Vent Time

Just a short vent, but it was on my mind.

I can't stand enablers.

Seriously, why do you let the people you "love" continue to hurt themselves and others? I may or may not be dealing with an enabler in my life at the moment. Of course I'm not going to fill you in on the details other than the fact that IT'S FRUSTRATING AND STRESSFUL.

The reason we have such a helpless generation growing up now is because parents have become some awful enablers. I don't want to hand our society over. I've heard stories. I've seen the enabled and entitled children grow up. No thank you. I for one will make my kids do things for themselves. Chores, their own homework, teach them to cook, the whole nine yards.

Okay. Vent over. After a stressful period of time I had a good night at church last night. We had a superhero theme and ironically I decided to be The Punisher. Amusing to me since I am the teacher...

The Most Epic Fail of All Epic Fails

Ummm... we waited for four hours. Have been super pumped for weeks.

AND THE THEATER WE WERE SEATED IN HAD ISSUES AND WE COULDN'T SEE THE BIGGEST MOVIE OF THE FREAKIN' YEAR.

Free tickets do not make up for this. We may or may not have shot some reaction videos. If you're a Facebook friend you'll get to see them.

UGH. Have to go to bed so we can attempt to make an early morning show later.

BOOOOOO MANCHESTER THEATER IN FRESNO!!!

Can I Get A Duh?

Hubby and I awoke this morning to the Prez on television (again!). Now I won't even get started about how the man apparently LOVES his speech time (of which I've watched... one maybe? In his whole time in office.). I will mention what he's talking about.

Raising the debt ceiling.

Ummmm... wait, we're already becoming a country of people who can't pull ourselves together and pay bills. But you want to RAISE the amount of money we can borrow? So we can take a longer time paying it back? And a longer time not supporting ourselves??

Bad idea. Duh.

I came to the conclusion a long time ago that to be a politician, you must have to have terrible math scores. Like, dismal. Because I'm constantly amazed at the numbers spewed forth showing that no one is aware IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, YOU SHOULDN'T SPEND IT. Really.

Okay I'm done.

In other news, it's my parents' anniversary today. 30 years! And it's free Slurpee day. Okay, it's a wimpy size, but still.

**AWWWWWW SUPER SADS!!! My tattoo is postponed. :( Our friend just messaged and had something come up that's gonna keep him out of the shop today.

Hello Monday. You raise your ugly head again.

Dear ABC

Okay, I'm about to get a little... angry.

Dear ABC,

Suck it. Suck it hard and choke on it.

Sincerely,
Someone Who Will No Longer Watch Any of Your CRAP

**ABC went and showed what complete asshats they are and cancelled TWO soaps today. The two that I have watched for 15 years. The two that have been on for over 80 years combined. The two that don't totally suck.

I may or may not have screamed in my classroom.

I truly don't see myself watching ABC. Let them hurt. Let them crash and burn.

Let's Stir Up the Pot

Okay, actually it won't be a mess of pot stirring. But I had to throw in my two cents with this article I saw on Sunday morning.

California lawmakers (a.k.a. professional time-wasters) want to make some changes to textbooks used in public schools. Specifically, they want to "require state schools to teach about the contributions of gay, lesbian and transgender Americans."

Now I've spoken out before about my "stance" (I guess you would call it that) on homosexuality. But this just seems unnecessary. For plenty of reasons.

One, you know taxpayers are footing the bill for these "improved" textbooks if they happen. And that's fair to the people who are raised with completely opposite beliefs because... oh wait. It's not. A person with passionate beliefs against anything at all should NOT be forced to help fund the teaching of those beliefs to children. There's a reason you can't get a Christian education in public schools.

Two, this is just a waste of time and resources at the moment. California is in a stupid amount of budget trouble. A STUPID amount. Why don't we spend our time fixing something like that? Maybe teaching our lawmakers basic math? What you don't have you can't spend? I would much rather see that fixed than have more trouble stirred up for my fellow educators. Because let me just tell you that my friends in the public school systems have some serious STUFF to deal with already. If these "improved" texts happen, parents will blame principals and teachers because that's just how it happens.

