Donuts Send Mixed Message

Don’t you think a mixed message is being sent by “donuts” when the spelling clearly says “do nuts?” OK. Do you want me to eat this donut or not? Yes? No? You want me to do nuts? Jesus. Make up your mind.

No Respect For The Elderly

An immediate family member recently had surgery and had to do a few days in a rehab facility so that their wounds could be properly cared for and for physical/occupational therapy. This rehab facility was actually a nursing home – and I understand that is often the case. I am gutted after hearing the poor treatment they received. This family member, mind still in tact, was demanded upon reaching the threshold of their room to remove all of their clothes. They still had their coat on, hadn’t fully entered the room and the door was wide open. The two aides stood there and watched as they barked orders to remove the clothing in full. Never explaining why, ignoring the questions asked, they examined the whole body, including between the thighs, but never once looked at the two surgery wound areas. In fact, during their 3 day stay, no one ever took care of the wounds!

It also took 3 hours (after requesting it) to receive pain medication that my family member brought with them to the facility.

At night, an aide came in and started rifling through their toiletries bag asking if there were and “drugs” or “jewelry.” Seriously. At one point a nurse came in the room, gloves already on (so how do we know they are clean?), and proceeded to stick her finger up my family member’s nose without telling them first what the hell they were doing.

Oh, the list goes on and on. Breaks my heart that my loved one went through this and that other elderly folk are being mistreated and taken advantage of. I’ve worked in nursing homes, and there are good people there. Perhaps we medical field workers become numb? Perhaps we assume all have lost their minds once you step foot in a nursing home? Perhaps there’s just a mix of people who care and people who clearly don’t. I don’t know. It is interesting, I was told by that my family member that the weekday staff was much more caring and efficient than the weekend staff.

Embarrassment & True Friends

I often hear that the fear of embarrassment is the #1 fear.

Why? Shit. Who cares?! You’ll likely get nowhere without making mistakes and putting yourself out there. The happiest people took risks somewhere along the way and kept optimistic. Anyway, who needs friends who make you feel bad when you stumble? Friends worth keeping will pat you on the back, offer support and encouragement. True friends try to help you and show genuine interest in the things that are important to you… and when you do meet a goal, succeed at something, they’ll be genuinely happy for you.

A friend of mine for years never as much asked me about my magazine she knew I was working very hard on, and never even took the time to visit its website without me hounding her time and time again to do so. And, on the rare occasion she’d ask what was new with me, she’d look all around the room paying no attention to me whatsoever and proving she wasn’t interested in what I was saying by asking a question or two that made absolutely no sense at all. Additionally, she constantly boasts about how attractive she is, and has always been, and once in a very rare while offers that I have a pretty “face.” That comment, btw, is an insult. Nothing less. Better to not say anything. She tells me I’m uptight because I don’t like her constantly farting around me (without warning me first). And every time I buy something (like a coffee for both of us) she makes comments like, “You don’t have any money.” I once asked her to call my grandma at some point, whom she knows, just to check on her when my family and I were out of town for a couple weeks and she never did.  I haven’t asked her for much in my life so that really surprised me.

Another friend thinks nothing of screaming into the phone at me on a regular basis for an hour to an hour and a half at a time about how bad her life is, what someone did to her now, what new tragedy has occurred,… Finds only the negative in life and harbors so much anger and hate and is soooo abrasive that it stuns me. She doesn’t allow me a word in edgewise, doesn’t consider how I must feel on the other end of these phone calls, doesn’t ask often enough about my life, and leaves me feeling helpless and depressed… These problems of hers are often, not always but often, self-inflicted or over exaggerated. She knows the solutions to many of the issues but refuses to take control. It’s hard when you care for someone but they won’t try to take your feelings to heart despite you having confronted them several times. She doesn’t want my help, she’s bound to her demons, and doesn’t know how to be a friend in return. I’m walking away from this one too.

It’s sad when you decide to let friends become acquaintances but it needs to be done sometimes, otherwise, in these cases, you are allowing yourself to be abused, not loved. It wasn’t until Alison came along that I realized what a good friend could really be like.

Wasn’t Even Named Laika!

Life points it’s finger at you with its cruelty. I mean, all I ever wanted was to be a member of Arcade Fire, the coolest band ever.

That and to have been in the original Wizard of Oz.

Violent Soho, Panties & Typing

Have you heard the band Violent Soho yet? Their song ‘Jesus Stole My Girlfriend’ is amazing. Also check out ‘Don’t Wait Up’ by Antennas Up.

So, while organizing my undergarments drawer, I discovered a pair of almost-new panties that say “High Maintenance” in purple on the butt. If you know me, you will agree that it’s definitely not something I would normally wear. Therefore, I am wearing them today. Must have been a sale rack.

Ever notice that you stop rocking the typing if your nails get even a smidgen longer than normal? Makes a huge difference in accuracy and overall productivity, in my case at least.

National What?

Did you know there’s a National High Five Day?

http://www.nationalhighfiveday.com/

Empty Nest

Who has been tampering with the Russell Stover Coconut Nests?! No more jelly beans? Umm, why? Why would you make a nest that has nothing in it?

Tacos Are Messy

I do it every time nearly. I wait until my hunger is so great that I must get fast food NOW. When I am working on a project, like I am as of late with my book, I can work for 12 to 14 hours without a break. However, today I did attempt to make a frozen pizza. Unfortunately, I was emailing Marco Pirroni and on the phone with a friend, so, I forgot about the friggin’ pizza being in the oven – until all the smoke detectors in the house started going off. Completely black. Completely stinky. So, I just booked it to Taco Bell. It’s never less than a guaranteed huge mess to eat  tacos in the car, yet, I still try to prove that wrong. I’ve got crap all over my chin, coat, seat belt, seat, carpeting… and that’s just the sour cream. Now I am off to dye my hair – let’s hope I get that right.