Done With It

If there is one thing that I can NOT stand or tolerate is people who think that they are better than someone else.  I HATE snotty attitudes and people who walk around thinking that they are better than everyone else.  And worse yet, treating them like they are.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, sets me off quicker than that.

As far back as I can remember, I have been this way.  I attribute a lot of that to my parents.  They were always involved with Special Olympics and the mental retardation community.  (Which is what it was called at the time.  Obviously that term is not used anymore.  I only use it in the context of my involvement when I was younger.)

Because of that involvement, I saw a lot of people being mistreated or made fun and it made me sad.  And mad.  And I didn't really understand then why people were so mean to others.  Or treated them like they were better than them.

And I still don't.

But it doesn't get any better as an adult.  Adults just get better at hiding it.

Or they don't.

And that is exactly why I am not involved in the PTA anymore.  I can't stand to see the moms cluster up into their little groups and treat others like they have some disease if they work or they don't work or they aren't involved in the PTA or they are.  Or if they are not volunteering enough or they are volunteering too much.

Or if they're not doing something correctly or perfectly when they *do* volunteer.

And there are the ones that walk around like they should get special treatment because of what they do.

And they SHOULDN'T.  Actually, it should be the opposite.  If you are on the board and you represent the school, you should take extra caution to make sure that it doesn't appear that you are getting special treatment because of "who you are and what you do for the school."

You should do what you do for the school for your children and all the children at the school not because of the status of it.

And you sure the hell shouldn't expect a teacher (or a para...oh the horror of it all) to allow you to park in a non specified parking area "because they damn well know who you are and what you do for the school."  And then raise all kinds of hell when they make you park with the COMMON folks.  OH THE INJUSTICE AND HORROR OF IT ALL.

So yeah.  I don't volunteer with the PTA anymore.  Because I was done with it.

And when I started playing tennis a few years ago, I thought it would be different.

And why I thought that a group of women could behave in an adult manner is beyond me.  I should have known better.

As I said, I started playing tennis about three years ago.  I love everything about the game.

Well.  Everything except for the drama. 

And nothing brings out drama like competition.

A few years ago, before the competition season started, one of the team captains and her co-captain tried to convince me to captain a team.  I thought that they were being nice because they thought I would make a good captain.  They almost had me talked into it.

I figured that their team was full already which is why they didn't ask me to play and why they wanted me to start another team.

The one captain said that she would help me find players and she would help me figure it out.

Then I started thinking about it and I realized they were just trying to set me up so that they would have a team to beat so they could get to districts.

And I figured this out because 1) the players that she said that she would help me recruit were ones that she deemed unworthy to be on her team (including me) and 2) I heard her asking other people to play on her team after she started recruiting me to captain a team. 

And this hurt my feelings because obviously *I* was one of the players she deemed beneath her.

And I was mad.  Mad that someone could treat someone else that way.

But whatever.  I told her no and let it go.

Something that you should probably know about me is I am not "one of those players".  Meaning I don't get mad at my partner if they make mistakes.  I don't throw my racket if I'm mad.  I don't cheat if I'm behind.  I don't argue and start fights on the court with either my partner or my opponents.

I hate that behavior and I refuse to play with people who act like that.  And if someone does act like that while I'm playing with them (usually in a real match where I have no control over the people on the court), it's totally on like Donkey Kong for me.  I will totally go after them.  Verbally and most definitely my play will become way more aggressive.

I HATE THAT BEHAVIOR.  But this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me.

About a year ago, I played doubles with a friend of mine.  And I haven't played with her since because of what happened on the court that day.  No tennis match is worth treating someone in an unkind manner.  And that left a really bad taste in my mouth.

And I haven't forgotten it.

So here lately, I've been noticing a lot more behavior around this community.  Behavior that is just unnecessary.  People being rude, or just flat out ignoring others, whom they deem as unworthy to step on a court with them.  Players who play at a higher level won't even speak to, much less play with, players at a lower level.

Which is dumb.  You need to play against all types of players to get better.  Playing with the same people who hit the same type of ball isn't going to make you better.

You go to "socials" where people only play within their group of friends and don't mix it up.

What's the point in going?

I will NEVER understand this.  NEVER.

Nor will I condone it or participate in it.

Obviously, there are exceptions.  And there are some really nice players out there.  But the ones who treat others like they are beneath them because they don't have as high a rating, are ruining the fun of it for me. And they may not even be doing it directly to me.  It's just behavior that I've observed.

