Over the last several weeks, I've argued with both my Dad and my Mom. (One argument apiece, because I love them equally.) It's not my favorite thing to do.
Arguing with my parents is unpleasant for a variety of reasons. For example, there's the reminder that they can be just as flawed and infuriating as any other human being, and the unsettling realization that they might not like everything about me, either. The biggest problem I have with it, thought, is the unexpected empathy I feel.
When I argue with my parents, it often becomes something like an out-of-body experience. At first, I'm just trying to win, making my point as clearly and emphatically as I can. After awhile, though, my Mom or my Dad will say something that sounds eerily familiar, and suddenly I'm floating away and watching the whole thing from the outside. I start to identify with my parent, and - DAMMIT - even empathize with them. We're too much alike, so even when I think they're wrong, I can understand exactly how they came to their (totally incorrect) standpoint. We've got the same kinds of crazy, so of course I understand perfectly how it works.
Then I'll hear myself responding with outrage, and my perspective splits again. I find myself identifying with everyone who's ever had the misfortune of arguing with me. I'm not saying every argument I've ever been in was due to my inherited instability. (Or even that all of my crazy was inherited. Some of this was home-grown, you know.) It's just that when I'm on the receiving side of it, I intensely regret all the times I've acted that way to other people.
In short, I hate arguing with my parents because it's the best possible way to be reminded that not only did I inherit many of their virtues, I also inherited a lot of their faults. Plus, it's creepy hearing your own nutjob logic come out of someone else's mouth, and then wondering how many times in the past you've used it on people who might have actually had a good point. Basically, arguing with your parents is a great way to spend the next month or so questioning your individuality and biting your tongue.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day
When I was 15 and my heart got broken, I climbed onto my Dad's lap and cried on his shoulder while he rubbed my back and offered to kill my ex-boyfriend. Even though I was way too big to be sitting in his lap, I'll never be too big for him to tell me everything's OK.
Thanks to my Dad, and all the other Dads out there whose love is unchanged, even as their kids grow up.
Thanks to my Dad, and all the other Dads out there whose love is unchanged, even as their kids grow up.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
How Can I Live My Life When I Can't Even Properly Tell How Old People Are?
Remember that post about how life was difficult and stupid and uncertain and I have no choice but to suck it up and cross my fingers and breathe through the uncertainty? Naturally, because I posted that, everything has been worked out. So we can go ahead and take the anxiety threat level down from Nonsensical Philosophizing and return it to Everyday Hand-Wringing. For the most part. There are still some questions about what's going to happen in the future, and more than likely I'm going to run up against some really obnoxious obstacles in the next year or two, but I've got to focus on the here and now and just enjoy what I have in front of me.
It's interesting how it's only the hazy mid-range future that really freaks me out. I'm not concerned about what will happen 10 years from now, because there's no way for me to even begin to imagine what it will be. And I'm not troubled by what will happen tomorrow because anything that I'd be able to foresee has already been accounted and planned for. It's that middle distance that makes me feel unsettled: close enough that I can imagine plenty of negative scenarios (a personal hobby of mine), but far enough away that there's very little I can do to prevent or prepare for those negative outcomes. But whatever. I choose to believe that I've been put in this situation so that I can finally finally learn to just live in the moment. Let's sing and enjoy the sunshine while we can. Moving on!
Over the weekend, I had a birthday. I didn't feel particularly older the day of my birthday than I had before, but I suppose that's to be expected when you're turning 24. There's not a lot of significance in the age of 24. I'm thinking it will just be another number I'm going to have trouble remembering. However, over the past year or so, I have noticed that I'm getting really terrible at telling how old people are. My classification system used to look something like this:
Looks about my age = 20s
Looks young, but seems like a grown up = 30s
Definitely a generation above me, but younger than my parents = 40s
Could be my parents = 50s
Could be someone's grandparents = 60+
...And from there you just kind of adjust up based on perceived degree of frailty.
