A drunk usually does not like someone pointing out the fact that they are a drunk....lack of rationality doesn't usually help, and you will usually get a heated angry protest from the from the irritated, albiet tanked, person.

Having someome accuse you of being drunk when you are not, tho, is infinitely more irritating.

Yesterday, BF went to a superbowl party.  I did not join him as I had my son.  A neighbor, however, found out I was home alone, and invited me and my son over to their (rather rockin!) party.  We had a blast.  My son ran around with a bunch of kids and wore himself out.  I got to laugh and talk and drink (rather weak) sangria until just after halftime, when I scooped up the boy and headed back home, since I had some work to do before bedtime.

By the time the game was over, just before ten pm...I was wiped out.  Exhausted.  I had spent the morning cleaning like a maniac, ran around doing errands and playing with my son in the afternoon, suddenly had to be up and lively for an impromtu party and then had to refocus and do ACCOUNTING for an hour before bed.  Needless to say, I went straight up to bed after the game and was out like a light.

BF called me about an hour later, on the way home from HIS party.  Woke me up from a dead sleep - and I was out of it.  I wanted to talk to him, so I did my best to shake off sleep and talk to him.  And then he accused me of slurring my words and being drunk.  "You're drunk.  I'll talk to you later."  CLICK.   HELLO!?!?!

RUDE!!!!

Unfortunately, it's put me in a VERY sour mood this morning.  Why do I let him get to me?  Such a dumb little thing, but it's just grating on my nerves.  He just never seems to think I can actually be tired.  Oh, and add to it that he felt the need to say my son was being "a brat" earlier that day (when BF was over).  Thanks for pointing that out.  He actually wasn't so much being a brat as he was being FOUR....no, it's not pretty, but its life with a toddler.  You don't PUNISH them for their childish reactions, you teach them why they shouldn't pout or yell or whatever it is they've done so they LEARN.  Of course, BF doesn't have kids, so things are straightforward for him.  He doesn't understand and can't understand unless he has a child of his own.  There isn't much that irks me more than having a non-parent tell me I am not parenting correctly.  Well, being accused of being drunk when I'm not irks me more....

Grrrrr.  Happy Monday.

My workplace is obsessed with birthdays.  Any reason to buy cake or cupcakes has everyone in a frenzy.  Most offices and cubicles look like Mardi Gras threw up on them before the lucky birthday person arrives to work....and finds their desk covered in that annoying "confetti" stuff you find two years later between files or still in your shoe.

In addition, every month, there is a HUGE list posted on the kitchen/break room door so that the sugar addicted can plot and plan their next 3:00 birthday cake call.

Today is my birthday.  When you pass 30, birthdays aren't greeted as enthusiastically as they were in years past.  Being reminded you are getting older isn't so fun anymore.  I do however, enjoy the quiet family party at home, a small cake, a couple hugs and maybe a present or two wrapped in the comics section of the newspaper.  That's nice.  Warm and fuzzy.

This morning, I slightly dreaded coming in, anticipating the 4 pounds of metallic confetti sure to be strewn across my desk.  But hey, bright side is always either cake in the afternoon, or even better...maybe bagels and cream cheese for breakfast, my department's particular favorite means of celebrating birthdays.

Except there was no confetti.  No office decorations.  No Happy Birthday sign.  Nope.  Apparantly, no one noticed or remembered.  While the good part of this is that I can avoid the inevitible "So how old are you??" questions that come with being handed a piece of cake, at the same time, I admit I feel slighted.  This seems to happen to me more often than the average person.  Once, during a family Christmas present grab bag exchange, I ended up without of gift.  No one of course even noticed that I hadn't gotten a gift because I don't make a fuss over these things, but basically, they forgot to put my name into the grab bag.  And Jollu Uncle Dan just forgot to "take" a name....so no one ever really knew.  Even through a round of "What did YOU get??" no one even asked me to take notice that I hadn't opened anything.  It didn't really matter.  It was my (prior to being ex) husband's family and even though I had been coming to Christmas for over eight years....well....it didn't really matter.  I eventually got good at fading into the wallpaper.   And yeah, for the record....my husband didn't notice either.

Since I'm apparantly on the pity party train, I will also add that as a single mom, there is no one (except me) to teach my 4 year old son about making a birthday card and singing happy birthday to his mom on her birthday.  I'm not good at bringing that kind attention to myself.  I don't like to ask for things or put people out.  Which is why I can't ever be outwardly upset about someone not recognizing my birthday.  But with my son, I guess it's only up to me to teach him about my birthday.  It feels weirdly self centered, but I don't know what else to do - if I just treat it as any other day, then he will grow up never knowing that you should always treat your mom's birthday as special.  Ugh.

