Broom On You

After a pleasant two-day trip to Baton Rouge (for the purpose of what must have been sightseeing, for nothing relevant actually got accomplished), we have been assigned...right back where we were previously, in Lake Charles. This time, our team has been given the task of keeping the Volunteer Housing Center clean.

Yes, you read that correctly. Now, bear with me. We have endured a month of training (much of which revolved around disaster operations with the Red Cross) in Denver, two construction projects, during which we got a firsthand look at the devastation in the Gulf Coast from Katrina and Rita, three weeks of a disaster call-up in Franklin, IN during the Midwest flooding, and three and a half weeks of staffing and managing various Red Cross evacuee shelters. IS IT ME OR ARE WE A BIT FUCKING OVERQUALIFIED TO BE FUCKING JANITORS?!

Ahem. The reason why we are unable to do anything relevant is that the headquarters in Baton Rouge refuses to release us from their authority, which would allow us to head down to Dallas/Fort Worth and begin relief efforts in Texas. I guess they feel they still need us...which is clearly not the case. Therefore, when my team leader asked for one volunteer to work with Bulk Distribution (loading, inventorying, unloading, and driving box trucks around to drop off supplies), my hand immediately shot up. It's not bad work; we're able to take truckloads into some of the hardest-hit areas in Southwest Louisiana, and deliver them directly to local distribution centers. Beats cleaning toilets any day...

On a different subject: Alright, I know my weaknesses. I know that in the past, I was the nice guy that kinda allowed people to walk all over me in an attempt to get their approval. I recognized it even as I did it, but hoped that they would see me in a better light because of it. Over the last couple years I've been doing my best to break out of that pattern, but I know some vestiges of it remain. However, it's massively insulting when somebody just out and out expects me to roll over for them. For example: you tell me that you're interested in me, you tell me that you want to try a relationship with me...but you also tell me that you have no intention of breaking up with your boyfriend (who, I might add, is a cheating scumbag). I know that you don't see anything wrong with that, but I don't think I've ever been so insulted. What do you expect me to do: wait eagerly by the phone like a puppy dog for months until you realize that you're dating an asshole and finally deign to grace me with your presence? Fuck that.

End of rant.