Sorry about my lack of posts last week readers.
Life happened.
Life happened on top of a new job.
It was a very busy week.
While I think I’m going to like my new occupation very much, I hate new jobs. You are the lone new person in an environment where everyone else is experienced. I hate not knowing what is going on. It’s like a bad dream where it’s the first day of school at a new building, no one seems to know you and everyone else knows what’s going on, except for you. Only I know it’s not a true nightmare because I’m not in my underwear.
Nope, I’m definitely wearing clothes, so it’s got to be real life.
I wish there was a way you could dive right into a new position and know exactly what to do. This whole learning curve thing stinks. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I may be – and I will most like not admit to this again so take it all in --- that I am a bit of a control freak. I like to be in control of a situation or at least know what to expect. Being totally out of my professional element for the time being is throwing me off.
And trying to look at it positively with the perspective of, “I’m getting to learn something new and that takes time,” really doesn’t help much when I’m feeling overwhelmed. But I thank my lovely friend for trying to look at it that way for me.
Yes, I am learning something new, but why can’t I just know it all now? That would really be much more convenient for me.
When it feels as if you’re treading water and barely keeping your nose above it, it’s good to know there are people who can get all “Polly Anna” on you when you need it, even if you can’t believe it at that moment.
Life happens. But, that’s life.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Those with manners are a dying breed
I know we have turned into an extremely casual and informal society. Because of this lackadaisical attitude, manners have fallen to the wayside and common courtesy seems to be too much to ask for.
I’m not simply talking about drivers throwing cigarette butts out their windows or people so lazy while in a public setting they can’t hold onto a piece of garbage until a trash can is found, but lay it on top of a plastic sack recycling bin. Close enough, right?
I’m talking about manners. I’m talking about the simple dos and don’ts while in public. I’m talking about a little thing called respect for others. Where or where has it gone?
Now I’m not naive enough to expect all mankind to have perfect manners. I know there are thousands of jerks out there who aren’t nice and don’t care about others around them. But I guess I never thought there could be so many in one tiny high school auditorium.
I recently attended a dance recital. Having been in dance for 12 years while growing up I’m a sucker for a good recital -- and besides the unfortunate costume choices dance teachers pick for the heavier students it’s nice to see not much has changed.
Speaking as a former heavy child who endured several years of unfortunate costume selections I’d just like to throw out there that lycra spandex, no matter how much it may stretch, is not attractive on anyone who is even remotely overweight. A form-fitting bodysuit for a girl of this stature is never a good idea, no matter how big of a tutu you put around it. But I digress.
Not much has changed since my time unless you’re talking about the audience members. From the family behind me with the box of Gobstoppers they were incessantly eating during the performance to the little boy in front of me with his feet on the seats playing a video game on his father’s cell phone, I was appalled. Those hard little candies make an annoying sound when sliding up and down their cardboard box not to mention the chatter of “Who wants more?” and the children complaining they couldn’t see what color they got because it was dark.
I know I wasn’t at a Broadway play. I know I shouldn’t expect small children to sit for hours in small spaces and not be annoying, but to eat candy and play phone games was too much. The foul taste in my mouth from these acts of poor manners only grew when the woman in front of me (her son was the one playing with daddy’s phone) was e-mailing from her Blackberry every five minutes. The electric glow of a phone display is far more distracting than stage moms with their constant flash cameras.
Could this woman be so busy and such an important figure she couldn’t put her phone down for three hours while watching her daughter’s dance company perform? Are we that desperate for a distraction we have to consistently rely upon technology? Have we become that rude?
Yes, we have.
What would she have done 10 years ago without her precious Blackberry to stay connected? What would her kid have done without the entertainment of electronic games? I shutter to think of it – perhaps pay attention and suffer through the production like those of us with actual manners? Perish the thought.
