History | Piss and Moan

Unwrapping the aftermath

Posted on December 26, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

Well, folks, the stockings are down and the presents opened. It was chaos from the start and there is a ton to do now that all are gone.

Not sure about your family, but mine appears to just swoop in to open presents and consume food before jetting off to other places and people to visit, which leaves a tornado of debris scattered about the house and hours of cleaning after the fact. That isn’t to say that there weren’t also hours of prep before everyone even showed up…so when taken all into account there were probably four times as many hours preparing for and cleaning after than there was actual time spent with family.

Don’t get me wrong, time spent with family was great and the joy did finally come as the smiles and laughter filled the room. It did finally come. BUT, it was soon lost in the time spend cleaning floors, dishes, the fridge, taking out the extra 100 pounds of garbage, and putting the furniture back where it belongs.

Does anyone else have that feeling after Christmas where the “What did we just do?” dread of having to put life back to normal appears that it will take an inordinate amount of time? Like maybe you’re the only one that will be working into the wee hours of the night just so there will be some resemblance of normalcy the day after?

Thanks, I think

Posted on November 14, 2018 by backuphill

Actually, thanks for nothing.

I could have done better. You definitely could have done better.

But thanks for sticking around and taking a look. I hope you can at least relate to the Pissing and Moaning going on around here. It doesn’t take much work to find things to complain about and I am really good at it. But, just in case you have something on your mind, you can always leave a comment or three. Or you could share it with someone you think might enjoy it too. Either way, thanks.

Now, go do something not worth your while. You deserve that much at least.

Political ads suck

Posted on November 8, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com

I know it is two days late and a dollar short, but who cares.

I know you all agree with me so I am kinda preaching to the choir here, but political ads suck. They are everywhere during political season (mind you we just left one election cycle and the next presidential cycle is about to begin shortly), radio, tv, internet, next to the road, in the mail, social media…and and now also in my texts.

I kid you not, I got a text on election day reminding me to vote (and how to vote on an initiative). So, now we are going to get bombarded in the future with text messages from campaigns…

I didn’t sign anything petition so other than my public voter registration I am not sure how they got my number but this is a bad sign. A bad bad sign.

I should have taken a screen shot of it so I could post it here to prove it, but I was so pissed I deleted the second I opened it to read it. #smh

Anyone else get political ads via text this cycle?

Robo calls and I swear

Posted on October 26, 2018 by backuphill

apple device cellphone communication device

Photo by it’s me neosiam on Pexels.com

I am on the “Do Not Call” list. So why are you calling me?

Oh, wait, you’re a robo call for a contest I didn’t enter telling me I won a prize that doesn’t exist.

It would be nice if we could just block anything that was initiated as a robo call. Issue solved. Yes, I could block that number that looks like it is from my area but then another number makes the same call two days later.

Irritating.

Technology exists to combat it. Technology exists to combat the technology to combat it.

Never ending cycle.

Annoyed. I swear if I ever meet someone that does this crap…

Don’t make me carve another

Posted on October 19, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Yeah, it’s THAT time of year again. I already mentioned one of the terrible things we have to enjoy during this season, but there is another similarly related item.

Pumpkin carving. Ugh…

I am sure I enjoyed it to some degree when I was a kid, and yes there is a degree of “tradition” involved. The whole trip tot he patch and walking in the mud and getting hot cider, etc. I get it.

But these days, I could care less. I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to help the kids do it. I don’t want to help the grandkids do it. I don’t want to do it. You can’t make me do it.

There I said it.

Yes, I am heartless. The Grinch is my spirit animal. Always.

Better than sliced bread

Posted on October 11, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

You know what is better than sliced bread? Bread you bake at home and have to slice yourself.

What is with the crap you buy in the store? What did they do in the process to make it taste like…nothing. It is virtually flavorless, it is light and fluffy, and it barely makes a proper piece of toast.

If you have had home-baked, fresh bread, you know what I am talking about! Sure, I may have to slice it myself and those slices may not come out all uniform or nor but it sure tastes better.

So what gives? They had to ruin bread just so they could mass produce it and slice it? Why can’t they make it taste like the stuff you would make at home?

Car salesmen are the worst

Posted on September 26, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

OK, I know this is cliche. I know this is a generalization. I know this has been my experience in EVERY car purchase I have ever made, so I am pretty sure others have it as well.

It is universally known that car salesmen are the worst! I am sure every comedian has probably covered this topic so I am not exploring any new ground here, but I am gonna throw in my two cents.

Car salesmen are the vultures of society.

