First of all, I'd like to thank those of you who got your reports in before the deadline. It looks like I won't get fined by the U.S. Blog Commission. It's a huge relief, so I appreciate your cooperation.
I had such an amazing weekend. We took a trip down to Maryland to visit my sisters and to see my parents. Perfect weather, the kids had a ball, no traffic on the way back. Awesome.
Tonight my neighbor had a luau on the beach for her daughter. There was a gorgeous breeze off the ocean, the kids were doing limbo and the adults were enjoying some nice conversation.
That's when things went horribly wrong. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my very opinionated neighbor approaching me with a determined look on her face. I don't know how it happened, but somehow, she managed to engage me in a political discussion. DAMN.
I REALLY didn't want to go there. Especially since she and I don't agree on much. It was so unpleasant to listen to her drone on and on about how the United States is so arrogant, and how Dick Cheney is evil, and how everyone in England hated her because she was an American. I was really tempted to tell her that they didn't hate her just because she was from the U.S.
But I didn't. I made a valiant attempt to sidestep the conversation. When I realized that I was stuck in the debate, I made some very good points that actually got her to stop talking for 2 seconds and politely asked her husband to stop referring to anyone who doesn't agree with him as a "CONSERVATIVE." I wasn't referring to him as a "LIBERAL" so I wanted the same respect.
I'm not going to get into detail, but I'll tell you that I really resent being told at a 6 year old's birthday party on a Sunday night, that people are JUSTIFIED for killing Americans because we are so ignorant, selfish, and arrogant. What an obnoxious generalization!
I wanted to tell her is to save her speeches for book club, or a call in talk show, or maybe to go to the next "Tea Party" in her area and scream it at those "RED NECK FOOT STOMPING REPUBLICANS."
Don't corner me at the sand art table, it's neither the time, or the place for such talk. I love a good political discussion, and not just with people who agree with me. Lots of my friends do not share my beliefs, but we can still manage to respect each other's opinions take turns speaking. When we have these types of debates we try not to generalize or assume that we know what other people think based solely on their political affiliation. Listening is a beautiful thing, and no matter how smart you think you are, you can always learn something by shutting your mouth, for a second, and letting someone else have a turn.
I'll tell you this, dear neighbor. You are annoying. It's not because you're a liberal. (Do you like when I call you that?) It's because you're a loud mouth, know it all, pain in my ass. My mother is a liberal and she is one of my favorite people in the whole world.
Oh, and one more thing, neighbor. Please don't sue me for writing this. I know you like to keep your lawyers busy serving papers to anyone who "wrongs" you. You can't prove this is about you, so no judge would convict me.
Good night, and God bless.
One thing I DO know, always remove your white glove before you pick your nose!
