I’ll be honest, Hot Topic Tuesday may draw the most readers to this here blog, but it draws a mixed response from me.
One, I can’t always think of a hot issue on a weekly basis since my life is largely devoid of controversy. (Though I do try to start fights with strangers on occasion with the sole purpose of generating one.)
Two, I have to think about way too many people and factors when selecting my topic – “Will Jane think I’m talking about her?” “Is this going to embarrass John?”
And three, the hot topics I’m really passionate about – the ones that really get my collar steamy – don’t seem to excite many of you. But, seriously, save the otters!
So today I’m turning down the dial. No euthanasia, no rant on ridiculously early presidential campaigns, no talk of what state has the best produce. Instead, I’m going to relate a Hot-ish Topic to a recent experience.
Saturday night we had some friends over for Mexican food and a light conversation. (We made this chimichurri sauce, this cowboy caviar and this rice, if you care.) Maybe it was the spicy food, but we found ourselves talking late into the night like college kids. We talked about a lot of things – like how awesome Arrested Development is/was and how stupid the majority of Americans must be to let a brilliant show like that get canceled while shows like Singing Bee are racking in the ratings (Hot Topic #1). Or how people have no tact when it comes to asking about your plans for marriage or children (Hot Topic #2). And how some people do nothing but whine and complain about their husbands or children, but then say, “You need to get married,” or, “I can’t wait for you to have kids!” (Hot Topic #3).
I know how I feel on these topics –
#1 – Really stupid.
#2 – It’s none of your business.
#3 – Why would I want to when you make it sound so unappealing?
But it’s Hot Topic #4 I don’t know about. Which is, “Should you or should you not break up a loud, drunken party next door when it’s disrupting your sleep?”
Because after our guests left, we realized there was a crazy kegger/dance party/cornhole competition taking place in our neighbor’s backyard. Which also happens to be our backyard. Which happens to be right next to our window. Which is right next to Miss Dub’s window.
Now, I must say that Miss Dub slept soundly through the whole experience. Her parents, however, did not. But I couldn’t decide what to do. On one hand, I was ticked. The sheer setup and acoustics of our apartments make it so you can hear ANYTHING outside throughout the entire complex. They had to know that. On the other hand, I remembered lots of college parties (albeit alcohol-free ones) that got broken up early – ruining my night and causing me to wonder if everyone in Utah County was a prude. (Hot Topic #5. Answer = 96%.)
So I didn’t want to ruin their fun, but I also wanted to sleep. Finally, when Avril got turned up around 12:30, I went out in my pajamas and kindly asked the partygoers to turn down the music. They were very nice, especially when I gave a quick geography lesson on the location of my baby’s nursery, and turned the music off. But the screaming, laughing, cursing and general debauchery went on at full volume until 3:30 a.m.
At this point you might ask me why I didn’t put in earplugs (Hot Topic #6). Well, my ears don’t like them and give me infections when I do, but good try.
Then, there was a loud thunderstorm, but that’s not important.
What would you have done?
Called the cops?
Complained again?
Said nothing?
I have a fear of being the person who complains about everything. You know, the gal who has to be reseated at every restaurant, who demands impeccable customer service and who asks for the manager and writes letters to companies with the sole intention of getting free stuff?
But I was really, really tired so I thought it was OK to do a little bit of that.
What do you think?
Too bored to care? Spin a bottle and see what topic you get to smooch below!
One, I can’t always think of a hot issue on a weekly basis since my life is largely devoid of controversy. (Though I do try to start fights with strangers on occasion with the sole purpose of generating one.)
Two, I have to think about way too many people and factors when selecting my topic – “Will Jane think I’m talking about her?” “Is this going to embarrass John?”
And three, the hot topics I’m really passionate about – the ones that really get my collar steamy – don’t seem to excite many of you. But, seriously, save the otters!
So today I’m turning down the dial. No euthanasia, no rant on ridiculously early presidential campaigns, no talk of what state has the best produce. Instead, I’m going to relate a Hot-ish Topic to a recent experience.
Saturday night we had some friends over for Mexican food and a light conversation. (We made this chimichurri sauce, this cowboy caviar and this rice, if you care.) Maybe it was the spicy food, but we found ourselves talking late into the night like college kids. We talked about a lot of things – like how awesome Arrested Development is/was and how stupid the majority of Americans must be to let a brilliant show like that get canceled while shows like Singing Bee are racking in the ratings (Hot Topic #1). Or how people have no tact when it comes to asking about your plans for marriage or children (Hot Topic #2). And how some people do nothing but whine and complain about their husbands or children, but then say, “You need to get married,” or, “I can’t wait for you to have kids!” (Hot Topic #3).
I know how I feel on these topics –
#1 – Really stupid.
#2 – It’s none of your business.
#3 – Why would I want to when you make it sound so unappealing?
But it’s Hot Topic #4 I don’t know about. Which is, “Should you or should you not break up a loud, drunken party next door when it’s disrupting your sleep?”
Because after our guests left, we realized there was a crazy kegger/dance party/cornhole competition taking place in our neighbor’s backyard. Which also happens to be our backyard. Which happens to be right next to our window. Which is right next to Miss Dub’s window.
Now, I must say that Miss Dub slept soundly through the whole experience. Her parents, however, did not. But I couldn’t decide what to do. On one hand, I was ticked. The sheer setup and acoustics of our apartments make it so you can hear ANYTHING outside throughout the entire complex. They had to know that. On the other hand, I remembered lots of college parties (albeit alcohol-free ones) that got broken up early – ruining my night and causing me to wonder if everyone in Utah County was a prude. (Hot Topic #5. Answer = 96%.)
So I didn’t want to ruin their fun, but I also wanted to sleep. Finally, when Avril got turned up around 12:30, I went out in my pajamas and kindly asked the partygoers to turn down the music. They were very nice, especially when I gave a quick geography lesson on the location of my baby’s nursery, and turned the music off. But the screaming, laughing, cursing and general debauchery went on at full volume until 3:30 a.m.
At this point you might ask me why I didn’t put in earplugs (Hot Topic #6). Well, my ears don’t like them and give me infections when I do, but good try.
Then, there was a loud thunderstorm, but that’s not important.
What would you have done?
Called the cops?
Complained again?
Said nothing?
I have a fear of being the person who complains about everything. You know, the gal who has to be reseated at every restaurant, who demands impeccable customer service and who asks for the manager and writes letters to companies with the sole intention of getting free stuff?
But I was really, really tired so I thought it was OK to do a little bit of that.
What do you think?
Too bored to care? Spin a bottle and see what topic you get to smooch below!
