It's Finally Over

When we started the Playground the five of us decided that there were a few topics we weren't going to touch on our blog. Politics was one of them. We just didn't want our blog to turn into a free for all debate over issues that couldn't be solved in 500 words or less. So let me just say, this post is not exactly about politics. It's more about my relief that the elections are over. Finally.

No more phone calls from candidates asking for my vote. No more people bugging me for my opinion or asking me how I intend to vote. But mostly, I'm so happy the political ads have stopped.

I think it gets worse every single election. I don't care which party you belong to, which candidate you support or which race you thought was the most important...the ads this year were never ending. It got to the point where I didn't want to vote for any of them because I was so tired of hearing their names. I was watching NBC Tuesday night and I think one of the quotes their shared sums up my thoughts exactly. On gentleman came out of the polling place and said he voted for anyone whose name he didn't recognize. It's an interesting philosophy I might have to consider next election.

So, was I the only one ready for it all to end? Again, we're not opening the comments section for a discussion of politics...just your relief that the hoopla is finally over. :-)

Instigator

P.S. For anyone in the Birmingham area, PC, Lynn Raye Harris and I will be at the Southern Magic Readers' luncheon this Saturday. I'm not sure if they still have spots available but there is a book signing open to the public. Check out their website at www.southernmagic.org if you're interested.

Theme Week

We seem to have a theme going on the Playground this week so I thought I'd continue it. :-) Something has been bugging the snot out of me for months now and I've finally reached my breaking point.

I hate when my bluetooth lies to me!

I don't know what the heck is wrong with it. There is no rhyme or reason. But at random times (read whenever it wants) it'll tell me that it's calling so and so but never actually dial. In most cases, I only use the voice dialing feature when I'm in the car which means that picking the phone up and hand dialing the number defeats the purpose of the bluetooth in the first place. Seriously. Frustrating.

I've tried to figure out what's wrong. I've charged it thinking it was losing power and getting wonky...did it immediately after a full night plugged in. There is no rhyme or reason for who it does this to, Zilla, my mom, Smarty Pants, Applebee's... It doesn't just happen during busy times like rush hour or early morning. I can not come up with a cause for the behavior other than the thing wants to screw with my brain.

I realize that I'm giving this inanimate hunk of plastic more credit than it probably deserves, but I swear it waits until the worst possible moment to malfunction and then does it on purpose. Anyone else have a piece of technology that periodically revolts? We've had a rash of messed up plumbing, misbehaving cars, crashing computers and short circuiting printers on the playground over the last week. Are we alone in our misery? Anyone have a suggestion for how I can get my bluetooth to straight up and fly right?

Instigator

P.S. Congratulations to DonnaS, Smarty Pants winner from last week. Please email her at smartypants@writingplayground.com in order to claim your prize.

Living in a Fog

The last few weeks haven't exactly been the best in my world. The problem is that my world hasn't exactly stopped spinning long enough for me to adjust. I knew that summer was going to be a busy time for us...big anniversaries, 3 birthdays, countless birthday parties for friends, a trip to the local water park, 4th of July plans, meetings, nationals, getting the girls ready for school since their first day back is the day after I get home. The problem is that I didn't anticipate 'Zilla getting his left hand (his dominant hand) mauled by a dog. And I didn't plan on getting walking pneumonia.

Now, my doctor stopped short of actually diagnosing me with it but my sister has it, we have most of the same symptoms and many of the same meds. So I'm just assuming. I don't have time for this! Add to the fact that these 5 different meds are making me feel like I'm living in a fog and...I'd almost rather just hack up a lung and be done with it.

I'm in the middle of a writing challenge. I have 2 proposals to get together (one of which isn't cooperating but I think it's simply unfortunate timing and lack of creative focus). I'm also in the middle of a weight loss challenge. Yesterday I fell asleep at my desk twice staring at my blank word document. After the second time I decided I needed to get out for a few minutes and wake up my brain. I stopped at the bakery and bought several cookies in the hopes that a shot of sugar would help. There goes both challenges.

