Last week I challenged my readers to keep a “Whinery,” a daily diary of their petty complaints. Why a Whinery? Why not a “Gratitude Journal?”
Why? Because I’m not Oprah. I’m Sandra O’Day, an ex-con motivational speaker, flawed with anger management issues.
I’m sick to death of everyone’s “Sunshine Act.”
I admit I am a mostly grateful person -- my apartment has electricity and clean running water, which is better than 90% of the world is doing. But I also know that the small gripes in life are the things that will give your “Cheery Sunshine Face” gangrene and force you to amputate if you don’t deal with them.
Let’s strive to be more emotionally adventurous. Let’s look at our ridiculous gripes so that our “attitude of gratitude” comes from someplace real. Someplace examined and earned. Spill the beans of your ugly over-privileged life and point and laugh. It’s good for all of us.
Otherwise you’re just spraying perfume on your perineum and calling it clean.
Get on that Whinery, folks. It’s time to share.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year -– Start a Whinery
A Dialogue
Sandra O'Day
2011 was one tough year, I’ll give you that. But boy oh boy am I sick of your whining and complaining.
You
Who, me?
Sandra O’Day
Yes. You.
You
But Sandra, I post my attitude of gratitude all over Facebook and Twitter! I’m no whiner!
Sandra O’Day
Hey whiney baby, you merely use “The Sunshine Act” to avoid powerful motivational fuel. It’s like using lead-based makeup to cover up syphilis marks like the French Aristocracy did back in the late 1700s.
You
What?
Sandra O’Day
Whiner! I challenge you to start a Diary of Whining. A Whinery.
You
A Whinery?
Sandra O’Day
Yes! Do it for one week. Every little bitchy, complaining thought you have, jot it down and then send me your choicest notes from your Whinery.
You
Where do I send it?
Sandra O’Day
Message me on Facebook, or email me at PowerofSandra@aol.com.
Happy New Year.
Sandra O'Day
2011 was one tough year, I’ll give you that. But boy oh boy am I sick of your whining and complaining.
You
Who, me?
Sandra O’Day
Yes. You.
You
But Sandra, I post my attitude of gratitude all over Facebook and Twitter! I’m no whiner!
Sandra O’Day
Hey whiney baby, you merely use “The Sunshine Act” to avoid powerful motivational fuel. It’s like using lead-based makeup to cover up syphilis marks like the French Aristocracy did back in the late 1700s.
You
What?
Sandra O’Day
Whiner! I challenge you to start a Diary of Whining. A Whinery.
You
A Whinery?
Sandra O’Day
Yes! Do it for one week. Every little bitchy, complaining thought you have, jot it down and then send me your choicest notes from your Whinery.
You
Where do I send it?
Sandra O’Day
Message me on Facebook, or email me at PowerofSandra@aol.com.
Happy New Year.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Take Your Silver Lining and Cram It Up Your Ass
You’d think one of the worst things about being a disaster victim is dealing with FEMA. Or insurance adjusters. Or the complete devastation of your home and loss of all possessions.
But no, all that is merely frustrating.
The absolute worst thing about being a disaster victim are the people who will not shut the fuck up about looking at “the bright side”.
People. I make my living looking at the bright side. I’ve survived a murder attempt in prison and I survive the subway in New York City on a daily basis. I’m a transformational expert and motivational speaker. I teach people to look up because I know how to do it.
So don’t be telling me about that time your grandma’s basement flooded or your second cousin who had the broken sump pump. I do not give a rat’s ass. You do not know what you are talking about.
My house is a shit-show right now and I know it’s going to get better but I do NOT need someone with zero experience telling me about the silver lining.
So cram the silver lining up your butt and get back to work. You do your work, I’ll do mine.
But no, all that is merely frustrating.
The absolute worst thing about being a disaster victim are the people who will not shut the fuck up about looking at “the bright side”.
People. I make my living looking at the bright side. I’ve survived a murder attempt in prison and I survive the subway in New York City on a daily basis. I’m a transformational expert and motivational speaker. I teach people to look up because I know how to do it.
So don’t be telling me about that time your grandma’s basement flooded or your second cousin who had the broken sump pump. I do not give a rat’s ass. You do not know what you are talking about.
My house is a shit-show right now and I know it’s going to get better but I do NOT need someone with zero experience telling me about the silver lining.
So cram the silver lining up your butt and get back to work. You do your work, I’ll do mine.
Monday, September 19, 2011
87 Motel
On August 28, 2011 Hurricane Irene wracked many towns on the east coast, including Gardiner, New York. O’Day Camp was one of the many homes and businesses creamed by Irene’s wind and flood waters.
We fled our home in Gardiner to the neighboring town of New Paltz, mostly because that was as far as we could go. The New York State Thruway was washed out in several parts, and most local roads were also washed out.
We checked into 87 Motel.
87 Motel is advertised as “Clean, Comfortable, Affordable and Friendly.” I can report it is affordable and friendly.
It does not allow pets, but I’m not sure why. Would pets finish ripping the towel rack out of the tile? Might pets fix the drawers? Suck the ample amount of garbage/debris from the AC? But the staff really is friendly.
87 Motel hosts a fascinating cast of characters. Next door was the Vietnam Vet (that’s what his ball cap and bumper sticker said) who shared his room with a 21 year-old (maybe?) Latino boy who dressed like Michael Jackson on the Thriller album cover.
