Stupid Americans

OK. It's going to be a venting post today. Those are allowed on occasion, right?!
We had several storms this past weekend, the one on Friday night actually blew our grill accross the deck into the patio set and broke our huge umbrella in half. Glad we weren't home at the time. The second one was Sunday afternoon. That one was actually quite nice. It was during nap time and although it was kindof rough sounding outside and we lost power, the kids slept right through it and I actually got to sit on the couch in my comfy, fluffy violet robe and get a head start on my vacation reading. I just sooo needed a nice warm cup of coffee in my hands as I was reading, but since we had no power, there was no coffee. It was still a nice relaxing afternoon and an hour and a half later the power came back on, so I got my coffee afterall.
Glad I got a little relaxation yesterday, because today has just been the pits where relaxing is concerned. We have had no internet service since Friday night, and I thought for sure that Brandon would get on the phone Saturday or Sunday and get things back to working again. Afterall, he's the one that hogs the laptop all weekend long looking at boats and million dollar houseplans the entire time. So he asks me last night to get working on this first thing Monday morning. Of course, I grumble a little bit and say yes through my teeth as my eyes roll back in my head. Just what I want to do on a Monday morning is talk to some foreigner and plug and unplug a bunch of wires that I have no clue about. I mean it, I am NOT computer savy. I am dumb and illiterate when it comes to computers. So today I actually get an American voice. "Thanks for calling AT&T, this is Larry how can I help you?" But it's not very professional sounding. It was definitely a red neck on the other line and he sounded impatient already. It was more like "This is Larr, how ken I hep ya?" So we go through the same procedures that I've gone through at least three other times, thank goodness I remembered a lot from previous times, since he was not willing to explain anything. Five minutes into the conversation, my two little darlings decide to grace me with their presence. And though I have tried, they have not learned their phone ettiquete yet. Caroline comes running up to me saying "I pooped, Mommy, I pooped" and Brett has a train that he has not played with since Christmas and is asking if I will help him put it together. As quiet as I can, I tell them both that mommy is on the phone and please be quiet, I'll be right there. Caroline is climbing into my lap and I push her off and say "Hold ON!!" She decides to start crying, so I take her out of the room and lock her out. I know, not a nice mommy thing to do. But I did have this person on the phone and he was already getting agitated I could tell. He continued to fire commands to me and ask if a such and such light was on and I told him no and he's huffing and puffing and spitting out things to do, when I realize that the reason the light wasn't on was because the other end wasn't plugged in to anything. See, I told you, I'm no wire/computer/fixer person. He was getting way ahead of me and I said "I'm sorry, I'm not a computer savy person, you may need to back up a little" and what does Larry say?! "Yeah, well I'm getting a little distracted too because of all the noise going on behind you." I was speechless. Did he just really say that? I mean, I know it's not terribly mean or anything, but here I am flustered and confused and he's going to grumble about my kids in the background?
Every time I have dealt with foreigners over the phone they have always been very kind and patient. I've never felt rushed or burdensome. I sure did today by Larry. Makes me feel guilty for ever thinking negative thoughts about foreign people coming to America to operate the gas stations and hotels. I grumble about having to listen so hard to understand them, yet they've gone out and learned my language so we can communicate.
I let that experience ruin my day. My poor kids, I have been such a monster to them. I actually acted like Larry the rest of the afternoon, grouchy and impatient with them. I'm going to have to apologize to them when they wake up from their naps. I'm so glad they don't hold grudges. They'll actually be happy to see me even before I get the chance to apologize...sweet little darlings.