Three, why does it even need to happen? Lawmakers are saying that it will help with the bullying problem we've seen as of late. That it will give teenagers with that lifestyle/identity positive role models. I call malarkey. Kids are punks. Reading that a particular politician/inventor/scientist is homosexual will not change that. At least half of these kids are too shallow to care. And the role model thing? Well... isn't that where families are supposed to help out? Maybe I'm outdated, but my parents and other grown family members WERE my role models. Or they at least provided me with positive ones. I'm aware that we have some less than stellar parenting skills out there today. But as a teacher right now, I can honestly tell you we have so much else we're required to do during the day that we should NOT have to list "positive influences" for your child because you can't do it. It's called being a parent, don't procreate if you can't follow through.

I'm extremely fortunate to be teaching at a private school. Blessed beyond words. I am thankful on a daily basis and more so when I come across articles about the state butting in with public schools. At this point, I would happily take the pay cut that comes with a private school for the foreseeable future (and YES, private school teachers tend to make far LESS money despite rumors and misconceptions) in order to avoid the state forcing other peoples' ideas on me and my class.

So, now that I've had my piece, what say you? Especially my friends with school-age children. Has California over-stepped their boundaries? Have they BEEN over-stepping? Gimme your two cents.

Give Me a Moment

Okay. I tend to stay away from seriousness and divisive subjects on this blog. I never enjoy when people talk about something just to get a reaction. And I have unsubscribed to blogs that constantly get political/religious/controversial. If I wanted to read angst and uproar I'd subscribe to our newspaper.

That said, there's been one topic that has come up several times recently with a few different people. And after hearing about someone who is living with some of the issues... well I just decided I wanted to throw my two cents in there.

So if you're uncomfortable or in a judging mood, please go away. I'm not asking you to validate my opinion, but I'm definitely not asking you to attack it either. It's called an opinion because it's not the same as everyone's. And it's MY blog, so I'll express MY opinion.

We're gonna chat a bit about homosexuality. Or rather, how people are reacting to homosexuals.

Now I know a lot of people have covered their own thoughts and feelings on the subject. There has been national attention on the tragic stories of young people who decide that ending their lives is an answer to how they feel. Glee has addressed the subject of bullying with a couple episodes. But as I said before... just my two cents here.

This has always been a weird area for me in some way. I was raised Christian. I call myself a Christian to this day. I attend a Christian church. I teach at a Christian school. Maybe it's just how fortunate I am, or maybe I was raised around more tolerant Christians, but I never heard any "gay-bashing" from anyone. I am fully aware that there are some Christians who can't even talk to someone that they know is gay because "it's just wrong. God didn't make them that way. They're choosing to sin."

Well, I'm not here to discuss why or why not people end up being gay. But I will say that Christians with that attitude make me sad and embarrassed. Gay or not, God DID create them. And gay or not, He DOES want us to love our neighbors. It's not up to us to do any judging.

Hubby and I know a lesbian couple and while talking to hubby one of the women expressed anger at how she and her partner were treated recently. She talked about the dirty looks, about being asked to leave a store (I don't know the whole story here, but it doesn't sound right from what I do know), and just the meanness sent their direction. Why is any of that necessary? Why people? Because they have feelings for someone of the same sex? I've seen how some couples feel about each other and I promise you, their feelings for each other are the same as the feelings between my husband and myself. Being the same gender doesn't make their relationship fake or less legitimate than any other couple.

I stand by my own beliefs. I DO follow what the Bible says and I don't think God approves of homosexuality. But I also don't think He wants us to make homosexuals feel out of place, shunned, or even in danger as so many do feel. I will never "unfriend" someone on Facebook simply because of who they are attracted to. I will never tell anyone that they are a sinner. Because guess what? We all are to some degree.