Every morning in the lobby I chatted with a very, very tall white guy with a long white pony tail who only wore white clothes. His eyes were iceberg blue. He spoke softly and walked with a cane. He was friendly and charming. I'm sure he's a serial killer.
Down at the far end of the low-slung brick establishment lived a mother and her five children. I met at least three other interesting people who also call Motel 87 their home. They were all very nice. Creepy and sad, but nice.
The first three or so days into my stay I felt like I was watching a bizarre Tennessee Williams play whenever I returned to the motel. Then, on my fourth evening there I became horribly aware that some crazy lady with un-washed hair, no makeup and eyes like a mental patient was laughing too long and too loudly at toddlers being chased by Canadian Snow geese at the 87 Motel “pond.”
It was me. Crazy, mud-caked Sandra O’Day.
I was no different from the main cast of characters at 87 Motel, I was just a minor character -- there for only five days.
The clean up continues. No longer at 87 Motel, but still not back at O’Day Camp.
We fled our home in Gardiner to the neighboring town of New Paltz, mostly because that was as far as we could go. The New York State Thruway was washed out in several parts, and most local roads were also washed out.
We checked into 87 Motel.
87 Motel is advertised as “Clean, Comfortable, Affordable and Friendly.” I can report it is affordable and friendly.
It does not allow pets, but I’m not sure why. Would pets finish ripping the towel rack out of the tile? Might pets fix the drawers? Suck the ample amount of garbage/debris from the AC? But the staff really is friendly.
87 Motel hosts a fascinating cast of characters. Next door was the Vietnam Vet (that’s what his ball cap and bumper sticker said) who shared his room with a 21 year-old (maybe?) Latino boy who dressed like Michael Jackson on the Thriller album cover.
Every morning in the lobby I chatted with a very, very tall white guy with a long white pony tail who only wore white clothes. His eyes were iceberg blue. He spoke softly and walked with a cane. He was friendly and charming. I'm sure he's a serial killer.
Down at the far end of the low-slung brick establishment lived a mother and her five children. I met at least three other interesting people who also call Motel 87 their home. They were all very nice. Creepy and sad, but nice.
The first three or so days into my stay I felt like I was watching a bizarre Tennessee Williams play whenever I returned to the motel. Then, on my fourth evening there I became horribly aware that some crazy lady with un-washed hair, no makeup and eyes like a mental patient was laughing too long and too loudly at toddlers being chased by Canadian Snow geese at the 87 Motel “pond.”
It was me. Crazy, mud-caked Sandra O’Day.
I was no different from the main cast of characters at 87 Motel, I was just a minor character -- there for only five days.
The clean up continues. No longer at 87 Motel, but still not back at O’Day Camp.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Hurricane Irene
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Namaste, bitches! (Part Three)
I recently lost a bet and spent a month and a half at an ashram.
Every weekend rich ladies come to the ashram. They were perfectly botoxed and tucked so that no look of surprise or concern would ever cross their faces. They all look alike, with their weird paralyzed faces and fear of being over 40. But that’s not why I hated them.
I hated them because the monks couldn’t. Or wouldn’t. The monks are nice to everybody! They’re even nice to whining complaining bitches who show up to yoga in an ashram wearing pink velour sweats with “Juicy” on the patootie. (Or wearing Lululemon.)
They would bitch about the ashram not having hair dryers and then they’d bitch about the scratchy towels. I hated their loud, annoying Long Island and New Jersey voices as much as I hated the clenched whine of the Connecticut women.
Their gold “Ohm” necklaces snagged in their ridiculous earrings while they were in downward dog pose.
They would form cliques to make each other feel small and left out while they raced to enlightenment.
They showed up every weekend in a Prius and Lexus parade. And my stinky monk was just as nice to them as he was to me.
I learned something on those weekends:
Loathing the annoying will not make them less loathsome or annoying.
If you cannot stand someone, it’s only because you recognize something of them in yourself. Otherwise you wouldn’t care.
Lululemon is spendy, but I like it.
Every weekend rich ladies come to the ashram. They were perfectly botoxed and tucked so that no look of surprise or concern would ever cross their faces. They all look alike, with their weird paralyzed faces and fear of being over 40. But that’s not why I hated them.
I hated them because the monks couldn’t. Or wouldn’t. The monks are nice to everybody! They’re even nice to whining complaining bitches who show up to yoga in an ashram wearing pink velour sweats with “Juicy” on the patootie. (Or wearing Lululemon.)
They would bitch about the ashram not having hair dryers and then they’d bitch about the scratchy towels. I hated their loud, annoying Long Island and New Jersey voices as much as I hated the clenched whine of the Connecticut women.
Their gold “Ohm” necklaces snagged in their ridiculous earrings while they were in downward dog pose.
They would form cliques to make each other feel small and left out while they raced to enlightenment.
They showed up every weekend in a Prius and Lexus parade. And my stinky monk was just as nice to them as he was to me.
I learned something on those weekends:
Loathing the annoying will not make them less loathsome or annoying.
If you cannot stand someone, it’s only because you recognize something of them in yourself. Otherwise you wouldn’t care.
Lululemon is spendy, but I like it.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Happy Independence Day!
I got this email and couldn't agree more. Pass it on folks. And happy 4th of July!
-Sandra
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete.
-Sandra
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete.
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