I'm annoyed because:
I'm too fat for Agent Gibbs, a.k.a Mark Harmon.
Ditto for Tom Selleck.
You see, if I had a lithe body, even though I am of mature years, I could press it up against these guys and whisper into their ears. Then their security would drag me off and I'd wake up heavily medicated.
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I'm annoyed because when I went to the supermarket yesterday, hoping to get away with once again not cooking, there were no rotissiere chickens in the case. A woman standing there with an expectant look on her face said, "There aren't any more chickens -- they said it would be about 20 minutes. He's wrapping the last one for me." It was then that I had this mental cartoon-like image of us wrestling each other to the floor in a life or death struggle over the last chicken. I moved on quietly. Actually, I told her of my brain cartoon and she only looked around for help for a short time.
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I'm annoyed because it has been raining for two days and everyone here is so happy that it's not snow that they don't even notice that it is dank, DANK, I say. Bah humbug.
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I'm annoyed because even though the crockpot chicken in marinara sauce came out wonderful and was yummy with pasta for lunch, now I have to figure out something for supper.
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I'm annoyed because I have been called a racist. Again. No, I didn't do anything. We have had a kid or two scrawling racist graffitti (aimed at a black teacher) in the bathrooms of the high school. Said teacher told the School Committee that the schools and whole Town are inherently, institutionally, racist. Don't I have to be some kind of participant in the offense to be branded?
Since the incidents (see: Larry Kelley's blog Only in the Republic of Amherst), there have been meetings galore and now the schools are going to have anti-racist programs. There are two separate groups using rooms at the Library holding meetings to try to combat this racism. (Why two different groups -- in addition to the NAACP-- I wonder?)
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Finally, I am annoyed and really angry that my petition for an upgrade has been denied. Again. Somewhere around 1995, with the other boss, we asked to have my position upgraded. They just re-did my job description, adding more duties.
Two years ago, my then new boss supported an upgrade of two steps (with documentation). It was denied.
About 8 months ago, we asked again, with more documentation of increased responsibility and duties. I was put in with the professionals' job review (even though I am not on a professional level). They asked what I do and we told them. The human resource consultant thought an upgrade would be a slam dunk when she spoke with my boss and me. What happened? Town of Amherst Human Resources said no upgrade and they added the extra duties to my job description with no added compensation. I again looked at the job descriptions of those positions two grades above me -- they have fewer responsibilities and fewer tasks. And, to top it all off -- I cannot 'work to rule' because they added all of those extra duties to my current job descriptions.
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O.k., I'm done griping. I just had chocolate molten cake and it's yummy. Who knew that a mix I bought about two years ago could be so good? My daughters love to go spelunking in my food cupboard and throw out expired things. Ha! I'm going to eat them before those kids go nuts.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
It dawned on me that since I found Stephen Wright's blog, I haven't written here. I feel inadequate next to his writing. However, I would not want to go national the way he does -- boy, does he get criticism!! All of the crazies love to glom onto him. I like being the only crazy here just fine, thank you.
********************************************************************************
I love the Upworthy posts on FaceBook -- even if they do make me think. But today's post by Stephen Fry (the actor) about Humanism explained a lot to me. He's basically an atheist and he was saying even though there is no divine plan (in his opinion), we can all make ourselves happy by just living life to the fullest. It was such a simple and straightforward explanation that I now know why on Baptist minister preached a whole sermon about the evils of Humanism. Because Humanists go one step further than, "We don't need no steenking priests," right on to, "We don't need no God."
I know you're not supposed to discuss religion and politics at work, but I thought it was o.k. with good friends at home. Yesterday I observed that I thought a woman who is going through a terrible family problem is probably going through these trials due to her bad karma resulting from years of being downright nasty. My friend said to me, 'You were raised Catholic -- how can you believe in karma?' I didn't have an adequate answer then, but I was thinking, 'What about the do unto others thing?' What about the concept of hell if you don't behave?
I know bad things happen to good people and that makes the above nonsense. But I really feel there's a germ of truth in there.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
So, the other day, I had to register several people at work for a conference in Worcester. The conference administrator needed a tally of who wanted chicken or vegetarian for lunch. So I was getting emails such as: chicken, chicken, rubber chicken, chicken, and CHICKEN! <--- Actually that was a colored cartoon about 6 inches high of a yellow chicken with red accents. It was clip art that my boss had sent to be funny. And it is that -- funny. I laughed out loud. So I did a copy and paste so I could print out the chicken and put him on my bulletin board.
My work computer is weird. (Now wait a minute, there's a point to this. I have not gone totally soft yet.) If I do a control C (copy) and then do a control V (paste), it works fine. The next time I highlight something else and copy and paste, I get the first thing all over again. (Every time.)
So after printing out the chicken, I was copying a form letter to thank a donor and pasted it onto letterhead. And I got CHICKEN! Sigh.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Well, it's time to think about supper. I usually eat it with 60 Minutes (7 p.m.). Do you think they would notice at the supermarket that I'm still wearing jammies when I go look for a rotissiere chicken?
