Last week I got called on the carpet for, well, basically because I won't eat lunch with my co worker. She got pissed and went to management about that and my "attitude" and I got called on the carpet.
I laid it out for them as I see it and informed them that I will NOT be spending my unpaid lunch with anyone I don't want to. That means my self centered Co-worker. Every single conversation I ever had with her, that she butted in to between me and a friend I've know for years, went to management. I don't trust her worth crap anymore.
It's not anyone's place to be telling me who I can and can not spend MY time with. Not to mention who I HAVE to spend it with.
I also told them that I have more problems with the staff than the participants. THey wanted to know who - I refused to blow folks in. They don't like me - fine, they don't have to and I told them so. But they do know there's issues
On another note I got a few nasty comments on my decorations. Tough Noogies. I told them that they represent all the holidays celebrated by people in the agency and got told "that this is a Christian country and I needed to respect that." Riiight. Get over it already.
Today they gave me Christmas gifts. Even tho they KNOW I don't celebrate Christmas they decided to give me gifts. I am sorry, but this just feels like they are trying to force me into their celebrations while disrespecting other traditions. Sorry, no. I won't be party to this. Tolerance goes both ways - and I owe you no more than you are willing to extend to me. Keep the gifts and the maudlin cards to yourselves please.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Pearl Harbor Day.
Dec 7th, 2008 so many years from the "Day that will Live in Infamy" - 67 in fact.
And still we have not learned the lessons of the past. There's still hate, prejudice, ignorance and war. We're still willing to use guns and bombs to solve problems instead of out heads and hearts.
My Uncles and Great Uncles fought in Hitler's war. So few of the men and women from that war are left..and fewer people from other generations seem to remember what it was about, or the sacrifices that were made at home or by those fighting. It's sad to think that in just two generations we've forgotten the gifts we were given by these people and the price they had to pay for them.
Thank you all, for more than we ever can say.
And still we have not learned the lessons of the past. There's still hate, prejudice, ignorance and war. We're still willing to use guns and bombs to solve problems instead of out heads and hearts.
My Uncles and Great Uncles fought in Hitler's war. So few of the men and women from that war are left..and fewer people from other generations seem to remember what it was about, or the sacrifices that were made at home or by those fighting. It's sad to think that in just two generations we've forgotten the gifts we were given by these people and the price they had to pay for them.
Thank you all, for more than we ever can say.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Two Horrible Comemerations.
Today is the "anniversary" of two events that should never be forgotten.
The first is the Halifax Explosion of 1917 - On December 6th 1917 as the world was at war with itself, on a bright morning in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Two ships, the Imo and the Mont Blanc, were trying to pass through the "Narrows" - the entrance to the Harbour. In a massive miscommunication and a wrong "catch" of the current the two ships collided. This would be bad under normal circumstances, in wartime with one ship laden with explosives. The result was disaster.
At 9:05 am the Mont Blanc and exploded with the force of 3 kilotons of TNT. The largest man made explosion to that date. It was felt for better than 200 miles and 2,000 died. With thousands more injured and/or left homeless.
You can find out more at your local Library or Book store, or you can read a bit here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
The other is the Montreal Massacre December 6th, 1989. When a troubled, angry young man walked into a classroom at the Ecole Polytechnique, seperated the male students from the female students and the shot all the women, killing six. He claimed to be "fighting feminism" - he then went looking for other victims, shooting several more people, killing 5 of them. For a total of 14.
Sad events indeed. May we never forget. And more to the point may we find and learn the lessons of these events so they will never be repeated.
PS: Both instances are some how, in my mind connected with a lack of tolerance and the less tolerant we are of things the more likely to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The first is the Halifax Explosion of 1917 - On December 6th 1917 as the world was at war with itself, on a bright morning in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Two ships, the Imo and the Mont Blanc, were trying to pass through the "Narrows" - the entrance to the Harbour. In a massive miscommunication and a wrong "catch" of the current the two ships collided. This would be bad under normal circumstances, in wartime with one ship laden with explosives. The result was disaster.
At 9:05 am the Mont Blanc and exploded with the force of 3 kilotons of TNT. The largest man made explosion to that date. It was felt for better than 200 miles and 2,000 died. With thousands more injured and/or left homeless.
You can find out more at your local Library or Book store, or you can read a bit here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
The other is the Montreal Massacre December 6th, 1989. When a troubled, angry young man walked into a classroom at the Ecole Polytechnique, seperated the male students from the female students and the shot all the women, killing six. He claimed to be "fighting feminism" - he then went looking for other victims, shooting several more people, killing 5 of them. For a total of 14.
Sad events indeed. May we never forget. And more to the point may we find and learn the lessons of these events so they will never be repeated.
PS: Both instances are some how, in my mind connected with a lack of tolerance and the less tolerant we are of things the more likely to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tolerance goes both ways
When I interviewed at work they told me that "We're very into holidays here. Very into them." It's nearing Christmas and they are having a contest to dress up the work rooms for the holiday. And I decided the café as they call it needed some sprucing up too. Oh, we have a time worn Xmas tree. But I am doing other things. Like Chanukkah and Kwanza and Yule along with Christmas.