At this point, however, my inner age yardstick is all screwed up and my old decision-making rules are failing me horribly. The main problem is that I keep thinking people at or near 30 are my peers. And I guess they technically are my peers now, in the grown-up world, but they're not peers in the sense that they could have gone to school with me and pressured me to take drugs back in the 90s. For example, there's an intern at work that I thought for sure was about my age, and when I found out he was 29 (30 in October), I felt like I'd been tricked. I was also a little alarmed that perhaps I had not shown him the respect that a man of his age deserves. Had I ever cursed in front of him? Made inappropriate comments? What if I had unknowingly ordered him around? Then I decided that this was totally ridiculous, since he's only 6 years older than me. He couldn't even have babysat me when I was an infant! Who does he think he is, expecting me to show him some kind of respect??
I had a similar feeling of confusion when I found out that Sweetney turned 39. Sweetney is the mother of a young child, and someone who was young and rad during the 80s, from what I can tell. She's attractive and hip (moreso than me, if we're all being honest), and as far as I'm concerned, all of these things place her firmly in her 30s, not at almost-40*.
And don't get me started on my parents. They are clearly not old enough to have two 20-something children. Nevertheless, it hit me the other day as I stood in the break room making coffee: I am my parents' child, and yet I am also a grown-ass woman who lives by herself, pays bills, and goes to work every day. I could buy a car if I wanted! My parents are definitely not old enough to have 2 adult children, and yet here I sit, my mere existence flying boldly in the face of logic and reason. Who the hell do I think I am?? Next you'll be telling me that one day my parents will turn 60.
Wait, what?? I think I need to lie down.
My point is, the whole experience of adulthood has been very strange for me, so far. Does this ever stop? I thought that once I finished school I would reach a point of stability, where I suddenly had a handle on life and was The Boss of things (much like Tony Danza). But I'm beginning to get the feeling that ages 24 thru 70 are going to be one long adjustment period and to be honest, I'm feeling a little deceived. If I'd known I was going to feel just as confused about life now as I did when I was 16 (except now with an extra unsettling self-awareness!), I would have just stayed in college.
*Not that there's anything wrong with being almost-40, or almost-any age, obviously. It's just that I'm SO CONFUSED.
It's interesting how it's only the hazy mid-range future that really freaks me out. I'm not concerned about what will happen 10 years from now, because there's no way for me to even begin to imagine what it will be. And I'm not troubled by what will happen tomorrow because anything that I'd be able to foresee has already been accounted and planned for. It's that middle distance that makes me feel unsettled: close enough that I can imagine plenty of negative scenarios (a personal hobby of mine), but far enough away that there's very little I can do to prevent or prepare for those negative outcomes. But whatever. I choose to believe that I've been put in this situation so that I can finally finally learn to just live in the moment. Let's sing and enjoy the sunshine while we can. Moving on!
Over the weekend, I had a birthday. I didn't feel particularly older the day of my birthday than I had before, but I suppose that's to be expected when you're turning 24. There's not a lot of significance in the age of 24. I'm thinking it will just be another number I'm going to have trouble remembering. However, over the past year or so, I have noticed that I'm getting really terrible at telling how old people are. My classification system used to look something like this:
Looks about my age = 20s
Looks young, but seems like a grown up = 30s
Definitely a generation above me, but younger than my parents = 40s
Could be my parents = 50s
Could be someone's grandparents = 60+
...And from there you just kind of adjust up based on perceived degree of frailty.
At this point, however, my inner age yardstick is all screwed up and my old decision-making rules are failing me horribly. The main problem is that I keep thinking people at or near 30 are my peers. And I guess they technically are my peers now, in the grown-up world, but they're not peers in the sense that they could have gone to school with me and pressured me to take drugs back in the 90s. For example, there's an intern at work that I thought for sure was about my age, and when I found out he was 29 (30 in October), I felt like I'd been tricked. I was also a little alarmed that perhaps I had not shown him the respect that a man of his age deserves. Had I ever cursed in front of him? Made inappropriate comments? What if I had unknowingly ordered him around? Then I decided that this was totally ridiculous, since he's only 6 years older than me. He couldn't even have babysat me when I was an infant! Who does he think he is, expecting me to show him some kind of respect??
