I have always considered myself a very mellow laid back kind of person. I am truly a pacifist. I avoid all kinds of confrontation.
I was the mellow wanna be surfer chick that when I was threatened by someone I annoyed in High School, I was the one that said "dude, so sorry to be bugging you so bad." and I walk away.
Another person that wanted to beat me up because I was dating her ex-boyfriend got in my face to tell me how stupid I was for dating this guy and she told me later (after we became friends) that her purpose was to have a smack down with me that day during lunch. My response to her during that lunch break confrontation was "Dude, I know what you mean, I plan on breaking up with him soon anyway. You're right, he is a loser."
(notice those both started with "Dude"). well, that would be me normally - super mellow.
Yesterday was different
I had a bad yelling match with my UPS driver. - totally out of character for me. whatever happened to that mellow wanna be surfer chick from high school? maybe I moved too far away from the ocean? who knows?
so now you want the story right?
Okay so the other day I get this notice in the mail from UPS that says a package had been attempted to be delivered to me 3 times and now it was being returned to sender (actually it said it would be held in the office for a few days and if I responded before said date I could get it. But I didn't check my mail soon enough and missed that cut off date).
Well, there had never been a note on my door - EVER. So I was confused. I had no idea who the delivery was from since it had been sent from a UPS store in southern California and it had been sent back to them.
right, well I had no idea what to do. I though maybe the shipper would get it back and try to ship it again.
a week later my sister calls and asks why I was stupid enough to send the camera she sent me back to her. (nice $200 camera I am paying her $25 for - yeah, not wanting to send it back thank you). She thinks I am an idiot and says she is going to leave it at the UPS store and not pay for it to be shipped again and UPS needs to pay for it.
So... Now I know what it was, I know I want it and I am curious what the heck happened to those delivery notices I was supposed to get.
In mine and Bill's businesses we get deliveries at least 2 or 3 times a week. SO I had seen my UPS guy MANY times since he had claimed a delivery attempt and he never had mentioned anything to me about any problems about a delivery.
Yesterday the UPS guy shows up with a delivery at my door and I very calmly ask (in my most nicest and mellow voice)
" hey there, I was wondering if you knew anything about a package that was returned to sender that I received a notice in mail about?"
UPS guy (now referred to as "U"): (loud and irritated) I TRIED 3 TIMES TO GET THAT TO YOU, BUT YOUR KIDS ANSWERED THE DOOR AND COULDN'T FIND YOU!
Me: (still mostly mellow) did you leave a note for me?
U: I DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE A NOTE WHEN I TALK TO A PERSON!
Me: (getting a little upset) Did you speak to an adult?
U: I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK TO AN ADULT! I SPOKE TO YOUR KIDS!
ME: YOU NEED TO TALK TO AN ADULT OR LEAVE A NOTE! DID YOU DO EITHER ONE?
U: YOUR KIDS ANSWERED THE DOOR AND I STOOD HERE FOREVER WAITING FOR YOU AND YOU NEVER SHOWED UP!
ME: BUT DID YOU LEAVE A NOTE? (the neighbor kids are walking me by and watching me yell at this man)
U: YOUR KIDS ANSWERED THE DOOR i DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE A NOTE!
ME: AND ANOTHER THING, YOU HAVE DELIVERED MULTIPLE PACKAGES TO MY DOOR SINCE THAT DELIVERY ATTEMPT AND NEVER ONCE INFORMED ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY KIDS ANSWERING THE DOOR! i HAVE SEEN YOU FACE TO FACE, SEVERAL TIMES! YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING! MY KIDS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EVEN ANSWER THE DOOR AND YOU NEED TO LEAVE A NOTE WHEN YOU ATTEMPT DELIVERY!
U: (again he insists as he heads back to his truck) I INFORMED YOUR KIDS ABOUT THE DELIVERY ATTEMPT! tHIS ISN'T EVEN MY REGULAR ROUTE! AND I EVEN CAME BACK TWICE IN ONCE DAY (yada yada yada...)
ME: (yelling at him as he get in his truck and over the nonsence he was spewing) i WILL BE FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT. I HOPE YOU STILL HAVE A JOB AFTER TODAY!
U: OH i WILL HAVE A JOB ITS.... (i CAN'T HEAR HIM BECAUSE i SHUT MY DOOR)
Oh, the story gets better. that was just the out of character yelling match. I think maybe I am just more grouchy and a momma bear now?
okay so the rest of the story - How I "love" UPS...
I called the 800 number since there is no local UPS hub number anywhere to speak to a real live person here in St. George. Oh no, you must call the 800 number and they field all complaints.
