the things we think but don't say

one of the worst acts of diplomacy that i've learned to perform is not to stir the cauldron when it doesn't need to be stirred. andrea is like me on this, if there's an opportunity to complain about something we both prefer not to and just accept people for who they are. there is the odd exception but in general, if i feel cheated or screwed on something, i won't bitch about it. my reasoning for this personality quark is that the effort to bitch for a different outcome isn't usually worth the outcome.

admittedly, the more i ignore opportunities to complain about things the more they add up to a general irking. the most recent episode came this weekend when (finally) the washing machine that the school promised i could use arrived. i knew something was up when the two people who delivered it (at 630am!) on saturday didn't even make a move or offer to hook the thing up, nor didn't have anything for me to sign saying i received it. i realized later that it was because the thing wasn't worth the metal it was housed in. the tubes leaked water and it didn't oscillate nor spin. it added water, made some horrble noises, produced malodorous air, then drained the water. it basically needs an overhaul which, i'm assuming, the school will not pay for.

now, i'm sure their guns are loaded with reasons why they shouldn't fix it and i should. my guns, though loaded, will only amount to a Scud versus their long range nukes and i'll end up footing the bill.

i could go into who's responsibility is, what exceptions there are, what misunderstandings took place and end up where i am now. so i won't say a word, do the diplomatic thing, and swallow the cost to fix the thing. i'll give it back at the end of the school year without hearing so much as a thank you (which would ultimately admit that the school knew it was broken when they lent it to me and god forbid if that would ever happen). they'll be happy and i'll wear a fake smile about it.