Thursday, June 10, 2010

Alpha-Thursday---U...(altered art maybe later)(pictures from fire definitely later)

U is for UNDERSTANDING. 
As in-- "I understand you are going through a rough time right now, so rather than add to it by being an asshole. I am going to act like a nice guy."  It would have been nice to deal with an officer who wasn't so eager to make up for his short stature the other night when we had our house fire.

As in--"I understand everyone has different coping mechanisms, and some people can not cope at all, so I am going to look to you to see what you need." Instead of making your coping style be what I want it to be.

As in-- "I understand having your home on fire is a very scary thing to deal with, oh and I see you are disabled, let's see if we can get you more comfortable.  I'll be right back, I am going to talk with your husband a bit." (to see how I can help you cope better.)
Instead of telling me, "You better find someplace to sit down and stop freaking out! "

As in-- "I have dealt with many fires as a police officer, but I have not had one of my own, so no, I CAN'T imagine what you are feeling.  However, I do have an understanding and I am very sorry."
Instead of telling me over and over again that I need to relax and calm down!

As in-- "It seems to me that you and I are having some difficulty understanding where we are each coming from, let me see if I can send over a different Officer to better help you."
Instead of threatening to arrest me (Of which I told him to go ahead...he said no, I am not going to...that is right asshole, because you do not have grounds.)

As in--  I can NOT understand people, who act this way, and treat others this way!

see the 2 posts below about our fire so far(pictures later on)...I suffer with anxiety and depression since my disability and near loss of my hand...so when you take a person with anxiety and put them into an extremely anxious situation, you are going to get someone that is freaking out a bit!

Different subject...U IS FOR UNDERSTANDING!

each week(on Thursdays) I offer an image from a collage sheet for all my followers to create some art with, so they can post a link in the comments section, and I can pick a random person to be the winner of the entire collage sheet provided by ALTERED PAGES.  I do NOT understand, why no one is doing this. I have tried very hard to find out what people are looking for and providing those outlets. I have to admit it leaves me a bit disappointed.

I also do not understand why I had an enormous outpouring of people interested in doing WRECK THIS JOURNAL with me on Wednesdays(this was your idea, I was doing it daily)a lot of you, are my friends, or at least call me friend. Some of you haven't even bothered to get the book yet, a few of you stopped joining and sending images. I want to have an active blog and an interactive blog.  Again I am disenchanted.

then there are the fun and freebies I do on Fridays. I am offering something for free just for guessing the date of my birthday this month...I had to run it 2 weeks in a row just to get a 1/2 dozen guesses. I have 92 followers...I do not understand this.


In parting, I quote Elvis Costello and ask...what's so funny about:

Peace, Love and Understanding?!


I am participating in alphabet-Thursday
over at
you should go check it out
and see what all the fun is about
this week
sponsored by the letter U
**This is my first time**

23 comments:

jfb57 said...

Lots of understand there for us to understand! Thank you!

Maggie said...

Hi Susan,
Welcome to AT, I'm sorry to hear that your first U post had such a dreadful back story. I hope that you are over the worst of it by now.
Maggie

Unknown said...

Seeing the other person's view is important. Thanks for sharing your side. It really was important.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I am so sorry to hear about your fire and trouble with a certain person! Hope things are better now. I can hear the stress in your writing and I hope you are feeling better soon.

My name is Riet said...

There is a lot to Understand in the world. Have a nice day

PERMANENT POSIES said...

First of all....I do get depression and anxiety. Thought I would throw that out there. I can't believe the cops lack of understanding. Second, I will say that there are so many give-aways and I used to enter them but would forget where they were to go back to see if I won. So, yesterday, I started a notebook with website, date ending, giveaway. We need help out here. I started Creative Tips Tuesday and so far....3 weeks into it, I had one entry. I finally took it down out of humiliation. I guess I need something catchier. I did all the work by connecting to other Tuesday Tip sites but....alas...no takers. So, I understand your frustration. I am sorry about your fire. I would have freaked out too. I have this great little cartoon video that I posted on FB when the army would not send my son home on time. I am going to post it on my site and when I do, I will let you know. You will love it and it will make you laugh.

Molly said...

I'm sorry about your recent loss and your disappointments in blogland. I have had no success in getting others to participate in things I try to do on my blog so I am just visiting others and linking up when I feel like it. Maybe if you tried a monthly participation event instead of weekly you would get more interaction. Again, I am not successful...just suggestionful!

jen said...

Glad you've joined us at AT.
I've tried giveaways and participation things too, and rarely do I have what I think I should. But I'll be back to see what you're up to, and so sorry about the fire.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I had a house fire years ago and it was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life...

your poor thing!