Ironically?  As of Sunday, I had forgotten about my birthday.  Boyfriend called and asked if I wanted to do something special for the night, and I thought "On a Tuesday? Weird.."...until he reminded me that it was my birthday.  So geez, I guess even I forgot it was my birthday.  How can I be disappointed about anything else when even I can't remember my own day.  Go figure.

Luckily, I have a very special BF who treats me like no one else has, so tonight will be wonderful.  And this morning's pity party will not even be a memory.

So happy birthday to me, and Oprah, W.C. Fields, Tom Seleck and everybody else born on this lovely day.  And my birthday wish?  That I always look 10 years younger than I really am.....*sigh*

This past week, a Viriginia high school student left a complaining message on the home phone of his school's administrator, arguing that the students deserved a snow day.  He left his name and number...obviously looking for a call back.

The administrator's wife returned his call instead, and it would be an understatement to say she was pissed off.  She went off on him repeatedly, essentially calling him stupid and a brat.

The student turned around and posted her voicemail on youtube.com. 

Since then, people have been lining up and taking sides.  Here, I've taken mine.

I don't care if this kid is 17 or 18.  He's still the kid.  Sure, calling the home of an administrator about a clearly undeserved snow day wasn't the most brilliant game plan.  And yeah, posting it on youtube wasn't real tactful or mature either.   However, who is the adult here? 

I don't know much about this Administrator and his wife.....but I tell you, I can guess a lot.  Just by listening to her voicemail, something tells me everything is not rosy in marriageland.  Wifey really hates her husband's job.  Wifey is also stressed out in general and needs a spa weekend.  Wifey also wishes the phone would stop ringing....you can't tell me this one call set her off like that.  And if it did, well, wifey needs to take up meditation or find some valium.....

My point tho, is this woman is the adult.  Her reaction is just as, if not more so, juvenille as the boy posting the voicemail for the public to hear.   She should have ignored the call.  And if she couldn't bring herself to just let it go, then a simple phone call to the boy requesting that he not call her home for this type of thing - that if he had a complaint, he should direct it to the school - and perhaps provide the boy with her husband's WORK number - would have been much more mature - an probably more effective - thing to do.

A school administrator has the responsibility to set an example.  I would imagine his wife should too.  Kids are impressionable.  Even at seventeen or eighteen.  They are watching for your reaction.  They are testing the boundaries still - just like they do when they are three and you have to repetively tell them NO.

I see no excuse in her behavior.  A reason for it?  Sure!  I imagine I'd be annoyed or pissed off if the kid had called my home too.  But her subsequent reaction was NOT the right thing to do and she should not be patted on the back for it.  She lost herself (and likely her husband) some respect.  Especially in the eyes of teenagers.  She's a laughing stock to them now. 

How many high school kids out there have now read about this story??  How do kids like this one learn the "right" way to do things when adults don't correct them respectfully or set an example themselves?

The boy wanted an explanation of why there was no snow day.  Clearly, he doesn't have much common sense since there wasn't much snow on the ground.  But he deserved a decent response, not a lunatic screaming at him on the phone that he was just a punk.  If we treat every kid who makes a dumb decision like they are dumb - then how will we ever teach them to make smarter decisions?  

Perhaps having a child has made me into an overanalyzing cranky old lady.  But I see the bigger picture all too often.  Sure, it's hilarious to hear the woman go off on the tape.  But frankly?  It's pretty sad too.

How would the callback have gone had I been Mr. Administrator's wife?

Me: "Hello, Dave, this is Mrs. Tistdadt....I got the message you left earlier..."

Dave:  "Uhhhh....."

Me:  "Dave, tell me again why exactly you deserve a snow day when there is only 3 inches of snow?"

Dave: "Uhhh...like I said!  It snowed, lady!  We shouldn't have to go to school in this stuff!"

Me: "Dave, we got 3 inches...that comes up to your - what, ankle?  Is it preventing you from walking?  What about the car, Dave....is the half ton machine in your garage not capable of crushing 3 inches of fluffly white stuff that has at this point probably already been plowed from the streets?"

Dave: "Uhh....that's not the point, the point is, it SNOWED!"

Me: "Dave, lemme give you the number of my neice in Chicago.  She can tell you a thing or two about snow and how snow days work.  And you do realize Dave, if you had gotten a snow day today, it would have made your school year a day longer because you would have to make up for the day you missed today in June, when the weather is perfect...."

Dave: "Uhh...yeah, but..."

