Beware the mini-Rants of March (4th or otherwise)

The BBQ Pit
181

They do and while they have been more than sympathetic, nothing has happened for months. Like I said, at first they moved swiftly to create a new rule that spells out that this type of parking job is bad, but then they got a lot of blow back (well, one vocal, douche blow back). I think at that time, they hoped that just writing a nice letter to the people, asking them to be more considerate, would do the job. They even put a note in our newsletter about parking, saying that if there are any issues, we should all try talking to each other :rolleyes: (I’ll have you know that I am a reasonable person and tried this early on with these folks. I happened to walk out as they were parking, blocking a solid 8 inches of my driveway. So, I put on my sweet voice and smile- I asked super sweetly if they could maybe be a little more careful when parking, because it’s blocking our driveways and many of the neighbors are getting upset. The young guy sighed heavily, rolled his eyes, and said, “I know, that dumb old bitch across the street left a fucking note on my car last week.” That “dumb old bitch”? A city councilwoman, btw. Anyway, my point is, talking obviously doesn’t help with these dickwads).

Anywho, last month I emailed the HOA again, explaining that nothing has gotten better, but I’ve heard nothing since. Last night, I sent them an email explaining that this isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a danger-- it’s only a matter of time before someone’s car gets hit. I mean, hell, the only reason I’ve been able to navigate out of my driveway a few times has been because of my backup camera on my new car.

Hmm, this is a splendid idea. Particularly if I get a few of the other neighbors in on it. Perhaps I’ll take some photos of the worst offenses, then drop them over at the FD. Thank you for this idea.

What’s crazy about this whole thing is that I have friends who live in similar neighborhoods-- gated, private road, technically condos (though each property is a free standing house with 2000+ square feet). And at those places, they are downright Nazis about parking-- I remember at my uncle’s house, you can’t even park on the stret overnight without getting ticketed. Anybody. Guests. Residents. Doesn’t matter. It’s so odd that our HOA is trying to be easy on the one thing every other HOA in the world seems in agreement on.

182

Man, there really just is never a time when it’s convenient to take a car into the shop, is there? Time-wise (when’s good for me to not be able to get to the store/work) and money-wise (I know it needs a shit-ton of maintenance, plus something’s the matter with the power steering).

183

Dearest coworker,

You sent me a request explaining how a certain thing currently works (“It does X”), and asking me to change it. I responded that I looked at it and found that it isn’t doing what you think it’s doing, told you what it’s really doing, (“It doesn’t do X; it does A, then B”) and asked if you still wanted me to make the change.

Now, I know you’re not an idiot. And you should really know by now that I’m not one, either. Therefore, I presume that you *can *read five-sentence emails, and that you wouldn’t just disregard what I say out of hand. So I can’t imagine what would cause you to respond, immediately, without even checking whether what you say is true, “It does A, then X.” I just told you, it doesn’t do X. Never. Not ever. Not after A, not after W, not after you take it out for a nice meal and buy it a few drinks. It does not go there.

So after I reply, as politely as I can, “No it doesn’t; do you need me to show you?” you finally actually look at this thing and agree that I’m right, and nothing more needs to be done. And you did so very nicely, and did give me credit for discovering your error, which is nice. It would have been nicer, though, if I hadn’t had to fight you on it. And you know what would have been really nice? If you had just looked at the goddamn thing in the first place to see for your fucking self what it actually did, before sending me on a wild goose chase for several hours to “fix” it.

Fuck!

184

That would be immensely frustrating - that’s one of the only good reasons to live with a HOA, so they can take care of shit like this. If they’re not fulfilling one of their few functions for existing, what good are they?

185

Ugh, got 4 hours of sleep last night. Woke up this morning to take Gothlette to preschool to find my car wouldn’t start. Hustled both kids back into the house to call AAA and couldn’t find my card. Fortunately, I was able to get ahold of my husband for the numbers. The driver was able to jump it and we eventually made it to school. When we got home I found my card. On the floor of the living room where it had fallen out of my wallet when I was hunting for it. Did I mention I only had 4 hours of sleep?

Also, my husband’s work minion/friend was expecting a baby in April. His wife went into labor this morning, just over 4 weeks early. So not only are we worried about them, but hubby is now down a man only 4 days after he got back from paternity leave with our baby when he thought he had another month. So he should be nice and stressed for a while.

Bleh, I need a nap.

186

BTW, DiosaBellissima, your creation of douchecanoe has become the internal nickname of one of our annoying clients. Thank you.

187

That’s not her creation

188

I went back to work today after being away. On leave? I don’t know what to call it. They took me off the schedule until I could get my shit together. Specifically, I mess with my hands. It’s a nervous habit. It’s stupid and I don’t usually even really notice I’m doing it. But even when I do notice, it’s really hard to stop. It’s hard to explain- almost like they physically itch, but they don’t. But trying not to scratch and pick at them is like having an itch I’m trying not to scratch. I feel like crawling out of my skin. And I end up scratching at them until they’re all bloody and raw and bloody hands and food don’t go well together. So they told me to come back when my hands heal.

