Lizardannie’s Blog

I did this “25 Random Things” on my FaceBook profile a few weeks back, and I’ve decided to share it here, with my “readers.” lol I have no clue WHO you are, though I see the hits and I thank you for taking the few minutes (and I am sure they ARE “minutes” as I can be quite verbose) to read what I have to say.

Whether you agree with what I have to say in my blog, you’re reading it to dig up dirt or to mock me, you’re interested and my hits go up. Cool, as far as I am concerned!

And to those who have done the RSS Feed to my blog, I am waving at ya and thank you for being interested in what my blog is about and for taking the time to get to know me a little bit better.

So here goes..the “25 Random Things” about Lizard Annie. Enjoy!

1. I am an impatient person and have zero tolerance for complete stupidity, or just stupid for stupid’s sake. I also detest arrogance and do NOT equate it with confidence or self-pride.

2. I secretly would love to be a chef and own a restaurant someday. This is a huge difference from the young married Mom/wife of almost 23 years ago, who thought she was being “innovative” and “crafty” when she would open up a can of corn and drain the liquid. Nuthin’ says lovin’ (or “mmmm, yummy nummy!”) like the aroma of burned Green Giant canned corn in a sauce pan! Ha!

3. I am writing a semi-autobiographic novel relating to being a woman who has gone through early menopause and is still surviving it. I am currently on chapter 5 and would really like to see if I can get it published someday.

4. I currently have us in a situation where we are financially obligated to a man I totally dislike and distrust, and that I personally would like to have 5 minutes in an alley to kick the butt of for some of the things he’s said to me and/or my family over the years because of this financial obligation. Heck..20 minutes of back-of-the-alley-butt-who

oping would serve up JUST fine, thanks!

5. This same individual spent 10 days in our home this month, while on vacation, because I felt we owed it to him (to let him stay with us versus a hotel). I was good..and I am SO proud of myself for keeping this incredibly big mouth I possess closed for many of the weirdnesses this person possesses. I wish we could win the lotto, pay this person off and shout a HUGE “sayonara!” to him.

6. Three or four times over the past few years I have completely made a fool out of myself by asking “Is h/she deaf?” to a deaf person (there were three, random ones) working at a Walmart when I was attempting to ask a question and who, after I said this, I found to be wearing one of those “I am deaf; please be patient with me” name tags. *sigh

7. Revert to random fact #1 to see that yes, I admit fully that I lack patience at times, though I DO NOT see deaf people as “stupid.”

8. If you watch Jon & Kate Plus 8, and you’re annoyed by Kate Gosselin (the Mom), you would be annoyed by me at times as I swear that she is my long-lost twin. If anything, I am now learning what I need to work on within myself.

9. I am afraid of big dogs. This came about when we were first married and we owned a home. Our next door neighbor had a Rottie named “Widow” (Gawwd..that name! lol) that had just recently had puppies. “Widow” was evidently on the cranky side one Saturday afternoon and for some god-forsaken reason, was lounging unleashed on their side yard, which was by our carport. I went to check the mail, and didn’t see “Widow” at first. When I was walking back up to the carport door, I said, “Heyy Widow,” to only see fangs and hear a horrible growling sound come out of her. THEN I realized that B (my Dh) had locked the carport door. Out of all the times of me reminding the man to please remember to lock doors that he chose THEN, I still do not know and he’s always felt badly for it. I ran, being chased by “Widow” to our front door and rushed inside. Voila..my fear of big dogs began.

10. I can be long-winded. Yaaaaaaaaa think? lol

11. If I could erase a few years mistakes that were made, I would in a heartbeat.

12. I really enjoy home schooling D (my youngest Dd) and feel SO strongly that improvements need to be made in our state’s education system overall, and especially for the kids. But also for the teachers. They’re not respected enough or given the recognition they’re owed.