They perch themselves up near the front entrance of the dealership, waiting and watching for any movement on the lot. They respond to email inquiries and bang out phone calls to people who have shown even the remotest interest in one of their cars. When a customer finds it’s way onto the property they flap their wings and decide who gets to approach the potential meal.

They leave the perch and saunter over near the customer trying not to look too eager. They circle, make small talk, and assess the situation. They wait for the customer to show signs of weakness or excitement about a vehicle.

Then they swoop in and land near their prey. As you fight to maintain the upper hand, they wait you out until you finally give in. You offer, they counter. You offer again, they counter again. Then, when you appear weak, another one swoops in to add more pressure. More offers, more pressure. You’re gasping, breathing hard and trying to hang on to the little life you have left, but there are now two vultures waiting, waiting to see last breaths of hesitation escape from your lungs as you agree to the purchase.

Now they feast! There is a flurry of feathers and papers and the next thing you know you are standing in your driveway with keys to a new car and buyers remorse.

Good luck out there!

Nothing reminds you of this fact more than when you begin your new car search. The process is the same on every single lot. Sure, the names of the dealerships change as you shop around and look for the best deal, but the process is the same. The behavior is the same. It is so predictable.

Skeletons, oh the skeletons!

Posted on September 25, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Everyone has skeletons. This is a fact.

No one is perfect. We all have things in our past that we likely regret. We all have things in our past we would rather not have others know about. We all have things in our past that we’re embarrassed about. We all have things in our past we would probably like to take back or change.

The expectation that those who are in the public life, whether in government service or celebrity, be perfect and have no skeletons in their past is absurd. This is an impossible standard and one that no one can meet. Quite frankly, we, the American public, should be ashamed of ourselves for expecting this standard and for mistakenly trying to create it. Not all skeletons can be ignored and some most definitely shouldn’t be; however, there is also a limit to what should be considered when determining the true character of a person. Time and behavior have to be considered. Character isn’t built in a day, for good reason.

If you have ever considered a public life, or even if you haven’t considered it but some how end up with one, you better keep your head down. “They” are coming for you! It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, how long ago it was, or even what side you’re on. “They” are gonna find you and get you. It doesn’t take evidence. It doesn’t take witnesses. It doesn’t take corroboration. It just takes accusations and allegations. No proof needed. It doesn’t matter if you’re innocent or not, maybe the skeleton doesn’t even exist. No matter. “They” are gonna get you!

Our Founders are rolling over in their graves. None of them were perfect, but at least they understood that about others nor did they expect it.

If you are currently in a place of power, in the government, a celebrity (major or minor), or just a regular person…you should just stop doing whatever you’re doing and resign. Go live in a hole and interact with no one, because eventually your skeletons will come out of the closet and no one is exempt from being haunted by them.

Error 404

Posted on September 19, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Lorenzo Cafaro on Pexels.com

I am not totally sure what that means, but I do know it means whatever I was trying to do on the internet isn’t working, and it is frustrating as hell.

“Page not found.”

“We’ve encountered a problem. Try again.”

“HTTP server not found.”

It all means that whatever is trying to be done ain’t working and everything comes to a grinding halt.

Ugh, tech problems are the worst!

Anyone else have a “favorite” that short circuits their day?

Punctuate that!

Posted on September 12, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The downfall of society is coming (well, some would argue it is already here).

Dramatic much? No, I don’t think so.

Language is important. Unfortunately, people are lazy and that translates to poor language skills, as well as a plethora of other bad habits. So, what is the deal with the lack of punctuation in nearly every social media platform? Yes, the option to punctuate is available but it seems fewer and fewer people are choosing to do so. Maybe we can blame it on Twitter – 140 characters is rather limiting and why waste it on punctuation? I get it, but at the same time it isn’t cool.

Grandmothers and small children are being eaten, for the love of everything holy! Some classic examples of why punctuation is important:

“Let’s eat grandma!” vs. “Let’s eat, grandma!”

“We just ate Timmy.” vs. “We just ate, Timmy.”

Oh, and while we’re at it, how about we throw in some capitalization as well?

Anyway, I read an article not long ago that said if I use punctuation in text messages, like a period at the end of the sentence, that I am angry. WTH? Who made up these stupid rules? That’s a pretty big ASSumption to make when I am just using the rules of writing because I don’t want to look like an uneducated dumbsh*t. Got me?

its the little things people and little things matter we ignore the little things and i just dont think were going to recover from this catastrophe see what i mean its annoying isnt it dont make up rules just cuz youre freaking lazy to write properly

Punctuate. Communicate properly.