A common sense 'vent'.

When I started this blog, I planned to use the humorous events in the nuthouse. I wasn't planning to use it as a 'venting' space. So far I've done well. Today I'm going to do a little venting though. I've been told I've explained some of the disastrous events in good humor, (such as the anniversary fiasco!) so this should be interesting.

This has been a pretty busy week at the nuthouse . I've been running constantly, and buried in paperwork, along with the nuthouse 'maintenance', and the care of its residents. With all on my to-do list when I wake up, and more added almost hourly, I've had moments of being a bit frazzled with time crunches. Its made me a bit intolerant of some little things, and the more I think about it, the more each seems to be a 'common sense' issue. (or lack thereof).

**Just this morning I came across such an issue. The children were ready for school earlier than usual, and wanted to have breakfast at school. I took them in, and was stunned when I saw what they had on thier trays. Son had a slice of pizza, a bowl of cereal, and chocolate milk. Daughter had pizza and chocolate milk. Pizza?? YES. Pizza! for breakfast ! ! It looked about 2 days old .

Much of the common sense issue here speaks for itself. How many of you parents have ever given your kids pizza for breakfast? I'd like to know how many of the school staff have as well. In comparison to how many kids they fed it to this morning, I'm sure the number of parents and staff would be pitiful.

**I've spent many hours each day crunching numbers for Husband's business as well. Folks, I hate math. I do not get along with numbers, even on my best day. 3 days, I was buried in numbers, and figures. As frustrating as that is to start with, many interruptions occured.

A neighbor suddenly became very chatty, more than the usual. texting me and calling, for seemingly no reason at all. "what are you doing?" I'm working! "ooooh, do you know what my crazy cat did?"
Nope, I don't. ten minutes of what the cat got into, then it turns into "what should I have for lunch?" Gee, I don't know, but I'm busy, so I'll talk to you later.

You have to know , she called me ten minutes later to tell me what she decided to have for lunch.

**One of the advantages to working from home, is the concept of peace to get it done. The children are in school, Husband at work. There is time to do it, and supposedly few distractions. Its funny how this actually works though. Because people know you're home, they think you are available. Home and work just aren't as widely associated as work and the 'office'. As a result, the phone rings constantly, ( what cha doooin?") and people stop by out of the blue. Many of my calls are requests for a ride ,errands, reminders to make calls.

It doesn't matter how many times I explain, from 8am to 2pm, I am working. I cannot simply drop everything to run here or there, just because I'm home. I have my schedule, appointments, and heaps of paperwork for two businesses, and the nuthouse itself. There are a few people who don't even realize that I am working. If I say I'm working, they assume I mean with just house chores. no, I have WORK to do. "what work?".

Its tempting to just turn the phones off during those hours, but running two businesses without phones for 6 hours would be damaging.

** The texting craze is another common sense issue this week. I noticed that many people cannot resist opening the message as soon as it beeps. Somehow because I don't have a problem with letting it wait, folks react. . . by sending more texts. If I'm working, or doing dishes, the last thing I'm worried about is that text. If its an emergency, I'd think pushing an autodial would be easier than spelling out a text. what I get is like the following.

"hi howz ur day"... (I am to my elbows in dog bath,and do not stop to check the text.)
"r u ok?"... ( trying to hold the dog in the tub- not checking a text)
"do u want 2 go 2 lunch?"... ( rinsing dog- guess what? still haven't touched the phone, possibly haven't even heard it)
"r u mad at me?" ... (these are approximatly 40 seconds apart now)
"call me k?"
"y u not reply?"
"hello?"
"call me"

This is when the texter will generally give up ,and actually CALL. This is also when my frustration level bottoms out, because, thinking it could be a business call, I have to answer it.
"You're mad at me aren't you?"
I wasn't but I am getting there really fast!
This is even more fun if I'm at an appointment, or driving.. The common sense, again, speaks for itself.

** Most likely because of the crazy schedule this week, it seems the children have joined in the fun.
They seem to be echoing each other more. Son will ask for candy 5 minutes before dinner, with sister by his side. no you may not have candy, we're having dinner soon. As he leaves the kitchen, Daughter will also ask for candy.
Didn't you hear what I told your brother? "Yes"
Then why are you asking me the same thing? Did you really expect a different answer?

**A big theory recently is that if you ask repeatedly ,the answer will change.
I find this amusing, because in fact, once the children are given an answer, it very rarely, if ever ,changes. I often tell them that the more they ask me, the less likely I am to change my mind.
Yet they will ask. over and over. occassionally every few moments. how about now? can I now? how about later? The answer was, is, and will stay NO.
The really amusing part is that several of the adults I know also believe in this theory.

I have been eyeballing small spaces for rent around town. A space to keep the businesses in, and a space for me to escape to work. Doesn't something about that just seem... off ? I suppose I would refer to it as The Nuthouse Isolation Chamber.

I don't think that will work , son.

I have recently decided, AGAIN, to make yet another attempt to quit smoking. . . those who know me , well, you've seen firsthand this is a pitiful issue.

for those who don't know me, well, I've tried it ALL> the patches, gums, my doctor gave me chantix- which honestly I thought was going to kill me . (THATs why it works?!) It was great for controlling my cravings, but I was so horribly ill, I couldn't do much of anything else either.

since recently declaring my rediscovered desire to quit-my children have been full of ideas. chewing straws, gum, and things like that.

my son was watching TV the other night, and as i walked through the room, he says to me "Mama! I know now! If you want to stop smoking, I'll get you that newaring.

newring?what?

Son points to the TV- "that mama- it makes you stop smoking"

I look to the tube, and see a Nuvaring commercial. they had just finished stating that women who use Nuvaring should not smoke, due to risk of blood clots.

Folks, my son was suggesting a birth control to get me to stop smoking.

I had to find a way to explain to the 5 year old boy that Nuvaring was NOT a smoke cessation aid.

"but mama, it said no smoking if you take it"

well, hon thats because if you smoke with some medicine it makes problems with your blood.

"you don't want blood problems mom. so you should take this and stop smoking."

great reasoning son.

only problem is Nuvaring is birth control- it makes it so women can't have babies until they are ready to. it doesn't have anything to do with smoking.

"but you don't want more babies mama. "

yea. got me there.

no, mama doesn't need more babies, but I don't need medicine for it either, because I had surgery to stop from getting pregnant."

"ooooh. ok."

and off he went to figure out another plan.