13. Meanwhile, we still negotiate HUGE salaries for sport “heros.”

14. I have talked for several years about going back to school, but I really need to make-up my mind and decide exactly WHAT I want to go to school for? What would be lucrative for us, financially, but also for ME, spiritually, mentally and emotionally? These are things that I am conflicted over, but NEED to work through.

15. I cannot stand to hear a woman refer to her boyfriend/husband as “Baby Daddy.” I equally cannot stand to hear a woman refer to the father of her children whom she is no longer with as the “sperm donor.” I realize there is sometimes issues between the parents, or basically, why wouldn’t they be together? But if he is a good man, otherwise, why refer to him as this? It’s so degrading and disgusting.

16. At the same time, I can’t stand it when a man refers to his wife/SO as “my ol’ lady.” Ohh please!

17. B will refer to me as #16, and laughs his butt off because he knows it annoys me! lol

18. I think Dr. Phil is a flake and that Oprah really needs to get over herself.

19. I love having breakfast for dinner, sometimes…scrambled eggs with extra sharp cheddar cheese and onion in them, hash browns and bacon.

20. I am currently on an organic kick and hope to continue, though I AM still learning all the rights and wrongs concerning organics.

21. I’ve also discovered that certain organic foods are of the aquired taste variety, and quite honestly, taste like dust. Num yummy! >;p lol

22. I love Mexican food and could eat it daily. I also enjoy Italian, Chinese and good ol’ hearty “Down Home” American food, as well. I just love food and my waistline, though it’s been shrinking the past few years, demonstrates this clearly!

23. Give me a margarita or two, and I’m saying silly things like “Pockets, Hot!” during family game time!

24. I am absolutely getting into gardening and have been for the past year, and I am anxious for our tax refund that is getting mailed out in another week, to get some new herbs, veggies, flowers and especially some rose bushes going.

25. I am complicated and a Type-A personality married to an uncomplicated man, who knows me, loves me, tolerates me and simmers me down and will be married to him for 23 years come April 26th. In short, I am blessed!

Ciao!

Growing up, I was surrounded by real men. My father, my uncles, my sister’s husbands and even my friends dads.

These were men who, along with their wives, lead their own families. They were a part of the decision making in the home and within the family unit. They deferred to their wives, but were also respected and honored enough by their wives to be heard.

What they had to say stood for something.

And they weren’t led around by their         uhh         “noses” by the women in their lives.

In other words, they weren’t whipped. They weren’t starved for attention and for that matter, for affection SO much that they forgot that they TOO had a voice and that they didn’t have to fall over themselves to receive the respect they were deserving of and owed.

They didn’t trip over themselves simply to impress a female, including going out of their way to degrade another female when that mad dance of competition began between two women. They simply stood aside, realizing that the stupidity that was taking place would ensue no matter if they..the man…was there or not.

No man that I could ever recall would have allowed himself to play the role of a pawn in order to get promises and sugary secrets revealed late at night after another round of pillow talk…real or insinuated.

There are men today that see this sort of “pawn” behavior as chivalrous. Yet, it’s not. They look like complete and utter idiots. And they’re being made to look this way by the very women they wish to protect. “Continue protecting me, and you will receive more sugar.” How pathetic can it be that a man is this desperate and not realizing that none of it is real nor true?

What kind of man would permit himself to be delegated to this type of role in a woman’s life? Is the sex that fantastic…real or insinuated? What if the person being protected is nothing more than a figment of their own imagination and thus, have done absolutely nothing more than lied to this type of man?

That they would use a man this way…or honestly, anyone…says so much about them, yet these same people never realize it. The men, particularly, keep going back for those very few, fleeting moments of sweet nothings…real or insinuated.

Are these real men? Or are they caricatures of what they once possibly were? Who brought them down to this level? The women who use them? or are they just sad, simple-minded fools who need to get their head out?

Are they whipped?

I think so.

Til the next time…
Ciao!

True beauty is a very rare thing.

True beauty, in my personal opinion and observations, is a simple flower just at its peak of color and life. It is flawless, receives and gives life and makes everything around it stand out.