I immediately wrote down the exact conversation how it happened so i would not forget. (and now you all have it for your own enjoyment and fun reading pleasure. It's like a really mellow scene out of "Desperate Housewives". this is as exciting as it get here on Hysterical Lane. (oh besides the streaker hanging out on the Webb's trampoline and showing himself to some neighbor kids this morning, but that is another story - I digress)
alright so I called the customer service line, gave the play by play, she was typing everything down and said "I will have someone call you back tonight. I marked this matter as urgent. Sorry about the mess up."
No one called me back that night - surprise...
I call the 800 number the next day and get a guy and I forgot to get his name but I so wish I had because he was a total moron.
I started out very nice and sweet.
Me: I called yesterday about a complaint, but did not get a call back. I need to speak to a direct supervisor that knows and deals with my driver directly on a day to day basis.
Dufus: (we will call dufus "D" from now on - his name has been changed to protect his identity - simply because I did not get his name darn it!) I will handle this for you maam and rely the message on.
Me: okay let me tell you what I told the rep yesterday (then I tell my story again)
D: well, maam according to UPS policy your driver is right. as long as someone answers the door, then he can consider that a delivery attempt and does not need to leave a note.
Me:(just a little agitated about that lame policy now and feeling sorry for my driver) SO according to UPS policy a 3 year old can answer the door and it is considered good enough for them?
D: It is not up to the driver who answers the door. it is not his fault if a 3 year old answers.
M: (really really ticked) So if I have a trained monkey and it answers the door, my UPS driver can consider that as good enough?
D: well let's just hope your trained monkey can also...
M: (cutting him off) Let me speak to your supervisor that is upsurd and I cannot believe UPS would have policy like that.
D: What I can do for you is take down the tracking number and other info. and have a supervisor call you back.
I don't think clear when I am this angry and I agreed instead of pushing to get transferred to someone else.
I was still fuming and decided to call UPS again. This time I actually write down the name of the delightful woman that answered the phone: Desiree but we will call her "S" for Sweetie since we already used "D" for Dufus.
Me: Hi Desiree, I am a little upset about some UPS policy and need to get something cleared up. does UPS consider a trained monkey good enough to speak to about a delivery attempt?
"S": (very bewildered) OH, well, I think not! can I help you with a problem.
Me: yes, my problem is that I was told by a customer service rep that a trained monkey is good enough to leave a message with and so is a 3 year old child. and my driver infomed me that he does not have to leave a note when the door is answered by my kids. (and then I tell her the whole story).
S: I am soo sorry maam. The driver should have left a note. let me check. maam, it says here that he scanned a note 3 times and left notices for you.
M: He lied. I never recieved a notice and he told me he does not need to leave a notice.
(the rest of this story is no longer about me yelling. I am pretty much in control of my yelling from here on out. the rest of the story is about the lame UPS guy and his lying and his supervisor that I ...eventually... spoke to thanks to "S")
S: I am so sorry if that happened maam. Let me get all the details from you and get someone to call you back immediately.
(okay so here is what I am thinking - my UPS driver scanned 3 delivery attempt notices? what the....? and I never recieved one? So my immediate thought is "this guy was annoyed that my kids answered the door and decided to be vindictive and throw the notices away. gosh I think I can read minds)
my sister calls again and tells me that the UPS store out there cannot do anything about anything and it is all up to me getting things straightened out on my end to get that camera sent to me again without having to pay $20 shipping AGAIN.
SO....
in less than an hour after I get off the phone with "S" I get a call from the Supervisor - whom we will call "N" for Naive. She sounds nice enough but right away tells me...
N: I am sorry you did not get the package while it was waiting here at the hub. But our driver made 3 delivery attempts and you recieved a postcard in the mail stating that you could come pick up the package for a period of time. So we will not be crediting the shipment.
(she thinks she's done - ha ha ha ha - little does she know I don't roll over and take it anymore)
Me: Sandy, Thanks for calling me back so quickly, but here is the problem. I received the postcard after the package had been returned to sender (is this getting exciting yet?) AND I never once recieved a notice from the driver of attempted deivery.
N: well, it says here that he scanned 3 notices he left for you
Me: then he must have scanned them and threw them away or lied.
N: He would not do that. He would lose his job
Me: then you need to fire him because that is exactly what happened.
N: I spoke to him and reviews his records and it says here he left 3 notices and he also told me he left 3 notices.
Me: Then he lied to you. because he did not.
N: Our records show that he did and he also told me he did when I spoke with him directly.