So I’ve spent the last couple weeks wearing gloves, bandages, arm-warmers, or some combination thereof. That way, just the gloves get torn up- not my skin. So I went back to work today with my hands much less fucked up.

But it’s overwhelming and I can’t do it. Which is bullshit. It’s total bullshit. I’m fucking grown and should be able to deal with going to my job. I used to be able to deal with it. I’m a fucking cook. It’s not like I’m a cop or an army doctor or something that might have some legit stress attached to it. But I talked to my boss last night to tell her I was ready to come back (which, clearly, I’m not, but I don’t have any kind of savings or anything and obviously can’t pay my bills if I don’t have a job) and she put me on full-force right away. And I can’t do it. The idea of going back tomorrow fills me with a really absurd amount of dread. Like I can’t breathe right and my stomach is tied in knots and I can’t think straight sort of dread. Which is such bullshit because I know nothing bad is going to happen. I don’t really know what it is I’m dreading other than just the idea of waking up and going and doing my job. Which, again, is something grown-ups do. And it’s seriously pathetic to feel this way about it. I don’t even really dislike my job. I love my co-workers. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should be happy that I’m back at work. Shit, I was pretty happy about it earlier today when I was AT work. But now, I just want to dig a hole and bury myself.

I haven’t been able to sleep in months or eat or do anything useful except take care of my dogs. My first thought on waking up is “Oh fuck, I’m awake again.” And it’s not that I was really hoping I’d die in my sleep or anything, just that I wish I could sleep the days away and just not be conscious for it.

I need to suck it up and not be such a whiny bitch and I’m really trying my best to do so. I’m really, really trying. But I’m afraid I’m failing pretty hard.

189

This sounds like textbook depression, with bonus obsessive compulsions that result in self-harm. If you aren’t seeing a therapist, you might consider it. Telling yourself to bootstrap your way out of it is *not *going to work.

190

When the bitch who got paid to sit behind a desk near the door of my apartment building got my car towed despite me having registered that I’d have it for a week, I had to pay for the towing (I later got it refunded, by the method of presenting proof that I’d reported I’d have the car and deducting the amount from my next cheque, but this was because the bitch had screwed up). Call the towing service and ask.

191

Short version: Arizona, please stop trying to out-Alabama Alabama. (I’m kidding, btw. Light hearted humor. I’m sure Alabama is lovely.)

Long version:
Arizona’s new birth control job law thing is no secret. A friend lives in Arizona and wrote on the wall of her state representative’s Facebook regarding her displeasure with that representative’s vote for the weirdo birth control law. Now, I’ll concede, the friend did it in a less than pleasant way-- describing her period that she just got, but then asking if the representative – well, you can read it yourself on this screen shot. A little tasteless, but I think it hits the point home well enough.

So, here’s the amazing thing: the rep responded. She posted a link to the bill on friend’s wall, saying, “Read the bill for yourself. . . Then we can discuss it rationally. . .And I certainly hope you did better homework at Cal Fullerton than it appears you have done here. Or is your world view selective?” (screen grab here) That’s right, an actual politician (though just a State Rep) cracked a joke about a constituent’s education. . . despite the fact that Brenda herself went to a community college. I don’t get it.

To top it all off, another friend reposted the tale of original friend to her Facebook and Brenda Barton went all crazy on there, too- accusing my friend of editing the screen shot (which didn’t happen), then leaving out part of the story. Naturally, everybody suggested taking screen shots and sending them to the media, which is when Brenda started chastising everybody for not having enough life experience to understand how things work, even saying: " And, in reading the comments here, it seems that attacking someone who holds a different world view or perhaps has more life experience, is the order of the day. How can you expect to change minds and hearts with this sort of behavior?"

When a female friend more or less posted that women are sick of the government trying to force themselves into our bodies and we aren’t going to take it anymore, the representative actually responded with: “Take it? How long have you “taken it”? 22 years maybe? Perhaps when you’ve seasoned a bit more and learn how many women before you have sacrificed for you to enjoy what you have today, you’ll understand how insulting your entire thread is” (screen grab) (The friend who she’s referring to is a 31 year old author, btw, not that it matters).

I’m just impressed that even a low level politician is allowed to control their own social media accounts. I am not, however, surprised that a politician who votes anti-choice is quick to attack women for being younger than her or mocking their educations-- that, unfortunately, is par the course. Aye aye aye. Facebook is all about high school fights, but they usually don’t involve elected officials.

192

Hey, asshats at the bus stop, I’ve got a few bones to pick with you.

First of all, watch what you’re talking about and what language you’re using. These elementary kids don’t need to know how many dicks you sucked last night, nor do they need to know that you had a threesome with the slut next door with the big tits.

Second, don’t bitch about the price of gas when you’re driving a gas guzzling SUV, and sit at the bus stop with it running for 20+ minutes. You know what time ranges the bus comes in at, and your precious darlings don’t need the heat when it’s 63 outside.

Which brings me to point 3. If you can afford to sit at the bus stop with the vehicle running for so long, why don’t let the kids sleep in a bit and take the tykes to school, instead of making them get up so early? You do it anyway if the bus is even 10 minutes late, so why not do it all the time? It’d save you gas, and give you all the rest you need.

