Three Part Tragedy: Part One - Vindication

I'm sorry I have not been posting regularly since the Super Bowl. I'm still nursing those wounds. Today I will (quickly) embark upon the first part of a three part tragedy. The first part is snarky, the second, sorrowful, and the final "super (bowl) sad."

Vindication (Or why I should always follow my instincts when I place someone on my do not patronize list)

Seriously... When I decide on a boycott I really just need to stick with it. We're taught in life to give second chances. To hell with second chances, I say.

The Scene: Starbucks on Old Auburn Ave. last week one morning before school.
The Characters: Me and the bonehead barista (we'll call him bb)
The Conversation: went approximately like this...

bb: Thank you for choosing Starbucks. How are you this morning?
me: Fine. May I have a large sweetened black iced tea.
bb: Ok, was that iced or hot?
me: See, when I said iced tea, I meant iced.
bb: Ok, and would you like that sweetened?
me: Again, when I said sweetened, that's what I meant.
bb: Would you like anything else?
me: Yes, a medium raspberry hot chocolate, extra hot.
bb: What size was that?
me: ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
bb: Oh, uh, someone is talking to me... Now was that a mocha or hot chocolate?
me: HOT. CHOCOLATE.
bb: Will that be all?
me: (Clenching teeth and wanting to kill someone). Yes, that will be all.

Clearly a "Stupid Person of the Day Award" is in order.

People, really... how hard can it be?

And in other Star-yucks news- my friend Maricel was at the one behind our store and gave me this report. Apparently the company has had so many complaints about the smell of the breakfast sandwiches that they are going to be discontinued. So if you didn't believe me the first time when I pointed out the gross odor- HA... vindication once again!

A final note- How much do you think I love the Dunkin' Donuts commercials that make fun of ordering sizes at Star-yucks. I love them SOOOOOOOO much... I do not speak Fritalian and I wish we had DnD here so I could avoid the Yucks altogether...

Super Bowl Slideshow

I still don't have the words to describe the Super Bowl experience. But don't they say a picture speaks a thousand words? Well then here's almost 200,000 words for you.

Super Bowl

By the way, just read on AOL that some nut-job drove to the SB with the intent of opening fire on innocent spectators. So, that's fun to know, huh? Glad he grew a conscience when he got in the parking lot...

Oh, and if you got my email earlier, these are the same pictures. No need to look twice. Unless you want to of course...

Why are people such friggin assholes?

As everyone knows, I am still recovering from the heartbreak of the past weekend (and no, the fact that the halftime show featured TOM Petty and the HEARTBREAKERS was not lost on me. Giants fans currently relate to their tune "Running Down a Dream," while we Pats fans are left with "Free Fallin'"). But I digress...

Today I walked into my classroom to see my deflated Pats balloon (ah, the symbolism) and my love note to the Pats on the board from Friday. Upon a second look, I noticed that someone had written "Congratulation's NY Giants," "To bad, so sad :-(," and "Losers" on my white board (and yes, the grammar mistakes were theirs, not mine). It just set me off. I went in to tell my friend Dawn and of course, ended up in tears. Now, before you roll your eyes, I know it's just a game. But it's really not to me and everyone who knows me knows that. Here's what you have to understand - someone had to have gone out of their way to be malicious. My classroom is located behind another teacher's room. No children were in my room all day. This was intentional- there's no question. And because of that, it's simply unnecessary. Why would someone do that? You would expect the kids to be a little rough on me, but they were awesome. A few smirked when they said, "sorry bout your team Ms. M." But at least they said sorry, right? Mostly everyone had hugs and was sad for me, no matter their thoughts about the game. My 7th grade is my first class in the morning and when they came in and saw what was written they just said, "that's just wrong." And that's it- it's just wrong. So after consulting Dawn and my other neighbor Sherry, I decided to write a note on the board in the teachers' room. I basically said that I was shocked that someone had such little regard for my feelings that that was how they would greet me after a dream come true weekend. I also pointed out that I realized it's just football, but that that is the thing I'm probably most passionate about in the world (sad maybe, but true). Not to be too overdramatic, but it feels like a friend has died- only that friend is the perfect season! The motto of our school is "to nurture Christ-like behavior in one another." So at the end I pointed out - so much for Christ-like behavior. Anyway, I left the note on the board and people at school had 2 reactions- some basically said to get over it and not let it bother me (um really, don't you know how stubborn I am? I forgive, but NEVER forget). Others knew that I am always one to speak my mind and that I'd get it off my chest and that they were not going to change my mind and I was just going to have to cool off when it was my time. Anywho- after helping one of the kids after school I went to meet up with his sister and his mom. The sister had been working after school with another teacher. That teacher said to me- did you see the response to your note? She walked with me to the teachers' room. The response to my note, "life's tough, get a helmet." Um, are you KIDDING ME? People, these are the kinds of people I work with. Seriously, why are people such assholes? The worst part- I have my suspicions about who it was that wrote that last part at least and I kind of want to punch him in the face (see the first "Self-absorbed person of the day" award winner.

A Dark, Dark Day

There just really are no words...

The Mother Ship

This is it kids- the mother ship is calling to me. I was telling Lisa about the stadium earlier, so I thought as my farewell I would show you this ridiculous looking stadium. Anyway- cheer loud and proud and cross your fingers for the Pats.

Beam me up Tommy... I'm coming for you!

Almost there!

Well friends... it's almost here. I leave early tomorrow for what will hopefully be the most amazing weekend of the first 29 1/2 years of my life. The reporters seem to be picking the Pats a lot, so that's good. As I told Pete earlier, if anyone notices an ambulance pull someone from the crowd on a gurney, it's probably me finally having the stroke I have been anticipating for the entire 2nd half of the season. In other words, fingers crossed for a blowout! Check back late Monday for my Super Super Bowl Post!!! I will try to keep a notebook and come up with as many snarktastic comments about the whole thing as possible. But let's be honest, I may be a little overwhelmed by the sheer awesomeness of it all!!!!!!

In other news, today is Teacher Appreciation Day not only at school, but also at the Kings game. I didn't quite feel appreciated at school- except of course when the 6th grade didn't show up, giving me a little (well-deserved) break. We always have a big luncheon at school for TAD. Well, let me just tell you that my tablemates were a riot today. They were basically trying to whore me out for the Super Bowl. They do not approve of my wearing my jersey to the game. They want me to find a rich stud to be my new guy. Well, in all honestly, someone who has Super Bowl connections may not be a bad idea for a date, huh? I just can't do it. I'm not really the whore type. I'm so much more the girl next door type. And what would the girl next door wear to the Super Bowl? Patriots gear obviously!

Anyway, tonight I shall try to begin crush stalking at the Kings game. The guy I have referred to for the past 2 seasons as "favorite guy" finally has a name - Chris. He was on the big screen talking before the last game and I think I might be in love. So now, my village, we need to come up with a way to meet and greet my "favorite guy." Suggestions?