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Spring Ahead
I trust you have all reconciled yourself to the fact that the clocks had to be moved ahead one hour last night. Personally, this changing the clock bit bugs me. It supposedly was instituted to help the farmers, who now have electricity, so why do we have to change things? I was just rejoicing in the fact that when I leave work it's not totally dark, and now it's all artificially light. Well, more light than it should be. Isn't Noon always at the same time? What is this nonsense exactly?
****************************************************************************
I am distressed by the Blarney Blowout. Yesterday, due to excessive drinking, 58 college aged kids were arrested and more were summonsed (I think that means ticketed). As my friend, Ann, says: They have too much money and too much time on their hands.
She and I were reminiscing about out undergraduate days. I did as little studying as possible, but I did work part time and beer or alcohol wasn't really my bag (luckily). She, on the other hand, studied a lot and perhaps had a part time job too. But neither of us had enough money to buy a six pack, let alone buy drinks at a bar!
It was a gorgeous sunny day in the 50's and most kids went out to see and be seen and maybe have a beer or two. A few went to get so drunk that they couldn't walk. I was returning from Northampton around Noon and I saw two ambulances about 10 to 15 minutes apart going to the emergency room. There were already problems.
In the "old days," they called it Kegs and Eggs and we all said, "Ewww ... eggs and beer!" Some of the kids did indeed start that early, but it wasn't in any way as rowdy as this. I guess it's because everyone is texting everyone else and they are telling their friends where to go to meet up or witness one of the many fights.
Our police were criticized for using non lethal force -- pepper spray and smoke bombs -- to disperse the crowds. These are public safety officers, many in full riot gear, who were greeted with a hail of snow balls, ice chunks, full beer bottles and cans, etc. We still had four officers injured.
While I know the majority of UMass students were not participating, I think we all -- including current students and administrators -- need to figure out a way to stop this ridiculous disturbance. If it means closing all of the bars and liquor stores in Amherst on that day, let's do it. Let them buy their liquor in Hadley and bring it to their dorm room on campus.
Aftermath: About 100 students protested the "overexcessive use of force" by the Amherst Police. I guess they have never heard of Kent State (or seen the photo). Do you suppose they have heard of Rodney King? They don't know what excessive force is.
We protested the Viet Nam war and they protest when cops tell a drunken crowd to disperse.
I can barely swim, it's getting so shallow.
*****************************************************************************
Today is a day that you can really feel spring coming on. It's in the 40's and really sunny. The snow banks at the end of the driveways are down to 3 or 4 feet, the birds are chirping in the morning ... did someone send the birds a memo saying, "It's March, get your tail feathers out there in the a.m.!"? I heard birds singing as I went out to work the other morning and thought I had been transported to the town center and was hearing the audible crosswalk light in Town.
*******************************************************************************
March 19, 2014
As you may have guessed, the above was written the Sunday BEFORE March 17th. We've had more bitterly cold weather, but today was in the 40's and great ... for a ride to Charlestown. It only took me two and a half hours today but I can't figure out if it's because my new GPS sent me a different way or if it was because I left 15 minutes early. (Yes, of course I can figure it out by Googling the time for the different routes, but I'm too lazy.)
I know it's hard for you to believe, but my wheels started turning at 6:45 a.m. Luckily, for those at the union hall, the coffee was ready. I can't drink or eat anything before I leave. I can't imagine how bad it would be to be stuck in traffic in Framingham and have to go.
I got my usual dose of angst when someone, whose expertise in his job is almost nil, was disrespectful to me. This is a staff person no less. But he has kissed the correct asses and remains the golden boy. Actually, I think he has "the goods" on the people who insist on retaining him. Why do I persist? Why do I put up with this manure? (I actually need it for the garden.)
I just keep having this nagging feeling that I can effect change and make some things better with the union management. Today, however, I was reminded of the phrase: Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
*****************************************************************************
I was reading the Deployment Health today (from Walter Reed -- it's online) and was grabbed by a picture of two Marines in an airplane grimacing in pain from wounds they received in Afghanistan. After that, I read the UMass Alumni News (also online) and read that the University received a grant of thousands of dollars to assist Afghan women get education. Irony.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Heard in a local supermarket: Are these local asparagus? No ma'm. Why can't we have local asparagus?
BECAUSE THERE'S STILL TWO FREAKIN' FEET OF SNOW, YOU JERK. <-- That's me. Does she think the plants are pushing up through the snow? (BTW, there's less snow because it was warm today.) Does she think someone is growing greenhouse asparagus? Yeah, and selling it for $12 a spear. Sheesh.
