boycott [boi-kot]

To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion

Synonyms include: avoid, embargo, blacklist

I have a relatively even temper (except during Laker games), and I think it takes a lot to get me worked up. Like all human beings, however, I have trigger points too. 

Our company picnic is in 2 weeks, and for 2 out of the 3 years, I've taken Ate Tin with me (cuz she makes me). It's always a great time, with every year hosting a fun new theme, and there's always lots of food, games and raffles galore. I sent in my RSVP last week and, of course, I placed Ate's name and it asks for relationship so I wrote in, "friend." I found out later on that day, though, that Ate couldn't make it, so I was planning to take my sister (or Iya, Chris and Jay. hahaha!). 

Yesterday I got an email from someone in HR saying that the event planner was questioning my guest because the picnic is only supposed to be for "employee families and significant others." I replied and asked that they change the name to my sister's instead. Then after 5 minutes I thought to myself, "What the hell was that all about?" I'm not allowed to take anyone unless they are related or committed to me? That's crap.

And the single soul in me became infuriated. So I was to accept that because I'm not married, engaged, have a "significant other" or have children, I'm not allowed to bring a guest to a freakin' picnic? I know I could just as easily take my parents or my sister, etc, but that's not the point. I've taken Ate to two picnics already. Did they just assume that she was my "significant other" because the RSVP never asked us to identify our relationship to our guests before? 

I emailed HR this morning and revoked my RSVP. Hell no am I going to participate in something that marginalizes single people this way. I don't care that it probably isn't intentional on my company's part and maybe I'm overreacting. I don't care that it's a sports theme and the Laker girls are performing (yes, THE Laker girls). Being there would just tick me off. I'm better off not going, and maybe attending other things...alone. Apparently, that's what single people do. So annoyed...

...now I'm over it. 

Happy Friday, everyone!