What's Pissing me off This Week

True to form, I am a raging hormonal mess.  This is what is pissing me off this week.

1.  The City of Surrey.  Usually I don't hate a whole city, so this is big even for me.  The last week of September I came home to three large garbage cans, each with a different lid colour.  They are so big, they don't even fit in my garage.  I have to let Q out of the car, then park Lola, then squeeze out the drivers side door..  There was an instruction booklet that didn't even begin to describe what was expected of us.  I had to research, research how to separate the garbage, how to make biodegradable origami garbage collectors, which days what product was collected.  I invested some time in this, let me tell you.  I didn't mind, though, because Surrey had committed to reducing garbage waste in landfills by 40% over the next number of years.  I thought I could do my part.  I separated the gross left overs from the packaging.  I washed the gross recyclables.  I put up with the fruit flies.  I dealt with the rank smell of fermenting organics in my garage.  I was proud when, in a week with a holiday, we filled one kitchen sized garbage bag of garbage and the rest went into the recyclables or organics.  The first week I put out the garbage, recycling and organics because I didn't know which they would take.  All they took was the garbage.  The next week, by chance, we found something in the newspaper telling us exactly what they would be taking, so I put out the recyclables and organics.  By now, the organics had been sitting in my garage during an abnormally hot week for October in B.C.  There was condensation on the inside from the fermenting of foods, there was rank mold smell, it was disgusting.  I came home from work...and they had picked up the recycling.  Seriously.  I put out the organics the next morning, hopeful they were just a little behind.  After work, I dragged it back in the garage.  Thursday, they pick up the organics.  The organics that were sitting inside my garage because I thought, "No way they'd pick up organics three days late without communicating it to anyone..."  But yes, yes they did.  So now in my garage sits the fermenting, moldy, smelly mess for a third week while Surrey gets it shite together.  I've done my part.  I've done what Surrey has asked.  Surrey has not followed through.  I am so mad.  Q says, "Mommy, if you're really that mad...you should wait 24 hours before you call them to complain.  Then if you're still mad, you can call."  Smart kid.  He's like the mini conscience outside my head when I need it most.

Deep breath...

2.  I am a Canadian citizen who really, really, really loves Grey's Anatomy.  It is the highlight of my week, watching Grey's.  I look forward to it.  I think, "I wonder what will happen on Grey's this week."  So, when I go to tape it on Thursday, so I can watch it on Friday night without distraction while Q is with his dad, I expect to find it and NOT the Vice Presidential Debate.  Seriously, bumped not for the Presidential debate, but for the VICE Presidential Debate.  I do not care to listen to old men sitting around talking about how they'll do this or that, and then don't do either this or that once voted into office.  I want to see how Arizona is dealing with her missing leg, I want to see how people are dealing with Mark Sloan's death.  I want to see if Derek will get his operating hand back.  I know.  I'm a little weird.  But seriously...it's one thing I look forward to.  One thing.  I did find out though, that I can watch it on line for free!!  How did I not know this?  What century have I been living in? 

3.  I had some training this week for a new process that we're rolling out early next week.  Here are a couple phrases I do not wish to hear from the trainer...

a) That's a good question (aka I do not have the answer...)

b) Why isn't this working?  Why isn't this working?

c) Oh wait...let's try this instead.

...I expect the trainer to not read word for word from the training manual the whole morning.  I can read from a training manual.  The guy had no idea what he was talking about.  It was obvious he hadn't done any prep work for it beforehand.  This is a particular sore point for me, because I applied to be a trainer and was told I didn't possess the *basic* requirements for the job.  False.  I can read, so I obviously do possess the basic requirements.  Then I was going to take a certificate program, so I could qualify and the woman who supervises the department told me that even if I did get the training she wouldn't even consider me because I don't have hands on experience.  I told her I train all the employees in my area on new procedures, etc. and she said that I would need to volunteer for a school, teaching a class.  Which is...uh...impossible.  How many schools do you know of that are looking for volunteers to teach?  Not many, in any at all.  So then when I have to sit in a class with some yahoo who hasn't the *basic* skills either, I get a little miffed.  Just a little.  I can feel my blood boiling as I type this. 

