Why Are People Jerks?

Yesterday I was stuck in traffic on the freeway. Apparently a tanker full of propane had rolled at a major freeway interchange, and traffic was backed up on all freeways for miles as a result. In fact, the propane was leaking and local residents were being evacuated.

As I sat at a near standstill for an hour, I appreciated that all the hundreds of people on the road were being patient and courteous. Mostly. After a while I saw an old rusty truck drive up the right-hand shoulder, passing everyone. That made me mad. What makes him so much more important than the rest of us that he can't wait his turn too?

Five minutes later a BMW and a Lexus came zipping by on the shoulder. A semi saw them coming and pulled out into the shoulder to cut them off, forcing them to wait in line just like everyone else. I admit I internally began to cheer. The BMW driver started honking and swearing and acting like a complete idiot. I think it took him a minute to realize that the truck driver was doing it on purpose. At first he just seemed annoyed at the truck driver's obvious incompetence. Then as Mr. BMW realized that the truck driver was trying to prevent him from being a jerk, he became even more of a jerk.

As he gesticulated wildly and offensively, Mr. Lexus calmly rode further onto the shoulder, completely off the pavement and onto the dirt and grass (that dropped down at a 45 degree angle) and passed both the BMW and the semi. I found myself hoping that he'd get stuck in mud as he tried it. Alas, he made it around fine. Then Mr. BMW did the same thing, only he included more honking and rude gestures as he passed the truck.

So my question is, what gives people such a sense of entitlement that they permit themselves to act in such a fashion? Why is this acceptable behavior to them? It is arrogant, thoughtless, rude, mean-spirited, and selfish. What is WRONG with people? Why do we let them get away with it? I can't wait for Karma to make its rounds.

Seriously, so blessed!

Do you ever

1. Mentally take a red editing pencil to friends' and family members' emails or blog posts?
2. Laugh or cringe at some blogging friends' overly enthusiastic writing style? (Oh my gosh, seriously, life has been SOOOO busy lately, but SOOO great too! I just love my hot hubby, he is the best EVER!)
3. Do you believe that text-messaging spelling trends are an abomination? (U R so HOTT!)
4. Enjoy a good satire?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then I have the blog for you. It's http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com. I don't know who writes it, but it is a scarily accurate satire on the entire mormon mommy blog culture that has cropped up. It makes me laugh. It makes me wince. It makes me wonder if my blogging is full of exaggerated happiness rather than truthful expressions of the good and the bad in my life.

I do believe in finding joy in simple things, counting your blessings, and being content with what you have. Hopefully I do those things. I equally hope that I don't write in any way like Tamn (the author of Seriously, so blessed!) does.

Enjoy the blog. It's hilarious.

Bad Grammar

My mother just sent me a funny email, and I wanted to share it with you.

She said she just heard Obama say "President Bush invited Michelle & I to the white house." My mother thought: NO! We are not going to have bad grammar right off the bat, are we?

We certainly got more than enough of that with Bush, right?

I'll consult the Magic 8.

Magic 8 Really Works!

I just asked the magic ball if Obama would win, and it said "It is decidedly so." Just a few minutes later, he was declared the winner.

Spooky. It really is magic. Maybe it will tell me that I will become independently wealthy someday.

So What Did You Do on Election Night?

I watched the news and blogged.

I sat on the floor in the office and blogged while Brent surfed ebay and listened to disco.

I helped my daughter practice walking.

I have to say that it's nice to finally have the election over, after two years of anticipation. It's been a big one, and hotly contested. It's been exciting, and finally we're done and can move on.

Regardless of who you voted for, at least we can now look forward to next January when W. leaves office. Anyone want to come to an End of Bush's Administration party? Anyone?

About Brent

I got this off Jaclyn's blog, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to write about my husband.

1. Where did you meet your husband? We met on a blind date. Thank you Noels!! And yes, they can work. It's amazing how you can go on a hundred terrible blind dates, swear them off forever, then agree to ONE more. Then you go to lunch one day, and it changes your life.