Me; Why then would he have yelled at me that he did not have to leave a note when I asked him directly and multiple times if he left one.
N: I don't know why he would say that. it doesn't make sense with our records.
me: that's because he lied to you and to UPS. if you'd like I can come down there personally and confront him and front of you and we can figure it out. But I will tell you now, he lied and should be fired.
N: well I will talk to him again and call you back with what I find out.
Me: that sounds great, I will be pursuing this and I want a new driver.
N: well I will not replace him with a new driver, but I will talk to him and call you back.
(okay so I know you are now on the edge of your seat with this thrilling saga of a boring neighborhood story. you ready for the ending?
I am totally upset. I can't even leave the front room because I am watching the street for the UPS truck for a 2nd day air delivery I need for a big workshop tomorrow. I am worried that he will just drive by and not leave the package, or that he will knock quietly and run away with the package just to be a jerk. I seriously do not even go downstairs all day and am thinking about what to say to him should he return and actually do his job.
So I called my mom. My first thought was that I was going to get him to admit to lying and ask him why he lied to his boss. But then I had a conversation with my mom. get this...)
Mom: (we will call her mom cuz it is only 3 letters and easy to do) so what would Jesus do?
(great thanks mom! sheesh, like I need that. Jesus never used UPS)
Me: (totally clueless) who knows?
Mom: did you pray about it?
(dude, I so do NOT need this! okay maybe I do....)
Me: not yet, but I guess I should.
Mom: what is your goal? do you want him fired? or do you want to get your deliveries? remember that a man that loses his secure job in this economy is not something you want to be responsible for. he might come back and poison your dogs or worse.
Me: I guess I just want to get my deliveries safely.
Mom: watch out about accusing him of lying in any kind of language it will only set off a bomb. instead be nice and see if you can resolve things. Get on his side.
Me: okay, so I need to let go of the fact that I am right and he is wrong? and I need to apologize for losing my temper and that my kids answered the door and didn't get me. and ... (yada yada yada... more stuff I was going to say to apologize and make him feel like it's all on me)
and then I will ask him how we can better our working relationship and what I can do on my end. and then, I will say: now, about that camera how am I going to get it? (my hope is that he will just pay the $20 for shipping and then I will not pursue in calling him a liar to his supervisor and getting him fired.)
(apparentely a UPS driver is fired immediately for what he did)
So, Sandy - oops I mean "Naive" Calls back around 4pm
N: I talked to the driver again and he did admit to scanning and throwing away one of the 3 notices. so we will go ahead and credit that shipment and take care of it for you.
Me: Great! what did he do with the other 2 notices?
N: He says he left them at the house. He says he didn't know he was supposed to leave the notice there after he scanned it if he spoke to someone and your kids do count.
Me: well, Sandy, thanks for getting this shipment taken care of for me and following up. But just for the record - there were no notices left. I will not pursue this further, but you should know he is lying to you. and with that being said I hope it is on record that I do not want him as my driver, but am grateful to finally be getting my camera sent to me.
(so here is the big ending...)
UPS guy comes an hour later...
Me: Hey, I am so sorry I lost my cool yesterday (now that is typical Michelle)
U: yeah, well the office is taking care of things and giving a shipment credit so it is all good.
me: great, and we are making some changes here too. my kids are not allowed to answer the door. so please leave a note next time.
U: yeah I will just give them a note
me: uh, no. you will leave it on the door. Up high. out of reach of the 3 year old. I can't trust these kids with anything!
(I laugh very friendly like. He's nervous)
U: You know I was here for a long time at this door waiting for you and you never showed (he's at least not yelling this time)
me: I know, I can only imagine how frustrated you must have been. If I were in your shoes, I probably would have been so upset I might have thrown away delivery attempt notices. But oh well. we are hopefully making some changes here to make sure this doesn't happen with my kids doing that to you again. (I act like I don't realize that was exactly what HE did)
U: (laughs nervously heads back to his truck) thanks!
Me: no problem. (big smile)
(yeah right - huge problem dude, you should be kissing my feet glad you still have a job and it's not handed to one of my honest friends that can't find work - jerk. that's what I was thinking. but I will blog it instead of say it to his face. Cuz I am such a sweet pacifist type.)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
What IS UP?????
Okay Karalee - you have bugged me about telling what's going on since I have not blogged in a while.
SO...
YES, I have been crazy busy. But it is all a good kind of crazy.
