Keeping It Firme Since 1990

Entitlement and Privilege Rant

The other day, at my current-but-temporary (-although-maybe-not) job, I had to help these two employees move from the fourth floor to the fifth floor. This meant I had to load up all their crap onto a dolly and then move it all upstairs. So, like a trooper, my supervisor and I (two 5’2-3” women) loaded their crap and file cabinets onto the dolly and moved everything upstairs. Once we got there, the two (5’5”-6’ men) guys sat around while they observed us struggle with their crap. The most they offered was some consolation: “It’s heavy, huh.” I’m all about equality, but man those guys sucked.

And so I wonder to myself, why am I still at my High School job? I know this job is only temporary (maybe) and the $11/hour is not that bad for my financial needs, but if I remember correctly, I was promised greatness once I graduated from Duke University, the #10 best university in the country. And in this thought, so many other concerns and worries and insecurities and … things come up. 

It’s not that there are no opportunities for me. The other day, I also got some advice about putting in a resume with that same company for some post-undergrad positions. I can do it, and I may have the advantage of having worked pretty hard (in my humble opinion) there for the past seven years. But I wonder if it is the right decision. After years of completing internships and focusing on immigration and social rights issues as an undergrad, I feel the options that would make me happy are limited. On top of that, my familial obligations are not making my life any easier.  Currently, I am the only one employed in my family, and the rent is going to be due in seven days.

I have friends heading to New Mexico, and friends coming home to LA with two-year contracts and I know people heading to New York to make money and some people heading off abroad after dreams and people going into the Peace Corps. And when I compare myself to them, I feel stuck and hopeless and wonder if this is it for me and now I will be a machine for the rest of my days. I know I should be looking at things positively, but when all the responsibility of a whole family is laid on my arms the day I found out I passed Econ and I would definitely be graduating a couple days later, well, that just makes me wish I hadn’t passed Econ.

As for the opportunities, I’m stuck trying to find out where to go. Do I sell out? How can I continue to do the work I love if after week three I feel burned out? Why is everyone expecting me to solve my family’s problems including neighbors and friends? Why do I feel I have to solve my family’s problems including neighbors and friends? Why can’t I be a productive citizen who cares about and works on social issues while shinning all my “role-model-greatness” on three struggling siblings their friends and all their grandma’s while also paying the rent, insurance, electricity, three cell-phone bills, feeding and transporting the family, keeping in touch with friends and “changing the world” like some people claim I can? Jesus the most I’ve managed so far is to pay for my mom’s haircut and make a deal on a car whose “Service Engine Soon” light just came on. If I packed my bags tomorrow and left for Mexico or Arizona to live my life as I sometimes daydream I do, would I be making a mistake? 

Two churches located across the street from each other. At least the Catholics have a sense of humor.

erinmar13:

mrimaginarius:

observingobservations:

paranoidrobot:

I reblog this every time it comes on my dash.

See some Catholics (LIKE ME!) ARE FUN!lmao

this actually made me clap alone here in my living room.  well played catholics, well played.

lol 8)

Why do men wear earrings on one ear?

By Trinidad Sanchez, Jr.

Sepa yo!
Maybe por costumbre, maybe porque es la moda,
or they made promesas, maybe for some vieja,
for cosmetics or because some women love it,
because they were on sale,
because they are egocentric cabrones y buscan la atención,
because la chica selling them was soooooooo mamacita
and they could not refuse,
maybe to tell you they are free, innovative, avant-garde
and liberated, maybe because of the full moon,
because one earring is cheaper than two,
maybe to keep the women guessing
and the men on their toes,
maybe they are gay caballeros,
maybe as a reminder de algo que no querían olvidar
like the last time they had sex or to be sexy-looking,
maybe they are sexually confused,
maybe to let you know they are very easily sexually aroused,
maybe to separate themselves from los demás machos,
maybe they are poets, writers
y la literatura is their thing!
Why do men wear earrings on one ear?
Sepa yo! Maybe baby…
They are reincarnated pirutos of yester year,
maybe they lost the other one,
maybe they are looking for someone good at cooking,
maybe it make them look like something is cooking
maybe to send signals-the left ear is right
and the right ear is wrong,
maybe it depends on which coast you are on.
Why do men wear earrings on one ear?
who knows… maybe it looks much better
than the nose, the toes,
maybe to remind others which ear is deaf,
maybe to distinguish them from those who don’t
and those who won’t,
maybe to separate them from the women,
maybe because as some women say:
“men can only do things half right”,
maybe to be imitators of the superior sex – halfway,
maybe they are Republicans trying to be progressively liberal,
maybe they are Democrats distinguishing their conservatism,
or leftists telling you they are in the right party,
or revolutionaries looking for peace-PEACE,
maybe they are undecided,
maybe to be cute,
maybe because life is short.
Why do men wear earrings on one ear?
Sepa yo!