Me:  " I'm sure you are not that much of a wimp - I mean, come on...three inches??  You can't even make a decent snowman with that.  But if you really are having trouble getting to school Dave, I can come get you and bring you there. "

Dave: "Uhh, no that's ok..."

Me: "If you are still upset about this Dave, why don't you write a letter to my husand or to the school newspaper? Maybe you have a point to make, but if you really want something done about it, then that will get you results a lot faster than calling our house...."

Dave: "Uhhh...okay.  Uhh...sorry..."

Me: "It's ok Dave.  Go get your boots on and stay warm."

Dave: "Uhh...okay.  Thanks..."

I'm pretty sure I've got the one with the mustache.  He looks especially grouchy and unrelenting....

Somebody pass the Robitussin.....

Have you ever left a comment one day for one of your favorite xanganites only to come back to visit the next and find them - GONE?!?!?  Site shut down...no warning....just missing from your "Friends" list and "sub" list?  I about had a panic attack today.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!  You're the only one on my list that is MISSING now..... COME BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!  I'm going to cry for the rest of the week if you don't.  Hopefully, this is just a case of paranoia, and this person will soon create a new, more secure site and come back because seriously, I'm depressed now.  She was kinda a cyber twin for me - a kindred soul.  We might not have exchanged chat every day, but I considered her dear, nonetheless......and I adored her blog.  *sigh*

How is it that while we develop these online "friendships", often learn so many personal and intimate things about people, sometimes never even seeing their face, and then with one click of the mouse they have disappeared from your life - often times no way to find them once they are gone.  It makes me a little sad.  Maybe it's a testament to my own sad life that I treasure some of my online "relationships" as much as my real life ones.  In fact, some of my "online" relationships are closer, more understanding, more bonded than those I have in real life.  Is this a good, healthy thing?  I don't know.  I don't really care.  I just know I want my friend back. 

Have you ever lost an online friend and in turn, were truly upset by it?  Are online "buddies" less important than those we actually physcially see simply because there has never been a face to face meeting?

Seriously, I am so very very bummed.....

I'm a bit crushed that I didn't receive a bigger response (regardless if positive or negative) regarding the idea of helping families in the Lower 9th in New Orleans (see prevous post).  Some days, my footprint traffic is out of this world.  Others, it's barely a drizzle.  I just find it ironic that on a topic I feel is worthy of notice, no one finds any interest, yet people are interested in my personal, rather mundane life details.  I mean, thanks - I appreciate it, and heck, it's nice to get the comments and input - most people like to talk about themselves and it's nice to have people listen.  But I was really hoping to make a difference for once....I thought we could.  I still think we can, but I don't know if I have the time or energy to go on a publicity tour on xanga.....I was hoping more word would simply spread as xanga word can.

Anyhoo, it's Tuesday, we've just had about 4 inches of snow overnight and of course, Chicagoans have left their brains at home for the day.  That's the only way I can explain the traffic and driving.  You LIVE in a city that has almost every variety of weather condition annually, and yet, it snows a bit and you completely forget how to DRIVE your car??  I will never understand.

I was over an hour late for work.

On a cheerier note.....my (almost 5 year old!) son, while driving home yesterday, said "Mom, remember in our old house when you were crying on the phone?"  I didn't, it had to be years ago, but I imagine it was a time on the phone with his dad, who really is the only person to make me cry thanks to his absolute selfishness.  Anyhow, my son said "Mom, when I cry, you wipe my tears...."  and I said "Yes, of course - and I always will!  Because I love you..."  and then he said,

"Mom, can we get a stool, so I can wipe your tears when you cry?"

*sigh*

I love that boy more than words.

LOL - on another note...I just searched for a picture of "wipe your tears" to put into this post and um, what came up as one of the image results?

Yeah.  That would be the Greatest American Hero.  Weird.  And pretty funny......"Believe it or not, I'm waaaaaaalking on air, I never thought I could feel so freeee eeee eeeee" (oh good lord, I remember all the words...)  Fuck, I'm old.

Let's try this again....I was hoping for more input, friends!!  *sniffle*

 Calling all Xanganites.....especially my subscribers, who will see this for sure:  I need your input.

I was struck with an idea today.  Several weeks ago, I watched an episode of Larry King Live with Brad Pitt - for two reasons.  One, its such a difficult thing to watch Brad Pitt (haha) and second, he was talking about his project in New Orleans, "Make It Right" which is an organization that is rebuilding homes for families who lost everything in the Lower 9th Ward (New Orleans) during Katrina.  He has donated a ton of his own money and he is truly invested in this project.  He's not just the celebrity spokesperson for a charity.  This is HIS project, his baby, and he's holding it's hand all the way.  I have serious respect for that.  And I believe in his cause personally....especially because the goal is to rebuild a completely GREEN neighborhood - the ideal environmental community.  If you are a fan of being "Green", this project will have you proud.