1 - we had a renter move in to our downstairs. So I have been cleaning, washing walls, moving furniture and fridges, organizing, shampooing carpets, putting in lighting, writing up contracts, buying kitchen appliances, etc... (I had no idea this would be this much work). I am excited though because this lady is willing to move in while it is not top notch and pay a little less while we we fix everything up. we still need to : Build a kitchenette, put in a door to separate her area from ours, put locks on all the inside doors in the house (yup - I am paranoid) and I am sure there is more. So that has kept me busy.
2 - I am starting an incredible season with my CM business. get this...
this Saturday I have a HUGE class at the Hurricane Library that even had an article in the paper advertising it for me (for FREE). That was cool. I love that I am going to be in the small town paper tomorrow with an article on moi!!!! So that may mean tons of new business. I have been gearing up for the class though and am calling it "Mess to Memories!" Should be way fun!
3 - Croptoberfest is coming up the following Saturday. I have been making borders and sample books with pre-decorated pages and putting together prizes and planning the agenda, and all the fun that goes along with that. it really is a huge undertaking. Today I have to make sure I have the seating arranged for 50 people at the hotel and that we have a special event liscense from the city.
4 - Then the retreat is going to be a couple of weeks after that. I have been making plans for that as well. Not much to tell about it other than I am just trying to find people like me that want to scrapbook all during General Conference weekend and in wyoming and are willing to help pay a little for it.
5 - I am STILL trying to finish last years taxes and paperwork for Bill!!!! It is so flippin annoying to do his paperwork. Not my thing anyway. but if I don't do it - who will?
6 - the next couple of things are not why I am busy NOW, but why I will soon be.
Scrapbook USA Expo (HUGE Expo for Scrapbookers!!) is coming to St. George November 6th ish. and I have a booth there!!!!! I am so freakin excited! this is the first of it's kind in southern Utah. it should be HUGE. and my business has the potential to totally explode! so I am trying to gear up for that and get my life and business ready for it.
7 - St. George Magazine is also doing an article on ME in their November edition on great gifts to buy for Christmas. they are focusing on Digital Scrapbooking as well for unique ideas. cool huh? THAT is SO HUGE FOR ME! So... I am feeling a little overwhelmed with the ideas that all of this is at the same season.
I feel like my life is on the right track. we have a renter and that is our plan for paying off debts. and Bill's and my businesses are both about to explode (hopefully) if things go as we have them directed right now. So yes, I am busy. VERY busy. but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sorry if I seem distant and distracted right now. But it's how I get during busy busy times.
SO...
YES, I have been crazy busy. But it is all a good kind of crazy.
1 - we had a renter move in to our downstairs. So I have been cleaning, washing walls, moving furniture and fridges, organizing, shampooing carpets, putting in lighting, writing up contracts, buying kitchen appliances, etc... (I had no idea this would be this much work). I am excited though because this lady is willing to move in while it is not top notch and pay a little less while we we fix everything up. we still need to : Build a kitchenette, put in a door to separate her area from ours, put locks on all the inside doors in the house (yup - I am paranoid) and I am sure there is more. So that has kept me busy.
2 - I am starting an incredible season with my CM business. get this...
this Saturday I have a HUGE class at the Hurricane Library that even had an article in the paper advertising it for me (for FREE). That was cool. I love that I am going to be in the small town paper tomorrow with an article on moi!!!! So that may mean tons of new business. I have been gearing up for the class though and am calling it "Mess to Memories!" Should be way fun!
3 - Croptoberfest is coming up the following Saturday. I have been making borders and sample books with pre-decorated pages and putting together prizes and planning the agenda, and all the fun that goes along with that. it really is a huge undertaking. Today I have to make sure I have the seating arranged for 50 people at the hotel and that we have a special event liscense from the city.
4 - Then the retreat is going to be a couple of weeks after that. I have been making plans for that as well. Not much to tell about it other than I am just trying to find people like me that want to scrapbook all during General Conference weekend and in wyoming and are willing to help pay a little for it.
5 - I am STILL trying to finish last years taxes and paperwork for Bill!!!! It is so flippin annoying to do his paperwork. Not my thing anyway. but if I don't do it - who will?
6 - the next couple of things are not why I am busy NOW, but why I will soon be.
Scrapbook USA Expo (HUGE Expo for Scrapbookers!!) is coming to St. George November 6th ish. and I have a booth there!!!!! I am so freakin excited! this is the first of it's kind in southern Utah. it should be HUGE. and my business has the potential to totally explode! so I am trying to gear up for that and get my life and business ready for it.
