We're taking bets you can't please angry people...

Everyone that really knows me understands the fact that I am a pretty happy go lucky person. I don't get angry too often, while at the same time tell people exactly how I feel. If you don't want an honest opinion you don't want my opinion. That is who I am.

I went out to get some fresh vegetables from a farm in Branford (Rose's Orchard Farm Market) while getting a frozen custard as a treat for myself. Now I don't currently have a ton of money so this $10 trip was nice to do and it gets me out of the house. I got to the farm and got my tomatos and peppers that I am going to use to make a whole wheat grilled pizza. I was very excited. I then ventured over to the frozen custard counter. (Frozen custard is like soft serve but a million times better.)

Walking in front of me was a short older man in a white tank top and a trucker hat. I really wouldn't have noticed, but he was already complaining to his wife. As we got to the counter there was no one inside. This happens often because the workers shift back an forth from the farm stand part to the frozen custard part. (They are connected.) The guy starts complaining that there is no one there. Now he has waited all of 5 seconds. He keeps looking in and trying to decide what to do. He starts to go toward the farm stand part which has a huge open garage door, but he decides to use the locked glass door. This makes him even more upset. Meanwhile the girl came into the frozen custard room. I let him get back in front of me and he ordered. I could see that he was annoyed with how his cone turned out, but he didn't say anything. She returned with his second item and told him the total. The girl goes to give him back his change and he tells her to put it on the counter. He then says is that it. She said oops and because she forgot to give him his 50 cents. She says sorry and takes my order. He then turns to me and says, "You better watch out or they will take a tip with your change. They try to steal from you." Now I don't think this girl was trying to steal and I think he is just an angry little man. So I tell him, "You're a pretty angry little guy aren't you?" I can see he is taken aback by my response and says, "You don't agree?" I respond that I don't agree and that he was angry the minute he got here and should just take his frozen custard and enjoy life. Well this makes him even angrier and he says, "Well I just say it like it is and I don't understand why you have to give me attitude." I respond by saying, "Look dude you talked to me and I don't like negative people so go home and be happier." We are now walking to our cars which are two apart from each other. I clearly know he doesn't want this to get physical because he is small and I would destroy him. (I really don't either because getting arrested would be detrimental to my life) I also know he wants to get the last word in. So he then throws in a "Well at least I'm not an asshole." Typical response from an angry person. Now I haven't said anything mean other than "Be happy." I decide to just drive away because I want to pull him out of his car beat him to a pulp and then explain to him that this is the consequence of being an angry person. I do decide to memorize him so that if I ever see him again I will remember and hopefully he will do something stupid in my presence so I can embarrass this asshole in front of the world.

I am sure there are going to be a ton of people who read this and think that I should have just kept my mouth shut, but I think we do that way too often. We are always worried about hurting others feelings when the truth needs to be told. True he could have had an awful tragedy happen to him right before frozen custard time, but that is his business and he included me. So I just say in the immortal words of Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry Be Happy!"

We're taking bets that I am troubled...

An awful tragedy happened 2 minutes from my childhood home yesterday. Eight men were killed by a man who also killed himself. The man was being fired for stealing from the company and he was caught on video. Everyone that knew him said he was a quiet and nice individual. He complained to his family and friends that his work environment was very racist. While that doesn't excuse any of his horrible actions I wonder how quickly are his families and his girlfriend's accusations going to be swept under the rug.

I grew up in that area and know that it is as racist as any other area except that because we are in the Northeast we act like we are better because we hide our racism better. I am sure racism was going on against this individual. I saw it all the time when I grew up, but I didn't understand it then. Unfortunately racism, sexism, and all other isms are around everyday. Look at all of the people protesting the reversal of Prop 8 in California and the venom of both sides.

This man handled the racism horribly wrong and stole which means most people are not going to give this a second look. Does it make a difference? Can this tragedy maybe let people look inside ourselves. People think we have progressed and are in a better place since the 60's but I wonder. I just think we have to keep looking at why we can keep breeding hate. We are all different, but ultimately we all want the same thing; to live a good life. Appreciate the differences around you because to ignore them or even worse hate them will be even more tragic than this incident.