With our booming economy being as it is, you can probably calculate how many available decent jobs there are in a town like H'ville. Thus, I'm still unemployed. I've come up with some pretty colorful ideas for being able to pay my bills... most of which will end with my having free room and board at the local jail house (might be a step up from my current apt). Life and times are rough. But alas, I must remain positive. The holidays are just around the corner, and every retail store in America will be in need of extra help. I know it's not what I want or need, but it'll pay the bills until I find something better, right? That's all, of course, assuming I do, in fact, ever find something better. I think I need a hug... and a stiff drink. Here's to you soap fans...
The theme of this episode is ungratefulness. Just now I got into an argument with a friend of mine over implied gratefulness and politeness. There comes a point, in my opinion, when you've known someone long enough that certain things are simply implied. For example : I like to cook and some friends of mine live together, none of which know how to cook, so I buy groceries and cook dinner for them 3 times a week. They have never "asked" me to do so, it's just implied. I, in turn, love diet cherry coke, but the stores around here don't carry it so every weekend, when my friend goes home, he buys some and I get a few from him during the week. I don't "ask" for them, it's just implied (or so I thought). However, tonight, after the dinner I cooked specifically for him, he goes on a conniption about how he just bought them and I should have the decency to ask rather than (keep in mind I was in the shower at the time and couldn't just walk around) send his roommate to ask for one in my stead. I went in there when I got dressed and picked it up whilst he proceeded to lecture me on my manners. I just stood there with a blank look on my face and said "Okay, however you didn't 'ask' me for dinner tonight either, it's implied." he yelled a bit more saying that the two were completely unrelated. I once again said an indifferent "okay" then walked away. Somehow, I'm the bad guy in this and none of them will talk to me now. I suppose there are a few things to be learned from this. One, never assume that gratefulness is implied no matter how long or how well you know someone. Two, never assume manners are implied, no matter how long or how well you know someone. Three, don't expect people to be rational and/or smart while comparing two closely related situations to prove your point. They will simply refuse to see it that way. Keep in mind that in an argument every little detail is up for being butchered by false perspective by each of the arguers depending on how they choose to perceive it at the particular moment to prove that particular point. I guess he and I are both at fault in very different, and much the same ways. Now for the best part... seeing who will give in and apologize first. One might say, "be the better/bigger man and apologize first." That's all noble and everything, however not how society works. Unfortunately, society sees an apology as weakness or admission to defeat. Therefore, by apologizing, you are simply assuming the blame, and also, therefore, taking any blame away off them. No, if one must apologize, one must be extremely tactful and choose his/her words with great care and caution. Timing is everything. It must be executed at the precise perfect instant with poise and dignity. One must never leave the apology open to discussion, he/she must be exact, to the point, then know, without room for error, when to stop talking and walk away. The key to this is breaking eye contact, and this is critical to a well played apology, flawlessly at the very last lingering annunciation of the last letter of the last word or your closing statement, which if not worded perfectly can be the deal breaker of a happy friendship. This may sound cynical, but when you have argued with a friend, and you must apologize, if not impeccably done, then they will hold it over your head during every disagreement, and sometimes in jest, for the rest of your friendship. This is why most hold out until the other apologizes first. Leverage. So I say now, for those of you who have become all too comfortable in your daily implications of manners and gratefulness, go now to those whom you are most grateful and tell them. Ask politely for a change and surprise them with some small token of your unfaltering appreciation. Do so, and perhaps avoid a few "nothing" arguments and the pressure of a flawless apology that will inevitably follow. Until next time...
the next time i have to apologize to anyone, i'm coming back and getting a refresher course from this blog.
as far as your friend goes, if he doesn't want to share his diet cherry cokes, then you don't have to share your food. once he goes hungry, then maybe he'll come around...
Well good news nastizens! I got my new ride. It's nice except I'm a lot more afraid of it than I thought I would be. 650 cc's is a whole kitten caboodle of power and more to handle than originally assumed. Oh well, at least I have some sort or mode of transport. Don't worry though, as always with good news comes a whole slew of bad news. I got laid off of my job at the USSRC. I'm probably not as upset as I should be but I am quite upset that they knew almost the entire time I was employed that they would lay me off, but lied to me about it and told me they wanted to keep me so that I wouldn't have a chance to look for a new job. Way to screw me NASA. Thanks. So once again... as is par for the course I suppose, I'm looking for a new job. I'm fed up with this whole jumping from job to job thing, and I'm even more fed up of feeling like I've been thrown into a high school melodrama soap opera of some sort every time I get a new job. I'm an adult. I graduated high school 8 years ago. I'm was over it then, and I'm most certainly STILL over it now. Another of the major reasons I really need to move away from this town. If I could get just one decent job, that I don't hate myself for at the end of the day, and that pays well, and keep it for a year, just 1 whole year, I could probably save up enough money to move. When I move I'm gonna do it in a big way. Just pack up all my stuff and leave with out telling a soul til I'm already gone, with out telling anyone where I'm going. Just up and vanish. I can't wait for that day. My fresh start, my new beginning. I'm gonna go where no one has even ever heard of me. That'll be such a relief. Oh well, first things first. Get new job, pay bills, save money. Til next time... see you cyber-space cowbow!
i hate job-hunting, i do not envy you. both my brother-in-law and father recently were laid off so my BIL is joining the military and my dad is still searching. and i'm still at home recovering from surgery (-:
