Don't Mess With Me

There are a few phrases that just make my blood boil, make me want to turn and irrationally yell at whomever has just uttered those words. One of them is one I heard many times today - Don't take it personally. Don't take it personally??? Really??? When it affects me, it is personal. When it affects someone I love, it is personal. When it affects someone I respect, it is personal. I know I am not in a position to change rules, policies, et cetera in all areas of my life, but that doesn't mean I have to like them. I tend to be one of those people that quickly jumps up on my soapbox to defend my views or defend others (yeah, if you know me well, this fact comes as no surprise).  I happen to like my soapbox, finding it therapeutic to get worked up something, let out my frustrations, thoughts, emotions, and then stomp down and try to move on with my day. It is my adult version of throwing a toddleresque temper tantrum if you will. 


Today just happened to be one of those days that started with frustration, that continued with frustration, a day during which all little things seemed to annoy the hell out of me. Now before you say, whaaaa, whaaaa, stop whining, stop and think. We all have these days, and if you can't admit that you do, you are lying. I have the right to be frustrated with the world and in the end, the world will probably thank me for letting this frustration out today, rather than holding on to it and exploding in a not-so-pretty mess of frustration at the end of the week. In short, don't mess with me when I am already upset. 


What am I REALLY upset about? I'd rather not say, as I need to maintain personal and professional composure and save face. Most people who saw me today did not really see me, but rather my friend Molly, Molly Sunshine. Many of you know Molly well and perhaps even receive Molly as a visitor during you days we well. She is a lovely friend, the one who you hear coming out of my mouth when I say I am "Fine, just FINE!" Molly is the one who allows me to smile when I want to scowl, to answer the phone pleasantly when I want to just ignore the ringing or say "What do you want now?" Molly is a necessary part of my work day when I am frustrated. I am glad that she is there and I am sure my co-workers would agree, probably even suggesting that she continue to hang around until I can get my attitude in check. 


I try not to use this blog to just rant about things that upset or anger me, but today is one of those days. Perhaps it is more of several days of little frustrations all built up, then set in motion by one bigger one from today. Either way, I am aware of the fact that I am not the most pleasant person to be around today. My apologies. Perhaps tomorrow I will be back to being the ray of sunshine that you all have come to love. So, early to bed with hopes of letting sleep clear my mind and put me back on an even playing field. I just have to remind myself that it's just life and things could be worse... but honestly, I am glad they're not. I might just wring Molly's little neck....


What frustrates you and how do you handle it? Suggestions?

Hello, My Name is Negative Nelly

Occasionally I am accused of being cynical. Well, maybe accused is the wrong word, perhaps called out on the fact that I am at times a cynic is a much better and more accurate statement. I know I tend to look at the negative side of things, but mostly when it comes to certain situations or topics. Some of my friends find it pretty amusing and this weekend, one of them found a book that was apparently “perfect” for me. It is titled “I Hate Everything.” It is one of those cute little books that you give someone as a gift, the kind that sit on your coffee table that people pick up and flip through. I have to admit that I did laugh at some of what it said, each page being a statement that began “I hate...,” that statement then being filled in with something that the author finds awful or has no patience for. These simple negative statements are each accompanied by a rather unrefined drawing of the offensive thing. As I flipped through the book, I found myself agreeing with many of the statements.


Who knew I hated so many things? I am not sure I actually hate them per say, but am more so just annoyed by certain things. It is odd for me to think about considering I so often find myself saying how much I love this or that. My excitement at the things I truly enjoy sometimes knows no bounds, but apparently neither does my level of annoyance for others. So, just for fun, here is a short list of things I hate, find annoying, don’t understand, loathe, et cetera and so forth:

I hate running.
I hate the sound of a soprano sax.
I hate bad shoes.
I hate people who wear bad shoes.
I hate when people look like they got dressed in the dark.
I hate root beer.
I hate the smell of frying meat.
I hate rude neighbors.
I hate cramps.
I hate when my fave show is not on TV.
I hate people who look like they need to eat.
I hate when skinny people complain about needing to lose weight.
I hate watching the news.
I hate when there are a different set of expectations for different people.
I hate when people think the rules don’t apply to them.
I hate Facebook application requests.
I hate the sound of a poorly played oboe.
I hate being tired.
I hate doing dishes.
I hate sore, stiff knees.
I hate when people quote movies as a form of conversation.
I hate not having enough money.
I hate when people show off how much money they have.
I hate spiders.
I hate snakes.
I hate mosquitoes.
I hate bad hair days.
I hate when I run out of tea bags.
I hate when I am running late.
I hate when I can’t sleep.
I hate mushrooms.
I hate when people narrate what they are watching on TV.
I hate being bored.
I hate when people don’t get a clue.
I hate when I get too busy to read a good book.
I hate being hungry.
I hate being ignored.
I hate being taken for granted.
I hate pretty people who treat you badly.
I hate people who repost every YouTube video ever made as a Facebook status.
I hate the sound of cracking knuckles.
I hate the when everything that can go wrong does.
I hate infomercials.
I hate commercials for weight loss after New Years.
I hate feeling like I am not good enough.
I hate letting others down.
I hate letting myself down.
I hate being lonely.
I hate being bombarded.
I hate missing people.
I hate overkill.
I hate bad drivers.
I hate when my phone gets lost in the bottom of my purse.
I hate that carb loading is not always acceptable.
I hate when the phone rings during my fave show.
I hate bad speeches.
I hate being blamed for things that are not my fault.
I hate people who are childish and run away from their problems.
I hate Valentine's Day.
I hate when I go to the copy machine and it always seems to be out of paper.
I hate when I make silly mistakes.
I hate excuses.
I hate writer’s block.
I hate liars.
I hate stomachaches.
I hate headaches.
I hate heartaches.
I hate making enemies.
I hate losing friends.