I might be from Chicago, but I have left a piece of my heart in New Orleans.  I have visited often, and love spending time there. I have friends and relatives that lost their homes and relocated; and I have some relatives who have chosen to remain there even after the devestation.  I don't blame them -  The culture is contagious, the people are a joy and the atmosphere in general is so unique and special - yet sadly, New Orleans has never quite healed to it's original state since the hurricane.  It's taking so much time to rebuild, and a lot of that is because Katrina happened so long ago- and people have just forgotten.  There are parts of New Orleans that are still devestated - that look like the hurricane only happened a little while ago.  Its horrible.

Anyhow, today I read an article that Ellen DeGeneres has created a "team" to sponsor one (or more) of the homes to be built.  Basically, you can go online, click on Ellen's "team" box and donate whatever amount you want to - a dollar, twenty dollars - it doesn't matter....but she's pooling money.  And that is the best way to get things done, especially when a lot of us don't have a huge chunk of change to contribute to a charity.

SO....here it is:  I want to start a Xanga team.  I want to compete with Ellen.  HA!!!  There are literally only like 5 teams right now - and most of them only have like $20 donated - her's of course is up to somewhere around $169,000....lol...but still.....if we can get a majority of Xanganites to donate a few bucks each....BAM!  We're making a huge difference.

So before I go sign up for a team - I just need some feedback.  Would y'all be interested?  Do you think it's worth it?  If I get enough yes's - I will go sign up today and get it started with $10 of my own cash.  And like I said - the cool thing is you really can just donate a buck or three if you want to - give up your starbucks for one day for a good cause.

What do you think???? 

To check out the website....  http://www.makeitrightnola.org/index.php?isDirect=true

and here are the "Teams" page...   http://www.makeitrightnola.org/mir_SUB.php?section=donations&page=team

I THINK WE CAN TOTALLY DO THIS!!!  We can build someone a new house.....truly.  How cool would that be???

I'm seriously disappointed.

And I have a winter/lack of humidity migraine that is only get worse.

Bah humbug.

At least it's Friday.

I hate this writer's strike.  I am a TV junkie, so much so that I have three DVR/Tivo's in my home so I can capture just about everything I want to see.  One's broken right now.  That is bad enough.  But now, my poor TiVo's are finding themselves with a foreign concept:  Naptime.   I actually have SPACE available on my DVR.  This is extremely disturbing.

I'm not generally a fan of reality shows, but I watch my share of them.  I fell in love with last season's "Kid Nation".  I generally get sucked into the antics of Big Brother just because it's fun to watch a train wreck.  And while I had NO intention of watching D list actors vie for The Donald's attention, I have been captured by Celebrity Apprentice (hangs head in shame) this season.  Hey, there is not much on television.

However - I have indeed discovered a new gem.

"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"

Simply? Awesome show.  Worth an hour of your time.

Now, I fully admit to being biased in the first place...I am a huge sci fi fan in general, I love "kicking ass" movies, and the first time I saw Linda Hamilton do one handed pull ups in Terminator 2, I bowed down in worship and adoration.  She defined sexy, strong and smart.  Plus she got to jump all over Michael Biehn (slurp) in T1, but I digress.....

This television version is a well written, well produced and especially well cast new show.  And it stays generally true to the original story in the movies while incorporating new concepts.   Ironically, the break out star in this show isn't it's namesake Sarah or her son John (the future 'savior' of humanity), both main story line characters recreated from the movies.  Instead, just like it's movie counterpart, the true star of the show is the 'terminator' who is sent to protect John.

Her character's name is Cameron, but the actress's name is Summer Glau.  Some might recognize her from the Sci Fi channel's Firefly and subsequent "Serenity" motion picture.  (I only have recently discovered Firefly, and have become addicited....sadly, too late as it was long ago cancelled).

Summer, for lack of better words....KICKS ASS.

She gets to hang with a cutie (John), hit cyborgs with cars, blow things up with big guns and throw men out windows.  How fun is this job?  *sighs with jealousy*

So while it did pretty great in ratings (thanks to a lead in from the NFL playoffs) I send all of you en masse next Monday on Fox (8pm, after Prison Break) to check out this terrific new - and NEW is rare these days!! - television drama.

Enjoy!!

I needed something mindless and fun today.  Lemme know if the poll is faulty - it's been a little fiesty today.

You can also find the results at http://poll.pollcode.com/U3J_result?v

Happy Monday!!