My Boys Are Trendsetters

We recently joined our local YMCA. We have been definitely getting our monies worth but something happened last night that was just damned priceless. Our Y has an outdoor pool and we have been spending most nights there. I go with a coworker most nights. We bring our kids, have dinner at the pool, shower in the locker room when we are done and have dinner there as well. At 730 each night they have a water aerobics class. My coworker has been begging me to do it with her. My impression is that the class is for senior citizens. She asked me to just observe the class one night, in which I did, and I noticed there were about 6 ladies, all older women. I am 30ish and I felt too young for the class.
Well last night we were at the pool celebrating my bday and the class got started. There were about 8 ladies, all older. My kids were fascinated by this. They wanted to join the class. I explained to them that the class was for older people, and thought that was the end of it. I took princess potty and when I returned I did not see two of my boys, I asked my friends where they went and they pointed to the Water Aerobics class. 

Here is what I saw when I returned
To my horror I looked over and saw my two boys and now 9 older ladies doing water aerobics. I said to my friend "why did you let them go over there?" She just laughed and said "look they are doing great!"

Here they are
In order to really get how funny this was I have added this pic and video to demonstrate the normal makeup and activities of the water aerobics class.

Typical Class
Video Of YMCA Water Aerobics

I went by the poolside to tell them to get out but just as I pulled up to the pools edge the instructor started this synchronized circle and my boys ignored my presence and went on. I'm sorry but the sight of my teen boys in the middle of a bunch of older ladies hooping and hollering "come on girls" was priceless. One grey haired lady gave me the nastiest scowl. I tried to smile but she gave me a yucky look so I threw the stank eye back at her. I was prepared to pull my boys out but then I noticed something... two more teen boys came over and got in and joined the class, Then a teen girl. Then another boy! What? My kids were trendsetters. 

See all the other teens joining now

Within ten minutes of my kids joining the class it went from 9 older ladies to about 16 people mixed in age and gender. A man even joined in! And they were taking the class seriously. I took some pics so you could see how funny this is. I hope you laugh as much as I did.

"Come on ladies, lift those arms" 

Miss Friendly Panties

In my quest to reach and teach good health habits to my kids, and myself I decided to join our local YMCA. The YMCA is an awesome place. I  have very fond memories of the YMCA from my childhood.  I signed up here at our local Y to have a family membership which would include use of the pool, gym, basketball courts and many other amenities. In all my dealings with the YMCA past and present the most impressive thing was the staff. I had never encountered a rude, judgmental or incompetent person there over a span of 33 years. 
Last week I went in to turn in my paperwork to finalize my membership and there was an elderly lady working the front. She asked me "what I needed" and I explained why I was there. As I filled out the paperwork she asked for a blank check necessary for the bank draft. I asked for the date of the draft and the first would be that day. I asked her if they could activate my membership in 3 days when I got paid, I explained I currently did not have enough money in my account to cover the sign up fee and first draft. Her attitude changed drastically. First she gave me a look that one would give to someone who was really undesirable and gross. She  gave me a once-over that seemed to say to me "you don't have the money?"  She snatched the paperwork back and said "well  you are not ready to join then". Just so you know The C in YMCA stands for Christian. As I  looked at her in horror I saw the other front desk worker look embarrassed as well. I calmly asked "well can I do everything to get signed up then you can hold the check and activate my membership in a couple days?" "Yeah" she said  "just come back then, when you are ready" she stressed.

This is a serious replica of her.

I asked her if I could have a tour. Tours are offered when you join or even if you just walk in off the street and want to educate yourself about the facility. A tour was important for me because I have all ages of kids and need to know the rules/procedures for their visits and so forth. She said to me  "I'll give you a tour when you become a member." I was horrified at her but in no mood to do anything about it so I left. I returned a few days later and turned in all my stuff. Okay now I am an official member so I asked Miss Friendly Panties for a tour figuring now that she had my dough maybe she'd be a bit nicer. Nope! She looked at me like the request was ridiculous. I said to her a tour is an initial part of the registration process right? She said "yeah" and literally rolled her eyes at me. Without getting up she turned in her chair to the left and said "the nursery is over there down that hall." I stood there shocked thinking surely she is not giving me a tour from her chair. WTF? She then pointed upstairs and said "you work out up there, locker rooms to the right."She was done! I stood there wondering if she was serious. She was. I asked her if that was the usual tour. This facility is HUGE and offers hundred of different programs. She just acted like she did not hear me.
I went back the other day and the girl who had been at the front desk with Miss Friendly Panties saw me and said I am so sorry for the other day. I said yes that lady really should not be working the front desk, if here at all.  The lovely girl offered to give me a proper tour which she did and I left very well informed and feeling better. She was super sweet. 
I really would like to complain formally about Miss Friendly Panties......I mean complaining is what I do best. But the girl working at the front told me "she is very rude but had been having a lot of personal problems'. Also Miss Friendly panties is old, a senior. Maybe she cannot get another job at that age?? I don't know. If anyone understands personal problems it would be me but visiting that upon other people is very inappropriate when you are getting paid to do a job. Should I complain or not?

