The Vent and Rant Thread

[wyndslash]

i hate calculus x_x

[Rumpelteazer]

I'm feeling a bit claimed.
As most of you know between April 1 and September 31 I look after my friends' dog almost every weekend. During the summer holiday (and often during Christmas) I stay at their place for a longer period of time when they go away away on holiday. I also regularly walk the dog when they are going away for a day on Saturday or Sunday.

Last year my uncle asked my if I could house/cat sit for them if they would go on holiday. I said yes because I've been looking after their cats when they go on holiday for over 15 years now. I told my friend this and got a very curt reply. In the end my aunt and uncle didn't go on holiday so it didn't matter.

A couple of months ago I told them that I was planning my own holiday for late August/early September and that I was going for a full week instead of from Monday to Friday. His reaction was to have fun her reaction was to be cranky. Yesterday I booked my trip and emailed them the I can't look after the dog the weekend of August 25. This morning I got a reply from her which was very short.

It really annoyed me. I think I'm very flexible, sometimes they won't let me know until Friday if they're going away for the weekend or not. To me it seems she expects me to keep my weekends free from for them April until the end of September. I want to go on holiday whenever I want to go, sure, I won't go during the weeks they are away in July and August but I want to be able to go when the chances of good weather are better than between October and late March! It isn't as if they haven't got any other friends or neighbours who would want to look after Luca for one weekend.

[orlok]

Doesn't sound like much of a "friend" Rumpelteazer. I think you need to explain to her your position and feelings on the matter, or it will only fester.

[pdurrant]

It does sound like they're expecting too much. I hope they pay you for the dog care, but it's not as if they have you on retainer!

[wyndslash]

they really have no right to be cranky. after all, you're doing it out of the goodness of your heart. methinks you should start refusing just so that "friend" realizes what they have lost! that's really annoying.

btw...is it the speaker or the quality of the mp3 if i can hear a little static? or i mean...you know that if you turn up the sound a bit too much, the sound becomes a bit...(i really don't know what the term is in english), but i've noticed it on my speaker. it's been sitting here for a while now and i seldom use it.

[ProfCrash]

You should be able to go away whenever you want. If that means when they are on vacation then they should pay for a kennel for that. You are doing thema favor.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by orlok

Doesn't sound like much of a "friend" Rumpelteazer. I think you need to explain to her your position and feelings on the matter, or it will only fester.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It does sound like they're expecting too much. I hope they pay you for the dog care, but it's not as if they have you on retainer!

Originally Posted by wyndslash

they really have no right to be cranky. after all, you're doing it out of the goodness of your heart. methinks you should start refusing just so that "friend" realizes what they have lost! that's really annoying.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

You should be able to go away whenever you want. If that means when they are on vacation then they should pay for a kennel for that. You are doing thema favor.

It's only her that's acting this way. His reaction is "great, have fun!". She also reacts the same way when she asks my mother to look after their two kids for a day and my mother can't. I know he doesn't like his wife acting like that.

I get paid, but that's only for the longer house/dog sitting, not for the weekends. Mind you, I think it's a bit strange that they got a place on a camping where dogs aren't allowed.

I was already getting fed up with her claiming behaviour and had decided that if I would go on holiday from Monday to Monday that the weekend before I left I would also be unavailable, luckily for them it was cheaper to go from Tuesday to Tuesday.

I'm hesitant to make my opinion known. Except for this they are good friends and I know major drama will ensue if I try to discuss this problem and I don't want that. I have, however, decded that if they ask me to walk the dog when they're away for a day and I had other plans I won't change them like I did in the past and I'll let it known that I want to know before Thursday if they're going away for the weekend or not so I can do my shopping.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

It's only her that's acting this way. His reaction is "great, have fun!". She also reacts the same way when she asks my mother to look after their two kids for a day and my mother can't. I know he doesn't like his wife acting like that.

