See God In Everyone See God In Everyone SEE GOD IN EVERYONE, DAMMIT!

Oh dear. After my vitriolic post about Dorothy I'm afraid you will think that I don't want to hear you talk about your children. I do, I swear. Just don't boast while pretending to be modest, okay? Let's face it, poor Dorothy can't do anything to please me. There's a whole history there.

And why the hell am I so reactive anyway?

Speaking of reactive, or rather, speaking of being 50-going-on-13, Josh and I were out for a walk the other day. We were doing our over-hill-over-dale walk through the rich people's neighborhood. As we passed one house the huge Rottweiler that lives there came around front from the back yard and charged us while barking like a maniac. At first we thought there was an invisible fence and that he would stop at the property line but he didn't.

Now, you KNOW we have the Love of the Dogs and the Dog Smarts and all. I've seen this dog playing with kids before and I know he's not vicious, but I have a healthy respect--no, a healthy fear-- for an 80-lb dog defending its territory. So we stopped walking and didn't make eye contact with him and tried to look like people who should not get their throats ripped out. All the while I was mentally cursing the dog's owners for letting the dog out loose.

Just then a man came around the side of the house calling the dog and saying cheerily, "Sorry about that!"

Josh, who is really much nicer than me, said, "That's okay."

It was only about 10 seconds that the dog was unsupervised. That can happen, I guess.

And me? I glared and said, "You know, it's really scary to be charged by a big dog like that!"

The man said, "We have 4 little kids in the backyard and someone must have left the gate open."

And what did I say? I said, "WHATEVER." While scowling. Because I am uncomfortable with confrontation yet inwardly I seethe.

"Sorry!" said the man again, awkwardly. Josh tried to cover for me by waving cheerily as we passed by. It's like I'm turning into that Maxine lady on the cards.

And don't even let me get started on the lady I saw at Starbucks yesterday, reaming out an employee because her foam wasn't foamy enough. I AM NOT LYING. I had to restrain myself from confronting her.

Again with the seething.

On the flip side, I am oddly patient with my first-graders and I downright adore my family and friends so perhaps there is hope for me yet.

Off to work now. Got some scowling to do on the way there.

Comments

[Laura/DaPFG]

phew. the comments box freaked out on me for a second there and said only registered users could post and i felt suddenly left out. *wipes forehead* whew. glad THAT'S over.

but i want to join you in the "going on 13" party. at work, whenever i find myself being forced to say hi to a co-worker i pretty much can't stand, i also find myself sticking my tongue out behind their back. how's THAT for mature?? :P

glad the dog didn't eat ya'll. there's probably no wi-fi in a rotty's stomach.

[Pam L]

Hey, barking snarling charging dogs ARE scary and you were just reacting to all that. If too many people told him "it's OK" he might not be so vigilant and someone might get hurt, or he could lose his dog, or get a summons for having a vicious dog. One day Paul was walking home and a similar thing happened. He jumped into the back of a pickup truck that was parked outside the house and called me from his cell phone. I started walking over there with my cell phone and saw the stand-off. I was assessing how serious the barking dog was that had my baby stranded in a pickup truck bed. My neighbor seeing what happened got in her pickup truck (Hey-it's Colorado , it's the law to own one) and raced down the street to him and started honking her horn trying to get the owners to come out and get their dog, although why the barking alone wasn't a clue they should come out, I don't know. Finally the dog was distracted enough that Paul climbed out of the truck and once he crossed the street the dog gave up. It took more than 10 minutes for the stupid owners to come out of the house and get the dog, but then again, they don't speak English , so maybe they were afraid ...of something... The code enforcement people were called and asked if I wanted to file a complaint. I told them I would if it happened again, the dog was just patrolling his territory that time and did not bite. My neighbor said she was prepared to run over the dog to save my son if necessary. And yes, I'm sure I wouldn't have said "That's OK" if the owners had ever come out to talk to us.

[Belle]

I have the healthy fear of dogs, too, after my sis and I were charged at by some huge nasty Rottweiller or somesuch when walking home from grade school. My dad had been waiting for us and chased it with a 2x4 all the way back up the hill and let the owner have it. "Sorry" just doesn't cut it! And, somebody's dog getting loose for just a second or two is just one of the many excuses why I don't walk the neighborhood. I'm skeered and the dogs know it!

I threw my well-developed scowl at another driver in my work's parking lot once. Unbeknownst to me at the time, he was a co-worker and great guy. He gave me a pass on it 'cause I lied and said I wasn't making THAT face at him, but I felt terrible...I really only am a mean scowler at people I don't know!