The firemen were jerks to us also...

jeff campbell said...

Very interesting post...I like it...I understand it...I'll be baaaack...Peace and blessings

Viki said...

Oh my gosh, you should report that officer. I think he needs some sensitivity training.

The Old White Barn said...

Great post - and a good reminder for us all to try a little understanding. Stopping by from Irish Muses. Hope everything gets a little easier for you.
Best Wishes.
Susan

Anne Lorys said...

Hi Susan,
Just wanted to pop over and say thanks so much for entering my giveaway. Best of luck to you!

Anne

Angela Weimer said...

Susan, so sorry to hear about the house fire and the cop thing. I am just catching up with my post reading now. I you feel better and things start getting better soon, they will. Angela

Jenny said...

Hi Susan,

Welcome to Alphabe-Thursday!

What a horrible thing you just went through. It seems like they should teach "compassion 101" to first responders...and they probably do. I often wonder if it is just insensitive individuals that make everyone look bad.

I have a slightly different outlook on blogging. Blogging for me is my only personal thing. It has been since I had 10 followers and 0 comments and it still is today.

I write for me. Always and only. I say what I want, do a giveaway if I want and I have no expectations. Because it is really a person outlet for whatever is in my head or whatever I need or want to say.

There is a saying called "Blogging without expectations" and I think it is a good one.

I think we all want to have Pioneer Womans blog and the reality is that very few of us will.

But if, somewhere along the way, we make a new friend, or learn a new thing, or share a thought that eases our heart for a moment then maybe our blogging is really successful after all.

I can tell you 1,000 blogs that are bigger than mine with three times as many comments...

And I can tell you 1,000 blogs that are smaller than mine with no comments.

But all these blogs are really the same thing. And outlet, a point of contact, a journey AND a destination all rolled into one.

I don't know if this will help you at all but I wanted to share it in anyway...much as you have shared your hurt with us today.

Thank you for this thoughtful stop on Alphabe-Thursday's letter "U"!

I hope that writing helped your healing!

A+

Lucy - By the Hill said...

Hi Susan,
I'm so sorry about your fire and the fact that your township seems to have alot of ignorant dickheads that have absolutely no people skills in such situations.

Good for you that you don't just sit down and take it!


As for blogging, I'm into it less than a year and see alot of successful blogs and others that are just as great but not as successful. There are sooo many out there, it's tough competition if you want alot of traffic.

I wish you luck. The reason I'm here is that you are following me (from the cottage charm giveaway likely) so I thought I'd go visit some of my followers.

There is never enough time to visit all of them and we all get sidetracked by blogger lists on the side, lol...off we go!

Since I started reading your posts, you posted a giveaway and contest which I will now enter.
I'll be back too, I'm now following you as well and look forward to your posts.
Hope your fire problems are soon taken care of, have a nice weekend!

Debbiedoos said...

Oh Man you poor thing, as I was reading, I had a few choice words for that officer.....now you would think they have dealt with these situations how many times....they should know how to treat people kindly and with compassion, and to handle calming you down, not continue to tell you to calm down...so sorry you had to deal with all that....I hope you are better now...

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Oh...I am sorry to hear about your housefire and all that you went and are going through right now! I'll be going back and reading some more of your previous posts.

Blessings & Aloha!
(Mahalo too :o)... so, so much for stopping by! Did you live in Hawaii before? My hubby was a postal worker in New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alabam, but then went back to the military to fly helicopters. (actually, we tease him and ask him what he has NOT been!)

Unknown said...

wow! you are right...mr cop man did not handle things right.....in fact he probably made it worse...I am so sorry.....

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

We can always look forward to a better time now. I hope those dark clouds move far away from you...

Unknown said...

sometimes it takes people a bit to get used to a new idea...also...school is getting out and people can be busy right now and have to get used to the new summer routine. i say give it a bit more time...i am sure it will pick up.

Kat said...

Welcome to AT. But so sorry to hear about your house fire. Glad to hear that everyone got out safely, but the ongoing trauma of something like this is so stressful. One of the vets I work with had her house struck by lightening last week, the attic caught fire. She too wondered about the number of fire men who responded in relation to the area they have to cover. Hope that things are getting back to some semblance of normal for you. Thanks for stopping by, I hesitated to post the turtle picture but to me it really summed up the enormity of the tragedy in the gulf. Kathy

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Susan

A very interesting U post! Sorry I am late in visiting.

I'm glad you enjoyed my post about the Ukrainian area of NYC. The Ukraine was once part of the Austrian/Hungarian empire until the end of WW1. Many immigrants who came to the USA before them show Austria as their place of birth but it may have been the Ukraine. Same with Poland ..the boarders kept shifting according to the era.