Rants, Vents and Grumps

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

OK, I was going to share the above quote and say "Thank you, Meryl Streep.  I just thought it was menopause."  However, that clever quip will not work, because, in looking for the quote online, I discovered a site that said the quote was NOT Meryl's, it was just attributed to her and went viral.  According to this site (seniorplanet.org), the actual author of that tidbit is  "Portuguese self-help author/life coach José Micard Teixeira" - but it sounds oh, so much more VALID coming from a more-than-mid-life, silver-haired Academy Award winner, doesn't it?!

Whatever. For some reason, it just seems to match perfectly with the reason I'm blogging today.  I'm tired. And I'm frustrated. And I'm disillusioned. Let's take the following:

1. Politics: How many more days until this year's elections?  If I hear one more ad for Amendment #68 (Pandora seems to think I have a special interest in this one), or any other number of political sound bites for amendments, ballot referendums or candidates, I'm going to turn off all electronic devices.  Here's my problem--I really DO want to be more informed.  I really DO want to learn enough to feel like I'll be making a definitive choice on my ballot--a choice consistent with what I feel is best for me, my loved ones and my country.  But HOW? The above quote is a prime example of my dilemma! How on EARTH do I know what "truths" are out there? So much of it is subjective, and whenever I think I have a clearer understanding of an issue, someone else comes along and tells me "How could you think that way? What about this?"  Maybe my problem is that I belong to the George McFly club; I'm just no good at confrontations.  And I'm sorry, but I feel like any political discussion these days is confrontational.  There is no way to bring up these topics without someone doing their best to convert you to their point of view.  I just want the facts, ma'am. So stop it.  I don't like it. Why can't we all just get along?

2. Technology: Oh, the love/hate relationship I have with my aforementioned electronic devices.  I LOVE being able to facetime with my children and grandchildren. I love that these babies KNOW their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins by sight and sound, no matter how far away they are.  That is, until it takes me 5 tries of hanging up and calling again, before it finally connects. Then the picture turns fuzzy and it says "Poor connection-video will be restored when connection resumes" or some such thing, and in the meantime I miss the punch line of whatever story someone is sharing with me.  Or that it takes me 3 dropped calls to continue a conversation when I'm in the car between Montrose and Grand Junction, because we happen to live in a part of the world that is 3D.  And wireless--sigh. At this point, I probably need a new router, and that could solve part of the spotty service I get in my own home...but geez. I have to practically sit next to the router to get the most uninterrupted service....what's the point??

3. Housework: I'm tired of it. I'm tired of feeling like I'm always behind on it. I want the vacuum to be robotic, the clothes to hang and fold themselves, and the bathrooms to sanitize automatically.  Is that so much to ask? This is a stage that I hadn't counted on--true, when there were 8 of us, plus a dog or two, there was more to do, but there were more people to do it. Now there are still the same amount of chores to do, (in slightly smaller amounts), but there's just Mikey and me to do them.  Bleh.

OK, those were the biggest whining topics. For now. Tomorrow I may feel differently about any or all of them.  Right now I highly doubt it. I will probably feel the same about them all, but perhaps I'll be busy doing something fun that will distract me for awhile. One can only hope.