Playing house

This week the parents of the three kids we shuttle around every day are in California, therefore, Jaosn and I are mom and dad for a week. I must say, I'm enjoying living in a mansion. I'm especially enjoying the housekeeper that comes every day. She can fold a fitted sheet into a perfect square! This woman has serious talent. We leave for school with breakfast dishes in the sink, we come home and they're clean and back in the cabinet they came from. The bathroom sink has fresh cups every day so you can get a drink at night, or in the morning. It's like staying in a hotel with full turn-down service. I'm sure if I asked her, she would leave a chocolate on my pillow for me. The milk man is coming tomorrow. Good thing, because we're almost out. Before this job, I didn't even know the milk man still existed. He does, and his milk is fantastic and organic, of course.
There are downsides to the mansion lifestyle though. First of all, in a four-story home built in the early 1900's, it can be tricky to avoid the drafts. I was told last month,s heating bill was over $700. Bummer. Also, when you're on the first floor and a child you need could be on one of 3 other floors, it can take a lot of exploring to actually find them - especially when they're out of yelling range. But, it sure was nice to get up early this morning and walk down the hall to the workout room and use the exercise bike while watching Today on NBC.
I'm glad I'm not a real mom yet (do you have any homework? is not a favorite topic around here) and I don't have to deal with this kid stuff every day, but, it is kind of fun - just for the week.

Okay, here's the part where I vent for a few lines:
I am really, really sick of my job. I am currently an administrative assistant at a counseling center. I really believe in the ministry I am contributing to, and most of the counselors are people I genuinely like and get along with. The problem is that I am an assistant. I've always known I was naturally a leader, but I thought I could be a good assistant too. I've discovered I was mistaken. I do a good job, but I am bored out of my mind. I am also frustrated due to my boredom and this is breeding resentment. The people my resentment has been directed towards lately probably only deserve a tenth of the anger I feel inside, yet it's there nearly every day and it's only getting worse. "We need more mugs upstairs"...I think, "get them yourself! What do I look like? I have work to do too you know!" Then I remember, oh yeah, that's in my job description. Answer the phones, schedule the meetings, tally the results of this survey, type up this letter, help me write this essay, email these people, take notes during this meeting, we need more office supplies, we're out of bottled water, write up this two page document in the next 5 minutes! Am I giving you a taste? Silly me for thinking I can handle any job for 6 months. I took this position as a temporary 6 month position knowing it wasn't a perfect fit, but hey, it was a job and I needed a job.
Out of it all I have learned a tremendous amount about my personality, my strengths and my glaring weaknesses. Part of my frustration stems from the knowledge that a job I am much better suited for waits for me this summer. May 1st is my light at the end of this dark, dark tunnel. Why do I let a light in the distance make the darkness around me seem that much more black. Shouldn't it be turning grey, then a dirty yellow, and finally glorious white? I feel like the shade of black for me gets darker and darker until suddenly, bam! It's light... I don't like this about myself. But, at least I am learning things. I'll take the good and try to apply it in the future. For example, the next time I'm tempted to apply for an administrative assistant position, I'll say to myself, been there, tried that... not so good.

Dang

I've already messed up in my posting on the 1st and 15th of the month idea. That's pathetic. Yesterday was really busy though... oh well. Not much to speak of at the moment. I've had a headache since my head hit the pillow last night. I'm hoping as I hit the pillow tonight it will go away. I'll keep you posted as I know you will now be in great suspense wondering if my headache did indeed go away. Goodnight

I didn't know people still thought this way

This week this forward landed in my inbox:

Right on, Andy Rooney!
Andy Rooney said on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back:
I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

(My thoughts: If those are the only things that you can think of that are truly discriminatory than you must have your head up your ass)

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

(My thoughts: A gun is created solely to kill something - that's what they're for! Hello! Although Jason does say that 12 gagues are good for cutting down trees. Hmm)

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

(My thoughts: You know that first comment when you said the only examples you saw of discrimination were scholarships for African Americans? Here's another example, women still being banned from being a member of certain golf courses - not to mention blacks or anyone else not old, rich, white and a prick)

I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

( My thoughts: Have you heard of Jesus?)