I had a similar feeling of confusion when I found out that Sweetney turned 39. Sweetney is the mother of a young child, and someone who was young and rad during the 80s, from what I can tell. She's attractive and hip (moreso than me, if we're all being honest), and as far as I'm concerned, all of these things place her firmly in her 30s, not at almost-40*.
And don't get me started on my parents. They are clearly not old enough to have two 20-something children. Nevertheless, it hit me the other day as I stood in the break room making coffee: I am my parents' child, and yet I am also a grown-ass woman who lives by herself, pays bills, and goes to work every day. I could buy a car if I wanted! My parents are definitely not old enough to have 2 adult children, and yet here I sit, my mere existence flying boldly in the face of logic and reason. Who the hell do I think I am?? Next you'll be telling me that one day my parents will turn 60.
Wait, what?? I think I need to lie down.
My point is, the whole experience of adulthood has been very strange for me, so far. Does this ever stop? I thought that once I finished school I would reach a point of stability, where I suddenly had a handle on life and was The Boss of things (much like Tony Danza). But I'm beginning to get the feeling that ages 24 thru 70 are going to be one long adjustment period and to be honest, I'm feeling a little deceived. If I'd known I was going to feel just as confused about life now as I did when I was 16 (except now with an extra unsettling self-awareness!), I would have just stayed in college.
*Not that there's anything wrong with being almost-40, or almost-any age, obviously. It's just that I'm SO CONFUSED.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Gratitude, Day 15
Let's do this!
1) Today I went to the library for the first time in a loooong time. Oh man, I love the library. I love the way it smells like old books and the way it looks like the set of an educational film from the 70s or 80s and the feeling I get that I could learn everything in the world if I just spent enough time there. Do kids these days even go to libraries anymore? Children! I implore you, get yourself to a library! Read some books that don't belong to you! Borrow a VHS to watch on a rainy day! Bah. Kids.
2) I also found out today that my cousin has her own blog. Two of them, actually. And apparently she's a really good cook and she's crafty and bakes a lot of cupcakes. This is a much better revelation than when I found out that she was a Republican. I spent a lot of time reading her blogs this afternoon and it was a nice feeling, realizing that she's been out there having this full and exciting life that I wasn't even aware of. It's always uplifting, somehow, to find out that you're related to someone who's doing a good job at life. Makes you feel like there's potential in your genes, ya know?
3) I'm watching one of the 90 brazilian specials about the Duggar family right now. For sure, their intense devotion to single-handedly overpopulating the world is nuts. But it also seems like they're really sweet people, fundamentally. Obviously I can't say for sure because I've never met them, but just now I want to hug Michelle Duggar, with her sweet giggle and her poor overworked uterus. And the reason I'm grateful for that is because hugs are enjoyable.
4) Bought me an eyelash curler this evening. Prepare to get FANCY.
5) And finally, I'm grateful for the elf-magic that makes internet games like Zombie Hooker Nightmare possible.
The end.
1) Today I went to the library for the first time in a loooong time. Oh man, I love the library. I love the way it smells like old books and the way it looks like the set of an educational film from the 70s or 80s and the feeling I get that I could learn everything in the world if I just spent enough time there. Do kids these days even go to libraries anymore? Children! I implore you, get yourself to a library! Read some books that don't belong to you! Borrow a VHS to watch on a rainy day! Bah. Kids.
2) I also found out today that my cousin has her own blog. Two of them, actually. And apparently she's a really good cook and she's crafty and bakes a lot of cupcakes. This is a much better revelation than when I found out that she was a Republican. I spent a lot of time reading her blogs this afternoon and it was a nice feeling, realizing that she's been out there having this full and exciting life that I wasn't even aware of. It's always uplifting, somehow, to find out that you're related to someone who's doing a good job at life. Makes you feel like there's potential in your genes, ya know?
3) I'm watching one of the 90 brazilian specials about the Duggar family right now. For sure, their intense devotion to single-handedly overpopulating the world is nuts. But it also seems like they're really sweet people, fundamentally. Obviously I can't say for sure because I've never met them, but just now I want to hug Michelle Duggar, with her sweet giggle and her poor overworked uterus. And the reason I'm grateful for that is because hugs are enjoyable.