I'm not whining...okay, so maybe I am. But at the moment I don't care. It's bad when I forget that it's Thursday. Or when I wake up at 6:30, realize I forgot to write my blog, compose it while lying in bed and can't get the energy to actually get up and trot to the computer to write it. I think I'm going to adjust the dose of a couple of my meds and see if that helps. Nationals is in a couple weeks and I'm nowhere near ready.

So, since this turned into a blatant whinefest I'm going to shamelessly steal an idea from our good friend Rhonda Nelson and open the comments for whines. Come on. You know you want to join me in venting! Anything. Everything. Tells us what's bugging you. We won't tell your in-laws if you want to complain :-D

Instigator

Warning: Rant Ahead

Where did everyone learn to drive? Okay, maybe not everyone. Just the people I've encountered over the last several days. I am not the world's most cautious driver. I've had a couple fender benders, a speeding ticket and a failure to follow signage ticket. What I'm trying to say is that I've been known to break a rule or two. But seriously!!

The turn lane is for TURNING. I really wish some people would try it sometime. As opposed to slowing down to five miles an hour before pulling halfway into the turn lane and stopping. Turning requires planning. Forethought. Perhaps it's a radical idea but why don't you try pulling into the lane BEFORE you slow your ass down so that you don't interrupt traffic? There's a reason the city planners put the lane in. Use it. Please.

Deceleration lanes are for the same purpose. When the tiny broken line to your right appears on the pavement and you intend to turn....get in the damn lane!! Don't wait until five feet before the turn and THEN decide you need to use the lane. I'm behind you idiot and I'm already in the lane because I know where I'm going.

Acceleration lanes should be used to get up to speed before entering traffic. You can't do that if you drive to the end of the lane and then have to stop because there isn't a hole. What? Did you think space would magically appear in between two lanes of speeding cars? I think not. Don't get upset with me because you can't wait thirty seconds and have now lost your spot in line.

And don't get me started on the drop off/pick up situation at my girl's school. We have a lane with a canopy that's used for dropping/picking up. However, I have 2 children (Baby Girl and my nephew) that require the use of a car seat. Rather than hold up car line while I buckle/unbuckle said children I prefer to pull out of traffic to accomplish this. Considerate, yes? We have a section in front of our flag pole that is designed for this precise purpose. It holds 2 large cars or 3 small cars if everyone pulls all the way forward. Do they do that? NO! Instead some soccer mom driving a sedan chooses to park smack dab in the middle so that no one else can get into the spot. What is wrong with these people?

This morning a guy ran a stop sign and almost hit me. My patience is almost out. I realize some of that is on me - patience is not a strong point on a good day. But I'm just not sure how much more I can take....if one more person cuts me off you may see me on the evening news.

Do you have any driving pet peeves?

Instigator


P.S. Congratulations to Catslady, yesterday's winner. Please email PM here with your snail mail and she'll get your prize out.

WTH

I don't get it! Sweet Pea, Baby Girl, Captain Jack and I all have ringworm. Yes, even the dog has it. I was home for one night, one short, measley night, while Baby Girl was unmedicated and I come down with the stuff (right before nationals where I'll be wearing not one but two strapless gowns. Nope, not bitter at all). DH, who debated with my mother for four days over whether Sweet Pea had it...not a thing. After handling the dog's umpteen spots...not a mark on him.

The man never gets anything. Not a sniffle, a sneeze, a cold, the flu, nothing. My other arm (the one without ringworm) is covered in phantom bug bites (whatever they were, they thought I was tasty). He, not a one.

The man eats junk food like it's a food group, barely sleeps, has a glass of whiskey almost every night. He does everything wrong. His immune system should suck. But the man is so healthy it's sickening. I DON'T GET IT!!

Don't get me wrong. I don't wish he would get sick. I just wish I wouldn't!

Is it just my husband? Wait. Scratch that. If it is I don't think I want to know so don't tell me. Instead, let me know what your significant other does that drives you up the wall. Maybe swapping stories will help us all feel better.

Instigator