So, the family and I were out and about on Saturday night, sauntering through Walmart in Washington. Chloe was relaxing in the cart that I was pushing and Floyd was walking beside me. As we strolled up and down the aisles in the baby department, something strange had struck me. I tried to focus my hearing on the soft instrumental music seeping out of the speakers above our heads...I hummed along to try to figure out what the familiar sounding song was. I started to put words to the music to make sure it was the song I was thinking: "Oh, Holy night...the stars are brightly Shiiiii-ninng..." When those words rolled off my tongue, I recoiled in disgust. I looked at the imaginary date on my imaginary watch on my wrist, and I said, "Christmas music?!?!?!....On November first??" What the hell?
And of course, Floyd takes it all in stride. He just laughed. I think he's used to my complaining about stupid, petty things. If I ever tell him about a crappy day I had at work with a crappy customer who cussed me out, his wonderful advice is, "You just have to smile and kill them with kindness." Ah, wise, mature and worldly Floyd. His words are sage advice and though I hate to admit it, he's usually right. But, dammit, he doesn't live in the world I live in...the retail world. *shudder* And in my retail world, we're open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Every year, we are subjected to holiday music for weeks on end, and every year, the point where they began playing holiday music creeps up earlier and earlier. Every year, I hear on a daily basis about 12 versions of "Winter Wonderland", 7 versions of "Silver Bells", 34 versions of "Silent Night", and at least one version of "Feliz Navidad." (Ay Dios Mio!) So, the fact that I heard Christmas music at another retail store just one mere day after Halloween makes my heart sink. I mean, c'mon...just one day. Halloween's body is still warm, its grave is still fresh one day later. It's like someone remarrying one day after their spouse's funeral. Show some respect..let some time pass first, for Pete's sake. Okay, not a great analogy, but I think I make my point..
I'm just tired of holidays being smashed together into one enormous, turd-like superholiday. I think each holiday is special and should be savored.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Aaarrgh.....people....
I can remember a time when I actually liked people..when I had that Anne Frank-ish belief that everybody was good, deep down in their soul. I wish I still felt that way, but over the years, it has become horribly apparent that most people are just dumb bastards.
You see these dumb bastards EVERYWHERE you go. They are the rude people blathering away on their cell phones. They are the morons who are behind the wheel of their car text messaging while attempting to drive. They are the putz driving in the car in front of you in the left lane who is going 32 miles per hour in a 55, and they are also the dumbass who's riding your butt while driving 65 miles per hour. Where the hell did all these dumb bastards come from??
Unfortunately, I've been dealing with the public for...sigh...almost 14 years at the various jobs I have had. For the past few years, I've seen soooooo many idiots while working at a pharmacy. I have witnessed an insane amount of lunatics and have dealt with their shenanigans on a daily basis. Just when I think I've "seen it all", my jaded heart is shocked. Some of the things people say make me wonder how they make it out of their house in the morning on their own. I've been yelled at, cussed at, and all the while, I wonder, 'How can people treat absolute strangers like crap?' It's appalling. I have never, ever, ever treated anyone like that my whole life. I think my parents would kick my butt if I did.
There was a time when the world had stopped. It was seven years ago, on a beautiful Tuesday morning. People were scurrying along, grabbing coffee on the way to work, jabbering on their cell phones...everyone was so preoccupied with their own existence. Early in the morning on September 11th, everything ceased. Our world had changed in an instant. At that moment, it didn't matter if people didn't get the correct coffee they ordered at Starbucks, or if the battery on their cell phone had died as they were waiting for an "important" call, or if they got a stain on their new suit. Everything was trivial. There no longer was such a thing as a "New York minute." Everything was in slow motion as those towers crumbled to the ground. And amazingly, people began helping people. My heart swelled as I watched countless newscasts about complete strangers helping others get to safety. If you were black, white, rich, poor..it didn't matter. In the midst of that horrific tragedy, something beautiful was rising from the ashes. People in this country banded together and they began to actually give a damn about each other.
