I’m generally a ranting and raving person.  I’m pretty sure I get it from my mother, who to this day still rants to herself. (She thinks because she does in more of a whisper than a shout that we don’t notice.) But I do it all the time.  So I figured with a blog titled “Daily Rants & Misadventures” I’d try something new called “Rants in 30” where I talk about the mundane every day things that kinda make me want to chew on glass.  Maybe people can relate.

I feel like I’ve been spending most of my life cleaning up everyone’s messes.  Literally, figuratively, metaphorically it’s kind of what I do. Since I was a kid.  Group projects, at home, my friends mistakes… I’m usually the one to get us out of it all.

A few weeks ago my District Manager was visiting my store and I was in the other office threatening the life of one of my coworkers because he leaves messes everywhere! He wasn’t IN the office when I was loudly plotting his demise, but you know, I just needed to let him know wherever he was.  My DM heard me and asked my manager if I was ok.  “OH yeah, that’s just her” was what my manager replied.

Literally I am behind him (my messy coworker) on a daily basis picking up his papers and his crap.  Mostly his papers.  That are scattered everywhere.  Over everything.  That everyone else uses.

Every few weeks my freak outs lead to me completely tearing apart every office in my building and throwing massive amounts of sh*t out.  Last week it took me two whole days to clean up everyone’s mess.  The signs were all over the place, none of the supplies were put away, you could barely open the door to the community manager office because boxes were everywhere. It was insane!

So, as I usually do, I cleaned up everyone’s mess.  Then I came home.  Where my brother is staying with me. For the most part he’s pretty good.  He tends to clean up after himself, if not for the fact that he leaves every light on in the house when he goes to work in the morning I’d say he’s pretty great.  There’s little things like his change taking over every available surface in the living room, his shoes he tries to keep neat but usually doesn’t, and his sweatshirt he leaves all over the couches when he comes home and just whips it off.  But you know for the most part he’s an OK guest.

I should mention he’s been living with me since July (now December) and we’re going to be moving into a bigger apartment shortly so he can have more of his own space.

Anyway, he’s an OK living partner.  I also don’t ask him to do much, save for walk the dog when he goes out for a cigarette because well, he’s going outside anyway.  SO a few days after I had those murderous thoughts about my mostly male office coworkers, I was on my way to work when I noticed some dishes in the sink.  I don’t cook often.  My boyfriend only really makes burgers, so with the exception of one plate and the Foreman grill the rest of the dishes were my brothers.  I didn’t have time to do them so I calmly said, “Hey can you do the dishes before you go to work please?” He had about 3 hours before he had to leave.  He was laying on the couch watching Football (Universe how I HATE Football Season, but that’s another post).

So instead of just saying yeah, he huffs, rolls his eyes, and very annoyed says “I mean I GUESS.” ……..

……..

……………..

I. LOST. MY. SH*T.

The number of four letter words that came out of my mouth was monumental.  Even for me. I was 10 minutes late to work because f*ck it, I’ll do the dishes myself.  What was so hard? All I did was ask you to do YOUR dishes. Why does it have to be an attitude? It’s not like I asked you make a dish from shards of glass.  Just. Do. The. Dishes.

He sat on the couch and let me rant.  Let me rave.  Again, another thing he probably was used to from crazy mother.  (Funny and charming she is, but nuts.  Her kids love her anyway. You know how it goes.)

So I ranted.  I drive you everywhere.  I feed you.  I don’t ask you for anything. You need to grow up. On and on and on and on I went.

Then before I left I told him most dishes were his.  He said he was going to do them, that I got myself all worked up.  I kinda lost it again at that point.  Why did he have to have an attitude?  Why couldn’t he just do them? He kinda just stared at me and asked what did it matter that he had an attitude or how he answered.  He was going to do them anyway.

I stormed out of the house.  To work. Where my messy coworker says to me “Are you still on an “I hate everyone” phase.” I just looked at him…. and then threw out a pile of his paperwork.

After a little while I calmed down.  It’s now 2 days later.  I don’t hold strong grudges so I’ve since moved on with my brother. But I realized something this morning as I made my coffee.

Next time, instead of getting all aggravated.  I should just Do. The. Goddamn. Dishes.