Patience 'N Happiness

One of my biggest trials, ok scratch that. I have many "biggest" trials. But one that I am making a conscious effort to turn around is patience and finding happiness with what I have. Well I guess that's two, but who really cares. They kind of go hand in hand.

I've always had a difficult time with patience. Just ask my mother. She's always reminding me to have patience. She's been reminding me since the day I was born. On a daily basis. (I obviously have a patient mother. If I had a kid like me I'd be shooting myself).

I know I've already used this picture, but it's the best one I've got with my mom so I guess it's picture time with Mommy!

I don't really know what my problem is. I just get really excited for things. Even stupid little things like getting my hair done in under 5 minutes so I can move to the next thing. Which, in that case isn't really a big deal. But I have no patience when it comes to the big things in life either. I'm always "wishing my life away." If I'm at school I can't wait for the semester to be over. If I'm home I can't wait to be back at school. And at the same time I wish I was graduated and didn't have to be at school and could just do the rest of my life. Next thing you know I could be 62 and wishing for my death bed. Basically, I have a problem. I keep telling myself that I will be happy when this happens or when that happens. Whatever this or that may be. But believe it or not, it's not true. When it happens I'm still not happy. I'm just wishing for the next thing to happen so I can wish for the next one and the next one. Well, ok, I won't be completely unhappy when they happen. I mean, I'm always happy when my birthday comes around and I wish for that 364 days of the year except on leap year when I'm wishing 365 days.

I am all for instant gratification. The problem: nobody learns anything from instant gratification. Which is probably why I have to work so hard to get myself through school. I wouldn't learn anything if my education was handed to me. (When it comes to school, my patience is awful. If I were to sit down and just do it instead of impatiently dreading it, I could get my homework done in no time at all. But instead I sit around wishing death upon myself and take forever to do it).

This non-vacation I am taking for school, I am trying to use to my advantage. At the end of these 9 months we will see how I did. I am trying to teach myself patience. And I am reminding myself that I am happy with what I have right now. Which makes me sound like a Pollyanna, but really, how else is one to endure this suffering? Just think, if I wasn't home for the time that I'm home there are so many things I wouldn't get to do. Like play in the mud with my siblings. Or explore the great outdoors. Or get to know my new sister-in-law. Or even get the great opportunity to work at Pilot Travel Centers. (GAG ME). There is so much that I would miss out on if I had gone somewhere else. And while I am in the act of doing these things I am happy. And my family loves it when I'm home. Especially my nieces and nephews that say I "have to stay here. Never leave!"

Check them pearly whites!

Someday all my dreams will come true, and when they do, it will be great. But for now, I just need to have patience and appreciate what I have now.

The United States Government is a Cheerleading Squad

If someone compared me to a cheerleader, I think I would consider suicide, too.

No, really. It is. At approximately 4:16 this morning I was leaning against the counter at work, as usual, with not much to do as I had already finished my assigned tasks. I was coloring on the back of a receipt and read the words on it for the first time. (You would think after working there for two months you would know what it says on the back of those papers, but allow me to continue). Not only does it have a picture of a steaming cup of coffee surrounded by the words Freshness Guaranteed Day and Night (side story, some guy came in and told me that the coffee in his cup was too cold. I so very badly wanted to ask him why the hell I had burn marks all over my hands and arms from cleaning the damn coffee makers, but I was a good soul and only said "I will take care of it." Next time though...!) it also says "One of our goals is to recycle six million tons of cardboard annually."

Allow me to repeat that. "One of our goals is to recycle six million tons of cardboard annually."

I stopped coloring for a minute. I looked down into the trashcan beside me. It was a slow night, but already maintenance had thrown away a bag full of just receipts. Ok, there was a couple empty cartons of Marlboro Reds in there and maybe some Camel Filters or Pall Mall Light 100's. But thats it. A bag big enough to hold at least 3 of me was filled with receipts and taken to the dumpster already that night and the current bag was almost half full. Once again this was a slow night. I couldn't help but think to myself, "Wow. Pilot is really going out of their way to save the earth by recycling all that cardboard. I wish I could be as thoughtful as them." And my thoughts continued. If Pilot really gave a crap about the earth wouldn't they stop printing all those receipts that customers don't want. In the long run it would save the company money as well just because they wouldn't have to buy so much freakin' receipt paper printed with their pretty coffee logo and useless recycling goals. Or, if they must print all those receipts and want to look good to the general public (who, by the way, I'm convinced 99.99999% of don't ever see the back of the receipt) they can always RECYCLE THE FREAKIN' RECEIPTS!!!!  Ok, enough freakin'. I could go on about all the ways they could supposedly "help the environment." But I won't because I think that even though environmentalist may have good hearts in their attempts to save the earth, I really don't agree with 99.999% of things they say and do for one reason or another. That discussion is for another time and possibly place.