So today I am sitting at the table on my UNPAID lunch. Tracing dreidle stencils and talking to M and L. When P comes up and says in *That* tone of voice "What is that?"
Me: It's a dreidle
P: Is it *Jewish*
Me* Yes, its a Chanukkah toy
P: are those Jewish symbols
Me: they are Hebrew letters
P: But they are Jewish, right?
Me: yes, sort of, they are Hebrew letters
P: If they are *Jewish* you'd better get Judy's approval.
Me: Why we do Christmas, why not dreidles?
P: You'd better get Judy's approval before someone gets offended.
and she walks away.
next thing I know K is standing there asking what's going on. And I try to tell,but am too uncomprehending and outright stunned to be coherent. K gets the general gist and tells me it's ok, she's in charge of the café and she say's it's ok, so it's ok. And walks away.
And she comes back and I am working on white hebrew letters, and we get talking again and I ask if we really need to talk to Judy. She says no, it's a non issue and why would we make an issue about a non issue. and walks away again. I had to go back to my room and she went into her office. And came out yet again and talked to L.
L gave me the message that K had talked to my bosses boss, her best friend and also a K and told her what was going on. K told her that as of that conversation I had her approval and if anyone had an issue with it they could come to her.
I am still stunned that it had come up...they are tops, toys, a game for goodness sake! This is the kid of stuff that makes non Christians so hardline about Christmas celebrations these days. Tolerance goes both ways, folks.
Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Man, Indeed.
So today I am sitting at the table on my UNPAID lunch. Tracing dreidle stencils and talking to M and L. When P comes up and says in *That* tone of voice "What is that?"
Me: It's a dreidle
P: Is it *Jewish*
Me* Yes, its a Chanukkah toy
P: are those Jewish symbols
Me: they are Hebrew letters
P: But they are Jewish, right?
Me: yes, sort of, they are Hebrew letters
P: If they are *Jewish* you'd better get Judy's approval.
Me: Why we do Christmas, why not dreidles?
P: You'd better get Judy's approval before someone gets offended.
and she walks away.
next thing I know K is standing there asking what's going on. And I try to tell,but am too uncomprehending and outright stunned to be coherent. K gets the general gist and tells me it's ok, she's in charge of the café and she say's it's ok, so it's ok. And walks away.
And she comes back and I am working on white hebrew letters, and we get talking again and I ask if we really need to talk to Judy. She says no, it's a non issue and why would we make an issue about a non issue. and walks away again. I had to go back to my room and she went into her office. And came out yet again and talked to L.
L gave me the message that K had talked to my bosses boss, her best friend and also a K and told her what was going on. K told her that as of that conversation I had her approval and if anyone had an issue with it they could come to her.
I am still stunned that it had come up...they are tops, toys, a game for goodness sake! This is the kid of stuff that makes non Christians so hardline about Christmas celebrations these days. Tolerance goes both ways, folks.
Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Man, Indeed.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
How am I supposed to know what I don't know?
More music lesson ranting
Last week he was telling me how far I've come,how he so proud of me, and such - and this week he's telling me that I have hit a plateau and that I need to focus on what I don't know. Because "Do you how how much you don't know?"
Um, a few points here.
A) I am taking these damnable lessons because I want to learn what I don't know.
B) If I knew what I don't know I'd know it already.
C) I have been playing two years come the 20th of this month and you have been playing for about 40 - you damn well better know more than me. If not either I am a prodigy or there is something seriously wrong.
D) if you tell me that if you have me play it over and over and " your fingers now how to fix it" then I ain't as bad as you make me feel.
and
E)I ain't so stupid that I need baby books. "Kid Fiddle" and "I can read music" are aimed at very young kids...even more so than the books I like. Stop trying to treat me like I am 4 years old.
I don't even want to practice anymore, I've *always* loved practicing, even through Viki's worst, even when I was leaving in tears every week. I don't even want to see the thing any more.
How do I do I recapture my love of it...and more importantly How am I supposed to know what I don't know?
Sigh.
Last week he was telling me how far I've come,how he so proud of me, and such - and this week he's telling me that I have hit a plateau and that I need to focus on what I don't know. Because "Do you how how much you don't know?"
Um, a few points here.
A) I am taking these damnable lessons because I want to learn what I don't know.
B) If I knew what I don't know I'd know it already.
C) I have been playing two years come the 20th of this month and you have been playing for about 40 - you damn well better know more than me. If not either I am a prodigy or there is something seriously wrong.
D) if you tell me that if you have me play it over and over and " your fingers now how to fix it" then I ain't as bad as you make me feel.
and
E)I ain't so stupid that I need baby books. "Kid Fiddle" and "I can read music" are aimed at very young kids...even more so than the books I like. Stop trying to treat me like I am 4 years old.
I don't even want to practice anymore, I've *always* loved practicing, even through Viki's worst, even when I was leaving in tears every week. I don't even want to see the thing any more.
How do I do I recapture my love of it...and more importantly How am I supposed to know what I don't know?
Sigh.
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