4.  Recently, there was a young girl who posted a video to either YouTube or Facebook, crying out for help.  She was depressed, lonely, sad, bullied.  A week later, she committed suicide.  Facebook R.I.P pages start popping up, with thousands upon thousands of people *liking* her, and hating bullying.  People say how much they loved her and miss her.  Radio stations, news stations, Internet websites are playing her story over and over.  Don't get me wrong.  It is a really, really sad thing that happened.  Bullying is horrible.  Tearing someone else down just to build yourself up.  It is terrible.  It is so sad to me that she felt there was no other way out.  Here is what is pissing me off though....all these people who say now that they love her and are creating these Facebook pages for her...where were they while she was alive??  Where were they then?  Why did they wait until she killed herself to tell the world what a wonderful person she was.  There are signs, there are always signs, and no one chose to see them until it was too late.  No one cared enough while there was time to do something about it.  What?  Does creating a fb page make you feel better about your indifference while she was alive?  Guess what?  It's a lame attempt.  She was a person.  The disregard for human life in our society makes me sick.  Creating a webpage, posting a video on You Tube, liking a Facebook status is not a humanitarian deed.  Get up off your ass and DO something about it.

Well, I could go on forever.  Bad Drivers?  If I wrote about every time they pissed me off, we'd have to change the name of this blog.  The price of gas?  Highway robbery!!  In a few days however, none of this will seem so dire and I will blissfully return to a state of calm.  Pray the state of calm comes quickly - for those around me.

Things that are Annoying me Today...

1.  (how is that for no preamble or anything) My ex totally not respecting my time.  At all.  That is so annoying because it just shows that he doesn't respect me.  It's okay to waste my time because it's inconsequential to him.  It doesn't matter to him.  MEN:  If any of you read this blog...consider this...When you are late, when you dilly dally around, this is what women hear:  "Hey hon, guess what, you don't matter."  Seriously...that's what you  might as well be saying.  Next time, remember that.  WOMEN:  You're welcome.  Again

2.  I never ever was going to be *that* mom who's kids had never been to McDonalds.  I love McDonalds and to be honest with you...I always knew that I was way too lazy to make dinner *every* single night.  Thursday nights when I pick up Q, we go to Mickey D's, we sit in the play area, he plays, I digest.  We're all happy.  Except for tonight...first of all, I have the *loud talker* mom.  You've all met a loud talker mom.  They're the ones who want everyone to know what a wonderful mom they are.  They're attentive, they're witty, they're loving, they're loud.  "Owen, do you have to poo-poo?"  and in the next breath "Don't forget to eat all your french fries, Darling."  I don't need to know the digestive cycle of other people's kids.  I have a six year old child who likes to *show* me the size of his number 2's.  That's enough for me, thanks.  Second is the inattentive mother...the one who's too busy talking on her phone, reading a book, or praying someone will kidnap her child while she's *not watching* them.  There were these two boys who decided to play war.  "I just shot you.  I shot you in the face.  You're dead"  Verbatim, that is.  Why/How does a child know that is even an option in this world?  It makes me sick.  Unfortunately, our date to Mickey D's was cut short tonight because I did not want my child playing war with two kids blowing each other's brains out.  The mother was oblivious to the violence oozing from her children.  It makes me sad, really.  I had to resist the urge to *supervise* the situation.

3.  Traffic.  I just have one thing to say about this...get out of my way.  That is all.  Thank you.  Oh.  No, no it's not.  One more thing.  Don't get in accidents, please!  Do you know how absolutely annoying it is when I'm in lane 2 of 6 and we all have to merge into one on a bridge because you've clogged up two lanes with your four car pile up.  And tell me, what four car pile up is complete without 3 police cars, a tow truck and an ambulance?  Exactly. 

4.  This headache behind my left eye that I've had forever.  I wonder if it's a tumour.  I also wonder if it's a headache or an eye ache and how do you tell the difference?

5.  Renting a house that's for sale.  If you're considering this, I would seriously caution you against it.  It is a pain in the cheeks.  Not only do you have to keep the house clean All. The. Time, but you also have to leave the house at the drop of a hat so someone can come look at it.  I cannot wait til this month is over and we are in our new home.  I've had it up to here.

6.  Being a female player in a male dominated game/industry.  I get that men who have small *ahem* brains seem to have this overwhelming need to prove themselves in other ways.  Thing is, they're not smart enough.  Try blaming me for your inadequacies, and you'll realize how inadequate you really, truly are.  Thing is, so will everyone else.  And I'll do it in the most pleasant way possible, so you'll find it so difficult to hate me...especially because you're not quite sure if I was really smart enough to pull off what I just pulled off.  Jerk.

7.  Married men who don't wear wedding rings.  Just in case you guys didn't know this...it's a sign for us single women.  So put your friggin ring on.  Thanks.

8.  Elections and the mud slinging that ensues.  Can't we win an election by telling everyone how fabulous we are instead of because we told everyone how horrible they are?  And 4 elections in 7 years?  I haven't changed my mind, okay?  If you want to know, I'm MORE conservative than the conservative government.  Isn't that insane?  I had absolutely no idea. 