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability.

(My thoughts: can you name one American city where the population of African Americans is 70%?!)

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours. I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines.

(My thoughts: Do you know how hard it is to learn a new language when you're not literate in your own?! What has happened to the sanctity of a human life? Does a man not have dignity because he does not speak your language? There are people who are seeking refuge in this country who left lives of privilege, education, and good jobs to have freedom here. Now they are being forced to clean your house, mow your lawn, and never be given the time of day by you. They are people too, with lives and stories. Maybe if you'd take the time to try and get to know these people you wouldn't feel so harshly towards them.)

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

(My thoughts: At least they're working and contributing to society instead of accepting welfare checks and food stamps)

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document and open to their interpretations.

(My thoughts: What exactly are you saying here? I'm confused. Is someone from Europe telling us to change our constitution? I'm not following - sorry)

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

(My thoughts: It's easy not to pity the poor when you're not poor yourself and you don't live on the side of town where utter poverty and 2nd world conditions stare you in the face. Have you ever gone hungry before? I think if you had - or better yet, had to watch your children go to bed hungry - you might dig up some pity)

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

(My thoughts: What the *$#@?)

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!"

(My thoughts: I'm glad for the village that raised me. I'm thankful I had grandparents, youth leaders, and friends of my parents looking out for me)

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

(My thoughts: Then get your french fries yourself, or better yet, don't eat them, they are bad for you. I've never met anyone who got a piercing to make a political statement. Anyone?)

I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe.

(My thoughts: if you don't want to be called a European American that's fine, but why does it piss you off so much if someone wants to be called an African American? Why the heck do you care? Are any of your friends black? Maybe you should just ask them what they would like to be referred to as personally. Ope, there I go, looking at those different from me as people with feelings and opinions too!)

I am proud to be from America and nowhere elseAnd if you don't like my point of view, tough... DON'T PASS IT ON!!
(Don't worry, I'll just point out how ridiculous it is.)

A New Month

February First and I am delighted. I just hate January. I associate it with cold dreary days that get dark before 5pm. February goes by much faster and promises of spring the next month. I'm sure this is mental, but I feel relieved for February.

I'm going to try something new with this blog. I am guaranteeing a post on the 1st and 15th of each month. I would like you blog readers of mine to keep me accountable to this. I want to post more and I think having at least two days a month I must blog will be good. And so, I am posting today. I thought of this 1st and 15th of the month thing while I was running this afternoon. I'm not sure why, but the ideas I have while I'm running are usually pretty good so what the heck eh?

Let me tell you why I hate vacuuming. I love the results of vacuuming because my black hardwood floors are no longer covered with white pet hair, but the process annoys me. The vacuum comes equipped with a long cord. This cord I suppose is meant to be a convenience. The cord allows you to clean the living room, and maybe even stretches all the way into the bedroom, without having to plug into a closer outlet. Convenient. Here's the annoying part. I always attempt to estimate how much cord I need so I won't have extra cord all over the place to trip over and run over repeatedly with the vacuum. My mother told me as a child that if you run over the vacuum cord while the vacuum is running you may be electrocuted. It's a wonder I'm alive. That damn cord is always under me somehow. It has a mind of its own and it is devious. So, I try not to have extra cord. Well then, while attempting to vacuum in the bedroom, the plug is pulled out because I didn't release enough cord to reach the areas I'm trying to vacuum (to avoid the tripping and possible death). Now I must go to the outlet and plug the cord back in. Of course I did not turn the vacuum button onto "off" before plugging the vacuum back in and now I am at risk of being electrocuted again because you should never plug in something electricity will flow to immediately. So, now I've plugged in the cord and again I have narrowly escaped electrocution. Now I am forced to release the entire vacuum cord so I won't have to re-plug the thing in again and thus I am tripping and running over the cord and further risking electrocution. It's a game I play with the cord every time I vacuum and on days like today it just pisses me off. I think I'm probably the only one with this issue, and that's okay. It's just fun to share.