And I'm observing more of it because now I can't not see it.

The first question that most people ask a new player to the area is "what's your rating and do you play USTA?"

Really?  REALLY?

Can't you just say hello and be nice to someone without getting into all of that?

Gah.  I hate the behavior.  And I'm kinda done with it.  And by "kinda" I mean I am.

Unfortunately, I am just like my father.  And Owen is just like me.  Exactly like me.  In fact, ironically enough, I blogged about a conversation that I had with him a few weeks ago.  And it was titled the exact same thing.  Which I did not do on purpose.

And once we're done with something, it's pretty much over. 

And I'm trying to not let that happen.  Because I truly do like to play.

I just hate all of the drama that surrounds a bunch of women.  And this is probably why I hung out with guys while I was growing up.

Because who wants to deal with all of that.  It's stupid.  And it makes me mad.  And sad.

And I'm done with it.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National park is just awesome.  It's an geological wonderland full of so many different things to look out, explore and take in.  It's just breathtaking.  One of the main attractions for Yellowstone is the waterfalls.

There are so many waterfalls it's just unbelievable.  But if you go, you have to check out the big daddy of them all: the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  It's so accessible that there's no excuse for not going to see it. 

There are upper falls and lower falls that comprise the Grand Canyon.  We'll focus on the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon in this post.

The rock formation of the canyon itself is like nothing I've ever seen before.  It almost looks like a painting, doesn't it?

Stunning.

And the falls go on forever.  Well.  They are called the "Grand" Canyon!

You always have to be mindful of the animals in Yellowstone.  They are wild after all.

Truly a stunning feature of Yellowstone and well worth the trip alone!

Put On Notice

My friend was lamenting the fact that my blog has been very Owen heavy lately and she thinks that Shane's getting the shaft.  So, dear friend, this blog post is for you.  However, I suspect that this isn't the post that you expected to get.

Shane is a very smart child.  We all know that.

He's taking 9th grade math (in the 7th grade) and if he would actually do his work AND turn it in, he would be making an A with no effort.  As it is, he hasn't turned in his work and his grades reflect it.  He's getting a B-.

How frustrating is it to have to deal with him?  Well.  When I was his age, I studied my ass off for hours and hours and ended up with a B if I was lucky.

My sister on the other hand, was exactly like Shane.  If she would have put a little effort into her work, she would have been a straight A student.  As it was, she was content with a C.  And that's the same path that Shane's headed down.

Just do enough work to get by.

Well, it's super frustrating to watch going on.  SUPER.

UGH.

So when he comes home with a report card for Civics that looks like this:

I can assure you that I was NOT happy about it.

And now he's not happy because he's lost television, video games and his computer.

But says that it's not his fault because he just didn't understand the work.

That may be well and good and all that but I saw see his teacher in the grocery store (who happens to be a friend of mine) and she filled me in on the fact that she loves Shane but his effort is the big suck and he should know that teachers know when kids do their work 5 minutes before the class bell rings.  She also confirmed that he's not handing in his work.  With a big sigh.

So yeah.  Shane, if you're reading this, this is NOT okay.  And I am NOT happy with you.  We had a conversation at the beginning of the year (or many conversations truth be told) about the fact that the effort that you put into your work needs to step up a notch or 10.

You may get away with the crappy effort that your putting into your work now kiddo, but I can assure you that the higher that you go in school, the less that you're going to get away with it.

Have pride in your work and put some effort into it.  You are capable of much more than this. Don't waste the gift that you were given.  Most kids would love to have the academic gifts that you do.

Stop wasting them.

But if you do continue down this path, I can assure you that you are in for a long and BORING teenage years without TV, computers, video games and anything else that I can think of that is sucking the time away from studying.

Get it together.  I'm done with your lack of effort and crappy attitude son.  DONE.

You've been put on notice.

The Costco Sized Mistake

I thought that I was doing so good by getting by Costco to pick up a few things on Friday. Ok. A few things turned into a cart full of stuff and $300 later but that's not the point.

The point is that I was able to pick up milk there so Ken had milk for his cereal this weekend and it cut out a stop at the grocery store. Checking both stops off my list, I felt pretty good about myself.

When I got up this morning, he asked me if I knew I got whole milk.

Oops. No. No I didn't.

