The Long Dark Tea Time Of My Soul

Time for a Tea Break, what do you think?

The rain has been pouring off and on all week around here. I enjoy the calming effects of the rain, but I am kind of ready for some sunshine. So, it has a somewhat gloomy week. There have been quite a few thoughts floating around in my head as well, so I thought I would try to pin some of these down here if I can manage.

First of all, today's the anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's Death. Most of you who know me, know that Jimi Hendrix is a very favorite guitarist and writer of mine. I admire his music not only for the emotion he put into his songs, but for his ability to express things in color and words too.

It's just special to me, and I love everything about his music, not to mention the personal significance of it in my life (like for me and Mr. J, etc). I liked him so much of course, you should also know that my motorcycle is named after him. But anyway, nothing much else can be said about the man that hasn't already. He made a wonderful contribution to music that lives on and on. We could each only hope to leave such a tremendous legacy behind us. So, continue trying to R.I.P. Jimi, we know you are with us every day just as the rest of those we love who we've lost are only a thought away.

Since I am having to throw in my collective thoughts for the last couple of days, I am afraid that they won't be all that organized. But I will try.

As I was passing through the swimming pool area at our gym on the way to the Ladies' locker room, the clean, sharp Chlorine scent permeated my nostrils. It instantly took me back to another fistful of "good ol' days" when my sister Vickie was taking us to the "Y" I believe it was, for swimming lessons. I was too chickenshit to take the swimming lessons, but I enjoyed the experience nonetheless simply because I got to be around "The Kids" (which was the catch phrase used to refer to my neices). Anytime "The Kids" and I got to do something together, it was magical, or I thought so anyway. So the scent of the swimming pool really took me back to those good feelings, so long gone now as none of us seem to be able to spend time together anymore. Well they do, but not really with Me or Mom anymore.

Time... what're ya gonna do.

Before I forget, here are a few workplace annoyances:

For one, I can't stand when someone is waiting to talk to another person who happens to be on the phone, and they stop to talk to me in the meantime even though I am busy myself. I might not be on the phone, but I am in the middle of something, a thought that now broken will cause me to spend at least 15 minutes trying to "re-focus". I don't know, it's kinda irritating.

The environment we are in now is a very "open" one, nobody has any sealed off area, so any noise or loud conversations are pretty much audible and most likely distracting to everyone. However, nobody (Leads, Managers and the like) seems to be conscious or respectful to anyone else's need for concentration and quiet workspace. This is a "development" area, still they have to have all of their big conference calls loudly from next to someone regardless what work or discussion they are going through. Conference calls should be held behind closed doors in a quiet area where nobody else is disturbed. Not to mention that huge meetings should be held with the conference room door closed. Sometimes the buzz and the laughter is just overwhelming. What ever happened to Workplace Etiquette and respect for our fellow colleagues?

Also, I think that the cleaning crew is plotting against me because I have noticed things out of place before, and they always seem to put the cleaned garbage can way far away from where they KNOW I am obviously sitting--nobody sits on the other corner, so why do they move it a mile away from me despite where I keep it? Yes, I know it's minute frustration, still it is irritating too.

Any general "Snubness" or "Rudeness" I just find completely unacceptable... You do your work, I do mine (and I do it well), and you keep your personal opinions of me, my style, my ugly looks or whatever out of it. It's nobody's affair but mine and you don't know the real me, the one who struggles daily just to keep up.

That's really all I have to say about that, I generally try to refrain from blogging about professional stuff, but I just felt the need to get that off my chest.

The completely non-entertaining entertainment week in review. I'll make this as short as possible because I am over it. The whole VMA awards thing is over and done with, and I am surprised that the trending topics are still on Twitter about all these people. We've had things like the death of Patrick Swayze and other World Events that have gotten less attention than a racist, bratty rapper who can't deal with the fact that his music isn't the best ever, throwing his little fits. Seems like he is becoming more famous for this "Fit Throwing" than the quality of his music. I'm not saying he's not good, I like some of his stuff but I definitely see other artists whose music sends me way further than his. It's just fact and a matter of my opinion.

During my perusal of some of these songs and artists I started critiquing some, such as Jay Z, who I find pretty talented, but I don't like his voice tone that much. He has done work with various artists, one in particular named "Rihanna" has been quite popular. You may be a fan, or you may have heard of her recent issues with boyfriend Chris Brown who was reported to have domestically abused (basically beat her up). I was just listening to some tracks she sang on and I can only describe her voice as sounding like a "Honking Goose" to me... I just don't like the sound of it.

That Auto Tuner, what the hell is with everyone? I can understand using it for a little effect here and there, but it seems like these artists are relying on the Auto Tuner. Can't they sing? If they can't actually hit the notes, I don't think they should be there. Every song seems to be done with the Auto Tuner now... It is played in my opinion. On to the next trend please. Where is the individuality??

Now, Mariah Carey has done a remake of "I Wanna Know What Love Is" originally recorded by Foreigner. Wasn't the first one enough? I don't feel there was any need for someone to drag that song out of the music-mausoleum... indeed. (sigh)

Lastly, and I know my post is running way too long for anyone to really read and I totally understand if you skip out before you get to this point.

But I was just thinking about everyone and their kids. Most of you guys have had 1-3 or even 4 kids by now in your life, and that's great. I hope that you are very happy with your decision to have a family. Hopefully, you have become fantastic parents because I feel that it is rare these days to be a really good parent, it is increasingly hard to raise and deal with issues about kids and it is probably harder than ever to do the parent thing. My hat's off to you guys.

In doing this, however y'all have really made me feel old. Your kids are all almost grown or have already grown up and are making you guys grandparents already. This is just scary to me. Of course if you know me, you should know that I have chosen not to have any kids. So in a way, I have never quite grown up myself and it is very hard for me to comprehend the idea of being so responsible for others' lives (with the exception of my cat and dog).

Honestly, in my heart of hearts I do not regret my decision... I feel confident in the fact that I was not meant to have children this go-round. I believe things all happen for a reason and it's part of my path that I did not do the parental thing.

Still, I wonder if I will some day feel regret. Or if I haven't already felt this (and I have not) will I? What do you think?? Should I feel weird about it? Should I feel guilty for not having regretful feelings, or having a "defective biological clock" I guess you could say? Feel free to make a comment about that if you want. I don't mind.

The only thing I have left to complain about really is those damn Memphis Drivers. I've done that so many times, and am tired of the Road Rage Rant really. Yeah, that's a lot of R's. ha-ha.
I will say though that I am so sick of idiots jumping in front of me only to turn at like the next drive. Most cases they could've jumped behind me and I wouldn't have inconvenienced them at all. They are only cutting people off simply to be an asshole I think. Well I am trying to curb my Road Rage, but it is extremely hard when this stream of constant idiots is oozing all over the road with the intelligence of a head of cabbage. It is highly infuriating.

I rarely get to see vindication, such as someone treating them the same way they just treated me--once in a while, but not often. It is virtually unheard of that I might witness them being pulled over by the cops when they are driving so stupidly. Yeah, the cops only seem to materialize when I go 5 miles over the speed limit. What gives? I guess I should try to overlook everyone but it's just hard...

Alright then, well, my dark little teacup is about empty, so I will bid you all a pleasant (but gloomy) little rainy afternoon.