it's not okay.

I used to think I needed to marry a guy who had really high expectations for me because there is something inside me that is stubborn enough to never say "I can't."

Sometimes I thrive in those kinds of circumstances.
But recently, I've realized that, while high expectations help us grow, unrealistic expectations make us give up.

But there comes a point when lines are crossed and the expectations you hold for other people are more than anyone can live up to.
And when you mock them because they fail or because their priorities aren't the same as yours, because they are involved in more than just your life's work,

that's when it's too much.

When I'm getting fired up and all I want to say is:

You just DON'T treat people like that. Just because you are in a position of authority does not give you the right to act like a child.
To ignore people's efforts.
To interrupt them.

If you expect people to listen to you or trust you or ever want to be around you, you have to give them the respect their efforts as well as their successes.

I just have two more words for you: positive reinforcement

All I need to say is...

I don't really like getting verbally slapped in the face....twice.

Especially when I don't deserve it.

FREE PIZZA!!!!! {in a high-volume, hoarse, and utterly obnoxious tone}

The restaurant I work for has a concessions trailer at the local community college, which I run on weekdays during lunch. We sell a few different items, our biggest seller being pizza by the slice.

When I was setting up today, I noticed that the student body campaign had started (I didn't even know they had those for community colleges...). One of the campaign reps for a particular candidate came up to me and announced that his campaign would be handing out free pizza during lunch time, and that they had gotten the college's approval.

He was very nice about it, and I wasn't upset with him.* It was just really frustrating that the college didn't realize how that type of thing affects our already-incredibly-slow lunchtime business.

Now this is what really got me in the mood to vent:

Because of the "free pizza campaign," I had almost a full pizza still in the warmer, waiting to be sold. Hawaiian--ham and pineapple, to be exact.

At one point, this woman comes by and asks if we have a different kind or if I could put one in the oven.**

What I said: I apologized and told her that because of the free pizza campaign, I haven't been selling hardly any, and since we were about an hour from closing, it isn't likely that I could sell it. Basically, sorry but this is the pizza we have right now.

She looks at me. Rolls her eyes. And says,

"Oh My Freak, FINE. I won't buy from you anyway."

And stomps off like a two-year-old who was just told they can't have another cookie.

For a minute, I felt bad.

What I really wanted to say (after the alleged tantrum): I'm SORRY but it's not worth wasting an entire pizza for the one slice that you will buy. We already barely break even out here every single day. Also, you look like you should probably be getting a salad instead.

People just think the world was created to please them, and everyone around them should do the same.

newsflash: Sometimes you DON'T get your way. And sometimes the other person is right. It's okay to be upset, but you don't have to be so rude.

-LC




*The candidate he was supporting, the alleged shouter of "FREE PIZZA," (whom some would classify as a "shim"), was slightly more annoying.

**Normally, this is a perfectly justified request because we usually sell plenty of pizza.