working on the calm

Gosh, what a week! It's been one of the more trying weeks I can remember. I don't know what it is lately, but I feel like I am some ones voodoo doll. Yikes, I don't think I have ever been so happy to reach the weekend. Seriously, I felt like driving home from work whilst blaring the 'Rocky' song, fist pumping the air like 'yes! I survived the worst week ever!' I have a suspicion that most of the folks sharing my commute would look over at me and nod knowingly like, yeah girl, we totally hear ya. Anyway - it's the weekend and I refuse to give my office bully a second more of my head space this weekend. Bitter bully - be gone with you!

On a happier note, I went to the outdoor cinema with some friends tonight to see Gulliver's Travels, which, as a film, was not great. But I am always a fan of the outdoor cinema, and it was an awesome evening. Thanks, friends! Perhaps if the weather is clear tomorrow, I can convince The Husband to head over there again to watch the Brazilian film that's playing. Shouldn't be too hard of a sell, considering he won't even have to read the subtitles.

Today is my little sister V's birthday. I can't believe she's nearly 30! I remember when she was just a little bratty kid. And she was bratty, let me tell you. But she has grown up to be such a wonderful young woman, and an amazing mom. I wish I could see her more often.

Anyway, this post has become rambling, and I really only sat down for a few minutes while the washing machine was finishing. I meant to write about my efforts to remain calm this week, and how listening to Celine Dion in the car on the way to work was oddly not helping... and then I found the photo (above) and my thoughts drifted to what Celine would sound like accompanied by a kazoo and I realised that would be just about right.

Have a good weekend, ya'll!

sweet and sour

I don't usually use this blog as a forum for venting. Because I tend to try and take things with a grain of salt, I rarely make sweeping generalisations, if I can help it. But lately I have been really struggling, and I feel like I need an opportunity to say a few things.

Lately I feel like I am dealing with far more sour than sweet. It seems that I have a number of people in my life lately who are unbelievably negative. So much so that I struggle to even be around them. I not only don't understand why they are this way - I don't understand what the point is. What is the overall goal of being such a whinging, bitter, sourpuss? Does that attitude get you somewhere? Does it have any positive results? I hardly think so.

I am running out of coping mechanisms. I feel like the bad guys are winning. They are making me angry, and frustrated. Their complaining and nitpicking is really getting me down. I have polled my friends - how do you deal with negative people? Most of the responses indicate that I should ignore them. Put in my earphones. Walk away. But what do you do when you cannot escape them? When they are people you see often, have to work with, or are related to? What then?

I don't usually shy away from conflict. I know how to stand up for what I think is right. But I stink at sticking up for myself. I'll sooner sneak a cry in the ladies room than fight back at the bully in the office. And yet - is that really the right thing to do? Doesn't the bully win that way? But what are the options? Stoop to their level? Return their comments in kind? That thought doesn't make me feel any better.

So - I am at am impasse. I can't keep feeling like this. And yeah, I know - no one can make you feel inferior without your consent - and all that jazz. But the truth is, it's not as easy as that. I am exhausted and I don't know what to do next. Mean people suck, and that is just the plain truth.

rodeo

Just like last year, we spent the Saturday after Australia Day at the Taralga Rodeo. This year, my friend Cristin came along to keep me company while The Husband was off doing his paparazzi thing. We found ourselves a comfy place under a tree and spent the day people watching. And what a bunch of characters to see! It was crazy dusty, but much cooler than last year, thankfully. Have to say though, it's a bit scary that I know all of the words to that many country songs!