I can count on one hand the number of people I know who are not asshats.  The worst part is that they think their behavior is somehow cute or makes them a "strong" person.  It doesn't.  It just means they are an asshat. 

For the record, I'm not ugly to people until they've been ugly to me.  Being honest and being a dick is not the same thing.  Being outspoken and being an unbearable asshat are not the same.  Being strong and being a bitch are not the same thing.  Apparently a lot of people get all this mixed up.

Being nice to people does not mean that I'm weak, that I'm being manipulated, that I'm easy, or that I am somehow blinded to how ugly people can be.  It just means the person critisizing me can't find human decency in themselves and are trying to make excuses for their bad behavior rather trying to better themselves.  Period. 

I have lived through enough shit in life that if I were stabbing people in the street it wouldn't be a big surprise.  I'm not naive and I certainly don't think everyone is good.  But I don't go around punishing everyone for those who are not.  I give people a chance because it's the right thing to do - after which time if they prove to be an asshat, then I treat them like one - and I've yet to meet ANYONE who can be a bigger bitch than me - I just don't have to go around every moment of the day trying to prove it.

And people need to STOP telling me how I should grieve for my grandfather.  This was a man who was a positive part of my life since I could remember.  I don't just get over him being gone in a couple of months.  I can grieve however long I need and express it however I need.  And however I do it, is not WRONG just because you do it different.

And last....my normal workday starts at 9a.m. and doesn't end until about 2 the next morning.  I work my ass off.  (Starting this week, I'm taking weekends off.) The next person that walks up to me and even insinuates that I don't do anything because I work at home or that somehow things are less stressful because I work at home, I'm going to tell to kiss my ass. 

I'm tired of taking crap from people I know and being expected to take crap from them BECAUSE I know them.  It's bull.  I'm tired of biting my tongue with people who are supposed to be my friends and even more tired of biting my tongue with family members who've treated my mother poorly during my grandfather's illness and since his death. 

None of these people buy my books.  None of these people pay my bills.  And apparently none of these people give a shit about me or my feelings.  And I've had it up to here (hand to throat).  So asshats beware.  The worm has turned.