4) Bought me an eyelash curler this evening. Prepare to get FANCY.
5) And finally, I'm grateful for the elf-magic that makes internet games like Zombie Hooker Nightmare possible.
The end.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Gratitude, Days 11 and 12
Oh hell! I forgot to be grateful yesterday! Don't worry, to make up for that, I'm going to be grateful for 10 things today...
1) Bachelorette party! It was awesome. We drank, we talked about sex, we watched Venture Brothers. Good times all around. (Don't worry Internet, we only talked about sex because that's what you have to talk about when someone is about to get married. I covered my ears for most of it.)
2) (Also about the bachelorette party) Shelly picked out a sparkly tiara that said 'Bachelorette' for Jessica to wear. It brought me great joy.
3) (Also also about the bachelorette party) Shelly's boyfriend was our chaperone for the evening, and he amused himself by pretending he couldn't hear what we were saying and drawing sweet sketches of things like a drunken redneck dolphin and Dwight from The Office. He's a famous cartoonist, and his art really brought something special to the evening, I think. (Shelly, if you're reading this, you should pimp your man and his skillz in the comments.)
4) Today I had delicious cinnamon buns with icing for breakfast. Mmm.
5) As always, I am thankful for my adorable boyfriend. He's a pretty nice guy.
6) Oooh! I am also thankful for the History Channel, which edutains me with information on such diverse topics as crucifixion and how aliens made it possible for Egyptians to use light bulbs in their underground tombs.
7) Dad's birthday was this weekend so I got to go home and eat some of my mom's outstanding home cooking. (Which was really nice since I've been eating out lately because the dishes are dirty. Which dishes? Pretty much all the dishes.)
8) Going home also let me hang around with my family for an extended period of time (although not long enough). I'm lucky enough to have family that loves me and understands me so well. At some point tonight we were watching TV and I opened my mouth to make some kind of snarky comment, but before I could my brother said EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. It's like we both came from the same obnoxiously sarcastic gene pool, or something.
9) Also while I was at home, my parents' weird, antisocial, semi-feral cat Ninja came out of the shadows to eat. Usually if I make eye contact with her, she runs out of the room, but she actually hung around and let me look at her for a change. I couldn't have been more excited if I had seen a Yeti in the wild.
10) Even though I was gone for three days, the gerbils are still alive. Thank goodness.
BONUS ITEM PLUS VIDEO: 11) I just remembered that the other day at my friend's house I saw baby guinea pigs for the first time, and they were ADORABLE. And they have continued to bring me great joy every time I have remembered them since. Holla to any baby guinea pigs that might be out there reading this now!!!1!1!!
1) Bachelorette party! It was awesome. We drank, we talked about sex, we watched Venture Brothers. Good times all around. (Don't worry Internet, we only talked about sex because that's what you have to talk about when someone is about to get married. I covered my ears for most of it.)
2) (Also about the bachelorette party) Shelly picked out a sparkly tiara that said 'Bachelorette' for Jessica to wear. It brought me great joy.
3) (Also also about the bachelorette party) Shelly's boyfriend was our chaperone for the evening, and he amused himself by pretending he couldn't hear what we were saying and drawing sweet sketches of things like a drunken redneck dolphin and Dwight from The Office. He's a famous cartoonist, and his art really brought something special to the evening, I think. (Shelly, if you're reading this, you should pimp your man and his skillz in the comments.)
4) Today I had delicious cinnamon buns with icing for breakfast. Mmm.
5) As always, I am thankful for my adorable boyfriend. He's a pretty nice guy.
6) Oooh! I am also thankful for the History Channel, which edutains me with information on such diverse topics as crucifixion and how aliens made it possible for Egyptians to use light bulbs in their underground tombs.
7) Dad's birthday was this weekend so I got to go home and eat some of my mom's outstanding home cooking. (Which was really nice since I've been eating out lately because the dishes are dirty. Which dishes? Pretty much all the dishes.)