And Maxine? I hear ya!

[Dusty]

I'm with you. I love love love animals, especially dogs, but back in the day, my mother's long-haired dachshund was killed by a rottweiler, so I would not have been happy in that situation.

[Lindy]

On several occasions, I've been so very tempted to call some rude woman/man out for being unbearably rude to servers.

I do always make curt remarks to people who try to drum up anti-staff conversation in long lines, though. You know the types, the ones who say things like "God, could this line BE ANY SLOWER? It's like that woman thinks we have all day. Aren't you so tired of incompetent people pouring coffee drip by drip?" And then expect you to join in at the top of your lungs. I say things like "oh, I'm not in a hurry. I'm sure they know there's a line."

It makes me feel all superior and stuff. Also, it makes me not feel like an asshole.

[Heidi]

Chill, dude.

[Belle]

P.S. Happy happy to Evangeline whenever the Big Day is! I was in Okinawa when I turned 21 and I still remember letting out a big WhooHoo when the parents' package arrived. (And thank god E is not in a disastrous marriage so far from home like I was.....but parole came eventually! :

[Wende]

Darlin', if you have to scowl, I would prefer you scowlin' at adults. I mean, first graders need a chance in this world. So, you've chosen the better part of valor.

This comment was brought to you by the letter "G".

[Maggie]

Screw that guilt over the dog issue - my dad has been bitten twice by dogs off leash (a Cocker Spaniel and a Lab of all things) when he was just walking around his neighborhood (with his cane damn it). We have a big dog, she's super friendly, she's also never in our front yard alone - we have a fenced back yard where she can run free, no fence in front. It's really not that hard to keep one's dog under control and in one's own yard. It's not rocket science, so I say your comments were not out of place and you should forget about feeling guilty for making them or feel bad for being irritated. Whew, got that rant off my chest I guess :-)

[Vanessa]

I'm with Maggie; you shouldn't feel guilty. It's not OKAY to frighten people who are just walking by your house. That man was behaving irresponsibly.

[Margaret]

I always get angry when I've been afraid. It's sort of a cover up emotion, I guess. And I would certainly be terrified of an unpredictable Rottweiler. They are not my favorite dog; I know it's not completely their fault, but they have a a bad rep. As for Starbucks, my most despised gym mom always requests her coffee with no foam and if they dare to give her one speck of it, she keeps taking it back. I went out with her once for coffee and THAT WAS IT!

[Liza Lee Miller]

I get angry when I'm scared too. And, I'd likely feel bad for lashing back with my formidable anger, too. Especially since it was a 10 second incident -- the guy was on top of it. However, that wouldn't have occurred to me until AFTER (long after) I'd gotten home, calmed down, and possibly had a drink. Sorry but a Rott is a scary critter when they are on the move. And, trust me that they typically weigh more than 80lbs.

[the bee]

I am glad you were not bitten. I know I am old because my 1st thought was "good gravy". Good gravy ???? Who says that ?
Apparently, I do. I am trying to cuss less because my 3 yr old niece is coming to stay for a bit. I do not want her cursing.
I find that age has left me intolerant of people in public who are mean to old people and kids. I voice my opinion loudly and embarass Matt a lot . I do not care. I am nice to the teens as well because I remember how hard that age is .
Happy Birthday E !!!! Enjoy the vodka !!!! er .. soda

[ceress]

Big charging dogs are scary and upsetting-

Hey! oof topic here- how come you haven't posted pictures of the new car yet?? Some of your materialist friends would like to see it!!

[raehan]

I volunteered at one of those no-kill shelters when I lived in Indiana. They got all the rejects - the ones likely to be put to sleep if put at the Humane Society. The Rottweillers scared me the most because they are so unpredictable. One morning I was cleaning out the pens in the morning and a large Rottweiller was out. I called him back in and he jumped up, put his paws on my shoulders and growled. And I was the ONLY HUMAN IN THE SHELTER.

One of those things you don't tell your mother about when calling home. They had another Rottweiller that they had to put to sleep because the vet refused to see him, he was so scary.

On the flip side, I kow Rottweillers are totally sweet and loyal and loving to their owners.

I loved the Pit Bull at the shelter. He was a great dog with a wicked sense of humor. I had no idea he was a Pit bull though. They used the fancy name - "Bull Terrior."

I get very annoyed with dog owners that don't put their dogs on leashes out in public, but I won't go there.