This is part of what's WRONG with the world

I have an extremely negative gut reaction to this billboard, which is up all over town:

Now, I know it's an ad for the Kentucky Derby Museum's exhibit featuring "Derby day attire highlighting the splendid hats, accessories and outfits worn from Millionaire’s Row down to the Winner’s Circle." I think that's a great idea for an exhibit... interesting, even. Fashion is a reflection of our society, and watching how it changes is interesting from a variety of angles.

However, WHY does the ad for it have to be two little richy ninnies making fun of someone's less-than-stellar outfit? Isn't that what's WRONG with the world? Uuugh. It just feels nasty, nasty, nasty to me.

I was so distracted by the negativity of it the first few times I saw it, that I didn't even know what the ad was for. I figured it was some snotty boutique advertising it's rich bitch "sale," using fear to motivate Derby-going locals to spend some cash lest they be the subject of gossip. Gross.

Don't play with addicts

I have two friends that are both addicts. One is in recovery, but is still very fragile in her ability to fight off the demon. The other is very probably near death.

 

I talk to her less and less lately because I don’t think there’s anything I can do to make life better – especially if she doesn’t do what she needs to do for herself. I haven’t talked to him since he gave up his year of sobriety to jump back into cocaine full force. As soon as I found out he was using, I completely cut him off and told him, “I want nothing to do with you.”

 

I love these people, and yet I feel drained by their neediness. I want to be a good person. I want to do what’s right. I have trouble drawing lines. She is encouraging me to call him because “a few simple words can go a long way.”

 

Part of me wants to call him and say goodbye. Again, I believe he’s very close to death and I’d like a chance to say… something. On the other hand, I don’t want him to start contacting me again. I cannot help him. I don’t want his dramatic, dangerous lifestyle to come anywhere near me or my family.

 

What’ll I do?

Little girl

No matter how old I get, I can always very easily get back in touch with my “little girl” feelings. I’m going to have to face it: I may never feel like a grown up woman. (Is it just me?)

 

I always feel like there’s this big secret to life that everyone else knows but me. I’m starting to suspect that the secret is: There is no secret. We just have to keep plugging along, making the best decisions we can with the information we have, and forgiving ourselves for missteps and mistakes.

 

Ya feel me, sisters?

 

What a bear does in the woods

I’m hibernating. I hardly left my house all weekend. I’m crafting, beading, crocheting, messing around with paper mache, painting... It’s fun and I don’t have to talk to people, which has been something I’ve needed to avoid lately. I’m not depressed, I’m just overloaded. The cold doesn’t help. Who wants to go out and do anything when you have to get all frozen?

 

I need to start holiday shopping. I haven’t even made my list yet. I have, however, engaged my sister in a plot to ease the stress of Thanksgiving for my mother. We’ve ordered a turkey from a local BBQ joint who promises to smoke the bird to perfection. They don’t slice, but my brother in law promises to do that deed. Hopefully, that’ll make Mom’s hosting job a bit easier. We all pitch in on sides and desserts, leaving lots of free time for hanging out, sipping coffee, and looking at sale ads.

 

I have a couple of days off around Thanksgiving, too. The BeBop will be out of school so hopefully we can have a little girl time! Can’t wait. I know my days of being “cool” are numbered, so I want to make the most of this time. Maybe we’ll make some Christmas ornaments.

 

Jingle Bells?

We're still a long way from Christmas, kids. Are your fingers poised on the mute button yet? Set DVRs to FFWD!

Nowhere to direct this anger

My husband just picked my 7-year old child up from school because she vomited. When he asked her when she started feeling ill, she told him that she started feeling nauseated after another child spit in her mouth. She said that another little girl was standing behind her, tapped her on the shoulder, and when my child turned around and said “what?” the other girl spat at her and it landed in my little one’s mouth.

 

I am furious and there’s nowhere to direct the anger. The offender is a child – someone else’s child – so I can’t fuss at her. The teacher couldn’t have prevented it… Who thinks someone’s going to SPIT?

 

I just don’t get it. Besides being unsanitary and disgusting, spitting is extremely disrespectful behavior. I’m sure that little girl didn’t intentionally spit directly into my child’s mouth, but what the heck is she doing spitting anyway? Spitting at another person at all is ANIMAL behavior. Where was this child raised? In the camel pen at the zoo? AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGH!

 

I really need to yell at someone… or cry… or both at the same time.

 

I’ve emailed the teacher to make sure she knows what happened and to give her a chance to calm me with some teacher-y assurances that the other child was adequately reprimanded. Let’s hope she follows through, QUICKLY.

Hallelujah! The end of WoW.

This morning, my husband announces to me: “Honey, I’m quitting ‘the game.’”

 

Yippee! I have endured many, many moons as a “gaming widow,” and World of Warcraft is one of the most insidious, wicked games a husband can get into. Apparently, it has some magical powers that cause you to believe that the stuff you do in it is “important” and/or “real.” At least, that’s the only explanation that I have.

 

A friend of a friend told me that this day would come very suddenly. That’s the truth, baby. I had no idea that the end was so near.

 

Of course, he’s probably off right now buying some new “FPS” (that’s “first-person shooter” to you lucky, uninitiated non-gaming folk). Those aren’t nearly so bad, though!

 

TTFN