The Coal Collective

Not to intentionally be a downer (because, at this time of year, of ALL times of year, who wants that?!) but I just thought I'd share a few things that are on my "you seriously deserve a lump of coal...how do I ensure that this happens?" list. Feel free to add any of your own gripes to the comment section. Sometimes you just have to vent a lil' bit; we'll call it purging the negative to make room for the positive.

- Wet bus trips, you deserve some major coal. I accompanied a group of high schoolers to NYC on a class trip this week after checking the weather report, which said the rain should stop by 2pm. Major lack of "prepare for anything" on my part. Ended up soaking wet and cold (it rained the entire time), and most involved were miserable by the end of it. Christmastime in NYC is magical, but this year, I'm just glad that this trip's over.

- Rude salespeople. Granted, rude shoppers are way worse than rude salespeople, but let me divert the conversation and clarify for a moment. During our soggy shlep through the streets of NYC, we stopped to see the infamous Rockefeller Christmas tree. While there, we have a tradition of stopping at a tres expensive, tres delicious chocolatier (which shall remain nameless). Upon entering, I was fully planning on getting some orange cream chocolates for the love of my life. After browsing for about 10 seconds (yes, dripping wet and enjoying the first roof I'd had in two hours), a worker whom I remember purchasing items from in previous years shouted out to the crowded shoppe that this was a place to purchase, not "hang out" and to leave if we were only there to warm up. Wicked snooty. I loudly voiced that I had been planning on making a purchase, but didn't feel in a jolly mood to do so any longer. Sometimes ya just gotta speak up...most of the time I don't.

- Unexpected illnesses. These can hit anyone - you, your loved ones, your friends, your colleagues - but when they throw a scary bump in the road, they can be terrifying and always unwelcome. On the bright side, they definitely make you count your blessings.

- The cat that insists on dumping a very large, very full bowl of water all over the kitchen floor. Subsequently, due to the consistency of said cat, parts of our awesome B and W floor have yellowed. 'Nuff said. (WINSTON!!!!!)

- Faceless Facebook rudies. While I DO do my best to stay away from this toxic place, I have found myself stumbling upon some of the offensive, bigoted, close-minded comments on FB lately. I suppose it's my own fault. Coal to me - time to back away from the FB madness again!

- Similarly rude local yocals. I'm all for the general working class that helps our local society run - heck, I consider myself one of them (along with, oh, say, all of my relatives who have ever lived and worked in the Mohawk Valley). But, the ignorance that they spout when some major issues arise (such as a possible huge merger of 4 school districts), without educating themselves of all the facts, or the same ignorantly rude phone calls that my husband hears day in and day out...the general lack of class and human compassion is enough to shoot smoke from my ears, pack up the family, and head out. Unfortunately, there is no utopian area where everyone is at least open-minded (we don't want a homogenous place with absolutely no diversity or free thought; quite the opposite). We have often spoken about boarding a way-back machine, if the opportunity were ever to arise. *sigh* Let's just say that these are the people who are first to make complaints about our area (never do they offer a solution or to help), only to drive folks like us away who'd LIKE to help the area move in a good direction.

So, yeah. Those mainly uncontrollable pet peeves that can ruin an otherwise happy existence. Speaking of which, I suppose I should leave you with some "yay! I'm happy because..." moments...'cuz it is the "most wonderful time of the year", after all, and I can't be half empty without being half full.

- Our health. Sure, we creak and have strange aches and issues that we're trying to attack with eating right and all that fun stuff...but, for the most part, we're healthy. No terminal illnesses here. Whew...we're luckier than many. Far too many.

- We have a house. It's crooked. There are a plethora of other issues with it. But, it's ours, our payments are incredibly reasonable, and it's a great place to "start out". I'm reminded from time to time of how lucky I am to HAVE this house, mostly by dear friends who only wish they could afford such a luxury.

- The love in our lives. We have support - as a loving married couple, from our dear friends and family, from a few strange cats (who show their love in very weird ways). It's all good.

- The miracles of life that happen everyday. I received a new niece this year, and any time you look at a baby, you know that it's an amazing gift. This little animatronic creature, with little to zero knowledge in its head, none of the aforementioned rudeness or will to be naughty, EXISTS. Neat!

- Jobs. We're working. We're paying our bills. Our minds wander to other places to keep us sane, but for now, we're able to live life, put food on the table, and make a Christmas for ourselves...and isn't that enough?

There are probably a million more, but don't forget - if you'd like to vent, feel free to comment below. :-) Here's to karma and Santa putting some coal in the stockings of the annoyances of life...and here's to a little cheer to those who try to make life something wonderful and good!