I Should Know Better: Stuck on “Repeat”

I should know better than to complain. Karma has a way of eking out justice. To honor my complaint of Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup,” the song has been stuck in my head all day. I barely know two lines, but those two lines have been playing over and over. And over. And over. And over. And over. And over. You get the idea. [sigh]

Good Grief, Toby Keith

It’s obvious Toby Keith has fallen victim to the YesMen (and yes, YesWomen) around him, with his ego soaring ever higher in the atmosphere, resulting in the most annoying song in recent memory. I’m guessing the conversation that led to the irrepressible “Red Solo Cup” song went something like this:

YesMan: Toby, you’re the most awesome musical performer on the planet.

TK: (No verbal response, just a semi-snarl-partial-laugh. Think of something along the lines of Elvis meets Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor.)

YesMan: Seriously man! You could sing a song about anything and your fans would send it to the top of the charts.

TK: Prolly right about that. (The use of “prolly” irks me, so it’s fitting to use it here. I’m LOLing.)

YesMan: Sure I’m right! We could write something simple right here, right now and I guarantee it’ll go platinum.

TK: Maybe. (TK’s strong suit is singing, not conversing.)

YesMan: Take that cup you’re holding — we can turn it into a hit!

TK: This beer’s for my horse.

YesMan: No, I don’t need it  – nevermind. Red Solo Cup, I fill you up, let’s have a party . . .

TK: Catchy.

YesMan: It’ll be the drinking song of the decade!

TK: Gotta take a leak.

YesMan: I’ll keep workin’ on this song, man!

And so it goes. The birth of a song that would echo in the ears of beer drinkers everywhere, from frat parties to farm parties, from the country to the cities. Toby Keith, good grief.

 

(. . . Am I the only one who doesn’t like this song?? . . . )

Let’s Hear It For the Boys

I went on a mid-day diversion to Marshall’s. I love seeing what new clothes they have in and then wandering the housewares aisles. Wandering those aisles of cookware and dishes, gadgets and linens, I noticed a gent on one aisle checking out the cookware. Interesting, I thought, since I rarely see men in that area. In fact, I don’t recall ever seeing a man in housewares. Next aisle over, same thing. A guy checking out dishes. My goodness, I thought to myself, when did men start frequenting the housewares section? I mean, I’ve seen them in the men’s clothing side, but as I said before, not in housewares. My first thought was Good for them! You know, outfitting their place and all. But then the reality of what the increased traffice means for me settled in: the competition for good deals has increased!! Game on, boys.

It’s been a while . . .

It’s 2012 and I haven’t written a blog post in gosh knows when. I still have visitors, though, so thank you! I feel terrible that I haven’t written anything, yet you’ve been loyal and checked in. You = good. Me = bad. Life’s been a roller coaster, as it can often be for all of us. My attention has been pulled in 1,367,482 other directions, but 2012 is going to be the year I tune out the unnecessary in order to focus on the “important” things. Blogging is important! I’m going to try my best to be here more often. What about you? How’s your year shaping up?

I should know better . . . (Part 2)

. . . than to shovel the snow! Yes, it has to be done, and my 11-year-old son is good about doing it, but we got a lot of snow, and I insist on helping, especially the part right by the street since we live on a busy street.  Now I’m paying for it.  Me + snow shovel = visit to the chiropractor.  And I still don’t feel great. I’ve been a bit stooped over all day.  Today when I was leaving my chiropractor’s office, he said, “Don’t forget, I’m closed tomorrow, but if you need to come in Friday, give me a shout.”  Translation: you aren’t going to feel better for a few days.  I go in to see him every couple of months, get adjusted, things are fine.  So him telling me that was a bit of a red flag.

I’m not a gal used to this much snow.  Where I grew up, we might see snow once a year, and it never stayed around long.  Then for over ten years I lived even farther south than where I grew up, and in that time I saw snow fall maybe twice.  There was never any accumulation.  There was ice one year.  That’s it.  So dealing with multiple snowfalls that stick around for weeks is something I’m still not used to, even after living here for 10 years.

I remember when we first moved here, and got that first snow, I wondered why people even bothered shovelling their driveways.  It’s all going to melt anyway, looks like a lot of work for nothing.  Then we found out that snow sticks around for a while here, and what you don’t move gets packed down, then it gets slick.  Lesson learned.  We got a snow shovel.  Then a couple of years later we divorced and he got the shovel. 

So when I needed one, I went to the hardware store and bought my own.  I didn’t put any thought into it, I just bought one.  I’m sure I bought the cheapest one, because who wants to spend money on a shovel when you can buy much more exciting things like shoes? But after watching my neighbors’ driveways melt and clear away after the sun came out today, I’ve about decided I should have a metal bladed shovel instead of this cheap plastic thing.  Mine doesn’t get down far enough so the concrete can warm up in the sunshine and melt away the last bits of snow.

So I shoveled and shoveled and now I’m achy, stiff, and stooped, and my driveway still looks white, while the neighbors’ driveways look clean.  Fail.  Why, oh why, do I even bother???

I should know better . . .

. . . than to say I have laundry under control.  Seriously.  Just when I think I’ve conquered it – BOOM!! – the laundry pile is suddenly a mountain that threatens to come crashing down on top of me if I don’t start up the washer pronto.  I know it’s never-ending, so why the heck I said it’s under control is beyond me.  I know better!!  