I get paid, but that's only for the longer house/dog sitting, not for the weekends. Mind you, I think it's a bit strange that they got a place on a camping where dogs aren't allowed.

I was already getting fed up with her claiming behaviour and had decided that if I would go on holiday from Monday to Monday that the weekend before I left I would also be unavailable, luckily for them it was cheaper to go from Tuesday to Tuesday.

I'm hesitant to make my opinion known. Except for this they are good friends and I know major drama will ensue if I try to discuss this problem and I don't want that. I have, however, decded that if they ask me to walk the dog when they're away for a day and I had other plans I won't change them like I did in the past and I'll let it known that I want to know before Thursday if they're going away for the weekend or not so I can do my shopping.

it's worse than i thought if she even treats your mother in such a rude manner. that's unacceptable. if she's really a "good friend", she would want you to take some time off and you should be able to talk about this with them. it sounds like they are abusing your generosity.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by wyndslash

it's worse than i thought if she even treats your mother in such a rude manner. that's unacceptable. if she's really a "good friend", she would want you to take some time off and you should be able to talk about this with them. it sounds like they are abusing your generosity.

Oh, it isn't just us, she treats everybody like that even her mother in law. I've seen her husband get angry with her for that. We've also seen many of their friendships go sour because of that behaviour. We usually ignore her when she acts like that because otherwise she's a very good friend and is always there for you when you need help.

Her husband just left and he was happy for me going on holiday, I expect he doesn't know about his wife's reaction.

As I've said, from now on I'm going to be a bit less flexible.

This weekend they're staying home so I've got a weekend off. I love dog Luca but having to arrange your life around 3 or 4 dog walks a day can sometimes be a bit restrictive.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Oh, it isn't just us, she treats everybody like that even her mother in law. I've seen her husband get angry with her for that. We've also seen many of their friendships go sour because of that behaviour. We usually ignore her when she acts like that because otherwise she's a very good friend and is always there for you when you need help.

Her husband just left and he was happy for me going on holiday, I expect he doesn't know about his wife's reaction.

As I've said, from now on I'm going to be a bit less flexible.

This weekend they're staying home so I've got a weekend off. I love dog Luca but having to arrange your life around 3 or 4 dog walks a day can sometimes be a bit restrictive.

good for you! i hope you have a nice holiday

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by wyndslash

t
btw...is it the speaker or the quality of the mp3 if i can hear a little static? or i mean...you know that if you turn up the sound a bit too much, the sound becomes a bit...(i really don't know what the term is in english), but i've noticed it on my speaker. it's been sitting here for a while now and i seldom use it.

It could be either (or it could also be the sound card itself).

I think the term you are looking for is distortion.

Try not to have any of the knobs "turned to full" (ie on the speakers themselves, or the various Windows controls that affect the volume).

[wyndslash]

oh, i forgot to mention that i'm using a separate speaker (my ipod dock) so i'm just using an speaker jack (is that the term?) to connect my pc to the speaker

[Stitchawl]

Rant Mode: ON

My 'Visual Alert' door bell has gone deaf!

I bought two devices that attach to my phone and to the doorbell. When one rings, the device flashes a strobe light to let me know that someone is either calling or at the door. I can't hear the ringers if I'm playing my guitar or using headphones (actually, I often can't hear them anyway) as I'm pretty deaf.

One of the devices was no longer 'hearing' its ringer! The phone was ringing and I never knew it. My wife had to come in from the other room and answer it. "Dialing for Dollars" or "Publisher's Clearing House" could have been trying to reach me and I never would have known. I could have lost millions!!!

Damn cat musta pulled the plug when she was chasing her toys!

Rant Mode: OFF


Stitchawl

[poohbear_nc]

Sure ... blame the cat! The flashing was probably bothering her .... keeping her awake! How cruel! You deserve to miss your prize call!

Subjecting a defenseless cat to strobe lights! Harumph!

[PeterT]

At least get the lights to flash when Kittie needs food, or water, or attention, or ...