And no, I'm not PMS-ing.  I'm just having an angry rant.  Hmmmm, who knew happy people could have bad days.  You know what else makes me mad?  When you're having a perfectly fabulous day and someone comes along and dumps on you.  Hope that hasn't happened to you.

"How's Your Day?"

You know, one day I'm going to answer this question honestly. My day is just fabulous, thanks for asking. I have an insane headache. Probably because I woke up late, didn't get a chance to eat before I got to work, and then by the time I did eat, it was too late. I usually keep a reserve of Advil, but evidently I pop 'em like candy, so now it is pounding...behind my eyes, down my neck, both temples. I need a massage. I'm still dealing with guilt today over the fact that I decided to clean the house on Sunday instead of Monday. Sunday, true to its name, was beautifully sunny and hot. Q and I should have hung out at the beach and cleaned on Monday when it RAINED ALL BLOODY DAY. But no, poor planning on my part and I am still kicking myself in the ass over it. What a waste of a beautiful day. What a waste of a rainy day too, for that matter. Rainy days are perfect for cleaning, with the sweet smells that only spring rains bring. Ugh. Now I feel even worse about cleaning on Sunday. I hate my job, I hate stupidity and ironically they go hand in hand on most days. I hate even more that the issue is no longer my coworker's stupidity but my disdain for him. It's no longer his monkey, it's mine. And I don't know how to change it. I wear my emotions. It's completely evident that I have no patience for him or his incompetence. I have a hard time even saying "hi" without giving him the evil eye. And so now it's become all about that. I've become the bitch. I hate being a bitch. It's too exhausting. It eats away at me. And I'm pretty sure it makes me frown, which will give me wrinkles. I like to, as a rule, stay away from anything that will give me wrinkles. (Although I worry and worrying makes me frown, which gives me wrinkles....so there goes that theory...) The problem as I perceive it is this - being a non bitch requires swallowing my pride. It means being nice to this guy, helping him, and I don't know if I can do it. It seems so unfair that this guy gets paid the same amount as me when half my job is trying to undo or fix what he's done. But being a bitch is hard. I hate being the bitch. I miss my son. I have huge issues about working full time, with being a single mom. I feel like I don't see him enough or spend enough quality time with him. He's growing so fast. Guilt, guilt, guilt. And then there is this huge elephant in my life right now. I can't talk about it, although I am dying to. I wonder if someone else has seen (felt) it, but can't ask....you know, 'cos it's the elephant in the room that no one talks about. But it is bigger than I am and I just have to trust that if it is in the plan for my life that it will happen. I truly believe that some things happen for a reason but this just seems impossible and wonderful and did I mention impossible? For the time being, this one is completely out of my hands. I just have to hope and pray that a seed has been planted and is growing in my favour. But with my luck, most likely it is not. And it's all I think about day and night, so I am losing sleep over something I have no control over. Oh, and then today, I flushed the toilet (toliet? I can never remember that one) and the thingy that flushes breaks. So now in order to flush my toilet (toliet?) I have to stick my hand in the bowl and pull the thingy. This also means I have to make a trip to crappy tire to buy a new one (where I ask the guy where I can find a 'thingy' for my toliet (?) and he looks at me like "Don'tcha know it's called a _____, not a thingy") and then I have to FIX it. Why? Oh, that's right because if I don't, it won't get fixed. Seriously folks, it's times like these that I wish I could say "Oh pookie, could you fix the thingy in the toliet (toilet??? oh I give up...now they both look wrong) while I go bake some brownies" I'm all for 'his' and 'hers' jobs...especially if it means I do not have to take out the garbage or fix toilets or go to crappy tire. Just for the record, I'd never call him 'pookie', it just fit the sentence. Or maybe I would just to be annoying, like all those annoying in love people out there. On a funny note, tho, Q is going pee like every 5 minutes just so he can flush the thing (aha!) And then there's the smoking. 4 1/2 months and I just want a smoke sooooo bad, and I've gained 20 pounds, so that's a bonus right? Just more of me to love I always say. Now, it's day two of diet....and all I want is a smoke and a chocolate bar. Wow, ain't life grand. So, that's how my day is going. Thanks for asking. How's yours? Oh wait. I don't care. (ooooh, see there was the bitch again...sooo not good.) But the Advil gel caps are working, so I don't feel like throwing up any more...that's a bonus. And I just won the cutest pair of running shoes on e-bay. They're pink. And so this will make losing weight fun, I just know it (ahhhhhhh, sweet sarcasm.....)