*******************************************************************************
It was just sleeting a couple of hours ago. We went from sunny and in the high 40's to sleeting. Is it any wonder why I'm just a bit testy?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
So I went to the dentist ... again. Yes, another crown. I've paid enough in dental bills that I should get a real crown. Anyway, I'm in the chair bleeding like crazy and the dentist says, "That's some really angry tissue there." And I said to him, "Yeah, well, if you would stop poking sharp objects at it, it probably wouldn't be so angry." Bah humbug.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
****************************************************************************
I am distressed by the Blarney Blowout. Yesterday, due to excessive drinking, 58 college aged kids were arrested and more were summonsed (I think that means ticketed). As my friend, Ann, says: They have too much money and too much time on their hands.
She and I were reminiscing about out undergraduate days. I did as little studying as possible, but I did work part time and beer or alcohol wasn't really my bag (luckily). She, on the other hand, studied a lot and perhaps had a part time job too. But neither of us had enough money to buy a six pack, let alone buy drinks at a bar!
It was a gorgeous sunny day in the 50's and most kids went out to see and be seen and maybe have a beer or two. A few went to get so drunk that they couldn't walk. I was returning from Northampton around Noon and I saw two ambulances about 10 to 15 minutes apart going to the emergency room. There were already problems.
In the "old days," they called it Kegs and Eggs and we all said, "Ewww ... eggs and beer!" Some of the kids did indeed start that early, but it wasn't in any way as rowdy as this. I guess it's because everyone is texting everyone else and they are telling their friends where to go to meet up or witness one of the many fights.
Our police were criticized for using non lethal force -- pepper spray and smoke bombs -- to disperse the crowds. These are public safety officers, many in full riot gear, who were greeted with a hail of snow balls, ice chunks, full beer bottles and cans, etc. We still had four officers injured.
While I know the majority of UMass students were not participating, I think we all -- including current students and administrators -- need to figure out a way to stop this ridiculous disturbance. If it means closing all of the bars and liquor stores in Amherst on that day, let's do it. Let them buy their liquor in Hadley and bring it to their dorm room on campus.
Aftermath: About 100 students protested the "overexcessive use of force" by the Amherst Police. I guess they have never heard of Kent State (or seen the photo). Do you suppose they have heard of Rodney King? They don't know what excessive force is.
We protested the Viet Nam war and they protest when cops tell a drunken crowd to disperse.
I can barely swim, it's getting so shallow.
*****************************************************************************
Today is a day that you can really feel spring coming on. It's in the 40's and really sunny. The snow banks at the end of the driveways are down to 3 or 4 feet, the birds are chirping in the morning ... did someone send the birds a memo saying, "It's March, get your tail feathers out there in the a.m.!"? I heard birds singing as I went out to work the other morning and thought I had been transported to the town center and was hearing the audible crosswalk light in Town.
*******************************************************************************
March 19, 2014
As you may have guessed, the above was written the Sunday BEFORE March 17th. We've had more bitterly cold weather, but today was in the 40's and great ... for a ride to Charlestown. It only took me two and a half hours today but I can't figure out if it's because my new GPS sent me a different way or if it was because I left 15 minutes early. (Yes, of course I can figure it out by Googling the time for the different routes, but I'm too lazy.)
I know it's hard for you to believe, but my wheels started turning at 6:45 a.m. Luckily, for those at the union hall, the coffee was ready. I can't drink or eat anything before I leave. I can't imagine how bad it would be to be stuck in traffic in Framingham and have to go.
I got my usual dose of angst when someone, whose expertise in his job is almost nil, was disrespectful to me. This is a staff person no less. But he has kissed the correct asses and remains the golden boy. Actually, I think he has "the goods" on the people who insist on retaining him. Why do I persist? Why do I put up with this manure? (I actually need it for the garden.)
I just keep having this nagging feeling that I can effect change and make some things better with the union management. Today, however, I was reminded of the phrase: Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
*****************************************************************************
I was reading the Deployment Health today (from Walter Reed -- it's online) and was grabbed by a picture of two Marines in an airplane grimacing in pain from wounds they received in Afghanistan. After that, I read the UMass Alumni News (also online) and read that the University received a grant of thousands of dollars to assist Afghan women get education. Irony.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Heard in a local supermarket: Are these local asparagus? No ma'm. Why can't we have local asparagus?
BECAUSE THERE'S STILL TWO FREAKIN' FEET OF SNOW, YOU JERK. <-- That's me. Does she think the plants are pushing up through the snow? (BTW, there's less snow because it was warm today.) Does she think someone is growing greenhouse asparagus? Yeah, and selling it for $12 a spear. Sheesh.
*******************************************************************************
It was just sleeting a couple of hours ago. We went from sunny and in the high 40's to sleeting. Is it any wonder why I'm just a bit testy?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
So I went to the dentist ... again. Yes, another crown. I've paid enough in dental bills that I should get a real crown. Anyway, I'm in the chair bleeding like crazy and the dentist says, "That's some really angry tissue there." And I said to him, "Yeah, well, if you would stop poking sharp objects at it, it probably wouldn't be so angry." Bah humbug.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
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