Bring Back the Boy Bands

Probably one of the catchiest songs I know. Done by the European boy band called Ozone (whom I'm sure also wrote the music and lyrics). Hearing this makes me miss the boyband days of old.

4 Reasons why I hope the boybands make a comeback:
1. They're fun to make fun of. They're a good conversation starter if you're in the mood to mock people.
2. Singing them karaoke is always a hit. It always gets a good laugh and everyone deep down loves the song(s).
3. American Idol's monopoly on preteen female fandom must be challenged.
4. "I Want it That Way"

Operation Give me my truck back

A guy stole a Penske Truck. I am ticked. He originally rented it from me so I took it personal. I bent over backwards helping this guy when he first needed the truck. So I find out where he lives, go to his house located in crackville just to see if truck 469522 was there. No dice. I try again a few days later. I find the truck. I consider using my spare truck key and jumping in the truck and stealing it back right then and there. But I realized when he eventually comes out and sees my Honda instead of his truck, he might key it, bash my windows, break in and steal my Bible, who knows. So I call the cops. Apparently this guy's wanted for other mischievous deeds. Twenty five minutes later he is in handcuffs.

In other words, I currently love my job.

(What part of me wanted to say were we able to engage in friendly conversation: "Hey man, if I were to negatively stereotype the next time an uneducated, no credit card black guy with a disconnected number tries to rent a truck from me, would you consider me being wise or being racist?")

Thoughts on being annoying

Annoying people... or normal people who do unintentional annoying things......we all know a few of them. How many of them do you think are aware of the extent of their own annoying habit, tendency, or state of being?? My guess is less than 5%. This is a tragedy.

Let's take Kevin for instance. Kevin would go visit friends in their respective college dorm rooms. He would always overstay his welcome. He's the guy who says "Oh you need to study? That's fine, I'll just watch TV in your room." He just doesn't get it, and as a consequence, his friends talk bad about him behind his back. They avoid him more than invite him. He's losing more friends than gaining them.
Why it's a tragedy: I bet Kevin would and could easily stop if he somehow knew he did this. He's losing friends because no one is thoughtfully bold enough to let him know.

Let's also take Neal. Neal has a habit of cleaning out his ears while talking to people. Then placing the earwax in a close by napkin/tissue/denim jeans. For some reason, it hasn't occurred to him that other people can see him. People are grossed out a tad. He wonders why he can't get dates.
Why it's a tragedy: If he knew people were grossed out, he would and could stop. He's losing stock with the ladies b/c no one is thoughtfully bold enough to let him know.


From what I've seen, we deal with Kevin and Neal usually one of several ways: (listed by percentage of people who use them)

91%
1) Ignore them or avoid them and hope they go away or stop doing what they're doing. Then go complain about them to others.
(My assessmentation: this is the worst response b/c the cruelest thing to do would be to let the annoying person suffer many more years of rejection instead of sacrificing a few minutes of awkwardness to make them aware.)

7%
2) Tease them about it; comes off as "I notice this, but I'm not too bothered by it"
(My assessment.: this response is less hurtful because it communicates that it's not that serious, but runs the risk of them not really fathoming their quirk since it is made light of (Personally, I prefer to use this response, and prefer this response used on me.))

3%
3)Point out their annoyingness or their annoying quirk in a complaining way.
(My assess.: inconsiderate, insensitive, and probably harmful in the short run, but at least possibly helpful in the long term)

1%
4) Gently point it out, knowing that it hurts to hear it, but it needs to be said for their sake.
(My ass.: still hurtful, but the message is more clear, and it shows you care about them enough to risk uncomfortableness)

(yes that totals 102%. blame inflation)

If I had some traits that were incredibly annoying to most, I'd want to know about it regardless of how much it'd 'hurt my feelings'. I can't change if I don't know it exists. I'm blind to it unless someone tells me or makes fun of me for it. Since I live in the south, no one will make fun of me for it, so I need someone to tell me. If Kevin and Neal are blind to their own annoyingness, how do I know I'm not blind to my self and in the same boat with them??

Remember 'Would You Rather'?

I own the calendar, the board game, and know his cousin Dan Rather (i get lamer as Penske sucks my life away). But honestly all pale ale in comparison to just good ol' off the top of your head with a bunch of high school guys who are all trying to impress a girl type of game. The first one I ever heard:

Would you rather have a dog's butt for a hand (fyi, they seldom wipe)...

or

not be able to tell the difference between a baby and a biscuit?

My answer: the latter, because you could always ask a trustworthy someone else who doesn't have this disease which of the two you currently have smothered in jelly, and then respond accordingly.

Guys: Curtis, how can we pray for you?

Curtis: Really, the only thing that comes to mind is my girlfriend. She is trying to get in to Atlanta Art Institute. She needs a ton of help financially and that's IF she can even get accepted. So if you guys could pray for that, that'd be awesome.

Jon: (responding) My wife just got a job working in the Admissions department for the Atlanta Art Institute. Her job is mainly to decide who gets financial aid.

Guys: (laughter as we realize we are on holy ground)