Grrrr is the word of the day.

I am in a rotten mood. My plans to get to sleep in today were shattered when I got a phone call from the vet's office at 8:00 AM asking if I'd be ok with a tech doing Sasha's shots rather than the vet as he will be out. Since Sasha only needs her shots and there's nothing else going on, I'm ok with it, and while I'm glad they called, couldn't they have waited until, say, 10? I scheduled the appointment for four o'clock in the afternoon for a reason.

I tried to go back to sleep, but Sasha woke up the kiddo about an hour later, and the kiddo started playing with her on the bed (he'd come in early this morning from his room since it was so cold and my room is warmer). Then there was the standard "Sasha!" screaming that grates on my nerves and makes me tense up. Needless to say, there was not much sleep to be had. Doesn't help I went to bed in a bad mood as it is. There's various relationship stuff going on both in my current and in my previous relationship. Which is what's prompting this:

Dear Asshat Cashier at Wal-Mart:

I realize this is a small town and that you remember me from high school. Yes, I vaguely remember you from band, and I vaguely remember that you were a couple of years behind me in school. However, you barely know more about me than my name and the fact I was a good student in high school. As such, I think I should tell you what is and is not acceptable for me to hear from you:

Asking how old my son is: Perfectly fine. Strangers ask me as well, and he's a cute kid so it happens.

Asking me how long I've been married: That's ok as well, since I was with my ex/son's father at the time. I explained we aren't married and are in fact separated because, well, that's as much as I feel comfortable telling you and far, far more than your entitled self needs to know.

Telling me, "But y'all are always together" after I've said we're separated: Not ok, but again I explain that right now I'm helping him out with transportation issues, and both of us going shopping at Wal-Mart helps cuts down on gas. Also, since you always see us together, you probably have noticed we always have separate shopping carts and pay for our groceries separately. Hmm, what might that mean?

Whispering to me, "Y'all should get back together. You two look good together.": Way, way, way the fuck out of line, and it had me wanting to smack you. Instead I looked up at you and said in a very firm voice, "Do not even go there."

Oh, I understand my ex in attractive in a quirky sort of way. I know that we can actually share a laugh or two while in each other's presence (in front of our son), but beyond what you see for the two minutes we're in your checkout line, you have no idea what happened in our relationship that necessitated the separation. Oh, I know it hurts to hear little miss Dr. Phil, but looking good together doesn't me we actually go together well. Were you there the nights I was reduced to tears by his yelling? Were you there to witness holes being punched into my wall, or to see a huge wooden chair thrown against the wall with very little provocation? No? Oh, so then you don't know what the fuck went on. If not for my son, my ex wouldn't be a part of my life in any way, shape, or form.

You assume that I don't have a fuckton of guilt over the fact that I'm now a single parent. I've even had to read one of those fucking PSA bill boards telling people to get married and stay married for "the children's sakes." Do you know how much that shit pisses me off? If I'd stayed, I probably would have eventually been hit, or I would have snapped and beaten the shit out of my ex for getting in my face and trying to scare me one too many times. Just because we have a kid together doesn't mean it's a good idea for us to try to salvage the pile of unhealthy shit that is our relationship.

Finally getting away from my ex was hard enough. Finally telling myself I did the right thing and that I'm healthier and happier for it was very difficult. Pardon me if I don't like relationship advice from someone who is practically a stranger. We're not in high school anymore, and there are boundaries you have to respect. You have no right to tell me what I should and should not do in my romantic life, nor make assumptions about what is best for MY son.

When my boyfriend visits, I'm going to make it a point to go to Wal-Mart while he's here, and I'm going to go through your line so maybe you can get the fucking picture that I've moved on. Oh, and so I can have the perverse satisfaction of watching your reaction because my ex looks like a fine upstanding citizen while my boyfriend looks like he just rolled out of a biker bar. I know you'll judge a book by its cover and will think my boyfriend is bad for me, but I'll know the truth.

I dare you to say something to me then because I plan to educate you in front of a manager on what happens when you assume shit about people you barely know.

Bitchily yours,

Jade (Yeah, uh, I don't go by my given name anymore either, just so you know.)