Of course, as the years go on, I have noticed people returning to their old selfish ways...being inconsiderate of others. I've even heard someone once say how pathetic it was that it took our nation's most monumental tragedy for people to actually "be nice to one another," and sadly, I would agree. We shouldn't need something that devastating to remind us to live by the Golden Rule. Now if only others would agree...
You see these dumb bastards EVERYWHERE you go. They are the rude people blathering away on their cell phones. They are the morons who are behind the wheel of their car text messaging while attempting to drive. They are the putz driving in the car in front of you in the left lane who is going 32 miles per hour in a 55, and they are also the dumbass who's riding your butt while driving 65 miles per hour. Where the hell did all these dumb bastards come from??
Unfortunately, I've been dealing with the public for...sigh...almost 14 years at the various jobs I have had. For the past few years, I've seen soooooo many idiots while working at a pharmacy. I have witnessed an insane amount of lunatics and have dealt with their shenanigans on a daily basis. Just when I think I've "seen it all", my jaded heart is shocked. Some of the things people say make me wonder how they make it out of their house in the morning on their own. I've been yelled at, cussed at, and all the while, I wonder, 'How can people treat absolute strangers like crap?' It's appalling. I have never, ever, ever treated anyone like that my whole life. I think my parents would kick my butt if I did.
There was a time when the world had stopped. It was seven years ago, on a beautiful Tuesday morning. People were scurrying along, grabbing coffee on the way to work, jabbering on their cell phones...everyone was so preoccupied with their own existence. Early in the morning on September 11th, everything ceased. Our world had changed in an instant. At that moment, it didn't matter if people didn't get the correct coffee they ordered at Starbucks, or if the battery on their cell phone had died as they were waiting for an "important" call, or if they got a stain on their new suit. Everything was trivial. There no longer was such a thing as a "New York minute." Everything was in slow motion as those towers crumbled to the ground. And amazingly, people began helping people. My heart swelled as I watched countless newscasts about complete strangers helping others get to safety. If you were black, white, rich, poor..it didn't matter. In the midst of that horrific tragedy, something beautiful was rising from the ashes. People in this country banded together and they began to actually give a damn about each other.
Of course, as the years go on, I have noticed people returning to their old selfish ways...being inconsiderate of others. I've even heard someone once say how pathetic it was that it took our nation's most monumental tragedy for people to actually "be nice to one another," and sadly, I would agree. We shouldn't need something that devastating to remind us to live by the Golden Rule. Now if only others would agree...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
An Introduction...
Hello there...and welcome to "What Really Grinds My Gears." This blog's title and overall sentiment is borrowed from an episode of "Family Guy," in which Peter is given his own news segment titled "What Really Grinds My Gears." During his segments, he lets the audience know of all the things that, well--"grind his gears." When I saw that episode, I thought, "Hmm..what a great idea! There are many things that get under my skin, or grind my gears also!"
Thus, this blog was born.
So, you may be wondering: "Jenny, what are some things that really grind your gears?" Well, some things of the top of my head: stupid people, people that are constantly on cell phones, rude people, Paris Hilton, people wearing leggings, typos, alarm clocks...so many other things to mention. (I promise to be more elaborate with each and every post.)
Oh yes, before I forget..this blog is not intended just for my own selfish desire to vent. I invite other people to get things off their chests as well, whether they leave a comment to agree with what I posted, or to tell me that I actually grind their gears. Whatever makes them happy is fine with me.
Enjoy! :o)
Thus, this blog was born.
So, you may be wondering: "Jenny, what are some things that really grind your gears?" Well, some things of the top of my head: stupid people, people that are constantly on cell phones, rude people, Paris Hilton, people wearing leggings, typos, alarm clocks...so many other things to mention. (I promise to be more elaborate with each and every post.)
Oh yes, before I forget..this blog is not intended just for my own selfish desire to vent. I invite other people to get things off their chests as well, whether they leave a comment to agree with what I posted, or to tell me that I actually grind their gears. Whatever makes them happy is fine with me.
Enjoy! :o)
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