Okay, so it may not be so much a case of hate, but of knowing what pushes my buttons. Perhaps my buttons are easily pushed when it comes to certain things, and obviously some things bother me way more than others. Maybe some of things things come down to me needing to have more patience or be more accepting. I have noticed a lot of people lately writing about what makes them happy in their lives. It is not that I am completely unhappy, but more so that I think it is healthy to know what bothers you so that you can try to counteract it, to know what things require more patience, or even what things or situations to avoid. Life cannot be all sunshine and rainbows, nor can it be one rain cloud after another. Perhaps I will soon share a list of my favorite things, the things I love the most, when I feel like it that is.

Even if you are a positive person most of the time, what do you hate? What pushes your buttons?

You Sure Know How To Push My Buttons...

There are some things that, no matter how much I try, I will never understand, things that grate on my nerves, for no real reason at all. They are not big important things, just well, you take a look:

Rubber Bracelets: Okay, I totally get the point behind the original Livestrong bracelet and all, but the whole "fad" has gotten out of hand. You know the bracelet I am talking about - it's that yellow rubber one everyone and their mom, brother, uncle, bff, mail man, dentist, kid's teacher, etc etc etc seems to wear. For one thing, a rubber circle is not jewelry, it is not fashionable, it is not cool; neither is wearing one in every single color possible, making it seem as if you are truly a supporter of every cause everywhere. I should not have to decode the rubber rainbow on your wrist to figure out what you believe in. If you truly believe in something, live it, tell people about it, but please, do not ask me to support it by buying a rubber thing in whatever color you could get.

Magnetic Ribbons: First of all, whoever thought that a large magnetic ribbon on the back of your car looked cool was an idiot. They do not look cool! If you believe that you are really supporting our troops by having one on your car, you are also an idiot. Do you really think that the $3 you give to the gas station attendant is going to support the troops, to send them much-needed supplies? Really? Come on people! They never see it! If you really want to support the troops or any other cause that now has their own large brightly colored ribbon-shaped magnet, go out there and do something! Volunteer! Donate! Send care packages! Be a friend, a support, a neighbor! Oh, and having multiple magnets on your car does not show me that you are really a supporter, a bigger one who cares more than the people with just one ribbon... you are just a bigger moron than the others. And, if you think that sticking one of those things on my car is funny, I will find you....

Musty Towels: Okay, okay, I know, I am weird, but this is something that drives me crazy! I hate going to get a towel out for a shower and having it possess that icky smell, the one that things get when they sit too long in the washer and then get put in the dryer? Does anyone else know what I mean? It makes my stomach turn and I will wash my hands incessantly in order to get the smell off of them, although I am thoroughly convinced it stays for hours. I also don't understand how others don't smell it. I have been to other people's houses before and gone to dry my hands on a hand towel after washing them, only to find, to my dismay, that it is a musty creature, laying there staring at me, daring me to dry my hands on its stinky being. I have even, with people I know very well, asked if they have a fresh towel to put out. They have picked up the offensive towel and not smelled a thing! I don't get it! The same goes for the towels you shower with. I want mine to smell fresh, as in, clean, washed and dried in a timely manner, thereby allowing me to feel and smell fresh after using them. Is that too much to ask?

Facebook/Myspace Messages Instead of Phone Calls: Have you ever had someone ask you, "How come you didn't come to (insert event here)?" You say that they didn't call you and tell you about it and they respond by saying, "Well, I sent you a Facebook/Myspace message!" Listen up people, sending me a Facebook or Myspace message is NOT the same as calling or texting me. For that matter, you could email me, at my actual email address. I am not a person who is obsessed with Facebook and it is not the best way to reach me. Actually, I think if it is your preferred method of communication, you have way too much time on your hands. Who has time to be on that ALL day, waiting for people to communicate? If you really want me to know something, to go somewhere, call me! Text me! Email me! I promise to use the same courtesy with you.

The Real Housewives of (Insert City Here): So, I my not be anybody's wife, but I am pretty sure that I know enough about life to know that those obnoxious, rich, slutty women on Bravo are not real, by any definition of the word. I am not just talking about their breasts, their lips, their perfectly tanned skin, their hair color, but frankly, we all know that is fake, too. They are not fooling anyone! I guess, perhaps, they don't care. Also, housewives, typically, actually do things around the house other than lounge in the pool, give fashion advice to their overly skanky daughters, and drink cosmos all day. There are things like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, caring for kids, etc etc etc. There is more to being a wife than using your husband's money to have lunch and cocktails with your friends, getting yourself fluffed and puffed, and ranting about the so-called drama and issues in your life. The ladies on these shows drive me crazy! It is not that I am jealous and want to be them, I just think they are ridiculous and I don't understand why so many people watch them so religiously. How about a show about the real housewives of central Illinois, or real farm wives, or real Amish wives, something that at least is real. Sheesh....

The Recent Obsession with Twilight and All Things Vampire: Now, please correct me if I am wrong, but Twilight was written for young readers, pre-teens or teens or something, right? Why is it that everyone you meet seems to be obsessed with Twilight and all other movies, books, TV shows, etc. that are about vampires? I do not see what is so great. Why do I want to read a whole series of very long books written for teens when I can read books written about things relevant to my life? I never understood the whole vampire thing, even back in the day when everyone I know was so into Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Never saw it and I am okay with that. If one more person tells me I HAVE to read Twilight or see the movie, I am likely to bite them, or tell them to bite me!

So, I know this post may make me sound like I am an intolerant and judgmental person, but I swear I'm not. I just know what drives me crazy! I am hoping that by telling others, they will avoid these things as well, unless of course you want commiserate with me! What is your opinion on the things that push my buttons? What pushes yours? Come on, we have something....