Help Me Straighten Courtney Out

There is a Dollar Tree that I frequent and I encounter this chick all the time. I think I keep encountering her because it is my calling to smack the ish outta her. Her name is Courtney, she seems to be around 20?
During the Christmas season is when I remember meeting her first. The place was insane with shoppers.The lines were backed up quite a bit. I was maybe, 7th in line and Courtney was serving a Hispanic male and his wife. The man was  tryna get a balloon which are behind the counter at another register . He asked Courtney in an accented voice for the balloon, and she snapped "huh?" The man smiled patiently and repeated his question. And Courtney said "Is it a balloon that you want?" But she said it with rolling eyes and a snotty attitude. He shook his head yes. So Courtney headed over to the balloon counter and began to blow up a balloon. The man shook his head no and described the one he wanted. She took another balloon down and he shook his head no and tried to explain he wanted the 'pretty one with flowers". She obviously did not understand him so she yells across the counters frustrated"I can't understand you!" He tries again to explain and she says "look I can't understand you I do not speak Spanish". I was horrified because he was not speaking Spanish!. Eventually she got his right balloon and then after he left she said to the next person in line "those people kill me, learn a little English!" Then she rang up with an attitude a few more people in line then without a word she left her register and walked off. There were still lots of people in line. 


After about 5 minutes the two elderly ladies in front of  me began to wonder aloud where she went. They looked around and asked others in line if they knew her she went. No one did. So then one of the ladies says to the manager who was running the register beside our line, "excuse me ma'am do you know where our cashier went?" The manager looks over and asks "is she gone?" The ladies say "yes for about 10 minutes now." So the manager yells out Courtney's name across the store. Courtney appears from the middle of aisle three. "What!" she snaps. "What are you doing your line is backing up?" the manager asks. "Well, Courtney says with a tone that should have gotten her ass fired on the spot. "Someone broke glass and I am getting it up if that's okay with all of you. That is the policy correct?"  The manager says "We could have had someone else get it we need you on the register." "Well I am almost done now" she says as she returns to her register with a dustpan full of broken glass. She dumps the glass into the trash. One of the ladies says "Oops, sorry we did not mean to get you in trouble, its just that you left and we did not know if you were returning." "Its fine" Courtney says "did you think I fell in a hole or something?" I think that was her attempt at humor but it was rude.I am watching all this in disbelief.
Courtney then retrieves a clip board from under the counter and begins to fill out veeerry slowly a damage report. While we are all still waiting! She then gets a wipe and wipes down her work space. It is clear to me that Courtney is being a bitch. But I say nothing. Courtney eventually resumes ringing people out.
This week I returned to that Dollar Tree to pick up some stuff. Courtney was working and was her usual cheerful self. While she was ringing people out an elderly lady approached and stood off to the side waiting for a chance to talk to Courtney. Courtney just ignored the lady and kept ringing  people out. When my turn came I said to Courtney "you can help her I'll wait." 
Courtney turns to the lady and snaps "do you need something?" "Why yes dear" the sweet ole lady replies. She is of the age that her hands tremble. Trembling she shows Courtney her receipt and says nicely to her "I think you made a mistake dear, see you charged me for 5 cards but I only have 4." "Gimme the cards" Courtney snaps and snatches the cards and counts them. I did not see the count because I was watching the elderly lady. She hands then back to the lady and says. "Well what do you want?" "I would like to be charged correctly please" the lady says."You were" says Courtney. The lady starts to explain that she has 4 cards but paid for 5 and Courtney snaps "why are you telling me! I mean seriously what do you think I can do about it?"
"Well what should I do?" asks the lady. "Tell the manager, duh!" she rudely says
"OK" says the lady "will you call her?" "No I will not! You can tell her yourself" and with that Courtney turns her back to the lady and starts ringing me up. "Where is the manager?" the lady asks "How am I supposed to know?" Courtney responds. I really do not have time for this. Do you see my line people are waiting. Don't you see that big sign over that door that says manager?" 
"Yes" the lady answers. "Well thats where you can go" Courtney says rolling her eyes.
The lady thanks her and heads for the door. Courtney then says to me "I know that she had 5 cards, she is not fooling me! hhmmp" I was mortified. I have never seen someone so rude. I am emailing Dollar Tree to share my observations. I am mad at myself for not saying anything but sheesh I was just shocked that someone would talk that way to someone. I have decided to  start going there often just to fuck with Courtney. I wanna see if she will talk to an able bodied individual that way. I'ma ask for balloons, let her blow them up then change my mind. And all kinda ish but I need some more ideas. What can I do to make Courtney's life hell?