7 - St. George Magazine is also doing an article on ME in their November edition on great gifts to buy for Christmas. they are focusing on Digital Scrapbooking as well for unique ideas. cool huh? THAT is SO HUGE FOR ME! So... I am feeling a little overwhelmed with the ideas that all of this is at the same season.
I feel like my life is on the right track. we have a renter and that is our plan for paying off debts. and Bill's and my businesses are both about to explode (hopefully) if things go as we have them directed right now. So yes, I am busy. VERY busy. but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sorry if I seem distant and distracted right now. But it's how I get during busy busy times.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Here's to the women!
I went to our ward's enrichment night activity last night. (for those of you that aren't LDS, that is the Women's organization night out once a quarter to do "stuff").
Before I went I had learned that the topic was "back to basics" - like cooking basics and stuff. to tell you the truth, I was not thrilled about learning ANYTHING. really, I have a bad attitude when it comes to feeling like I HAVE to do something like learn how to cook bread from scratch. I used to do it when I was in 4-H as a kid, so I figure that if I absolutely HAVE to, I can figure it out okay on my own. Yeah, I am not the world's best cook or housewife and I know it.
SO I went thinking, at least I will be able to get to know some of the ladies in the ward and connect with other women - which is more of what I am about.
I was actually impressed with how much fun I had LEARNING?!?!?! who knew? Amber Overson did such a great job and Mari Tracey was such a cutie teaching us how to make corn tortillas. It was actually fascinating!
BUT, what impressed me most about the evening was the kind of women we have in our ward. I am one that really likes to watch people. it is my favorite hobby. I watch and analyze all the time.
I have such a FUN ward!!!! I mean really, I was cracking up all night! and that is what I am all about. I sometimes struggle with the fact that I have moved away from my "old" friends from high school and the single's ward. Those are the friends that were with me through those years that shaped who I am and cried with me through some of my toughest times and laughed as we watched the sunrise over the beach. I miss them almost to the point of tears at times. I have not been able to ever replace them in my life. SO, as I go forward with where I am today and seek friendships I often wonder if I will ever have friends like that again? Will I be able to let go, laugh til I hurt, stay out all night (well not as often since the kids have come), and just be me without worrying if I am too much of a dork?
last night was so much fun. who knew we could laugh so much while rolling tortillas and getting bread making lessons.
the room was full of these amazing people that I look forward to being around and possibly becoming better friends with. Okay - some of you on this blog thing were there and you are getting to be some of my "best" friends and I so appreciate you. (Brandi, Kendra).
I was just impressed with the quality of people we have in our ward. I once had a friend of mine say that Utah was just full of women that were only about big hair and trying to appear perfect. I had only been here (in Utah) for a few months and was having a REALLY hard time finding friends. I knew there was more to the people of this area. I knew it just took me getting out there to know them. It took ME seeing past hair and make-up and perfect scrapbook pages and canning stuff (which you all have to teach me still). To see that these women are the same silly, funny, crazy people that I want to surround myself with. I look forward to more mundane cooking lessons as long as people like this are there. I think I could enjoy almost anything with the women in my ward. If I could laugh like that learning to make bread, I could really get into anything these guys have to teach me. Maybe I'll even learn how to do mine and my daughter's hair one day? hmmm.... maybe not.
anyway, I think so highly of them and hope for deeper friendships with all of them. Thanks ladies - for being you and making me laugh.
Before I went I had learned that the topic was "back to basics" - like cooking basics and stuff. to tell you the truth, I was not thrilled about learning ANYTHING. really, I have a bad attitude when it comes to feeling like I HAVE to do something like learn how to cook bread from scratch. I used to do it when I was in 4-H as a kid, so I figure that if I absolutely HAVE to, I can figure it out okay on my own. Yeah, I am not the world's best cook or housewife and I know it.
SO I went thinking, at least I will be able to get to know some of the ladies in the ward and connect with other women - which is more of what I am about.
I was actually impressed with how much fun I had LEARNING?!?!?! who knew? Amber Overson did such a great job and Mari Tracey was such a cutie teaching us how to make corn tortillas. It was actually fascinating!
BUT, what impressed me most about the evening was the kind of women we have in our ward. I am one that really likes to watch people. it is my favorite hobby. I watch and analyze all the time.
