Ugh.

I have a sudden and profound hatred of answering the phone today. Like, if flames could shoot out of my eyes and destroy every phone within 5 miles of me, I'd be happy.

Next job I have, someone ELSE is answering the phone all day...

Vile

I find it completely vile and reprehensible that anyone could say, in response to a friend's Facebook status about feeling bad that he hit a cat, "Good for you!" COMPLETELY vile. I don't even know who this person is, but I am sure that I could not be friends with someone who could, even jokingly (which I hope was her tone...), rejoice at the death of an animal. Especially a death like that, especially when her friend is upset by it. Being happy about something like that cheapens whatever charitable impulse this woman ever had. It makes her seem cruel and inhuman. It makes me sick to think that life is held so casually in this woman's mind. No, I'm not advocating joining PETA or becoming a vegan or anything, but I think some reverence for divinely-created life is part of what makes us human, part of what makes us different from every other creature.

I'm grateful that I wasn't taught to hate any animal. Yes, I'm arachnophobic, but I will avoid killing them if at all possible. The loss of a life deserves to be mourned, if only briefly, to show respect for who and what we are. The sanctity of life should be respected. The universe seems smaller when we remember that any one of us could die at any moment, and we'd better pray no one rejoices at our death.

Policies

I really do mean it when I say:

You need an appointment to get any of our services.
Your counselor is NOT available right now.
We are booked solid until next week.
Pregnancy does not count as a disability.
We can't make the city stop working on the streets so you can get to class on time.
I can neither confirm nor deny that your adult child is using our services.
Even if he or she WERE using our services, I still can't tell you anything.
The deaf student in your class can't possibly fulfill a listening assignment so stop asking me how the deaf student in your class is going to get a good grade.
Just because someone is deaf does not mean they are stupid or that you have to give them two copies of the assignment "to make sure they understand it."
You have to meet with your counselor every semester--the process is not automatic.

Things I sometimes WISH I could say:

I don't care WHO you are, your child has to go through the same procedure as EVERYONE ELSE.
Don't bully me into letting you see your counselor when I've already told you three times that they are booked solid and do not have time to "just answer a few questions."
Because your "few questions" are largely irrelevant and will take an hour to answer.
Stop hanging out near your counselor's office--you're acting like a stalker.
Don't give me the stink-eye for enforcing these policies.
I don't care to hear your life story.
Stop trying to flirt with me.
Don't lean/reach over my counter and comment on the book my coworker is reading.
There is an invisible wall that you just crossed and I want to staple your hand now.
I also don't care about your political views or opinions about education.
Ew ew ew ew. Stop looking at me.
Maybe if you stopped and thought about things, did your homework, went to class, and PAID ATTENTION, you'd pass. So stop blaming us/the system for your failures.
Just GRADUATE and go AWAY, already.
Don't tell me about the grates in the floor that need replacing--we're well aware of them.
Also, don't complain that we're "not accessible". There's a new elevator to our floor and we're straight down the hall. I call that VERY accessible. It's not like you have to go through a maze of razor wire to get here.

The first few weeks of the semester are always a little insane, but I'm glad I have a job with good benefits, and I really like my coworkers. :)

Things that tick me off today:

People who whine about how they'll never get married. Guess what, bucko? You're not very attractive when you're always complaining about how single and pathetic you are. Knock it off. I'm TIRED of having this conversation with you every other time we talk. Just because I've made peace with the fact that I'm not married yet doesn't mean I've given up. Just because something didn't happen when you wanted it to doesn't mean it won't ever happen.

People who have to have everything repeated to them because they're not paying attention.

People who assume that they can just walk into my office and get what they want.

People who can't spell even though someone else spells their name TWICE.

My stupid neck not staying aligned. I can't figure out why it won't stay adjusted and I hate having to keep paying my chiropractor, much as I love him.

The annoying squeaky sound the AC makes.

People who complain about their new offices even though the new offices are gorgeous, roomy, and light.

And, if I hear one more person tell me that "you should do something about the grates in the floor" or "your office is so hard to find", I will throw something.

Other than that, today's been an awesome day!

Plastic-covered furniture

So I discovered this.

I think I'm going to add it to my Reader. Possible.

Yeah, I can get behind that. I have my moments with the whole "50s Housewife" resurgence, moments of both annoyance and triumph, but this site speaks more to me, I think.

It's the idea of being as self-sufficient as possible (without going to extremes, of course) within your particular limits, not regressing back to a weird stereotype. I don't like the idea that women should be subservient to their husbands. I like the idea that intelligent women make a choice to beautify their surroundings and maginify their callings as wives and mothers. Whatever that means to them.

But don't become all needy and co-dependent while doing it.

Overused Words:

Pop

Fresh

Fierce

I hate them.

Colds suck

Also, there are certain types of piano music I can't stand. Like the one I'm unfortunately listening to now. I want to kill it, but I have no choice because it's part of the documentary I'm watching. I'm getting angrier and angrier at it and really would like to see that piano dumped into a pit so it's never abused like this again.

I really really want to blow something up right now. Probably because I finally got a cold and my ears are stuffed up and my voice is going and I'm NOT GOING TO CALL IN SICK because I don't do that. I'll leave that to the flaky employee who has mysteriously had the flu three times in the last 8 months. Please. Sometimes I can't wait until I quit my job so I don't have to deal with her anymore.

In totally unrelated news, I need an off-white summer top that works with skirts and pants and doesn't make me look boxy or pudgy. Good luck, right? *sigh*

I hate today.