True beauty is that young child who is so full of life, of love and of wanting to make others smile with their many hugs and kisses.

True beauty is the 80-year old woman who has lived a long, joyous life filled with love, laughter, hardships, heartaches, and good friendships. She has seen it all and could tell each of us what IT..the key to life..is about. Her fulfilled and content life transcends to her eyes and her mannerisms. To the way she speaks. To how she handles everyday occurrences. To her outlook on life in general and what is next to come her way. From this, a “true beauty” resonates to her outward appearance. Her skin is flawless, yet she has smile lines and a wrinkles, each of them telling another “line” of the story of her life. She smells like what heaven surely smells like. To be in her presence is an honor.

An earmark of true beauty is an unstated comfort within one’s self. A self-pride, though not a cocky arrogance. A person that possesses true beauty is one that has enough security within themselves to find the beauty in every one they meet and everything they see. They maintain a strong confidence that they carry regally, yet without the need to over accentuate…almost as if to announce to all that meet them…that they are beautiful, or so THEY believe they are. That they are attractive. That they draw people to them not simply because of their physical selves. Rather, more so because of the person they are. Of who they’ve successfully started to become in this life and within this world. They understand that their physical beauty is merely the shell..the exterior that houses the REAL, true person within that “shell.” THAT part of them..the inner part..is what keeps others drawn to them. It’s what allows them to strive to succeed in life..to want to. It is what drives them to keep adding more and more layers to who they are and who they will continue to become.

A person who picks out flaws in others does not possess the above. This type of person is the kind of person who is not truly happy within themselves. They’re deep inside, hurting and angry. Deflated and perhaps even rejected. To feel better, if only momentarily, they pick another person apart, deflecting that hurt and that anger. For a brief snip in their lives, they’ve managed to transmit those deflated, rejected sentiments onto someone else.
When that sense of comfort leaves them, they are left with all of those feelings and with the person they’ve become because of it.

There are so many physically beautiful people on this earth. They attract others to them because of their beauty.

But if they’re hard, cold-hearted, mean-spirited and hateful, others eventually lose that attraction and they move on.

The physical shell can draw others in. But it’s the other parts of what is true beauty that keeps people there.

Until the next time…
Ciao~

We’ve all known a liar or two in our time.  If we’re really unfortunate, we’ve met several and should actually start questioning….rather quickly….the company we keep.

On one website I came across, the following characteristics that describe a pathological liar:

*  They lie about even the smallest things. For example, saying “I brushed my teeth today,” when they didn’t.

* They add exaggerations to every sentence.

* They change their story all the time.

* They act very defensively when you question their statements.

* They believe what they say is true, when everyone else knows it isn’t.

Here’s an alternate “checklist”:

* Lies when it is very easy to tell the truth.

* Lies to get sympathy, to look better, to save their butt, etc.

* Fools people at first but once they get to know him or her, no one believes anything they ever say.

* May have a personality disorder.

* Extremely manipulative.

* Has been caught in lies repeatedly.

* Never fesses up to the lies.

* Is a legend in their own mind.

The question I personally have is why? What is the point? Why lie when the truth is so much easier to spit out and for those who hear it, to absorb? Who cares if someone doesn’t like what you have to say? Who cares if they like you after you’ve been honest, with your opinion, description and/or thoughts? You were honest, forthright and you were truthful.

But after reading these “characteristics,” it would seem that some experts actually feel that a pathological liar is actually one that is suffering both mentally and emotionally. They actually LIVE the lies they tell and any amount of telling them that you’ve caught them at their game falls on deaf ears. They further go on to fabricate more stories and voice even larger lies to cover the smaller ones, avoiding the chance to come clean and instead attempting to offset and even point fingers at those who’ve accused them. It’s a defense mechanism and from what I have read, a part of the sickness they suffer from.

At some point, you wonder if they can keep up with their stories?  Are they mentally capable?

