Isn't it getting a little ridiculous?

I actually thought it was getting better. Seems like saying "Merry Christmas" wasn't offending as many people. The word 'fat' is still in our vocabulary, a little surprised there after being challenged in court by the OBESE people. 'Retarded' has gone the way of the dodo, being joined soon I predict with friends Moron, Imbecile and Idiot. That's going to be a tough one to swallow, and I'm fighting for the rights of the idiots everywhere to call them what they are!!

I'm tired, really tired, of other people telling me what's offensive. Never have liked it when people tell me what to do, just cause they think they can. If I'm offended, so be it, don't TELL me I am. How I feel when I use a word or hear a word is none of your damn business, let alone something you really know. Words are words.

Fat actually is no longer politically correct, I kid you not that the accepted phrase is "Enlarged physical condition caused by a completely natural genetically-induced hormone imbalance or too much fast food which is not your fault, is it?". Can you believe that? OK, I added the last part, but "completely natural"? Come on. I'm fat cause I eat too much, don't exercise, and drink beer. It's not a hormone imbalance.

I kid you not that the following words are ones you're not supposed to use any more: Bum, Crazy, Criminal, Failure, Fairy, Founding Fathers (too sexist), Garbage man, Ghetto, Handicapped, Illegal Alien, Janitor, Midget, Psycho, Secretary, and Trailer Park (it's a mobile home community). You have now been educated.

Here's the latest though, and give me a break. Just give me a break. It's "Nerd" and "Geek". Yup. Some fucking college professor on the East coast has determined for you and me that: "using terms like nerd and geek "perpetuate the stereotype" that nerds are "socially inept" and geeks are people with a "special expertise." They are so damaging that he believes that "much like racial epithets, he says, they should be avoided."

Good Lord! I'm a nerd and I'm proud!

Here's a question for ya, Christmas cards

Do you ever ponder about Christmas cards? Some people don't send them, that's fine. If you know who they are, it doesn't matter I guess. Just a question to think about: Do you track who reciprocates with Christmas cards?

Mentally or otherwise? Do you care? Does it bother you when you get left out? Ever say anything like "Er... didja get my card?". Can you help but take note of receiving one from someone a week later, often after Christmas, and feel like you mighta been forgotten? Do you take note of who sends and who doesn't, and adjust accordingly? Does it mean anything ya think? Is this all sounding too vain?

Nearly every year, BG's card comes first. It's almost a given. I like that. There are a handful of old friends that always send cards, even though we may not have talked in years. Relatives are pretty predictable, those that do, those that don't, those that are late. I'm used to it.

How about the "family update" letters? Like them? Hate them? Some of them are amazing in how people change. Usually it seems to be finding God, and having children. Ever get insulted by one in an indirect way? I have, this year as a matter of fact. They don't even know it.

How about the photo cards of just the kids? Or the dog? Well, those are great but I'd like to see how my friends look. If anything, I like the family ones the best. The WHOLE family.

The worst? Cards from my investment company. Stop spending my money on this crap your secretary signs and concentrate on my future, idiots. It bugs me knowing those cards are an expense that are somehow paid for by me, the customer. My company has 20,000 brokers, I'm going to guess each has an average of 100 customers, that's a few million bucks or more spent on cards and postage. Oh, and a card stuck on my trash can, just a friendly reminder that Ann Landers suggested tipping in 1962, this to the same jerks that won't take all my trash if it's "too much" or "too heavy", charge me for an extra can, and make messes I have to go clean up in the street. Think again trash can man.

Ah Bacon, my nemesis.... You've bested me THIS time!

Yeah, well... What can I say. Bacon was forgotten on the stove, burning, and I grabbed the pan and wasn't careful, maybe slipped a little and all the grease came to introduce itself to my hand. Hurts. Hurts bad. I was up all night, and today a week later, it still stings. Not really thrilled to be marked for life now, but what can I say. I still like you bacon... And your brother Ham.