vinduhl’s foggy mess

What’s more wonderful than spending Dec. 23 at a walk-in clinic? I’ve been having this annoying cold that I want to get rid of. I’ve taken some medicine to combat it. I’m actually feeling much better but need something to get rid of the sniffles.
 
So I was sitting in the almost deserted waiting room when a guy with a baby stormed into the room. He looked about 20 or so. He stood beside a woman who happened to be his wife or girlfriend. She looked 17. As he tried to pacify the crying baby in his arms, he said, “What are you waiting for? If they’re not going to call you, just leave.”
 
“I have to wait. They’re gonna call me any minute now,” she answered back, trying to keep her voice down.
 
This angered the husband/boyfriend. “You’ve been waiting here for a long time. Are they gonna bring you a cup to pi** in or what?”
 
“That’s not how it works!” At this point, her voice was louder and less apologetic. “I’m going to wait here. Why don’t you just wait in the car?”
 
“I’m not going to wait there. She doesn’t want me. She wants you.” It’s a baby girl, apparently. He handed her the baby. Immediately, the baby stopped crying as if a doll with an off switch.
 
An older woman, who sat not too far from the couple, started to speak. “Aww, she’s precious! How long has she been sick?”
 
“Oh, she’s not sick,” explained the young mother. “I’m here for me, for some test. I’m her mother.” I wasn’t too sure what her explanation of her relation to the baby has anything to do with the other lady’s question.
 
“Come on, let’s go! Why don’t you get your a** out to the car so we can go,” the impatient husband/boyfriend said. She looked up, shook her head, started to rock the baby, and said nothing. He walked out of the room while saying some curse words under his voice, something that I can’t repeat here.
 
Am I getting too old, or do “kids” nowadays not have a clue about decent behavior in public places? Yes, it was entertaining to watch, but seriously, I could go home and surf YouTube for Jerry Springer clips and get the same effect.
 
What these rude kids need is a month of charm boot camp to whip them into acceptable form of societal beings. It should be part of the rites of passage–in addition to P.E. class, or prom. Forget walking in a straight line with books on their heads. Give them basic schooling in civilized approach to conflict management, marital relations, and child rearing. The latter is important, so to pass on the values and acceptable behaviors they’ve learned (hopefully) onto their offspring so that rudeness and indecent behaviors are not passed on to begin with, effectively “breeding out” the bad acts, so to speak.

It’s interesting and yet alarming to hear how people talk on the phones these days.
 
I’m not referring to the rude behaviors of some when they talk on their cell phones in movie theaters, elevators, church, or public restrooms. Or when they text non-stop or write blog entries when they should be working at their desks… I’m one of the latter, mind you. Guilty as charged. But, hey, I’m standing in line for coffee at this moment. I must make use of my time somehow, right?
 
What I’m referring to is how some people talk out loud on their cell phones in public places as if they don’t realize that there isn’t an invisible bubble around them, shielding their conversation from other people’s eavesdropping ears.
 
As a matter of fact, I just passed by a woman who was giving her phone number and email address to the other person, spelling out her email address as if she’s in a spelling bee championship. And, of course I got the entire information in my head right now. In fact, I can share that email address to you readers so you can send her spam, or a warning to not share that information with unintended ears. But, of course, I won’t do that. However, if you’re interested and willing to twist my arm for it, just let me know. I might be persuaded.
 
Cheers!