8) Going home also let me hang around with my family for an extended period of time (although not long enough). I'm lucky enough to have family that loves me and understands me so well. At some point tonight we were watching TV and I opened my mouth to make some kind of snarky comment, but before I could my brother said EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. It's like we both came from the same obnoxiously sarcastic gene pool, or something.
9) Also while I was at home, my parents' weird, antisocial, semi-feral cat Ninja came out of the shadows to eat. Usually if I make eye contact with her, she runs out of the room, but she actually hung around and let me look at her for a change. I couldn't have been more excited if I had seen a Yeti in the wild.
10) Even though I was gone for three days, the gerbils are still alive. Thank goodness.
BONUS ITEM PLUS VIDEO: 11) I just remembered that the other day at my friend's house I saw baby guinea pigs for the first time, and they were ADORABLE. And they have continued to bring me great joy every time I have remembered them since. Holla to any baby guinea pigs that might be out there reading this now!!!1!1!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Holiday Roundup
Hey there, remember me? I know posting's been a little sparse lately, but you know I love you, right? It's just that I saw so many other people on the internet writing about their Christmases and their New Year's resolutions and I started to feel intimidated because I didn't have anything to say. I got stage fright, you know how it is. You believe me, don't you?
Ok, fine, I admit it. I was partying without you. But I'm here to redeem myself with a ridiculously long post* about the holidays! Hooray!
*Although really, aren't all my posts ridiculously long?
Alright, Christmas first. I spent Christmas at my parents' house, and I've already sort of told you about this, but it's obvious you weren't listening, so I'll repeat it: good food (crab legs!), playing Spore all night, quality time with my brother, presents and things. I think the best Christmas present I got was a brand new kickass digital camera with 18x ZOOM OH MAN THE THINGS I PLAN TO ZOOM IN ON. You'll recall I requested a new camera here on my blog, thus this is proof that The Internet performs miracles. By filling my parents with the Holy Digital Spirit and working through them to enact Its will. In the name of Firefox, amen.
New Year's. The second half of my holiday was spent in Cherry Grove, SC with Lee's family. Some people raised their eyebrows at me when I said I was going to the beach for New Year's, as if I didn't know it was cold there, too, but did I mention that I got to go for free? When the trip is free, you go where you're told. (Also, did I already thank Lee's family? Thanks! They don't read this - thank God - but I'm sure they heard me anyway.) We were only there for 3 days, but it was a great time. I'm incredibly lucky that I get along so well with my significant other's family, and also that they had the entire first season of True Blood on DVD.
True Blood. I do not get HBO, but now I wish I did. I spent most of last week and this past weekend watching this show and I was totally sucked in. Lee was all, "mutter mutter romance novel grumble handsome vampires," but I think he enjoyed at least 10 minutes of the 9 hours he spent watching it with me. Confidential to Sam Trammel (pictured at right): I could be convinced to have your babies in an emergency. Call me.
2008. It was a good year. I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm 84% less crazy, I'm feeling really happy at my job, I have awesome coworkers, and I'm a year and a half into the best relationship I've ever been in. High five, 2008. You're alright.
2009. Alright y'all, let's get real. Part of the reason I've put off posting for the past couple of days is because I've felt obligated to come up with some really thoughtful, profound resolutions for the upcoming year. The funny thing is, I don't normally make too big of a deal out of the New Year. There's just something about writing your thoughts on the internet and pretending that someone is going to read them that makes you feel like you have to come up with something deep. But I'm thinking that I'm pretty happy with how I handled 2008, so I guess my main resolution for next year is to keep up the good work: try not to backslide into the crazy, keep going to the gym and being healthy, keep being kind to myself, don't beat myself up when I fail to be perfect.
The only new resolution I have I stole from a magazine. I think it was Glamour (I was reading it at the gym) that had an article about how you can make a big difference simply by making a small change and sticking with it every day. They had a woman who did pushups every day, one who wore red lipstick every day, so on and so forth. So, I think my resolution for 2009 is to approach my problems that way. If I'm unhappy with something in my life, I'm going to come up with something small that I can do consistently, rather than trying to overhaul an entire set of habits. So there's my resolution: make manageable resolutions throughout the year, rather than ambitious ones right now.
Oh, by the way: Happy January 6th!