Those that believe them end up hurt, angry (and possibly angrier with themselves for not heeding warnings and advice regarding the person) and have lost the ability to trust so willingly. Will the next person be just as cunning? Will their stories be equally as contrived?

Yet, if this really is a matter of a mental illness, should we feel sorry for them? Should we pity them? Should we ever trust them?

My personal feelings on it? A firm yes, yes and a no.

Yes, feel sorry for them because their lives can’t honestly be that satisfactory and particularly if they are sick of mind and spirit. Pity them, because they’ll never grow to comprehend just how many they’ve hurt along the way and how many no longer believe a single, solitary word they utter. And no…never ever trust them, for they’re not trustworthy. They haven’t earned it and it’s highly unlikely that they ever will.

I’ve only known a couple of people that could easily be described as the above. I’ve been lucky, I suppose.

My heart and mind feels very sorry for them, for I do not believe them to be honestly happy..with life and within themselves. But I will never allow them back into my life at any time. I matter more and my trust in them is forever lost.

Til next time…
Ciao

“Children are meant to be seen and not heard.” Remember that old saying? So what was a parent supposed to do? Lock the child away in a closet until his/her 18th birthday?

That said, I do have to say that parents are much more lax today when it comes to instilling and enforcing rules with their children.  I’m not sure why, either.

I realize it’s a different era and parenting styles have changed. I’m not sure if it’s a progressive change, however and especially when we have kids roaming around, unsupervised, ignored and even condoned for their actions and attitudes by their parents.

What are these parents afraid of? Why can’t they step forward and say a simple “Don’t do that,” or how about “Stop it!” to their child and especially if their child is disruptive and disturbing others? Why should the rest of the world have to deal with their children because of another old saying and belief..”Kids will be kids?”  Kids WILL, in fact, be kids. But where’s the guidance? What happened to those traditional roles of Mom and dad, and regardless if both parents live in the same home?

How is it that a Mom of three such as I am…and along with my husband… have managed to raise three kids (two still in the “raising” stage) with very few incidents where their behavior was called on the mat? Sure, my kids get into it here at home and there have been plenty of times they’ve lost privileges and/or have been grounded for bad behavior, bad choices or just an overall bad attitude. We deal with it and we don’t let the “crime” go unpunished. But to the outside world, these are pretty good kids (and they are).

I’m not bragging. I am a huge advocate of being involved in my kids lives. Not hovering and not invading where I shouldn’t be invading. Allowing my kids to try to put those lessons they’ve learned from and through US, their parents as well as others who’ve come into their lives and to fall down sometimes when doing so. But I am here for ALL aspects of parenting…from the great days to the not-so-great ones. For the accolades and for the pitfalls. I chose this role as a Mom when I decided that I was going to have the children I was pregnant with.

Is it laziness on the part of these parents who don’t step in sometimes? Who don’t discipline? Who don’t get involved?

My guess is yes, partially.

Maybe it’s a need to be a “friend” to their kids? I will say that now that our oldest daughter is no longer living at home, we’re starting to be “friends,” while still maintaining that mother-to-daughter relationship. I like this new “friends” status, though, too.

But our other two are still in school..one is in high school and the other one is a “tween” and home schooled. I’m not their friend. I love them. I like and totally respect them. But I am their Mom.

And I do think there is a difference. Once you try so hard to be that “friend,” you lose sight of your role as a parent. And they…your children…also start to forget.

I think it’s time parents return to being parents. To taking their roles that they chose from conception to the age their kids are now, as seriously as possible.

Who am I to judge? I’m the one that has had to hunt you down when your child was making everyone else miserable at the restaurant by running around unsupervised. I’m the one who literally ran into your child with my grocery cart at the store because, again, she was running around without you anywhere near her and ran right into my cart.  I’m the one who’s home your child ended up at because you weren’t home when your child got out of school…again. I’m the one who’s had to make the very difficult decision that my child couldn’t hang-out with your child anymore because he/she didn’t know how to behave in someone elses house. When I tried to talk to you about it, you called me a “Bitch,” and slammed the phone down in my ear. The next day, your child repeated what you had said to ME to my child. Did this make you proud when the principal called to relate this?

