good situation. My son knows better. He has been taught better than this… at least, I thought he had been taught better than this.
I will say this much, if he EVER hits another girl, I WILL spank him for it. I will make sure that my anger has subsided and I am calm and rational, but I WILL make him understand that you NEVER hit a girl, and his ass will feel the sting of a couple of good swats to help him remember it!
Yes, this one will keep me on my toes.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
McDonalds has deep pockets
My son loves McDonalds. He’s 5, so he has not developed acute culinary tastes, yet. He likes it for the Play Area. OK. I can suck it up and allow him to romp in an area made just for kids. He’ll have some fun.
Saturday, I take the young one to the Mickey-D’s on Belt Line near Plano Parkway. I pass it on a pretty regular basis and have always thought that the play area looked cool (kind of a central American jungle/Jurassic Park look to it). We get in there and the design is actually the worst in the world.
First off, the tables are tall with tall chairs. Kids that are shorter than 5 feet tall are going to have a problem getting into and out of these chairs. Shit, ADULTS were having trouble! My son was sitting on the edge, as he is 5 and excited to be in the play area, and slipped off the chair, pushing his arm (which was resting on the table) up at an awkward angle and height. Great crying ensued as he was in some noteworthy pain.
Along the back wall is a slide that is about 12 to 15 feet tall. Kids climb through the plastic maze to get to the slide and slide down. Great fun, as my son reported to me numerous times after sliding down. I watch and proceed to get pissed as several kids ranging in age from 3 to 12 start walking up the slide to get to the top instead of taking the ladder-maze thing! Kids are trying to slide DOWN the slide! At the base of the slide is a wall with a long bench on it. This is where the “parents” sit to “supervise” their children. NONE – NOT ONE – of these ….. these ….. BREEDERS (I now know what the CL poster meant by the difference in Parents and Breeders!) says anything to ANY of the children. So I do.
I get up, walk over to the bottom of the slide and yell up to all of the children that the slide is one way – DOWN! Walking up the slide is rude and dangerous to the children doing the walking as well as the children sliding down. I know the offending kids heard me; they all looked at me. I know the Breeders heard me; I wasn’t 2 feet in front of them and yelling over the din of laughing and screaming children. I walk away talking – very loudly to myself (in typical passive/aggressive style) about how I will have to step up and parent everyone’s children as none of them are doing it!
I get back to the table and look back and see that my son is now stuck in a traffic jam as another 10 year old looking fucker is walking up the slide and has stopped traffic 4-5 kids deep. I go get the manager and use key words like liability, safety violation, injury and lawsuit. The manager still says that there is nothing he can do, as the moment he walks away from the kids, they will just do it again.
This apathetic managerial style is unacceptable to me, so I pack up my son and we are out of there. I know that the loss of my patronage will do nothing to impact the profits of this internationally recognized and age-old institution of a fast food chain, but I urge ALL people to voice their disgust at poor to pathetic service.
Bad design, bad parenting and bad managing are making this great looking play area a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Saturday, I take the young one to the Mickey-D’s on Belt Line near Plano Parkway. I pass it on a pretty regular basis and have always thought that the play area looked cool (kind of a central American jungle/Jurassic Park look to it). We get in there and the design is actually the worst in the world.
First off, the tables are tall with tall chairs. Kids that are shorter than 5 feet tall are going to have a problem getting into and out of these chairs. Shit, ADULTS were having trouble! My son was sitting on the edge, as he is 5 and excited to be in the play area, and slipped off the chair, pushing his arm (which was resting on the table) up at an awkward angle and height. Great crying ensued as he was in some noteworthy pain.
Along the back wall is a slide that is about 12 to 15 feet tall. Kids climb through the plastic maze to get to the slide and slide down. Great fun, as my son reported to me numerous times after sliding down. I watch and proceed to get pissed as several kids ranging in age from 3 to 12 start walking up the slide to get to the top instead of taking the ladder-maze thing! Kids are trying to slide DOWN the slide! At the base of the slide is a wall with a long bench on it. This is where the “parents” sit to “supervise” their children. NONE – NOT ONE – of these ….. these ….. BREEDERS (I now know what the CL poster meant by the difference in Parents and Breeders!) says anything to ANY of the children. So I do.
I get up, walk over to the bottom of the slide and yell up to all of the children that the slide is one way – DOWN! Walking up the slide is rude and dangerous to the children doing the walking as well as the children sliding down. I know the offending kids heard me; they all looked at me. I know the Breeders heard me; I wasn’t 2 feet in front of them and yelling over the din of laughing and screaming children. I walk away talking – very loudly to myself (in typical passive/aggressive style) about how I will have to step up and parent everyone’s children as none of them are doing it!
I get back to the table and look back and see that my son is now stuck in a traffic jam as another 10 year old looking fucker is walking up the slide and has stopped traffic 4-5 kids deep. I go get the manager and use key words like liability, safety violation, injury and lawsuit. The manager still says that there is nothing he can do, as the moment he walks away from the kids, they will just do it again.
This apathetic managerial style is unacceptable to me, so I pack up my son and we are out of there. I know that the loss of my patronage will do nothing to impact the profits of this internationally recognized and age-old institution of a fast food chain, but I urge ALL people to voice their disgust at poor to pathetic service.
Bad design, bad parenting and bad managing are making this great looking play area a lawsuit waiting to happen.
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