Traveling

I just got back from a Vegas trip. I had a lot of fun but as usual I have a few gripes about other people. I feel there are a few things that should be in an etiquette book for people traveling to other places that they are unaware of.

1. If you are unsure of where you are going in an airport do not stop walking in the middle of the aisle to check your bags for your flight number. There are probably people behind you that you have caused to come to a screeching halt because you are too inconsiderate to move to the side before dropping everything and checking your bags.

2. If you are eating in an airport restaurant there is a good chance you will not get to eat with your 10+ family members. Pulling the tables together does not help and in fact blocks the way for the other patrons. Unless you are dining with small children you should split your party up. Airport dining is not the time for a family reunion.

3. If you are riding on a motorized scooter, use a wheelchair, walker, cane, or have a handicap sticker on your car please do not walk in the middle of the walkway. Especially if you weigh 350+ pounds. You are taking up most of the hall and you move very slowly. This is annoying. Move to the side to make room for those of us that still have full use of our appendages or that actually go to a gym.

4. If you do not check in to the plane on time and you are traveling with 20 people there's a good chance you won't be sitting together on a plane with unassigned seats. I would again like to thank the family that delayed my flight for over an hour while rearranging all the passengers so they could sit together. I'm sure the flight attendants wouldn't have made people volunteer to get up and move but this family of 20 included 10 children that needed an adult to sit beside them. The best part was when the attendant announced overhead, "We're not moving until we get some volunteers to give up their seats!" Nice.

5. When picking up luggage at the airport you should probably know that it goes in a circle. If you miss it the first time it will come back. There's no need to push and shove in an attempt to get to the front of the line.

6. Speaking of the baggage claim please just send one person from your family to pick up your luggage. There was a family of 3 waiting to pick up one suitcase. I was impressed that they were able to get all the clothes in one suitcase but annoyed that the little boy was allowed to sit up front and in the way of others picking up their luggage. Seriously? Move it!

7. As I've mentioned before I do not have children but I don't understand why they are in Vegas. I don't see how this is fun for the kids or the parents. There's nothing to do for the kids in a place like Vegas and the parents have to keep up with the kids the entire time and can't enjoy themselves while they are in Vegas. I just don't get it.

Men

So, as I continue the dating thing I'm noticing something. Men that are more interested in me are several years younger than me. I took a poll at work and I was told I can go about 5 years below my age. Well, the guys that are buying my drinks are between 5 and 8 years younger than me. I was told (by the same work buddies) that they are just looking for a one night stand. Um....so why are they hitting on a 30 year old for a one night stand? Shouldn't they be looking at someone their own age for a one nighter? Especially since I thought most guys were under the impression that women my age were wanting to settle down. It's not true, but I thought most guys thought that's how it worked. So it brings me back to the first question - why in the heck are these really young guys hitting on me? It's like I'm their mom but hotter. But I'm not old enough to be their mom. I'm right between their mom's age and their age. The really funny part of all of this is that I can't get a normal guy my own age to hit on me. Why? Because those bastards all want some bimbo that doesn't have a brain, is still naturally perky, and will have to depend on him for everything. They don't want me. Hell, they divorced someone like me. I hate it that I have a brain, a job, and a life. I don't love the idea of going out with someone younger than me simply because I'm afraid I'll get him "well trained" (for lack of a better phrase) and then when he's in his early 30's and I'm not he'll look around and realize what he's missing. Of course by then I'd have already got him prepared for a good relationship and then I'm older and alone.

Loud kids

I do not have kids. I do not know how to raise kids. I have never professed to know the first thing about raising kids. I do, however, know about respect and when it is lacking. Last week I was fortunate enough to witness what the world is coming to. There was a mother (I'm presuming) with her child. The child was approximately eight years old. The mother was walking down the hall at the hospital (a public place for those that are missing that) with the child next to her. The child was yelling at the top of her lungs, "You are so stupid! I can't believe I'm missing school for a stupid doctor's appointment! I hate you so much! You are a big, stupid idiot!"

Okay, so I'm no expert. I'm not even a parent. First of all, why on earth does a child get to scream like that in a public place if the child is not being harmed, kidnapped, or is older than 3? Second, why does a child have the right to call an adult, especially her parent (once again, guessing on the relationship) stupid, an idiot, and yell at them? Last, but not least, why does this kid get to run the show? The only thing that this screaming fit had that was encouraging at all is that the kid wanted to be in school.

I don't know what I would do. Well, I do know what I would do. Hey, this is my blog so I'll just say it. I would never have allowed it to get that far in the first place. Kids are NOT supposed to be running the show. They are children. They are supposed to have limitations and they are supposed to be expected to follow rules that the grown up parents set for them. My mother would have beaten me within an inch of my life if I had even thought about acting like that in a public place. I really don't think it's any wonder we've got people expecting the government to bail them out from all their problems because it's what's happened to them their entire lives. No one has told them that they have to grow up and act like adults. No one has ever told them "no". Everyone has said that it's okay to kick, scream and act like an imbecile because that's how you get things done. I'm concerned because this entire generation of children are the future's lawyers, doctors, and congressmen. One day when I am old and grey these brats that have had everything handed to them are going to be the ones taking care of my medical needs, drawing up the paperwork for my last will and testament and will be asking me for my vote.

Dating?