So if anyone ever displays that kind of ignorance in my presence, I will call them on it. And if they do that to someone I consider a friend, I WILL make sure I call them on it good and loud. I don't put up with bullies.

*end rant*

Okay then, I feel slightly better having said all that. I hope I didn't crush any toes with my stepping. And if you can respectfully disagree (or agree) then feel free to pop in with a comment. But know that I WILL be monitoring them and I WILL take anything down that sounds hateful or mean. I hope everyone can have a happy Tuesday. And maybe I'll be back later with something more light and fluffy later. :)

Entitlement

This will either end up really long and boring, or shorter than I meant because it's harder to say than I thought it would be.

Kids today are wimps.

I could leave it at that, but I won't.

First of all, the term "kids" doesn't even refer to the under-14 bracket anymore. There are people in their twenties acting like kids. There are people in their thirties acting like kids. People have this ginormous* sense of entitlement. Where the heck did it come from?

I work with kids in various situations. There are kids who have hundred dollar phones. They have designer clothing. Their parents jump at the mention that another kid doesn't like theirs. I have kids who have zero chores. There are kids who do everything regardless of how much it costs. They get cars at fifteen because they need to practice on the very car they will drive when they get their license at sixteen.

Sports teams get trophies for EVERYTHING. There is barely a first place anymore. Now if you showed up on time and wore your uniform right you get a trophy. Kids have full blown graduations in sixth grade now. Their parents are getting them LIMOS.

What is this doing to them? Will their parents keep supporting them forever? Will they give up after one failed job interview and decide that their only solution is to live off everyone else? What will they do when they *gasp* get a bad grade and mommy isn't there to bully their teacher?

I'm just really disillusioned sometimes. It's frustrating knowing that when I get my own classroom I will have countless overprotective parents and weak children.

There are going to be challenges! You cannot have a picture perfect life with only sunshine and rainbows. You WILL have to pay bills. You WILL have your heart broken. You WILL make mistakes. But guess what? That's how you become the adult that you're meant to be.

So quit whining.



*Um, were you people aware that "ginormous" is apparently a recognized word? Firefox and Blogger are telling me that it's fine. Hmmm...

I Was Not Aware of That...

Apparently November is National Blog Posting Month. I'm not making this up. See? Which means I should probably attempt to post every day.

Hey, I have so far!

So today, I'll tell you a little story.

About the suckiest apartment complex ever. Wait, that would be MY apartment complex!

Since we've lived here management must have changed. Because where they used to care when we had issues, they totally don't now. We can barely open our sliding glass and screen doors because of a tree whose roots are growing under our porch. Their answer to this problem was, "Oh, we would have to tear the porch out." Hmmmm... couldn't you have offered to put us in a different unit so I could, oh I dunno, ENJOY MY PATIO!

I've also had various creepy-crawlies come into my apartment. Making me want to faint and throw up.

Then there's the fact that we're a gated complex, but until recently nobody bothered closing the gates at night. Oh, and now that they're usually closed it doesn't really matter. People will just wait until someone with an opener pulls up and zip in right behind them. Or go in the exit gate. Because, guess what? No one mans the little security station at the gate. No one.

Of course this leads to a lot of break ins. Hubby and I have been lucky. The worst we had happen was when someone took our little tiny grill off our back patio. But then today we couldn't open our garage door. That would be because some idiot tried to break in last night and BROKE OUR DOOR. We finally shoved it open. And then called maintenance.

Maintenence was called over an hour ago. I've yet to see them pull up in their fugly golf cart. They WILL fix my door. And not just some ghetto rigging. They're going to replace crap. Or I'll blow up at them.

Ugh.

So hope everyone else is having a good Tuesday. I'm considering playing the lottery so we can move sooner.

An Open Letter

Dear Disney,

Let me start by saying that on any given day I love you. I love Disneyland. I quote many of your movies regularly, and I take joy in buying my nephew oodles of Disney socks, shoes, underwear, and countless other items.

