People are funny, not in the ha-ha kind of way but in the I-find-that-interesting-way. The best way to see that is to look around at the people in your life. Not at your family, those people are strange and bizarre, at least mine are, no matter how you view them.
Look at your friends, those people you've let into your life, those who you choose to spend time with. This is actually a fun exercise in who you are. How you ask?
Well, think about one of your friends, got it? What personality traits spring to mind about them? Be honest, no one is listening in your head (I hope).
What would say about them? What things do you love/like about them? What traits annoy the crap out of you? Okay, got those? You can write them down if you need to...I'll wait...
How does this relate to you? Well, think about the part that you love/like and how this makes you feel. Are you missing that part in you and does this person fill that in you? Or does it compliment you because you both share it? The same question goes for things you dislike about them. Is this a reflection in you or is it something you need to learn from them?
How often do we evaluate our friends in our lives? Family, hell yes! Nothing is more bizarre the eclecticism of people who share DNA. Do you ever look at your friends and wonder what drew you too together? Why you stay together? What do they provide to you and you to them?
This kind of relationship is the most interesting in my life, the one I truly find fascinating. Spouses make sense, kids, parents & siblings make sense and how it's all connected and drawn together. But friends, friends are truly free will. And that makes them so very special.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Hangover
Movie premieres at midnight are insane, but I found myself there last night waiting with all the other crazy people for the next installment of Hangover 2. Ignore the fact I would normally be in bed at this time sleeping peacefully but instead find myself sitting in a sticky seat next to loud and annoying neighbors for the opportunity to see the release first.
I've done this before with the Twilight & New Moon midnight releases and luckily tonight we didn't have to camp in the lobby waiting for a theater. How I let Quinn convince me this was a great idea is truly beyond my comprehension, maybe because I am seconds away from nodding off in my chair.
So we sit and wait. And wait. And wait...the screen flashes, the crowd cheers, but then nothing. Chuckling abounds and voices range in a mix of snide comments to excitement. Still we continue to wait, time ticking by. 5 minutes slide into 10 then into 20, but still no wonderful graphics show up on the screen. People become restless, the energy is feeling hostile, irritability begins to rise in the room.
We see people get up and leave, a few here and there. Then more. A few people return and now talk has begun to circulate that the movie is delayed a 1 1/2hr...so we discuss whether we want to stay and wait. Why not, getting through the crowd right now would take just as long.
We look around and see a relatively empty theater, so we get up and find a better seat, woohoo, we scored!
Then a staff person comes in. Bad news, they are unable to get the movie going and we can go out and get a new ticket/pass and that they are very sorry. UGH! It's now almost 1am and we have really nothing to show for it. But what can you do. The staff was very apologetic and there is only so much you can do to control technology. When it won't work, it won't work.
So we trudge down the step looking wistfully at our great seats and join the throng of waiting, annoyed movie goers for their free pass. Generously the theater also gave our money back for our concessions, which was a bonus for me because I used my free popcorn coupon. I should feel bad, but I just sat for almost 2 hours for a movie that wasn't going to happen, so I don't.
We did arrive home ahead of schedule, too bad I now couldn't sleep and stayed up until 3am, which would have been our original arrival time back home. Irony at it's finest.
Maybe we will get to see the movie this weekend...maybe.
I've done this before with the Twilight & New Moon midnight releases and luckily tonight we didn't have to camp in the lobby waiting for a theater. How I let Quinn convince me this was a great idea is truly beyond my comprehension, maybe because I am seconds away from nodding off in my chair.
So we sit and wait. And wait. And wait...the screen flashes, the crowd cheers, but then nothing. Chuckling abounds and voices range in a mix of snide comments to excitement. Still we continue to wait, time ticking by. 5 minutes slide into 10 then into 20, but still no wonderful graphics show up on the screen. People become restless, the energy is feeling hostile, irritability begins to rise in the room.
We see people get up and leave, a few here and there. Then more. A few people return and now talk has begun to circulate that the movie is delayed a 1 1/2hr...so we discuss whether we want to stay and wait. Why not, getting through the crowd right now would take just as long.
We look around and see a relatively empty theater, so we get up and find a better seat, woohoo, we scored!
Then a staff person comes in. Bad news, they are unable to get the movie going and we can go out and get a new ticket/pass and that they are very sorry. UGH! It's now almost 1am and we have really nothing to show for it. But what can you do. The staff was very apologetic and there is only so much you can do to control technology. When it won't work, it won't work.
So we trudge down the step looking wistfully at our great seats and join the throng of waiting, annoyed movie goers for their free pass. Generously the theater also gave our money back for our concessions, which was a bonus for me because I used my free popcorn coupon. I should feel bad, but I just sat for almost 2 hours for a movie that wasn't going to happen, so I don't.
We did arrive home ahead of schedule, too bad I now couldn't sleep and stayed up until 3am, which would have been our original arrival time back home. Irony at it's finest.
Maybe we will get to see the movie this weekend...maybe.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Teenager drivers
I've entered a new phase in my life, I knew it was coming because it's a natural progression in life. My teenager is driving.
For those who have lived it, I share your shudder. It is a horrifying experience. There is no better way to explain how you can put your life in the hands of a person who has no legal rights that are recognized. And if they happen to actually kill you, will be gifted to another family.
It's not like they listen to you normally, now you have to tell them what to do behind the wheel of YOUR car. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "Yeah, yeah, Mom, I know!", I would have a better car!
Let's start with the word STOP. It seems pretty clear doesn't it? It means to halt all action, to cease movement. Well, apparently this was not in the manual or on the Washington State Driving test because I find when I say, "Stop", I begin to repeat myself, progressively getting louder and louder as we hurtle toward to item I didn't want to hit in the first place. When she finally hits the brakes in a bone jarring halt with us slamming back and forth like a paddle ball, I get "I was stopping" sneer. Really? My chiropractor will probably disagree.