2. How long did you date before you married? About 7 months. We were engaged just after 3 months. I knew he was the one after about 2 weeks. When you've been looking as long as he and I had, it doesn't take you long to spot the real deal when it comes along.

3. How long have you been married? Just over 3 years.

4. What does he do that surprises you? I don't know that he does much to surprise me anymore. Perhaps the way he continues to tell the same bad jokes to me over and over.

5. What is his best feature? His dimple. Whenever he flashes me a smile with that dimple showing, I'm putty. Not to mention the rest of his Adonis-like physique. Drool. I have one hot husband.

6. What is your favorite quality of his? How hard-working he is and how much he loves our Jenny. I love to watch him playing with her.

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Sexy Lady.

8. What is his favorite food? Italian. (Real Italian, not the Olive Garden, which doesn't qualify as Italian.)

9. What is his favorite sport? Poker. (They play the world series of poker on ESPN, so yes, it is a sport.)

10. When & where was your first kiss? On our third or fourth date, in his driveway. I knew he was going to make his move that night, and I wasn't ready for it yet, so I was avoiding eye contact with him during the goodbye scene. Once we made it off the porch, I thought I was home free, but once I was sitting in my car, he rallied his courage. I gave him a tiny peck and shooed him off. Then I called him back and gave him a proper kiss. Then he said "That's what I was looking for."

11. Do you have any children? One daughter, 18 months old, and as adorable as they come. Can I brag about her too?

12. Does he have any hidden talents? He makes great carbonara. And he is fantastic at Krypto.

13. How old is he? 35

14. Who said I love you first? I'm not sure. He told me that every time he kissed me the song "I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of?" would run through his head. Does that count, even though he didn't say it flat out? I replied "Well, I know I love you." So I suppose it depends on your definition.

15. What is his favorite music? 80's Rock, I suppose. He also likes Mozart's operas, U2, the theme song to Rocky, and Con te Partiro.

16. What do you admire most about him? His devotion to his family and his sense of duty.

17. What is his favorite color? Red.

18. What's his favorite movie? He claims his top 5 are Casablanca, Life is Beautiful, Patton, Stand By Me, and The Mission. He also likes Reuben and Ed, and if you have seen it, I'm sorry.

19. What's his favorite song? Why is this question here after #15? He says he doesn't have a favourite song. Maybe Pet Shop Boys "Opportunities" except he says that he's got both the brains and the looks. Either that or "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy." ;)

20. On a scale from 1 to 10 how romantic is he? Hmm. In the old sense of the word, not at all. In the typical American sense of the word, um, a 4? He is not spontaneously romantic. But when it is time to be romantic (holidays, anniversaries, etc.) he always comes up with something way better than me. He always gives me a massage when I ask, and he likes to cuddle during movies, and those are both pretty romantic to me. Plus he often does the dishes, and that is VERY romantic. Just ask any housewife.

21. Are you glad you married him? Yeah. I guess I'll keep him.

Tag to anyone who wants to brag about their husband.

4X4

Jenn tagged me on her blog to post the fourth picture in the fourth file on my computer and explain it.



Personally, I don't think it needs much explanation. I just really love Jenny's bed head in the mornings, and frequently photograph it.

I tag Jaclyn, Emma, & Shelley.

For Your Fortune-Seeking or Just-Wasting-Time or Feeling-Nostalgic Pleasure . . .

I have put a magic 8 ball on my sidebar. Now whenever you visit my blog you can ask the mystical 8 ball for guidance and truth.

I loved the magic 8 ball as a kid. I never had one of my own, but I always got very excited when someone else had one and I could play for a while. It was always very good for ascertaining if a certain boy liked me or not.

Yes, it's a waste of time. Yes, it's cheesy. However, it is also fun. So enjoy! What is it that you want to know?