But we have a problem.

Why do you insist on sending movies to "the Disney vault" after a while? It's really stupid. And annoying. And it makes me yell at the TV that you are a bunch of jerks. Thanks to you I have to budget twenty bucks for Peter Pan so that I don't have to wait until I'm eighty and you decide to bring it out of that stupid vault of yours. I should be able to buy it at my leisure. Heck, I would even dare to guess that you would make more money by people buying it when they want as opposed to scrambling for it right now.

So I just wanted to let you know that I am cursing you every time I hear your commercials about the "vault." I hope your mysterious vault swallows you whole.

Thanks.
Typhoid Ashley

Losing it...

So I've mentioned before some of the things I loathe about apartment life. But it's been pretty drama free lately.

But last week crap started happening.

Literally.

Someone is letting their dog do his (rather copious) business right by my unit. I'm talking there were three piles within ten feet of my door last week. Right now, Tim walked out to go to work and there are three piles in my planter. About two feet from my door.

I complained last week. No one picked it up. So Tim went in the office right now and got a little mad at them. Then he called me. I took a picture (gross, I know). And if that crap isn't gone in an hour, I'm going to go to that office and wait for someone to follow me and pick it up.

It's not my dog. I don't have a dog! I have serious issues with this. And I really don't have to explain myself here, do I? I swear I'm going to stalk everyone that comes by with a dog. And if they don't pick up the dog's business, I'm taking pictures of the people and following them to their door.

Screw neighborhood watch, we need a crap patrol around here.

Actually, how funny would that be? I'll make shirts with a steaming pile on them... haha.

Alright, I'm off to count down these thirty-five minutes until I scare the people in the office. I definitely won't be making any friends tonight.

This is absolutely ridonkulous

I am a member of online message boards. If any of you readers are you are undoubtedly familiar with the term "trolls." If you're not familiar with it I'll give you the quick definition.

A troll is a person who comes to a board with the sole purpose of annoying people or harassment. That's it in a nutshell.

Now I've seen some obnoxious trolls. But then I was linked to this article today. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3

That is beyond stupid. Really people, you're going to take harassment to the very edge? I gotta say, these people have the very worst part of hell reserved for them.

That's all. This article just angered me and I felt the need to let others read it.

Karma and general angry ramblings...

I don't want to air my dirty laundry here, so I won't. But I have to vent something. It'll be short since I can't give details. And please don't message me or email me for details. This is all anyone gets to know. This is a serious family matter.

Karma is a bitch. Common saying, right? Well, at this point I have never hoped it's true more than I do right now.

I have two people who deserve to rot in jail (or hell for that matter) in mind. Are they there? Nope. All because there is someone entirely too compassionate behind them. Can I change the mind of that compassionate person? I can only hope that somebody can.

I have reached the point where I'm so angry all I can do is shake. And I can't even come up with any good solutions. Because there is no reason any of this crap should be happening. It just doesn't happen to people I know. Or that's how I feel.

So what do you do when it's beyond your control? Well, right now I'm waiting for the whole group to step in. Things have reached the point that they can't be ignored anymore. But I'm not the most patient person in the world. I want action now. But it can't happen yet. This is going to require so much work. And all just before I start school. How does it always pick up when I'm going to be the busiest I've been in my life?

Sorry this is so random and not fun, readers. I just need to throw everything out, ya know? Even if it does read like word vomit. My mini therapy until it comes up again (which will probably be later today). Maybe I should go jog it off. Nah, it's already too warm. I need a punching bag... although Tim did talk about going to shoot some clay pigeons tomorrow (it'll be my first time).

Whatever happens, I need prayer from those of you who pray. Just pray for the sanity, health, and decisions that my family needs to make. I need people to get smart in this family. There comes a point where blood does NOT run thicker than water, and I think we're there. So please, prayers and good vibes. We definitely need them.

And I can't ask you enough NOT to call me or message me privately. I'm not gonna spill it. So please, just don't.