Background: Wife and I went to California for a friend's wedding. While there, we stopped to see family. On the way up to the town the wedding was in, we stopped at one of the wife and I's favorite stops, house of fruit.
We picked up some wines, some fruits, and while waiting in line at the candy shack to buy some fudge, a family walked in, and immediately the kid started running around the carts setup around the room, forcing her way through groups of people, and generally causing a ruckus. I don't do well in big gatherings, family or otherwise, and the previous 2 days I was never away from at least 10 family members. I don't get claustrophobic or anything of the sort, it's just draining mentally to be in that environment for long periods of time. This started wearing on me, and by this point I was getting to be in a bad mood.
Then the shrieking started, and I glared at the parents, who were standing back, watching, and grinning, while other customers in the store were holding their ears and leaving, or grumbling under their breaths. I couldn't take it any more:
Me, to the wife, but loud enough for all to hear: Why do parents suck these days? I couldn't imagine being that irresponsible to reproduce and not discipline your kids to act appropriately in public!
Both parents: *catbuttface, then dad picks up the kid, and keeps her quiet*
*cue thumbs up, smiles, and mouthed thank yous from everyone in earshot, including the lady behind the counter*
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After a weekend driving in Cali, and generally enjoying the good (albeit aggressive) driving there, we started the drive back to Utah, taking I80 back down for a more scenic view. We didn't even hit Sacramento when I had to dodge a car who maliciously had a go at my front passenger fender. While growling at them and honking, and trying to dodge the incoming idiocy, I notice the Utah plates. Entire weekend, and no attempts on our lives, only to have someone from Utah prove once and for all that no one from this state can handle a motor vehicle.
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We stopped in Elko, NV for a late night food run at about 12:30AM. We walked in, and the lady behind the counter tells us they're out of regular meat, so burgers are a no go. No worries, we order, and wait for our food.
Meanwhile, an asian family walks in, orders, then wanders off speaking mandarin. The parents seem ok, but the child (who looks no older than 16, and is wearing a high school track team hoody) seems inebriated enough to have difficulty walking and talking.
A few seconds later, another mom/daughter group wanders in, and while waiting comments on the lack of "fast friendly service", orders, then goes and sits to watch the oriental family watch their daughter stumble around and have issues trying to fill a cup with root beer. Everyone involved seemed to act like this was perfectly normal here.
Drunkers: *picks up cup after 2 failed attempts. Attempts to fill drink, hits adjacent drink dispenser and coats hand in minute maid.*
*Oriental parents sit at a nearby table and watch*
Drunkers: *finishes filling drink, then falls over on her butt trying to reach for a lid*
*mother/daughter watch in amusement like it's a show, even snickering quietly as she grumbles in half mandarin half english trying to stand back up*
Drunkers: *fills drink again, then spills it all over herself, the counter, and the floor*
Employee: Need help miss?
Drunkers: *waves hand dismissively, and stumbles over to parents to sit*
About this point, we got our food, and we quickly left to get out of this town. I thought these antics only happened at the strip in Vegas, not miles from the strip or any casinos in a small town. O_o
We picked up some wines, some fruits, and while waiting in line at the candy shack to buy some fudge, a family walked in, and immediately the kid started running around the carts setup around the room, forcing her way through groups of people, and generally causing a ruckus. I don't do well in big gatherings, family or otherwise, and the previous 2 days I was never away from at least 10 family members. I don't get claustrophobic or anything of the sort, it's just draining mentally to be in that environment for long periods of time. This started wearing on me, and by this point I was getting to be in a bad mood.
Then the shrieking started, and I glared at the parents, who were standing back, watching, and grinning, while other customers in the store were holding their ears and leaving, or grumbling under their breaths. I couldn't take it any more:
Me, to the wife, but loud enough for all to hear: Why do parents suck these days? I couldn't imagine being that irresponsible to reproduce and not discipline your kids to act appropriately in public!
Both parents: *catbuttface, then dad picks up the kid, and keeps her quiet*
*cue thumbs up, smiles, and mouthed thank yous from everyone in earshot, including the lady behind the counter*
-----
After a weekend driving in Cali, and generally enjoying the good (albeit aggressive) driving there, we started the drive back to Utah, taking I80 back down for a more scenic view. We didn't even hit Sacramento when I had to dodge a car who maliciously had a go at my front passenger fender. While growling at them and honking, and trying to dodge the incoming idiocy, I notice the Utah plates. Entire weekend, and no attempts on our lives, only to have someone from Utah prove once and for all that no one from this state can handle a motor vehicle.
-----
We stopped in Elko, NV for a late night food run at about 12:30AM. We walked in, and the lady behind the counter tells us they're out of regular meat, so burgers are a no go. No worries, we order, and wait for our food.
Meanwhile, an asian family walks in, orders, then wanders off speaking mandarin. The parents seem ok, but the child (who looks no older than 16, and is wearing a high school track team hoody) seems inebriated enough to have difficulty walking and talking.
A few seconds later, another mom/daughter group wanders in, and while waiting comments on the lack of "fast friendly service", orders, then goes and sits to watch the oriental family watch their daughter stumble around and have issues trying to fill a cup with root beer. Everyone involved seemed to act like this was perfectly normal here.
Drunkers: *picks up cup after 2 failed attempts. Attempts to fill drink, hits adjacent drink dispenser and coats hand in minute maid.*
*Oriental parents sit at a nearby table and watch*
Drunkers: *finishes filling drink, then falls over on her butt trying to reach for a lid*
*mother/daughter watch in amusement like it's a show, even snickering quietly as she grumbles in half mandarin half english trying to stand back up*
Drunkers: *fills drink again, then spills it all over herself, the counter, and the floor*
Employee: Need help miss?
Drunkers: *waves hand dismissively, and stumbles over to parents to sit*
About this point, we got our food, and we quickly left to get out of this town. I thought these antics only happened at the strip in Vegas, not miles from the strip or any casinos in a small town. O_o
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