I know this is photoshopped, but I liked his/her smile.

So, as I was staring down into the depths of that tree filled trash can, my thoughts strayed from Pilot's environmental efforts, to those of the United States government. And then it moved to how pathetic the U.S. government really is. I remember back when I was a freshman in high school, or maybe a junior, I just remember sitting in Mr. Beck's class. Anyway, it was back when they found oil up in Alaska and wanted to start drilling there but the oh so caring environmentalists absolutely forbade it! Think of those poor moose trying to migrate, we will throw them off their course and they will soon become extinct in that part of the world! May we all be condemned for wanting to drill oil on our own land as opposed to importing it from the middle east, all over a few animals! (I could rant about this for hours, but I have a point to get to).

This really has no point other than for my amusement. I can't help but wonder what those environmentalist think when they see this. Dead Moose. Evil Car. Bad Oil!

Obviously, my personal opinion on the matter: drill. But the United States government, they just don't get good ideas and act on them. No, they have to hear everybody's side of the story. They have to know every little reason why they should or should not do something. Which don't get me wrong, that's not bad. At least, until you've spent billions of tax payers dollars to hear from "experts" that have no real life experience, just book knowledge. Or when you've wasted 20 years trying to come up with a solution and now instead of you paying for all the new problems created by waiting, your children have to take care of it. Ok, that probably didn't make much sense. Basically, I don't agree with sitting around talking about something important. I think you should take action. (Another rant I could go on, but moving on).

Which brings me to my point. Finally. It was at precisely 4:36 am that I came to the realization that the United States government is a cheerleading squad. Listen to my reasoning. Or rather, read it:

1) Cheerleaders are very in touch with their feminine side. Meaning they over think EVERYTHING! They have to analyze every little, itty bitty, teeny weeny piece of everything. Just like the government! The government can't make a decision until they have thought and stressed and worried and cried about it all for long periods of time. Just like a sissy cheerleader and whatever her problems may be. (Just a side note, the difference here is the government actually tends to have important issues to make decisions on, unlike our butt shaking friends).

Would you believe I spent forever looking for a decent picture for this? I wasn't about to put some cheerleaders vacationing in Hawaii in lingerie on my blog. Heavens no!

2) Over dramatizing. This technically could fall under over thinking, but thinking isn't really dramatizing. Thinking is what goes on in the brain. Dramatizing is the thoughts put into action. The government makes a big deal out of little things. It's all for attention. All for political parties, money, you name it. I don't understand the need to prolong crap, but I guess some people do. I don't think I need to explain cheerleaders over dramatizing. I find that pretty self explanatory.

3) They get acted on but they never get any action. Yes. I said. Cheerleaders are the action. They are the ones who get used. They are... the whores. People use our government. Other governments use our governments. Our own politicians use our government. Our government is one big whore. Never get any action you ask? Well, cheerleaders may get a lot but 5 years down the road, who wants somebody like that. She's a thing of the past. Much like America will be in a few years.Well, I guess I can't say our government doesn't get action. I should be proper and say that the government as a whole doesn't get any action. But the individuals that get voted in...

Side note. Did you know Harry Reid is trying to shut down Brothels? Yeah. Nevada's oldest business. I obviously am not a frequent brothel goer, but really?

Don't get me wrong. I am grateful to live in America. It beats bowing to a dictator or being faceless wife number 357. But nothing is perfect. So I am voicing my imperfect thoughts toward an imperfect government. And also, I'm not trying to sound like one of those oh so wonderfully clever bumper stickers that people stick to their car in an attempt to sound funny and smart all at once but really sound like retards.

See what I mean. These aren't even 1/100 of the bumper stickers out there, but if I had one of these on my car's butt, I would have no choice but to allow you to call me an idiot. Who thinks of this crap and thinks they are clever? They sound more like they forgot to pass second grade.

(All images found using google images.)