Oh yes…I can judge. What you do..or in many cases, do NOT do..with your child affects other people outside of both of you. And when you choose to ignore and even back-up your child’s bad behavior, you deal with my judgment call on it. And the really sucky part about this? It’s not your kid’s fault when you do this. It’s your own.

Ciao~

cartoon courtesy of www.cartoon stock .com

When it comes to the discussion of politics, I generally try to steer clear. I don’t live and breath the subject and there are so many who could talk circles around me with their intellect and knowledge on the subject.

But I do find it amusing to listen in/observe the writings of those who debate politics. It can be lively and I’m convinced, opposite opinions on this topic can make or break friendships. As a matter of fact, I’ve been witness to it on many levels.

Regardless if they’re conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, they will froth and foam at the mouth to get their opinion out there, and to one-up one another. And when it comes to Internet forums, damn be sure you have a link to verifiable and reliable sources to back up your “claims, ” or you’re considered nothing less than a half-retarded boondoggle.

There are some amazingly smart, bright and intuitive authors out there on these forums who are atleast open-minded enough to consider the opposing viewpoint. THEY, I enjoy the most. They generally grasp the concept of commentary laced with REAL humor, not mockery made at someone elses expense because they don’t agree with an opinion.

In essence, they enjoy talking politics and may even take the subject quite seriously, but they still realize that these forums are based on opinions and opinions exclusively.
Then you have the ones who I seriously believe missed their calling as political news analysts. They’re a CNN news show minus its host. They do everything but pat themselves on the back, while making fun of others opinions and even going as far as to name call. It is these man/women cubs who delight me the most because their display on these forums is astoundingly hilarious. Just as long as THEY take themselves seriously, why should the rest of us? They stumble over their words at times, trying so very hard to PROVE that THEIR point of view is THE most knowledgeable and factual.

Politics is a very important discussion and not one of us can agree on all aspects of discussing it.

Yet, it’s also a spooky topic to debate for the simple fact that there’s some scary nuts out there conversing through these forums about us. About our nation. About our current, new president. About the economy. About the stimulus package. About everything under the sun that our nation’s government does or does not do correctly.

And oddly, they don’t always produce that often requested “link,” either. The rest of us are simply supposed to bask in their “intellect” of it all.

And possibly the most blessed aspect of observing these loons in action is that they ARE merely addressing this topic on the Net and not actually running our government.

Small blessings counts, no?

Ciao~

pic courtesy of www.laughparty.com

Stupidity comes in all sizes, shapes, colors, and even intellect levels.

How many times have I sat back, taking stock of a given day and wondering, “What the hell possessed me to say/do that?” Plain and simple…sheer stupidity. Stupidity, because I knew better or at the minimum, SHOULD have known better.

I’m an observer for the most part, though I do reserve the right to speak first and think later. It’s a human trait and one I do not stand alone in possessing. The fact that I SHOULD ALWAYS remember to think FIRST and act/react/speak later is, of course, a part of the stupidity I additionally possess on occasion. Rare occasion, mind you… lol

I have noticed in observations of others that this “trait” persists for them and from that, I don’t internally beat myself up. In fact, I get a naked giggle for the simple fact that even in their own stupidity, they’re not realizing how enormously stupid they’re coming across. And yes, in hindsight, I’ve had plenty…PLENTY..of those V-8, “I can’t believe I just said/did that” moments where on top of realizing just how stupid I had been, I also realized how stupid I came across to others.

Thank god for hindsight, no?

Life is a learning process and even as we get older, we don’t always get it right. Basically, we’re still learning up until we’re ash. Hopefully and with an ardent prayer and wish, I will learn FROM those things I screw up on (or those I screw up WITH), and leave myself open to keep learning from the new boo-boos..ne` stupid mistakes… I will undoubtedly make in the future.

We hope.