Not only were personal hand devices rampant during the show but the lack of appropriate attire was also an issue. From clingy clothes some would only see while clubbing in Miami to those who couldn’t even bother to put on pants without an elastic band, I saw it all.
There’s a problem when society treats an arts production the same as a Sunday errand run to Wal-Mart. You are not sitting at home eating Oreos and watching the OC on SoapNet. It’ is not OK to wear sweatpants, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes to an event.
Show some respect. Show some class. Show anything except for your plumber’s crack when bending over to pick up a dropped Gobstopper.
This is when I noticed a very large woman wearing jeans and a T-shirt saying “I got sole” being disruptive. She was with a handful of other people, all dressed very casually, being loud as well. It was probably when one of her companions got up and left with one of their disruptive children for the third time, came back in and yelled, “That’s OK, she’s just being bad because she’s tired,” that I wanted to stand up, fly down four rows of people and confront the situation.
But I didn’t – because I have manners. I sat there. I sat there and took all the poor fashion choices, the candy eating and the cell phone using and vowed to myself if I ever have children they will not behave this way. They will not turn into adults who think the world and all its events revolve around them.
By that time society will be so laid back bringing in a fast food meal and eating it while watching a recital will be looked at as OK. There will probably be candy rolling down the aisles, feet on every seat and technology so advanced you can DVR the event while not missing a beat on your social network and watch your child’s dance later, in the privacy of your own home. We’re in trouble.
I’m not simply talking about drivers throwing cigarette butts out their windows or people so lazy while in a public setting they can’t hold onto a piece of garbage until a trash can is found, but lay it on top of a plastic sack recycling bin. Close enough, right?
I’m talking about manners. I’m talking about the simple dos and don’ts while in public. I’m talking about a little thing called respect for others. Where or where has it gone?
Now I’m not naive enough to expect all mankind to have perfect manners. I know there are thousands of jerks out there who aren’t nice and don’t care about others around them. But I guess I never thought there could be so many in one tiny high school auditorium.
I recently attended a dance recital. Having been in dance for 12 years while growing up I’m a sucker for a good recital -- and besides the unfortunate costume choices dance teachers pick for the heavier students it’s nice to see not much has changed.
Speaking as a former heavy child who endured several years of unfortunate costume selections I’d just like to throw out there that lycra spandex, no matter how much it may stretch, is not attractive on anyone who is even remotely overweight. A form-fitting bodysuit for a girl of this stature is never a good idea, no matter how big of a tutu you put around it. But I digress.
Not much has changed since my time unless you’re talking about the audience members. From the family behind me with the box of Gobstoppers they were incessantly eating during the performance to the little boy in front of me with his feet on the seats playing a video game on his father’s cell phone, I was appalled. Those hard little candies make an annoying sound when sliding up and down their cardboard box not to mention the chatter of “Who wants more?” and the children complaining they couldn’t see what color they got because it was dark.
I know I wasn’t at a Broadway play. I know I shouldn’t expect small children to sit for hours in small spaces and not be annoying, but to eat candy and play phone games was too much. The foul taste in my mouth from these acts of poor manners only grew when the woman in front of me (her son was the one playing with daddy’s phone) was e-mailing from her Blackberry every five minutes. The electric glow of a phone display is far more distracting than stage moms with their constant flash cameras.
Could this woman be so busy and such an important figure she couldn’t put her phone down for three hours while watching her daughter’s dance company perform? Are we that desperate for a distraction we have to consistently rely upon technology? Have we become that rude?
Yes, we have.
What would she have done 10 years ago without her precious Blackberry to stay connected? What would her kid have done without the entertainment of electronic games? I shutter to think of it – perhaps pay attention and suffer through the production like those of us with actual manners? Perish the thought.
Not only were personal hand devices rampant during the show but the lack of appropriate attire was also an issue. From clingy clothes some would only see while clubbing in Miami to those who couldn’t even bother to put on pants without an elastic band, I saw it all.