Sooo.....dating sucks. I do enjoy it but the basic fact it, it just sucks. I am far too blunt for this dating bullshit. I enjoy meeting new people and hanging out but the truth is, men think they want a woman who speaks her mind. Then they meet me. All of a sudden - gasp - here's a girl who has an opinion! A girl who won't sit quietly and just let the guy do the talking! What's a guy to do? Well, I'll tell you what he won't do. Take her out more than a few times, that's what. I can't help but share my opinion. I'm just honest and if you ask me a question you're going to get an honest answer. I love to hear others opinions as well and I love to debate (not argue) over different things. However, if you feel that you are the only one that is right or if you feel that you always have to be right then we are probably never going to work out. I also have issues with guys that think I owe them something because they paid for a few meals. Umm. No. I do not owe you sex because you bought me some cheap meal. Can you at least pretend to be interested in my life before groping me under the table? Women aren't that hard to understand. Just pretend to listen to us, don't grope us until a decent amount of time and act like you're really interested. I promise, that's all. Sheesh.

Retail Therapy and the gym

Finally, after the worst winter I have ever experienced the temperature reached somewhere in the 60s. Normally for me that isn't warm at all but considering the snow, ice and never-ending sleet that's a freaking heat wave. So, I did what every one else in the state of Oklahoma did. I got out of the house. Ironically, I got out of the house just to drive to the City (Oklahoma City) to go inside the mall to go shopping. Well, mostly window shopping. It was like Christmas at the mall. I am guessing I wasn't the only person who was dying to get out of the house.

Unfortunately, warmer weather means less clothes. This means I'm really going to have to lose some weight. I'm still hoping that just picturing myself at the gym will actually cause me to automatically tone up. So far this plan is not working. I did buy myself a trainer for Valentine's day. Yes, I know how pathetic that sounds. No one else buys me anything and no one is ever going to love me as much as I love me so I always buy myself a little something special around the day of commercial love. Ugh. It would have been highly entertaining if I had started this during the month I had been paying for torture three times a week. I often wondered if this meant if I was secretly into s&m but I decided against that since I did not enjoy my sessions with my torture man. I do like the way my butt looks after all this though. I am not motivated to go to the gym unless I am paying someone to meet me there and force me to work out though. I am not sure what this says about me. I guess since I do not want my butt to begin drooping and I do not want my "muffin top" to get any bigger I will have to begin making regular trips to the gym. I will also probably continue doing some of those weirdo moves I learned with my trainer. I should also mention that I refer to my muffin top as a "doughnut roll" (hey - we're not fooling anyone) and I've named it Alice. I don't know why. It's possible because I don't really like the name Alice and I would never name a child that so it's acceptable to call my fat roll by that name.

Well, enough babbling for now on that subject. Can't wait to start yoga next week and talk about how that goes.

Small town

I live in the smallest town I have ever lived in during my adult life. Granted, I've only lived in one other town but I feel that is beside the point. My former town had two malls, an outdoor shopping area, tons of restaurants, bistros, movie theaters, walking trails and stuff to do in general. Let's compare it to this town. There's one mall, a few chain restaurants, a movie theater that's in the mall that you cannot go to at night for fear of getting mugged and another movie theater that's pretty decent and that's it. No wonder crime is pretty high here. There's nothing else to do. The first time I went to the mall I laughed out loud. I told someone at work I actually drove past the mall because I didn't see it and made it to Wichita Falls before I realized I had passed the mall. That is not true. What did impress me is that the mall has little signs posted to let you know where stores are. I don't know why these are necessary since you can poke your head out of the store and merely look down the mall to see all of the stores in the entire mall.

So, needless to say, today I'm off to the City (that's Oklahoma City) for some retail therapy. I'd like to visit a mall that has more than one floor. I'd also like to visit a place where the chances of me running into anyone I know are small. I can't go to Wal-mart without seeing a co-worker or, God forbid, a patient. I hate seeing patients. Those people will chase you down the aisle to pull up their shirts and ask you to check their incisions. No, unfortunately, I'm not kidding.

I'm also in need of a yoga mat. Yes, I know. The thought of me posing in downward facing dog is hysterical but I need something to calm me down. I will definitely post more on the yoga thing after I start that next week.

New to Blogging

Blogging.......hmmmmm. I'm not sure what I think about this. It's like a way to rant and rave but have people that are really bored read about it. I suppose some of these rants and raves will have to be edited to protect the innocent. Or as the case may be - not so innocent. Of course it's all on your point of view and since it's my blog I guess I'm right.

So, some person approaches me at work and tells me that they want my job because it looks easy. Either I'm not working hard enough or this person is an idiot. I'm going with the idiot part. Once again, my point of view. And what on earth prompts you to have the balls to tell someone that? I make decisions on a daily basis that this person cannot even comprehend. Not to mention that I know from someone that once worked with her that she is not the brightest person out there. I try to have a good attitude and be in a good mood which is a major change from my previous job but seriously - to think that I'm not working?

Here's my next gripe of the night. Please, please don't drink and drive. If you want to sit at home and be an alcoholic I don't care. If you want to drink in public and act like an idiot I don't care. However, once you get behind the wheel of a car you have endangered me and my friends and family. I will still treat you exactly the same but inside I am so mad at you for putting my life in danger.

Well, this blogging may be therapeutic after all. I certainly feel better. Night all.