I have such a FUN ward!!!! I mean really, I was cracking up all night! and that is what I am all about. I sometimes struggle with the fact that I have moved away from my "old" friends from high school and the single's ward. Those are the friends that were with me through those years that shaped who I am and cried with me through some of my toughest times and laughed as we watched the sunrise over the beach. I miss them almost to the point of tears at times. I have not been able to ever replace them in my life. SO, as I go forward with where I am today and seek friendships I often wonder if I will ever have friends like that again? Will I be able to let go, laugh til I hurt, stay out all night (well not as often since the kids have come), and just be me without worrying if I am too much of a dork?
last night was so much fun. who knew we could laugh so much while rolling tortillas and getting bread making lessons.
the room was full of these amazing people that I look forward to being around and possibly becoming better friends with. Okay - some of you on this blog thing were there and you are getting to be some of my "best" friends and I so appreciate you. (Brandi, Kendra).
I was just impressed with the quality of people we have in our ward. I once had a friend of mine say that Utah was just full of women that were only about big hair and trying to appear perfect. I had only been here (in Utah) for a few months and was having a REALLY hard time finding friends. I knew there was more to the people of this area. I knew it just took me getting out there to know them. It took ME seeing past hair and make-up and perfect scrapbook pages and canning stuff (which you all have to teach me still). To see that these women are the same silly, funny, crazy people that I want to surround myself with. I look forward to more mundane cooking lessons as long as people like this are there. I think I could enjoy almost anything with the women in my ward. If I could laugh like that learning to make bread, I could really get into anything these guys have to teach me. Maybe I'll even learn how to do mine and my daughter's hair one day? hmmm.... maybe not.
anyway, I think so highly of them and hope for deeper friendships with all of them. Thanks ladies - for being you and making me laugh.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
the Mother Load
This is not my writing, but my dear friend, Sarah Wilson's (oops I mean Clark) Sarah Clark, I will never get used to that new last name thing...
Subject: Mother Load
There are things in life a mother does for the long term good of her children, even when her children aren’t sure they agree. Vegetables. Shots. In my oldest son’s case: open heart surgery. Sometimes, it’s just a judgment call. You ignore the protests and do what’s right.
This week’s “right” action has been our return to family scripture time. To their credit, the kids are the ones who asked for us to do this, bringing it up as an issue at one of our family meetings, so you wouldn’t think they’d complain too much. The protests occurred when I announced that the only time we have available to read scriptures is early in the morning. In this case, early in the morning amounts to a full two hours earlier than they’ve been rising all summer long. After some discussion, my spiritually starved brood agreed to the new wake-up time and we set our plan into motion. This wouldn’t be so bad, would it?
The answer to that question lies somewhere in the surreal meeting place of faith and fatigue. What I’ve learned about my kids this week is that no matter how much they beg for scripture time, the act of waking them up early for scripture time will invariably lead to a passel of youth who would much rather live a rested, godless existence.
Day 1: I was chipper and excited to begin anew on our journey through a long-ago land where people said things like “behold” and “betwixt” and “yea, verily.” Being chipper was my first mistake. A word to the wiser-than-I, don’t ever try to wake your children two hours early with a chipper demeanor.
Three of the kids cried. One of them hid under a blanket. One of them volunteered to read but found her eyes too tired to focus on the words. All of them grumbled. Undaunted, I pressed on, reading the chapter myself and then bribing them…I mean, celebrating their willingness to wake up early with some grocery store donuts. Later that night, at work, my supervisor offered to let me go home an hour early, saying, “You look like you’re going to pass out.”
Day 2: Only one child cried, but all of them hid under blankets and no one volunteered to read. Less chipper, but still hopeful, I plowed through the chapter, a mere 13 verses this time. Three of the kids were sleeping by verse five. Waking them up again for family prayer time, we then moved on to the business of our day. At about 8:45, I flopped down in my favorite, fluffy front room chair and saw my oldest child sleeping strangely, though peacefully, on the couch.
I looked at my sleeping son, the picture of discomfort, his body twisted into a fastastical shape only a snake or a broken tree branch could possibly copy, and I thought, Hmmmmm…good idea. Twisting myself into an equally fantastical shape on my chair, I zonked for the next 30 minutes, dreaming of ancient prophets wagging their heads at my weakness.
Day 3: I *cough* accidentally left my cell phone, which doubles as my alarm clock, upstairs and overslept until 7:25. At this writing, it is now 11:10, and I’ve been content to let them play outside with their cousins for most of the morning, rationalizing that their cousins have surely been having family scripture time more consistently than we have and will surely share some of their vast scriptural knowledge between games of hide and seek and dodgeball. I swear I heard my niece sharing her views on repentance with my youngest daughter. (“That’s not nice! You should say sorry!”)
Day 4? Well, that’s tomorrow. I think after my slip-up today, I’ll wake up tomorrow refocused and ready to keep trying. I’ve read it only takes three weeks to make a habit, so I’m hopeful the next two and a half weeks will bring good results.