Next is, "What are those line for?" MMmmmmm...imagine if they were there because we are supposed to stay between them. I am truly surprised we haven't been pulled over for weaving like a drunk before now, it's sad on how many turtles she has killed.
This one is my favorite, other people share the road. It happens. But OH MY GOD, she totally freaks out when a car starts following her or heaven-forbid a biker is along side the road. I have feared for the safety of those unsuspecting targets, sweating as we whiz by narrowly missing them. Luckily we've gotten past the issue of cars coming toward us, that sent her into fits for awhile and gave me some additional gray to my hair.
We haven't graduated to the freeway yet, I don't think I'm ready just yet. That may require a trip to the store for some Depends.
For those who have lived it, I share your shudder. It is a horrifying experience. There is no better way to explain how you can put your life in the hands of a person who has no legal rights that are recognized. And if they happen to actually kill you, will be gifted to another family.
It's not like they listen to you normally, now you have to tell them what to do behind the wheel of YOUR car. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "Yeah, yeah, Mom, I know!", I would have a better car!
Let's start with the word STOP. It seems pretty clear doesn't it? It means to halt all action, to cease movement. Well, apparently this was not in the manual or on the Washington State Driving test because I find when I say, "Stop", I begin to repeat myself, progressively getting louder and louder as we hurtle toward to item I didn't want to hit in the first place. When she finally hits the brakes in a bone jarring halt with us slamming back and forth like a paddle ball, I get "I was stopping" sneer. Really? My chiropractor will probably disagree.
Next is, "What are those line for?" MMmmmmm...imagine if they were there because we are supposed to stay between them. I am truly surprised we haven't been pulled over for weaving like a drunk before now, it's sad on how many turtles she has killed.
This one is my favorite, other people share the road. It happens. But OH MY GOD, she totally freaks out when a car starts following her or heaven-forbid a biker is along side the road. I have feared for the safety of those unsuspecting targets, sweating as we whiz by narrowly missing them. Luckily we've gotten past the issue of cars coming toward us, that sent her into fits for awhile and gave me some additional gray to my hair.
We haven't graduated to the freeway yet, I don't think I'm ready just yet. That may require a trip to the store for some Depends.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Death cry
We are bloodthirsty, there is no sugar coating it. It doesn't matter how far we have come in our evolution whether that is spiritual, psychological or emotional, we still want blood. Eye for an eye.
This is demonstrated by our love of violence in movies and music, our perpetuation of war-like behavior in other countries, our rubber-necking at accident scenes, our gleeful desire to the humiliation of a public person, and so on. And now the nation-wide laugh to the death of Osama bin Laden.
I love technology and how a thought, story or idea can just fly across our world in a few short minutes. And all I see right now is how people are happy at the death of a man. Granted, he is an evil man, killing thousands in a heinous attack. But to rejoice in his demise, that is where we enter the twilight zone.
I understand the need for retribution, but does it truly bring peace? Are we a better nation because OBL is dead? Does it ease the suffering of those who were devastated at the twin tower bombing? This I will never know, but it truly saddens me when other are gladden at the killing of another. How are they different?
Part of me wonders if the story is really true, but that is a story for another day.
This is demonstrated by our love of violence in movies and music, our perpetuation of war-like behavior in other countries, our rubber-necking at accident scenes, our gleeful desire to the humiliation of a public person, and so on. And now the nation-wide laugh to the death of Osama bin Laden.
I love technology and how a thought, story or idea can just fly across our world in a few short minutes. And all I see right now is how people are happy at the death of a man. Granted, he is an evil man, killing thousands in a heinous attack. But to rejoice in his demise, that is where we enter the twilight zone.
I understand the need for retribution, but does it truly bring peace? Are we a better nation because OBL is dead? Does it ease the suffering of those who were devastated at the twin tower bombing? This I will never know, but it truly saddens me when other are gladden at the killing of another. How are they different?
Part of me wonders if the story is really true, but that is a story for another day.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Humiliation at the grocery store
Humiliation (also called stultification) is the abasement of pride, which creates mortification or leads to a state of being humbled or reduced to lowliness or submission. It can be brought about through bullying, intimidation, physical or mental mistreatment or trickery, or by embarrassment if a person is revealed to have committed a socially or legally unacceptable act.
That is where I found myself. I can stand many things and have done so, but there is something I've never gotten over is the grocery line and how humiliating it can be.
Let's count the ways grocery lines are humiliating:
1) Not being fast enough loading your items on that stupid conveyor belt
2) Not having your cloth bags first in line before the food, because now the bag person is putting your groceries in plastic bags
3) Having to dig for your coupons, but you put them away so you could load the aforementioned food onto the conveyor belt
4) Having kids with you
5) Having kids who won't stop touching the conveyor belt
6) Having kids who start playing and asking and begging for the candy that is right at their level
7) Having kids hang on you, the counter, the cart while trying to pay, load or just get through the line
8) A crying, screaming or just complaining child
9) Asking, God-forbid, if the computer made a mistake and now you must hold up the line for them to check their screen, then the receipt, then the screen, then the receipt...
10) Asking for a rain-check, which has to be filled out by hand and the checker NEVER knows the specials or the price
11) Forgetting your pin number when you swipe your debit card
And the most BIGGEST humiliation....
12) Not having enough money with you to pay for your groceries so you are forced to select 1 or more items that must be put back
And don't get me started on Self-Check-out...a new and disturbing way to embarrass us and show how incompetent we really are with those stupid scanners and if we can bag correctly.
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