Stupidity can be that person who forgot to make sure they brought their wallet to the store and there they stand at the Walmart check-out line and about ten other customers behind them, pulling lint out of their pockets and nothing that even remotely resembles money..plastic or paper.

Stupidity is the person who didn’t try when they had every opportunity to do so.

Stupidity is assuming that others have been fooled by your attempt to project something OTHER than the true you. Eventually, you do get caught…again and again….and yet again. Why keep trying then? THAT is the stupid part of it all.

Stupidity is putting trust in someone or something that others have urged and forewarned you not to. When a collective whole is saying, “Don’t buy that! It doesn’t work,” or “Be careful and don’t trust them,” maybe it’s time to at least consider those warnings. Or always keep them in your mind, tucked away and your guard firmly around you.

Stupidity is assuming others will listen. They won’t. Why? Because they have to do the same…go through that learning process, too.

Afterall, they’re human too and entitled to the same stupid traits as the rest of us.

~Ciao

Are we truly a people that can be led around blindly, faithfully following along like a herd of sheep? Are we that gullible? Do we not take chances and question things?

When a friend tells us that they’ve never said or done what they’re accused of, we want to believe them. We want to give them our unconditional loyalty because we want to believe they’d do the same, and we want to trust that they’re honest.

Yet, what if this isn’t the case? Once bitten, twice shy?

Or is it better to be skeptical from the get-go and especially if that friend demonstrates some of the very behavior they’re accused of?

Because a collective whole states “This is how it all went down,” do we take them on their word? Do we join in and actually become just as equally creative, not realizing that we’re contributing to the very collective mentality and actually ignoring the FACTS of what truly went down, even if it’s the opposite of what we’re originally told?

The GWOP would be a PRIME example of the above described behavior.

Today, our nation saw history take place. For the first time, the United States of America saw a black president sworn into office. As I watched the Inauguaration ceremony on CNN with my youngest daughter, I couldn’t help but cry at how amazing this chunk of history she and I were witnessing from the comfort of living room was.  I cried during his speech. I cried when Yo Yo Ma and the rest of the immensely talented musicians played their beautiful song prior to President Obama taking the oath. I WANT a copy of that music and wonder if it will be available?

I looked at the shots of the “audience” of 2 million and was astounded. So many came to this event and to welcome our new president to office.

But were they..are WE…sheep? Listening to a little of the speech, I was bothered by some of the references and especially toward the white citizens of this country.  I’m equally bothered by some of the decisions made, like the cost of this Inauguration and especially in today’s economic times. Lavish and garish are two adjectives that come to mind. I do not think it was sending the best message world wide of our country when a new president’s “people” raise this type of money for this one day event. Not when we have people losing homes. Not when we have families now out on the streets and NOT because they were behind on the mortgage but because THEIR landlords were, and lost the home. When we spend this much, it demonstrates a mentality of greed.

The choices for certain administration seats is also disturbing and I again wonder if, like sheep, will we stand by and NOT be angry about this? Will we not protest?

Are we a nation SO desperately desiring this “change” that’s been spoken about ad nauseam, that we’ll forgive things that are being done and may be done by our new president that perhaps we shouldn’t?

Are we sheep?

~Ciao

What exactly IS trust?

We trust our children, that they will obey us and follow by our (hopefully) good examples. We trust that our spouses will come home every night, safe and sound and happy to be at home.
We trust that our parents raised us the best that they could..most of us…and that they did so because they loved us.

Is trust a guarantee, though? I think it’s a part of the faith we guide ourselves with in this life we have here on earth. But no, I don’t believe trust equates a guarantee.

And trust is earned in many many respects.

I’ve found in my time online that there are very very few that I trust. I don’t trust, as I’ve written about in previous blog posts, that the nags at GWOP know what the heck they’re talking about. They simply nitpick and look for anything that they can piss and moan about when it comes to Jon and Kate Gosselin.

I don’t trust that every news article I read is based more on fact than it is on opinion and even from those who cite “sources” as some sort of guarantee that what they write is truth.