If they don’t, behold, there will be no more donuts betwixt the kids and me. Yea, verily.
Thanks for the Laugh Sarah!
I did not ask permission to post her writing, but I am telling the world to look for her "Mother Load" column in the newspapers. it's my favorite.
Tag! I'm it!
Karalee tagged me...
This is what I'm supposed to do. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 surprising facts and then tag 5 other people. Leave a comment for the people you tag so they know they have been tagged. So here it goes:
3 joys:
- my kids - of course are my number one joy. I love just sitting on the couch and watching them play. I love watching my 10 month old learn and explore and seeing how my 3 year old deals with him taking the toys. I love listening to Gabe and Ilia play pretend and talk about what the other needs to say next in their play world. I love seeing Evan mature. He is an amazing kid. I ask so much of him. he is honest with me and tells me when he thinks I am unfair. But he handles stress and the work load I trust him with with gumption. I think my kids are amazing!
- my dogs - I also love watching their relationship with each other and my kids. I love that Tottie hides in my closet when he needs quiet and Sandy never hides, she loves being where the action is. I love seeing my dogs lick my baby's face when he pulls on their ears and tries to grab them. I love watching them run in the hills and chase rabbits. I love that they enjoy structure. and know that after the nighttime potty they come right in and lay down on their beds and wait for me to turn off the light.
- excercise - I love being able to move again!!!! this might seem silly, but I love exercise and being so huge when I was pregnant and hardly being able to walk was so depressing. So I love that my body is finally starting to take shape again and I can dance with the kids! one day... one day... I will fit back into those size 6 that are sitting on my shelf (yeah, right, my bones have spread - I will never be the same.)
3 fears:
- not being able to fit in my old clothes ever again.
- the dog catcher getting my dogs for killing more chickens since they can hop my block wall.
- the unknown world my kids are now being exposed to via friends, school, internet, movies, etc... I fear most what they may choose to do with all this "information" they innocently receive. what may they choose to obsess over. my 6 year old daughter has already informed me she can't wait until she is old enough to be allowed to kiss boys. great. what do I do with that?
3 obsessions:
- pictures!!!! I love scrapbooking - not because I am the most creative, but because I love the joy I feel when I pull out a memory and re-capture it in a book and write the words. I am trying to increase my creative skills. I am getting better. Maybe I should post some pics of a few layouts. I am self-consious about feeling like it's a competition though.
- my dogs. it drives my husband crazy. I love training and working with them. they learn faster than kids do. you teach a dog to do something and within a few days or a few tries, he's got it. you tell a kid to do something and it takes him his entire life to figure it out. okay, maybe just years. potty training was a longer process with Dane than it was for both of my dogs. I also love that they love to run! they are my running partners... which brings me to my 3rd obsession lately...
- exercise! I really want to be more than just fit! I want to feel fabulous! I also want to dance again and be strong enough to do all the moves I did when I was in my early 20's. I want to be able to extend my leg straight up. I want to do things I have never been able to do. like a back walk over. I want to prove that 30+ and 6 full-term pregnancies does NOT change the ability to do amazing things. (I'll show you "So You Think You Can Dance" with your 30 yr old age limit!)
Also Dance shows are an obsession as well.
3 facts:
- I have fat thumbs called strangler's thumbs
- I used to be early everywhere before I married Bill. He's the late one and it's rubbed off on me since I married him. it drives me crazy.
- I wasn't a scrapbooker when I started my Creative Memories Business. I LOVE scrapbooking, NOW. But more than anything - I love people. I love connections and I love getting people together to party! I love getting to know who people are and helping them tell their stories. and I LOVE planning big events - like retreats. It brings me so much joy. but people are surprised to find out I have been scrapbooking 10 years and mostly do simple layouts. to not include this here in this information about me would be to not include one of the biggest parts of my life outside church and family.
tagging 5 more people...
let's see who do I want to know more about...
Jen Larsen, Marni, Kristen Hansen, Brandi, Marsha
This is what I'm supposed to do. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 surprising facts and then tag 5 other people. Leave a comment for the people you tag so they know they have been tagged. So here it goes:
3 joys:
- my kids - of course are my number one joy. I love just sitting on the couch and watching them play. I love watching my 10 month old learn and explore and seeing how my 3 year old deals with him taking the toys. I love listening to Gabe and Ilia play pretend and talk about what the other needs to say next in their play world. I love seeing Evan mature. He is an amazing kid. I ask so much of him. he is honest with me and tells me when he thinks I am unfair. But he handles stress and the work load I trust him with with gumption. I think my kids are amazing!