I think I’ll start of new category of “I should know better …”s.  I’ve got a bunch of them!  I’m a smart gal, at least in some areas, but sometimes I do make the same mistakes a couple of times.  The laundry comment is minor, yes, but let’s see what else I can come up with.  What about you?   Anyone want to share their own “I should know better” moments?  Names can be change to protect the humiliated.

Ahhhh, the weekend

Since I’ve been in corporate America for nearly a year and a half, after being a stay-at-home mom, then going to grad school, I’ve come to appreciate the weekend in an entirely different way.  I savor my weekends.  Of coure, there’s the anticipation that builds as the weekdays pass.  Thursday is especially delightful in knowing the next day will be Friday, and then . . . glorious weekend.  Fridays can be crazy busy at work, but I don’t let things get to me because I know in a few hours I’ll have two days entirely for my son and me.

And here it is Friday.  Lovely.  My son’s in bed.  I have a glass of wine, which I’m savoring also.  Breathe in the bouquet followed by small sips of utter enjoyment.  One glass.  Not enough to get tanked, but just enough to enjoy.  Fabulous.

I’ve been energized this week.  I feel like I’ve accomplished a great deal at work.  Tonight I started my weekend housecleaning that I usually start on Saturday morning.  I started laundry and already have that under control.  The kitchen’s in pretty good shape.  I’m feeling good about things.  I’m sure the nice weather we’ve had these past couple of days has helped.  The battle for spring is on.  Right now the warmer temps are in the lead, but winter’s going to do another smack down early in the week.  Back to frigid reality.  At least for a few days.  So for now, I’ll savor this warmer weather the way I savor my weekends and my wine.  One moment at a time.  Hope your weekend is enjoyable and you can spend some time with people you love.  Cheers!

Time flies

Has it really been over two months since my last post??? I know it’s corny, but it’s oh so true: time flies.  Next week it’ll be February.  Good Lord! 

I guess I got swept up in the holidays and end of year work busy-ness. (More like work craziness, but that’s another post!) Even though the holidays can be hectic, I’m finding that I love Christmas more and more.  That may seem like a strange thing to say, but when I look back at how stressful the holidays were when I was married, I’ve come a long way. It used to be all about making sure we made the rounds, my husband was cranky because he didn’t like us spending money, he didn’t know what he wanted to buy people, and ideas I would suggest would often get shot down. Even my own wish list would get shot down, and I’m not talking extravagant items either.  Wow. I don’t miss those days.

Now I’m still doing the holiday shuffle, making sure we visit who we need to, but for whatever reason I find more joy in the season. I love the festivities. Love to decorate. Love to shop. Not that I’m a marathon shopper, at all. If I pick up a gift or two at a time, I’m doing good. I guess maybe I’ve learned to pace myself. I know what my patience level is and I work with it. And for the first time, in probably my whole adult life, I was sad to take down the Christmas tree.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas

I changed the blog theme to something more holiday-ish.  It’s not just retailers getting in the mood! One of our local radio stations starts playing Christmas music promptly each November 1st.  Some people grumble and ask, Do they really have enough music to play all day, let alone for two months?  The answer is yes, they do.  I enjoy listening to it, and granted, there are songs I don’t particularly like, so I do the same thing I do the other 10 months of the year: I change the station.  I think it’s nice when we have Christmas music to add to the mix.

Don’t get me wrong, though.  I’m not always gung-ho and on top of the holiday madness.  I didn’t send out Christmas cards last year.  I can’t remember if I did the year before that or not.  I’m rather spotty when it comes to Christmas cards, some years I do, some I don’t.  I love writing letters, so you’d think I’d be a natural.  I enjoy sending photo Christmas cards, though, and sometimes it’s not easy to find someone to take a snap of my son and me. 

You’d think, as much as I love writing, that I’d get into the Christmas letter, catching everyone up on our lives in a month by month recap, but I haven’t embraced that tradition yet.  Maybe one of these days.  This year, I’m planning to send cards.  I’m even offering to help my mom send photo Christmas cards of her and dad if she’d like.  She hasn’t done that before.  I took a few photos of them recently that would work well, so I’m going to send those to her and see what she thinks.  She gets to pick the photo, and I’ll order the cards and send them to her. 

Now for Christmas shopping . . .

Fear of Commitment

I must have fear of commitment.  I keep saying I’ll pay more attention to my blog, show it how much it means to me, spend time with it.  Not obsessive amounts of time, just more time.  And I do for a little while, a few days.  And then I go days without checking in, much less posting.  It’s not that I don’t love you little blog, I really do.  It’s not you, really, it’s me. I have issues.  I’m probably not good for you. I want to be there for you, I just . . . I don’t know what happens.  You deserve better than me.  You deserve someone who will be there when she says she will be there.  Someone you can count on.  It’s not that I don’t think about you, I do. I care about you, it’s not that. I dunno.  If you still want to hang out, that would be great. I’ll try to do better.  I know I’ve said it before, I know, I know.  And I’ve said this time I mean it, but this time I really, really do.  Let’s stop talking.  Hold me.