Inept, Inconsiderate and Just Plain Lame.

I probably shouldn't write this. I don't usually say things in the heat of the moment but rather silently brood and ignore to show my rage. Not very effective, or healthy emotionally, but it usually keeps me from saying things that I would need to apologize for later.

Frustration oozes from my fingertips as I type this. I have been bombarded with less than acceptable behavior lately. From family members to friends, evening of the arts performers to Russians...I have little faith in humankind today. No one seems to care about following through, giving their best or even showing common courtesy.

Evening of the Arts if falling apart. When I invited each person to perform, I was very clear about the caliber of the event and how important it was to follow through (i.e...practice and NOT cancel because you don't feel ready). I don't know all the ins-and-outs of everyone's personal life but I think it's fairly safe to say that out of sixteen people, five of them probably don't have a major crisei that prevents them from performing. Especially that they already know about 12 days before the event! Give me a break. And somehow, it just never occurred to most of them to let me know about it. I had to hunt them down, waste hours of time for absolutely no reason at all. Why can't there be a label on people to save the effort?. One label might say, "talented but flaky" or "talks big but can't deliver". The nice ones can proudly wear "returns messages" and "takes commitments seriously."

And where to begin with my house? Monday...this project was supposed to begin. When it didn't start until Wednesday I was understanding. Even encouraging and thankful. But then Thursday, they couldn't come until 4:00 and then said they could work for two hours. Fine...let's get as much done as possible. Oh, but you want to talk to me about your plans for an hour (BECAUSE IT TAKES THAT LONG WHEN NEITHER OF US SPEAK THE OTHER'S LANGUAGE!)? And you can't come Friday? Bummer. This is not going to be done when I'd hoped it would. But the promise of ALL day Saturday appeased me. Starting at 8:00 and working until finished. O.K. How can you fall behind on an 8:00 am appointment? Somehow, it's possible because when they weren't here by 11:00 and I called to find out, I was told that they were running several hours behind schedule. They were very busy after all.

Now they are busily at work. Plans have changed numerous times. The main guy actually had the impertinence to say he wished the laminate hadn't been cut (which THEY did on Wednesday) because the piece of wood he was going to use as the base didn't fit. The piece of wood was too narrow. It took an hour to decide how to remedy the situation. And he kept looking at me for approval. Like I know what he's doing. I'd get it explained to me and each time I think I said, "o.k...do that". But then he'd pause, look at the wood...be silent for forever...and then suggest something else. I finally slapped my hand down on the piano and said, "Just decide and do something. This has to get started!" to which Jay told me, "that doesn't help, Lucy."

So there it is. My frustration at the world. I can't stand anymore lameness today. I seriously just received an email, while typing this, from a ward bulletin specialist with a response to my email, two weeks ago, that she no longer does this. That's another thing that bugs. Callings change every minute and it's impossible to avoid starting from square one each time there is a stake event. Who is your choir director, your bulletin person, your music chair, your organist, your altos and tenors and basses and sopranos? It's always different. So, there will probably only be about 20 people at the blasted event because no one even knows about it.

I thought I might feel better but I still don't. Read it while you can because I might have to delete it when I regret my rant.