Mean Girls

There are lots of mean girls, and most of them are older than 18, and should know how to behave better. I’ve really noticed this mean girl mentality in the scrapbooking world — and I don’t mean recently.

When I taught at an LSS ages ago, I was simply dumbfounded by the two-faced antics of some of the people who I encountered. Sugary sweet to someone one minute, then ripping them apart when they are out of sight. I’m sure the people who were oh so nice to me were being nasty behind my back. But I didn’t care what they thought: my opinion of myself was more important.

That’s not to say there aren’t mean boys. But I don’t know anything about that, being female. I’ll leave that for some guy to comment on.

A friend emailed me today to ask why women are so mean. Here’s what I wrote in response:
Insecurity. Those who are insecure are mean to others to prove they are superior/better than the others.

Those who are secure don’t give a rat’s ass about what other people think. We know we are fine just the way we are and aren’t threatened by others. Therefore, we don’t have to be mean.

At this point in my life, I have friends who just care that I am honest, a good listener, enjoy a good laugh, and will be there if they need me. And vice versa. Anyone else can go jump.

That’s the “crabbiness” of maturity. It’s a wonderful gift. Too bad not everyone will accept the gift.

So, instead of being a mean bitch, I’m just crabby in that I don’t put up with shit. I don’t associate with shit. I don’t give a shit. If you’re not going to be true and honest with me, I don’t want to deal with you. That’s it. I have no need for revenge or attempting to prove myself better.

That’s what I’m trying to teach my girls, because they will be hitting the Mean Girls early entry time very soon. My hope is they won’t be the mean girls. I know they will have some interaction with mean girls; I hope they know they are better than that and just walk away.

A Contest I’d Consider Entering

After all the scrapbooking contest drama* at the House of CK Media in the past three weeks, it is damn funny that I would see a reminder about another scrapbooking contest today.

But here’s a reminder announcement for Simple Scrapbooks’ “The Funnest Scrapbooker Ever (for 2007)” at Stacy Julian’s blog.

And I wouldn’t feel bad about submitting layouts that didn’t have product vomit** on them. I’m not a product vomit kind of gal. Simple Scrapbooks doesn’t seem like a product vomit magazine. At least not yet.

Truthfully, I’ve been thinking about entering this contest since they announced it. I just haven’t had time to act. Not that I think I would ever win. I just think I’d have fun completing the entry.

Sans vomit.




______________
*Drama Recap:
— Creating Keepsakes publishes their Hall of Fame winners book.
— Subsequently, two HOF winners are disqualified/resigned for not using their own photos.
— A third HOF admits not taking her own picture. DQ status not announced.
— There are questions about at least three other HOF winner’s “claims” of using their own photos.

**Product Vomit:
When a scrapper puts as much patterned paper, embellishments, doodles, flowers, glitter, and crap that the page can hold. Manufacturers love product vomit pages in magazines and contests.

Just in Time

NaBloPoMo has prompted me to finally get this blog look upgraded. NaBloPoMo is National Blog Posting Month — participants promise to write one blog post a day for the whole month of November. I thought I would try it out, and at this blog, instead of the family blog. I figure it would get boring talking about family stuff all the time.

I am taking this time to work on my creative side, the scrapper/stamper/photographer. I will do my best to post something cool I’ve created (paper crafts or photographs) or some comment on my creative hobbies.

But as it is way past my bedtime, I will say “goodnight” and “see you tomorrow”.

Quote – Vacation Day 11

“All work and no play makes you very dull, dear Scorpio. It’s time for a rest. No matter how busy you are, you owe it to yourself to take a break. Your body will thank you, and your mind will be sharper after you’ve given it some time off. If you don’t listen to your body’s signals, you’ll get sick, which will force you take time off, and it won’t be as pleasant as if you do so now, voluntarily.”

So THAT explains why I spent 5 hours watching TV today. BTW, I think my brain is rotting, even though most of the time the channel was on C-SPAN or PBS.

Failure

The last two days, I’ve had to fight an overwhelming sense of failure. The critic part of my brain is telling me “You are doing NOTHING with your vacation. You will have to return to work soon. It will be WASTED.”

Thank you, critic. Now go away.

Why am I so hard on myself? By my calculation (including weekends), I have 19 off in a row. Today was Day 10 — the halfway mark. I’ve done lots of things, but in some ways, none of the things I really wanted to do. It is amazing how much time it taken up by watching the kids, keeping the house clean, doing laundry, etc. I have had time to read and take a nap, but nothing excessive.

I should be glad I have been able to keep up with the housework, and that I do have about three hours of free time each day while I’m on vacation. I guess I just imagined that those 9 hours I spend every day at work would magically be all me time. That’s my failure — not looking at reality.

The last time I had an extended chunk of time off (when I wasn’t recovering from surgery) was when I brought Rachel home. I didn’t get much done then, either. I guess my expectations were too high — I thought that since the kids were older, it all would be easier.

I keep forgetting that the scale of the work increases at the same rate as the increase in the size of the kids/family.

Time to stop kicking myself, read a chapter in a book, then hit the hay. Tomorrow has to feel different.

Mocking Bird

I am working hard to finish grading — all grades are due by 11:59 pm tonight.

As I work, a chickadee is sitting outside my window, mocking me. “Chicka-Dee-Dee-Dee, don’t you wish you were me!”

Just what I need. A critic.

Now, back to correcting grammar…

Things I’ve Noticed – Vacation Day 4

I’ve noticed the following things:

  • No antacids for 48 hours. Even when I’ve consumed many spicy and caffeinated items since Friday. Usually, I’d be popping a Pepcid Complete every 6 hours. I haven’t needed one since Sunday.
  • The hot, stabbing pain between my shoulders is gone.
  • I can turn my head without my neck making crunching and grinding noises.
  • My patience and sense of calm centeredness has increased dramatically.

So, what could be causing this miraculous change? Could it be … I’m not at the day job?

One More Blather…

Yes, I should be unhooking computer equipment and going to bed, but the 12 year old that doesn’t want to go to bed part of me is in charge.

At school, I have a profile, and can place a picture of myself there. I haven’t done it, because I don’t have a decent picture of myself. So, I decided to let Matt Groening and Co. help me out.

Here’s a professional version of me:

I even have my favorite black dress on, and the pearl necklace and earrings I made from the strands of pearls I bought in Beijing in 2003.

Versus the plain old mama me:
I just look like I’m ready to hit the MOA with the kids, don’t I?

I think I like the professional version of me better. It still doesn’t do justice to my “extra fluffiness”, but I tried. I guess the Simpsons don’t do cheeks.

So, what do all of you think?