There’s a problem when society treats an arts production the same as a Sunday errand run to Wal-Mart. You are not sitting at home eating Oreos and watching the OC on SoapNet. It’ is not OK to wear sweatpants, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes to an event.
Show some respect. Show some class. Show anything except for your plumber’s crack when bending over to pick up a dropped Gobstopper.
This is when I noticed a very large woman wearing jeans and a T-shirt saying “I got sole” being disruptive. She was with a handful of other people, all dressed very casually, being loud as well. It was probably when one of her companions got up and left with one of their disruptive children for the third time, came back in and yelled, “That’s OK, she’s just being bad because she’s tired,” that I wanted to stand up, fly down four rows of people and confront the situation.
But I didn’t – because I have manners. I sat there. I sat there and took all the poor fashion choices, the candy eating and the cell phone using and vowed to myself if I ever have children they will not behave this way. They will not turn into adults who think the world and all its events revolve around them.
By that time society will be so laid back bringing in a fast food meal and eating it while watching a recital will be looked at as OK. There will probably be candy rolling down the aisles, feet on every seat and technology so advanced you can DVR the event while not missing a beat on your social network and watch your child’s dance later, in the privacy of your own home. We’re in trouble.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Marshalltown -- thy name was swill
Marshalltown has a coffeehouse!
Marshalltown has a coffeehouse!
Marshalltown has a coffeehouse!
No, I'm not excited or anything.
Our fair city has floundered when it comes to operating any independent coffee house for any real length of time and those that have stood the test of time leave something to be desired. No, no one in a small city would want coffee after 4 p.m. and those who do surely don't just want it in a coffeehouse setting -- they would of course want a full meal in a restaurant environment. Right ...
Today I decide to be optimistic -- a rare feat I know -- and had enough courage to put this new place to the test. And it was, in a word, great!
I started out slow, with my standard non-fat, vanilla latte and ordered a small size, just in case. Nothing is worse than getting a large espresso drink, thinking it's going to be fabulous and getting a mouthful of milky, coffee-like swill. It has happened to me oh, too many times here. This was far from swill. This was (and I'm making a declaration to all my savvy readers) the best latte I've ever had in Marshalltown.
The sky might be falling.
Now, this was no Starbucks, Java Joe's, Cup of Joe's or Java House, but it has serious potential. Haven, the coffeehouse/small restaurant, has actual hours of operation where those of us with jobs not in the downtown area can still make it to pick up a daily cup of joe. (Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Not only do they have decent hours and above average coffee, the staff was friendly and the place is super chic.
Haven -- maximum occupancy 32 -- you're on my new favorites list.
Marshalltown has a coffeehouse!
Marshalltown has a coffeehouse!
No, I'm not excited or anything.
Our fair city has floundered when it comes to operating any independent coffee house for any real length of time and those that have stood the test of time leave something to be desired. No, no one in a small city would want coffee after 4 p.m. and those who do surely don't just want it in a coffeehouse setting -- they would of course want a full meal in a restaurant environment. Right ...
Today I decide to be optimistic -- a rare feat I know -- and had enough courage to put this new place to the test. And it was, in a word, great!
I started out slow, with my standard non-fat, vanilla latte and ordered a small size, just in case. Nothing is worse than getting a large espresso drink, thinking it's going to be fabulous and getting a mouthful of milky, coffee-like swill. It has happened to me oh, too many times here. This was far from swill. This was (and I'm making a declaration to all my savvy readers) the best latte I've ever had in Marshalltown.
The sky might be falling.
Now, this was no Starbucks, Java Joe's, Cup of Joe's or Java House, but it has serious potential. Haven, the coffeehouse/small restaurant, has actual hours of operation where those of us with jobs not in the downtown area can still make it to pick up a daily cup of joe. (Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Not only do they have decent hours and above average coffee, the staff was friendly and the place is super chic.
Haven -- maximum occupancy 32 -- you're on my new favorites list.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)