And I rarely trust anyone I “meet” here online. I might like them in the sense that they have the same perspective as I do (or don’t..that’s not a requirement with me that those I might like that I’ve met online have to share my opinions on everything. Honestly, I prefer the diversity of opinions MORE than I do the cookie cut-outs) or that we can both get the joke we shared.
From that attraction, I find out that I can trust them more and more in that what they’ve “said” online is truth. Not fictional.

I’ve been reminded recently that this isn’t always the case. There are those who give good face online, depicting a persona of someone who is upfront, truthful and forthright. In reality, they’re not. They lie, scheme and manipulate. They do so, I assume, because it IS the Net. The games played are easier for them here online than were they offline, and trying the same.
Then again, the person doing so and who is sitting behind their computer monitors lacking character and integrity, more than likely lacks it in general OFF the Net. It’s their thoughts, their schemes and their bullcrap that they possess deep within themselves that even initiates the thought that they can pull this sort of thing online.
So while the “games” may be “easier,” they are the same person conspiring to do the voodoo they do online.

On message boards and forums, they’re referred to as “trolls.” I will go one step further and suggest that they suffer from a bad case of Internet MPD (multiple personality disorder). They’re all sunshine and happiness, articulate and thoughtful with one s/name. And they vent and let it ALL hang out under other s/names.

Why not just say it with the known s/name? Why not just spell out how they’re feeling instead of playing the games? What is the worry? Are they afraid that their carefree, poised and “perfect” persona that all… except the observer who pays close attention…know and love will be crushed?
Too, what about a perspective of who gives a crap? If something is THAT BAD with another online buddy…or former Net pal…that one feels the need to troll them, maybe it’s time to walk away and move on? or just do the mature thing, and ignore the problem? After awhile, it does go away.

What a life, huh? To be THAT vindictive and that full of anger that the only option for them is to play these childish games?

The only thing that the rest of us can do is observe VERY closely, and never ever trust them.

~Ciao

Growing up, I was taught and I’ve additionally learned along the way, that confidence is an admirable trait. A person wants to be secure within themselves and feel good about themselves. Confidence in their abilities in everything from their career, their home life, marriage if that applies and just overall in their communication with others. And these are mere examples of where confidence works so supremely for us, if we allow it to.

What is not an example of confidence is arrogance. This is when confidence has taken a sharp detour…a decline, really….and made a person smug. Rude. Full of themselves. Truly believing that they’re so impressive because THEY think they are, that surely the rest of the world is and if they find others aren’t, they get upset about it.

Why do they need the rest of us, I wonder, when their brains are so full of destorted self-pride and even self-worth? If they’re applauding themselves, why wait around for others to follow suit and then get annoyed..even angry..when that doesn’t happen?

Arrogance does not equate confidence. Arrogance can change a person, disabling them from stepping out of their little “stuck on me” bubble and seeing themselves as others do.

I’ve encountered it live and in person, and very rarely. But I have found it to be more and more commonplace here on the Net. I don’t know quite how to interpret that except that perhaps these arrogant bloggers…message board posters….My Space commentors….group moderators and those looking simply for a fight EVERY day they can get their hands on one…are somehow lacking this sort of ability and even encounters in their personal lives OFF the Net? That in those same lives as they sit as I do now, writing commentory and giving their thoughts on a specific topic, that this format and form of communication, they no longer are mild-mannered and maybe even timid? This anonymity we’re allowed somewhat here online additionally allows these folks to become super heros in their own minds? Their tapping keystrokes enabling them to vent, to let off steam and to just become an entirely new person?

Or maybe this IS who they are away from the computers, too? It’s almost boggling a thought to comprehend, yet I somehow do wonder if this isn’t the case instead?

Sad. That’s the only way to describe it. I can’t grasp my mind around being THAT full of oneself that instead of reason and open-mindedness, they have allowed their minds to decay and stay encased within the bubble that is themselves.