A lack of respect/Simplistic conversations

I have been sick with tonsillitis and have spent the past several days in bed. Caught up on sleep? I think so. Last night, I felt terrible when I was coming back from the doctor. I had not eaten in over 7 hours and wanted rice with a can of cream of chicken soup stirred in. I was very dehydrated in addition; thankfully the doctor didn't insist on injecting an IV into me for that. I called my sister at home and the conversation went a little something like this:

Sis: Bobey (a variation of dumb according to her)
Me: Hi- I'm starving. Can you have mom make me white rice with a can of cream of chicken soup?
Sis: Congratulations.
Me: No- I haven't eaten or drank anything in hours. I'm starving
Sis: Felicidades. Aaaaaaaaw my little pato bobo (in Spanish it translates to dumb duck) is hungry.
Me: I hope this means it'll be ready by the time I get home.

First, all of the sarcasm ticks me off. I can be quite sarcastic myself, but I have made several attempts to be as nice as I can to my sister and cut the sarcasm. This means me not calling her names, yet she still insists on calling me all of these pet names I hate. Usually I would tolerate her calling me these names because it has gone on for years, but is it necessary? She is 18 now. Does she still have to talk like she is 2 or 3 years old? Whenever I call her or she calls me she answers the phone with one of these cutesy names. I have already told her I'm not going to call her names in an effort to be civil toward her. She still persists. Next time though, when she calls me I plan to rat her out right there on the phone. Hopefully she is in a public place and I can embarrass her enough. I plan to yell into the phone telling her how I hate that she acts so immature and calls me all of these pet names. I'm not her boyfriend and I'd hope she'd have better names for her "Imaginary Boytoy." Ask me about Imaginary Boytoy- that's another story for another time.

Story #2
The other night we had dinner out together as a family. Sister has such limited interests and often can't contribute to meaningful conversations at the dinner table. The other night she brought up a conversation we've had many times before. "Dad, do you think Obama or Hilary will win?" My dad went and laid everything out on the table giving his explanation of neither. Then after about a minute, my sister got upset and bored at what my dad said because my dad brought in some Republican candidates who are doing pretty well in the polls right now. My sister either didn't want to hear it, or she couldn't contribute to the conversation, so she said, "why don't we just vote for JFK? He'd definitely win." Now, maybe this just ticked me off because she couldn't handle the realities of what my dad was saying... or here is my theory (honestly, because I don't think my sister is as well versed in politics as I am or my dad, for that matter). Anyways, it just bugged me since we went from what could be an intelligible conversation to something that was so unrealistic and out of the question.

I would have gladly contributed to the conversation and presented what I think Clinton and Obama has working for and against them. I would have also, like my dad did brought in. It would have made my sister mad. I would have brought up some things in Obama's past that could have an effect on him like he admitted in high school experimenting with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Up until the start of his campaign for president he smoked, but now is kicking the habit. I would have brought up that some people like that Clinton is a woman, but many others dislike that fact and went into the reasons... My candidate of choice from the Republican side I would have brought up is Romney because my sister detests him.

I know not to talk about politics with my sister- not that I'll become upset. I can see both sides of an issue. I think it is best to face realities- it is possible the next president may be a Republican. I do however, when I am with my sister and she brings up politics put on KFI AM 640, more stimulating talk radio. They're a very extreme conservative talk station. 95% of the time I disagree with their views, but I don't mind hearing the other side of things and why these (idiots) feel the way they do. But also, when I do talk politics with her I present myself as Conservative as possible and always explain why I feel that way (even if I don't) but I try to present the other perspective. I have told her already that I endorse Romney for president (if you really want to know who I'm supporting, ask me), but I try to play the other side of the fence. I said he is a good, religious guy, I've talked about how he is good with economic issues because he was able to make the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake profitable, which is a good thing. All my sister can say is he doesn't have a true religion, and sometimes religion is bad. All George Bush does is pray.

A comparison of schedules

Because I feel the need to put myself on a pedestal... here's a typical week for me

Monday
6:30- get up, get dressed and ready for work, do dishes, watch news
7:30- go to work
1:30- go to school
2:00-5:00- go to school
5:30- get home and eat dinner
6:30- gym
7:30 to 10:00- homework

Tuesday
6:30 get up, get dressed and ready, do dishes, watch news, clean kitchen
7:30-2:30- work
2:30-3:30- clean around house (bathroom, hall, etc.)
4:00-5:00- school
5:30- get home and eat dinner
6:30- gym
10:00- bed

Wednesday
6:30- get up, play around on computer, watch news
7:30- drive 30 miles to internship
8:30-1:30- internship
1:30-2:00- drive to school
2:00-5:00- class
5:30- get home and eat dinner
5:30-10:00 homework