With his best smartass response, he said "well at least it wasn't a Costco sized mistake".

Um. Yes it was.

Oops. I am so blond.

Two Peas In A Pod

The other day I posted about having one just like me. And I truly, truly do.

Owen has the temper and the stubbornness that is rival only to mine and once he's made up his mind about something, it will basically take an act of congress to change it or to get him to admit that he was wrong.

Like I said, it's like arguing and dealing with myself.

So when he was at tennis today and the instructor got into him about getting a drink of water and not picking up balls, I saw the look in his eye and I knew what that meant.

That look meant that he did not appreciate her digging into him with a nasty tone (and it truly was uncalled for) and he was done with her and the class.

I can't say I blame him honestly. Because he was picking up balls. He just grabbed his water for a drink after he put the balls he had collected in the bucket.

I was talking to my friends whose daughter was also in the class and I looked at them and said "he's never going to want to come back because now he's totally pissed off and now it was on with him".

The class ended and he walked over to me and asked sarcastically whether he could have a drink of water and rolled his eyes.

My friend said he was probably going to complain as soon as he got outside.

I responded that I hoped he waited until he was outside.

Just as I told my friend would happen, as soon as he cleared through the first door, he said that he was never going back to that class and she was ridiculous and out of control.

Then I proceeded to talk him down off the ledge.

Because I knew that's what I would have to do.

Because he's a mini me and I know how I would have reacted to her talking to me that way.

Exactly like Owen did.

And now I'm probably never going to get him back in that class (and honestly not sure I want to) because he can hold a grudge like no one else.

Except me. Because we're two peas in a pod.

Use To Have

I have 12 pairs of scissors in the kitchen.

Or at least I use to have 12 pairs of scissors it the kitchen.

Apparently they have grown legs and disappeared.

Meh.

The Curse...in Spades

My mother always said "I hope that you have one just like you."

And she meant it.

And I do. 

Thanks, mom.

ME:  Owen, you didn't clean up your cupcake wrapper.

OWEN:  It's not a cupcake wrapper.

ME:  WHAT?  Yes it is.

OWEN:  No it's not mom.  It's a MUFFIN wrapper.

ME:  GROAN.  Whatever.  Just clean it up.  You knew what I meant.

OWEN:  It's not a cupcake wrapper.

ME:  Ugh.

Anyone who knows me will think that this is funny.  As in haha...you're getting all the pay back your mom  wished upon you and more.

Meh.  You can lift the curse whenever you'd like momma!

Done With It

Owen:  Mom, are you ever just done with it?

Me:  You mean like over something?

Owen:  Yeah.  Like you just want to say "f" it.  (Not such a proud mommy moment.)

Me:  Uh.  Yeah.  Like all.  the.  time.  Why?  Were you done with it today?

Owen:  Oh yeah.  I was DONE WITH IT.

Me:  Done with what?

Owen:  IT.  Just everything.

Me:  So what did you do?

Owen.  Well.  I dd something really rude. 

Me:   What did you do?

Owen:  I just pushed through two kids who were in my way in the hall.  I was done with them too.

Me:  Oh.  Okay.  How did that work out for you?

Owen:  Well.  I felt bad because I was really mean so I apologized to them and said that I was on the wrong side of the hall.

Me:  Well.  At least you apologized.

Owen:  I didn't mean it.  They were just a lot bigger than me.

Me:  I know.  You were done with it.

Owen:  Yep.

Like Mother Like Son

While I was in Lancaster, PA this weekend playing tennis. Ken was running the kids to all of their activities.  Owen had a tennis lesson outdoors on Sunday morning.

Ken said that it was cold and a little rainy and that by the end of the lesson, Owen was in short sleeves and shorts but the other kids were still all bundled it.

It was 48 degrees and was overcast and rain kept drizzling off and on at our noon match.  My jacket came off within 10 minutes of warming up. 

My sweat pants were next followed closely by the long sleeve shirt that I layered over my tennis shirt.

I was then down to my tennis skirt and short sleeve shirt and that's how I finished the match.

Most of my friends were all bundled up including gloves and hats.   Gah.  I have no idea how they played tennis like that.

I know other parents look at me like I'm a bad mom when Owen is playing tennis or football with shorts and a t-shirt on.  But I so get it. 

Like mother, like son.  We hate to be hot and layered in heavy clothes.