Furious!

Wow, it was just one of those days where you wake up and you say "yaawwwn... things are going to suck." Problem is that the only reason things are going to suck is simply because everything is going to infuriate you no matter the problem.

I knew it would be crappy because Caitlin MADE me go change the oil in the car at a place 8.1 miles away because there were "eight positive reviews online." I fought, pouted, and whined all hours previous scheduling of appointment until after the completion of the job. Good news was that everything went fine. I didn't get lost looking for it, the job was done cheaply and hassle free, and I even went on a 45 minute adventure to find the lost market of Ink Well, which had relocated and google was not up to date on the location of their store. After wandering and questioning many passerby's I discovered its whereabouts, with only seconds to spare to beat the oil changing process.

Though everything was going well my mind still kept saying "things sure do suck today don't they Danny?" No. But I felt they did.

Sam Gaumont, one of the family members I have been helping move recently, asked if I would be able to do a few simple errands. Unfortunately they required my least favorite kind of adventure. Adventure by vehicle in a crowded easily to get lost in city. My task was to recycle styrofoam and follow it up with a little paint recycling. Easy enough. Well here in the great city of Portland nothing is as easy as it seems. The Styrofoam drug me out to the outer eastern ring where I have never been with or without a Honda Odyssey. Happy day points to driving a minivan again. Upon arrival I learn some of my cargo does not meet the quality of Styrofoam that is required at such a high class establishment. Sam's going to be angry, because the extra garbage around the house has caused a great deal of distress while attempting to straighten things out to move. Oh well, on to the next destination.

The Metro Recycling deal (I don't remember what it was called nor can I find it online because I want to give it horribly unhappy reviews for making me, so so mad.) was located on the Northern side of Portland where again I have never been in a Honda Odyssey. I enter and see a sign I believe to say $28 dollars per ton of garbage, followed by me and my vehicle weighing in at a dainty 4660 pounds. 'Oh, they charge me the weight difference upon leaving' I conclude. So I unload my paint, pull over to the mountain of garbage and fill it with my two 1 pound bags of stuff and proceed to be weighed again. Anticipating the $5 for hazardous waste I pull out a five. The weight man/ cashier mumbles "blah petub blurgh spittle blub $33." Usually I don't show too much emotion in my speech, but there is something deeply ingrained in my being about spending money that I did not expect that really irks me. "WHAT!?!" "$33" and straining very hard to understand what he said I made out "five for the paint and twenty eight for the garbage" Turns out no matter how much you toss in the price is $28 for the first ton of garbage. I offered to retrieve my garbage, but policy says for my safety I may not return and get what I have already deposited for my well being. After a few comments back and forth about the outrageous price for my stuff. I froze. My eye twitching as I stared at the $15 Sam gave me to take away the stuff, the five dollars I had in my own wallet, and then to my debit card. I died a little as I realize I have no power in this world. The value of all the work you do really turns to nothing when I pay for 2 bags of garbage the equivalent of 3 hours of my work at this time. I conceded. I couldn't argue with a man I could hardly understand. And I couldn't win. My fury would have got the best of me as I cursed him out. Hindsight tells me I should have just sat there and said "No." When he asked "what?" I do a little civil disobedience and plant myself on the scale so business may not return to normal as I level headily plead my case. It seems so simple now, but my inability to argue and confront the powers that be won.

Why did I grow up a peace loving human? Why do I enjoy allowing people to enjoy their life even when I feel I get crapped on from all sides? I as well as all of us need to learn confrontation can be good at some points, especially when you can win. I challenge not only myself, but all of you. Go out and assert yourself! If it means cutting someone off in the next lane so you don't miss your lane, do so. If you don't you may miss the I-5 exit and start heading north of I-80 towards Idaho. It happens more often than you'd like to think, like my return trip. Gahh. I forgot about that until I start thinking about my passive habits of life. Alright, I'm done ranting about my day. I'm going to watch the Spongebob episode where Plankton teaches him to be assertive, but I'll shut it off before they get the the conclusion where Spongebob learns the evils of asserting one's desires over other's feelings. Take care, recycle and drive attentively.