Speaking of kids brings me to point 4. Don’t bitch when you get the cops and child services called on you for wailing on your kid with a belt. It’s one thing to spank a kid, it’s another to leave bruises with a belt. Why the hell you still have your kids is beyond me. And yea, I’ll keep calling them when I see you abusing those kids.

Finally, I know you don’t live in the trailer park. I understand that the road you live down is made inaccessible to buses due to an incredibly sharp turn, trees, and trains. Just because you don’t live in this trailer park doesn’t give you the right to litter here. This place looks crappy enough without you and your lot littering. Keep your trash in your car til you get back to your house.

193

Sorry, then. I think she might have been the first person I saw use it.

194

I’d probably qualify for housing assistance - which would double the amount I could pay for rent - but they aren’t accepting applications right now. And only one person with a rental has responded and it was a scammer. Which suggests to me that all my emails went to the same person and she’s pissed that I figured her out so easily (that part doesn’t bother me). But dammit I want a place of my own! I’ve lived in a guest bedroom for two years, I deserve to be able to have my own stuff!

And I don’t want to rent a room, because I end up avoiding the public areas, which means I end up not eating. (It’s an introvert / social anxiety thing and it’s stupid). But I may have to.

195

SurrenderDorothy, I’m so sorry you’re having such a terrible time. I wonder how sure you are that your hands don’t actually itch. Since you work with food you probably wash them often and it may be that you are allergic to some of the products. I have allergies and get hives and itching, and I feel exactly what you are describing. Finding out exactly what I am allergic to, by having tests, has made my life much better as I can either avoid the triggers or at the very least understand the cause of my reactions. I think if you could see a doctor it might be very helpful. Don’t feel like you are a failure because you can’t stop something on your own. You just need some help, that is all. Everyone does, sometimes.

196

To my stuff: please stop breaking!

I’m just getting better, after being stuck basically in bed for a month (the getting better bit is not a pittable thing :slight_smile: ); on the last shopping trip before I couldn’t make it out any more, the heel fell off my good shoes, then a few days ago, the sole fell off my trainers. I’m really not a shoe person, and now all I have left is my sandals (far too cold for them, and they’re giving me blisters), and the ludicrous boots I bought for a pirate costume. I hate shoe shopping at the best of times, and really don’t want to have to go limping and barefoot, or looking like a complete tit. Maybe I should just wear the complete stripper pirate costume to shop…

Oh, then my aged, and I thought bulletproof, brick of a phone suddenly gave out a feeble ‘beep’ and died while charging last night. I’m only glad I noticed, as I had it set as an alarm for my doctor’s appointment this morning.

197

Happy birds though.

Edited to say I don’t know why I made that reply in a mini rants thread. it must have been the grackles, yeah. And I didn’t take it in about the mosquitos til I was watching it post. Mozzies suck.

198

I so rarely bring domestic squabbles here, but:

Other Shoe, we have 30 lbs. worth of cat and one litter box. You had two consecutive days off in a row, while I’ve been at work. Don’t you dare bitch at me because I’m bitching at you for not scooping the crap and piss out of the box. You KNOW they’re just gonna keep crapping and pissing, and you KNOW it has to be cleaned up.

I’m sick of feeling like he knows that if he doesn’t do something, I will. And if I don’t do it, it won’t get done.

Yes, you mow the lawn - it’s the one household chore I won’t touch, and you and I both know I can’t really be trusted not to chop down my own flowers attempting to do so. But mowing the lawn occasionally does not in any way, shape or form make up for me scooping piss and crap every day, especially when you know damn well my wrists aren’t Built Ford Tough ™ and that it hurts the cartilage there a bit to do so.

Yeah, yeah, I’m a harpy shrew and I’m being a nagging bitch. :rolleyes: I wouldn’t nag you about the damn litter box all the time if you’d actually DO IT once in a while. Sweet jesus, I’m turning into my own mother and unleashing the power of the Bitch Nag on the person I love.

Dammit.

Somebody, stick a cork in that cat’s butt for me, okay?

199

SurrenderDorothy, this is a word-for-word description of my most serious depressive episodes. Depression doesn’t mean you’re feeling sad, for many of us it’s… more like just wishing we didn’t have to be conscious for it. And don’t feel bad that you’re not able to man up and cope with it. The problem with depression is that the “coping with it” mechanism is the part that is broken.

200

Yeah, SurrenderDorothy, I know you’re just reading a bunch of anonymous strangers doing the armchair-quarterback thing and diagnosing you from afar, but I think you’ll feel much, much better once you take your problem - it is a real and legitimate problem - to a competent medical professional. As rachellelogram upthread put it so very well, you can’t bootstrap your way out of this.

If you had diabetes or cancer, you’d be nuts to think you could will your way back to health, right? Same thing here. Except, without the dying of cancer part. (I hope.) Anyway, these here strangers hope you get better soon - we’re worried about ya, and a few of us have been just where you are now.

ETA: ok, please don’t actually put a cork in my cat’s butt. I’ve lost one beloved feline to obstructed bowels already; I don’t need another death in the family right now.