rudeness abounds and thoughts thereof

Yesterday while conducting a small transaction, this young, snotty teenager was rude to me. Really rude. I had done nothing to provoke this in her. She obviously didn't feel well at all, and instead of going home or getting a grip, she took out some of her annoyance on me. It's been a while since I wanted to slap someone cross-eyed, but it did cross my mind. But I didn't and I remained pleasant until I could get away.

Then today, I emailed a business with a question. Two people read the email and replied. One of them was helpful and answered my question and the other responded with unnecessary sarcasm and gave a conflicting answer. I didn't do anything except ask a question in a very nice tone. This is a business? And these two people can't communicate with each other to tell me the same answer? Or decide which one of them gets to answer (preferably without the sarcasm). So now I want this guy to eat shit and die, and I don't even know him and he doesn't know me. I'm really sorry if this was the 30th time he'd answered the question, but that's no excuse for rudeness. Like I said, there's rarely a good excuse for rudeness. Sometimes brutal honesty can be mistaken for rudeness, but that's usually only a last resort and only if the honest opinion is invited. Otherwise, lying is preferred. But going out of your way to make someone feel less, feel bad, feel irritating- is rude. And it's bad karma.

Most of us have plenty of opportunities to be rude on a daily basis, especially if we work with the public but isn't it better for everyone to avoid the temptation to be rude? Isn't that obvious? And the rude people then blame other people for their unhappiness. Uh huh. It's karma. And if you are rude, you deserve what happens to you.

politics

I really hate it when people say that they hate politics. It's like hating gossip, or spring, or newspapers. It's a given. It's a game. One with consequences maybe, but still a game. So, this week I've spent countless hours listening to CNN/MSNBC and even Fox occasionally to hear that same talking heads talk and talk and talk. It's fascinating to me. And I really don't know much about politics...but I like forming opinions and I like hearing the analysis from the talking heads. I also volunteered at the Obama headquarters which happens to be very close to my house for two evenings this week, making phone calls. It's more fun than it sounds like. Most people are very nice, even if they disagree with Democrats. That's a good thing about living in the South. There are very few occasions when it's permissable to be rude. Pissed off and catty maybe...but hardly ever rude.

The most fascinating thing to me this week has been the quick demise of Sarah Palin. What an idiot. How could McCain choose her? My theory is that he went off script and choose her impulsively before anyone from his campaign had a chance to check her out. She's crumbling under the pressure and doesn't look like she's got the chops or the smarts to rally. I looked at CafePress for anti-Palin bumperstickers and there were some great ones, like: Sarah Palin is an idiot (my personal favorite-direct and to the point), and something about Wasilla needing their village idiot back, and "my border collie is smarter than Sarah Palin" and so on. I hope the press stay on her. And kudos to Katie Couric for her interview. I'm not a KC fan, but I enjoyed her style in contrast to Palin's.

And god bless ted kennedy...who had a seizure but insisted on getting home in time for the debates. Now there's a Democrat to be damn proud of!

hats

Next Sunday I start selling at the market. I sell my crocheted items to make enough money to buy the yarn to make more crocheted items. It's not really a money maker, but it lessens the cost of the hobby a little. So, in preparation, I've been making hats as fast as I can this weekend. They are addictive to make and wear and the yarn is so appealing that I love making them. I bought myself a new jacket for the winter (red red red) so I guess I'm gonna have to break down and make myself a new hat to go with the coat. Last year I made a great hat that I wore a lot. A whole lot since I don't have much hair and my head gets really cold, but then I went and washed it and it shrank (didn't follow my own directions), so now I don't have a cool hat. But, I just had a birthday and I got an unexpected gift certificate to Hobby Lobby, so I think I might just go buy myself some fancy yarn and make myself a hat to go with my new coat and I'll be styling.

but for now I"m just making hats like mad.

change of air

Finally, the humidity has lessened, the weather is cool enough to open the windows, and there is a promise of fall. My favorite time of year. I wish I could spend it in New England.

TV and whatever

So, the no TV thing lasted about 5 days. Couldn't stand it. It seemed like those Judge/courtroom shows were on all the time and that's really depressing. Poor people with a grudge and not even sense enough to avoid the wrath of an irritable TV judge. So Dish network came out, installed a box that includes DVR, a new dish in the backyard and we are rolling in channels again. At least for now we've got all these extra movie channels, and some soft porn stuff late at night. It's about as interesting as the courtroom shows....basically shows boobies and men who are interested in them. And they aren't even great looking boobies. Enough of my TV world.

For two days in a row people have wished me happy birthday (which isn't til next week) so it's beginning to feel like my birthday.