Thursday
7:10- wake up, play around on computer, watch news
7:30- drive 30 miles to internship
8:30-1:30- internship
1:30-2:00- drive home
2:00-3:30- clean and work around the house
3:30-5:30- allergy shots and dinner
10:00- bed

Friday
6:30- get up, get dressed, play around on computer, watch news
8:20- drive to MSJC for class
9:00-11:50- class
11:50-2:00- lunch and free time
2:00-5:00- class
5:00-bed- hang out with friends

Saturday and Sunday
RELAX, hang out with friends, gym

Let's look at Steph's schedule

Monday/Wednesday/Friday
5:40- get up
6:00- leave for train
6:30-7:45- commute to school via train and bus
9:00-4:00- classes with 3, 1 hour breaks during the day
4:00-5:30- go home on train
5:30- get home and eat dinner
5:30-11:30 or later- sitting in front of TV, computer

Tuesday/Thursday
11:00a.m. or later- get up
11:00a.m.-9:30p.m. sit, eat, play on computer, watch tv
9:30p.m.- there is a mad dash to do homework
11:30p.m. or so- bed

Weekends
10:00-11:00a.m.- Wake upsome homework
2:00a.m. or later- bed

No gym, yet my dad offers to take her, no driving everywhere, no cleaning. I check on Steph all the time just to see what she isn't doing and she is always sitting there in front of the computer doing timewasting stuff and playing around. In matter of fact, whenever I call home to ask what she has done during the day, and she's more than glad to tell me NOTHING. Add to this the fact that she has to be told to go to bed, brush her teeth, and stuff like that. Add to this the fact that she never wants to go out with the family or do anything family related like going shopping as a family, Disneyland, Knotts, stuff like that. Fun stuff, no? Problem? Yes. I think so.

Kind of a rant about how I feel I am feeling

I can pretty much do what I want at home and there is no problem. I am not out doing bad things or anything, so don't worry; that's not where this is going. I love my cell phone in that I can call my parents spur of the moment and say I'm running out to do this or that with friends. I love my friends and their random calls. I hate that it seems to inconvenience everyone else or they want to try and keep tabs on me. I'm 20 for goodness sakes. I am very trustworthy and dependable. I know that a lot of this however is brought on by Steph- her not having a license, car, stuff like that, so they may need someone to shuttle her. Also, just the general parental worry. It bothers me. They have a right to know to an extent, but I'm 20; nearly 21.

If I want to go out after school with friends I don't want to call home and tell mommy and daddy where I'm going. I do; usually there is no problem, but they don't like this whole spur of the moment thing. Oh well, I don't care. I need the spontaneity to keep my sanity.

If I want to go out at 10:00p.m. on a school night to play video games with friends, let me do that. Don't give me an awkward stare and question whether it is too late. I think I'm over 18 and can be held accountable for my actions. I know if I go out late, I'll be paying the price for that in the morning and I'm fine with that. I understand 10p.m. sounds suspicious like I may be going out to meet a girl for you get the picture; but remember my friends are college students, they don't keep normal schedules unlike me. I am not going out and drinking at a frat party or something and meeting girls there. Cuz you know I'm a big partier afterall (sarcasm). Remember, my parents taught me well.

I have so much freedom, yet I feel bound. I am at the point where I don't care if I call or tell everyone where I'm going at a certain time. I do have a pretty calendar to begin with... things happen... stuff like that.

All of this does not change who I am. I'm still the responsible caring person; I know because I still live at home I have to deal with some of the worry etc. that comes with that. But I still maintain about a 3.7GPA every quarter, I take a full load of courses, I work part time, I do so much around the house (clean the bathroom weekly, my room, load the dishwasher daily, clean the hallway weekly, and so please don't give me the I'm not resposible excuse). Worry about my sister; the lazy twit who does nothing. NOT A DARN THING. She sits in her room all day reading, watching tv, and playing on the computer. I don't. I have a life. I have friends. I have high expectations for myself. As I said, high expectations... so don't worry about me messing up my life. Be releived knowing that I have a cell phone to call you if something were to happen. Be happy in knowing that there is a 99.9% chance nothing will happen. Be happy in the fact I am a good son and do all of this stuff. I don't want to be bound by a phone or calendar to call home, or that awkward stare about going out so late to mommy and daddy after a long day at work and/or school and say I'm going out to unwind with friends.


Here is a breakdown of my schedule this quarter:
- Intern 10 hours a week, 2 days a week
- Work 12 hours a week, 2 days a week
- Go to school about 10 hours a week, then add additional study time to that (so 15 or so)
- Sleep 35-40 hours a week
- some days I go to school and work, some days intern and work...

I'm busy and I need time to relax is my point.