- my dogs - I also love watching their relationship with each other and my kids. I love that Tottie hides in my closet when he needs quiet and Sandy never hides, she loves being where the action is. I love seeing my dogs lick my baby's face when he pulls on their ears and tries to grab them. I love watching them run in the hills and chase rabbits. I love that they enjoy structure. and know that after the nighttime potty they come right in and lay down on their beds and wait for me to turn off the light.
- excercise - I love being able to move again!!!! this might seem silly, but I love exercise and being so huge when I was pregnant and hardly being able to walk was so depressing. So I love that my body is finally starting to take shape again and I can dance with the kids! one day... one day... I will fit back into those size 6 that are sitting on my shelf (yeah, right, my bones have spread - I will never be the same.)
3 fears:
- not being able to fit in my old clothes ever again.
- the dog catcher getting my dogs for killing more chickens since they can hop my block wall.
- the unknown world my kids are now being exposed to via friends, school, internet, movies, etc... I fear most what they may choose to do with all this "information" they innocently receive. what may they choose to obsess over. my 6 year old daughter has already informed me she can't wait until she is old enough to be allowed to kiss boys. great. what do I do with that?
3 obsessions:
- pictures!!!! I love scrapbooking - not because I am the most creative, but because I love the joy I feel when I pull out a memory and re-capture it in a book and write the words. I am trying to increase my creative skills. I am getting better. Maybe I should post some pics of a few layouts. I am self-consious about feeling like it's a competition though.
- my dogs. it drives my husband crazy. I love training and working with them. they learn faster than kids do. you teach a dog to do something and within a few days or a few tries, he's got it. you tell a kid to do something and it takes him his entire life to figure it out. okay, maybe just years. potty training was a longer process with Dane than it was for both of my dogs. I also love that they love to run! they are my running partners... which brings me to my 3rd obsession lately...
- exercise! I really want to be more than just fit! I want to feel fabulous! I also want to dance again and be strong enough to do all the moves I did when I was in my early 20's. I want to be able to extend my leg straight up. I want to do things I have never been able to do. like a back walk over. I want to prove that 30+ and 6 full-term pregnancies does NOT change the ability to do amazing things. (I'll show you "So You Think You Can Dance" with your 30 yr old age limit!)
Also Dance shows are an obsession as well.
3 facts:
- I have fat thumbs called strangler's thumbs
- I used to be early everywhere before I married Bill. He's the late one and it's rubbed off on me since I married him. it drives me crazy.
- I wasn't a scrapbooker when I started my Creative Memories Business. I LOVE scrapbooking, NOW. But more than anything - I love people. I love connections and I love getting people together to party! I love getting to know who people are and helping them tell their stories. and I LOVE planning big events - like retreats. It brings me so much joy. but people are surprised to find out I have been scrapbooking 10 years and mostly do simple layouts. to not include this here in this information about me would be to not include one of the biggest parts of my life outside church and family.
tagging 5 more people...
let's see who do I want to know more about...
Jen Larsen, Marni, Kristen Hansen, Brandi, Marsha
watch what you say!
I just want to explain why you do not see your comments posted right away...
most of you are my good friends or family - that is all good. But once I received a comment from a woman who seemed innocent enough inviting me to her read her blog. Now, I am all about enjoying someone else's writings and have even found some fun small-time writers enjoying their writing experience - So I went for a visit.
needless to say, it was not what I had hoped. She was vulgar, nasty, pornographic and a violently bloody evil racist. I did not like that she used my comment section to advertise her crap.
So, my lovely friends. as much as I enjoy the speed of using a blog almost like a message board and fun communication - you all get to wait til I review your comments before I ok them.
Fun Fun!!!!
I love technology... but not as much as you, you see.... but I still love technology... always and forever.... (name the movie).
most of you are my good friends or family - that is all good. But once I received a comment from a woman who seemed innocent enough inviting me to her read her blog. Now, I am all about enjoying someone else's writings and have even found some fun small-time writers enjoying their writing experience - So I went for a visit.
needless to say, it was not what I had hoped. She was vulgar, nasty, pornographic and a violently bloody evil racist. I did not like that she used my comment section to advertise her crap.
So, my lovely friends. as much as I enjoy the speed of using a blog almost like a message board and fun communication - you all get to wait til I review your comments before I ok them.
Fun Fun!!!!
I love technology... but not as much as you, you see.... but I still love technology... always and forever.... (name the movie).
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