Ok, fine, I admit it. I was partying without you. But I'm here to redeem myself with a ridiculously long post* about the holidays! Hooray!
*Although really, aren't all my posts ridiculously long?
Alright, Christmas first. I spent Christmas at my parents' house, and I've already sort of told you about this, but it's obvious you weren't listening, so I'll repeat it: good food (crab legs!), playing Spore all night, quality time with my brother, presents and things. I think the best Christmas present I got was a brand new kickass digital camera with 18x ZOOM OH MAN THE THINGS I PLAN TO ZOOM IN ON. You'll recall I requested a new camera here on my blog, thus this is proof that The Internet performs miracles. By filling my parents with the Holy Digital Spirit and working through them to enact Its will. In the name of Firefox, amen.
New Year's. The second half of my holiday was spent in Cherry Grove, SC with Lee's family. Some people raised their eyebrows at me when I said I was going to the beach for New Year's, as if I didn't know it was cold there, too, but did I mention that I got to go for free? When the trip is free, you go where you're told. (Also, did I already thank Lee's family? Thanks! They don't read this - thank God - but I'm sure they heard me anyway.) We were only there for 3 days, but it was a great time. I'm incredibly lucky that I get along so well with my significant other's family, and also that they had the entire first season of True Blood on DVD.
True Blood. I do not get HBO, but now I wish I did. I spent most of last week and this past weekend watching this show and I was totally sucked in. Lee was all, "mutter mutter romance novel grumble handsome vampires," but I think he enjoyed at least 10 minutes of the 9 hours he spent watching it with me. Confidential to Sam Trammel (pictured at right): I could be convinced to have your babies in an emergency. Call me.
2008. It was a good year. I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm 84% less crazy, I'm feeling really happy at my job, I have awesome coworkers, and I'm a year and a half into the best relationship I've ever been in. High five, 2008. You're alright.
2009. Alright y'all, let's get real. Part of the reason I've put off posting for the past couple of days is because I've felt obligated to come up with some really thoughtful, profound resolutions for the upcoming year. The funny thing is, I don't normally make too big of a deal out of the New Year. There's just something about writing your thoughts on the internet and pretending that someone is going to read them that makes you feel like you have to come up with something deep. But I'm thinking that I'm pretty happy with how I handled 2008, so I guess my main resolution for next year is to keep up the good work: try not to backslide into the crazy, keep going to the gym and being healthy, keep being kind to myself, don't beat myself up when I fail to be perfect.
The only new resolution I have I stole from a magazine. I think it was Glamour (I was reading it at the gym) that had an article about how you can make a big difference simply by making a small change and sticking with it every day. They had a woman who did pushups every day, one who wore red lipstick every day, so on and so forth. So, I think my resolution for 2009 is to approach my problems that way. If I'm unhappy with something in my life, I'm going to come up with something small that I can do consistently, rather than trying to overhaul an entire set of habits. So there's my resolution: make manageable resolutions throughout the year, rather than ambitious ones right now.
Oh, by the way: Happy January 6th!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Holidays Are About Nothing If Not Cliches
Because America is a heterogeneous nation, filled with diverse people, there are also a wide variety holiday traditions. Nevertheless, each holiday has its own defining characteristics, experienced by everyone, regardless of their family's tradition. Thanksgiving, for example, is generally about eating until you're sick, passing out, throwing up, and then eating some more. But it's also about two other things: making lists of things you're thankful for, and being driven crazy at the hands of your family. (The latter is also a defining characteristic of Christmas/Hanukkah/Winter Solstice, etc.) All of this is just my way of saying that I'm about to make some lists for you, internet. First:
Things My Family Has Done To Drive Me Crazy, So Far
1) I got up early this morning and went downstairs to see if anyone else was up, and happened to notice that something was in the oven. I was a little alarmed at first, until I looked in and realized that they were just rolls that had been put in there to rise over night, apparently. But they were all rising into each other, and 3 of them are trying to come off the pan. So I went upstairs to notify my mom, "Hey, your rolls are rising off the pan." Her response: "Well they'll just have to stay that way for a little while. Snore."
2) When my dad came downstairs, I said, "Mom's rolls are rising off the pan... should we take off these 3 before they get out of hand?" "Nah."
3) My brother keeps saying racist and misogynistic things, not because he's racist or a misogynist, but because he likes to hear me indignantly yell, "Matthew!"
4) My dad has a habit of sitting in one room while I'm in another, and yelling things at me. When I inevitably can't understand what he's saying and end up yelling with "What?!?" he always responds with something weird, like "That's what I thought, too." I think he's somehow tricking me into agreeing to things, and I don't know what they are.
And then of course, we have the companion list, of:
Things For Which I'm Thankful*
1) My family. They're nuts, but they understand me.
2) Lee. (Awwwww. Gag.)
3) Over the past few months, finally feeling comfortable with where my life is now. (Side note: if it takes me a year to become accustomed to a big change, and grad school will only last 2 years, what does that mean for my sanity?)
4) Pretty great coworkers who have become pretty great friends.
5) Old school friends that I've managed to keep in touch with, in spite of the distance between us.
6) The chocolate pie my mom made last night.
7) The fact that my car is still running just fine, in spite of the fact that it now makes no less than two strange noises, and I have a burnt-out headlight.
8) Free packets of instant hot chocolate in the break room at work.
9) Cereal.
10) That one pair of perfect-fitting pants I found at Target last month. (Dear Target, Let's get married. Love, me.)
And finally...
11) You, internet! Sure, you very seldom reply to all my love letters and overtures, but you've shared so much with me, and you have no idea how much good this here blog does me, in spite of the fact that all I'm writing is drivel.
*Who didn't end her list title with a preposition?? Me! High five!
Also internet, if you get a chance, why don't you tell me what you're thankful for, and/or what it is about your family that makes you crazy? And be sure and have a happy Thanksgiving!
Things My Family Has Done To Drive Me Crazy, So Far
1) I got up early this morning and went downstairs to see if anyone else was up, and happened to notice that something was in the oven. I was a little alarmed at first, until I looked in and realized that they were just rolls that had been put in there to rise over night, apparently. But they were all rising into each other, and 3 of them are trying to come off the pan. So I went upstairs to notify my mom, "Hey, your rolls are rising off the pan." Her response: "Well they'll just have to stay that way for a little while. Snore."
2) When my dad came downstairs, I said, "Mom's rolls are rising off the pan... should we take off these 3 before they get out of hand?" "Nah."
3) My brother keeps saying racist and misogynistic things, not because he's racist or a misogynist, but because he likes to hear me indignantly yell, "Matthew!"
4) My dad has a habit of sitting in one room while I'm in another, and yelling things at me. When I inevitably can't understand what he's saying and end up yelling with "What?!?" he always responds with something weird, like "That's what I thought, too." I think he's somehow tricking me into agreeing to things, and I don't know what they are.
And then of course, we have the companion list, of:
Things For Which I'm Thankful*
1) My family. They're nuts, but they understand me.
2) Lee. (Awwwww. Gag.)
3) Over the past few months, finally feeling comfortable with where my life is now. (Side note: if it takes me a year to become accustomed to a big change, and grad school will only last 2 years, what does that mean for my sanity?)
4) Pretty great coworkers who have become pretty great friends.
5) Old school friends that I've managed to keep in touch with, in spite of the distance between us.
6) The chocolate pie my mom made last night.
7) The fact that my car is still running just fine, in spite of the fact that it now makes no less than two strange noises, and I have a burnt-out headlight.
8) Free packets of instant hot chocolate in the break room at work.
9) Cereal.
10) That one pair of perfect-fitting pants I found at Target last month. (Dear Target, Let's get married. Love, me.)
And finally...
11) You, internet! Sure, you very seldom reply to all my love letters and overtures, but you've shared so much with me, and you have no idea how much good this here blog does me, in spite of the fact that all I'm writing is drivel.
*Who didn't end her list title with a preposition?? Me! High five!
Also internet, if you get a chance, why don't you tell me what you're thankful for, and/or what it is about your family that makes you crazy? And be sure and have a happy Thanksgiving!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)