Deadlines: The New Copout
Mar 31st 2008
Julia LondonOn Writing!
Forgive short and whiny blog, but I have a good reason. I’m on deadline.
Writers have the greatest job in the world, but the average reader would never know it, because we all complain incessantly about deadlines. We’re always up against one and we have no time to bathe or sleep or feed our kids. That’s because writers are generally terrible planners, and you could give a writer a year or a week and the result would be the same – they would just float along, the perpetual tourist in a strange new land, until that deadline was right up against them.
I am no exception. And this deadline is for the editor’s revisions! I am late, late, incredibly freaking late. Life intervened.
In that two week period before a manuscript is submitted, I get very short-tempered. Today, I had a complete melt-down at a traffic light because it was taking too long. A bang-the-steering-wheel with my fists, on the verge of tears melt down. Lights are either too short or too long, but they are never just right, are they?
It reminded me of all the other things that I will never notice when I am not stressed, but send me over the moon when I am stressed.
Gas. It takes too long to pump gas, and really, why do I need gas NOW? Why couldn’t I have needed it two days ago? How does my car no the exact day to run low on gas?
Friends. Well-meaning friends whom I love and who call to chat at a really inconvenient time. There are just some days I do not have even a moment to chat, and I want to shout, “Hang up the phone! Hang it up now before I say something you will never forgive me for! Please hang up the phone because I feel it rising up the more you talk!”
What are the three top things that annoy you to death when you are under stress that never annoy you otherwise? Is my post today one of them? Because it is for me (grrrrrr……)
71 Comments »
Malady on 31 Mar 2008 at 4:37 am #
Hmm. little annoyances…
3.Public transport…. I dont have a car….
1.Children, Screaming… i cant stand noisy, screaming childdren.. i can tolerate them if im in a good mood.
2.My pets… namely the Dog. she sheds… ican never find the lint brush… and she gets under foot and ARGH. I love her and the cats dearly but… when im in a hurry…
thats the top 3… i numbered them…. and… Im becoming a librarian.. im doing the trainee course… and ive got a job lined up for the christmas period .
Malady on 31 Mar 2008 at 4:39 am #
lol… its 8:39 pm monday here…
Lisa H on 31 Mar 2008 at 6:22 am #
Julia - I never get stressed by the Goddess blog…in fact it is a stress reducer.
Things that get me stressed are: The phone - I too love my friends but only have a short window in the afternoons to write when my 2 year old is sleeping…my friends know his nap schedule and also my desire to write, but call me anyway during that time!
Meetings…yes once a month meetings are fine, unless you have 7 or 8 of them and then it seems like all you are doing is going to meetings! Argh!
Doctor’s appointments - I’m well enough…my teeth, there’re white enough! I hate waiting around for an hour to be seen for 5 minutes and charged $150.00!
Gannon on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:13 am #
I’m with Lisa, The Goddess Blogs is a stress reliever for me.
1 - All phone calls: telemarketers, friends, family. The phone never stops ringing when I’m crazy busy!
2 - Long lines at the grocery store. Why is it that everyone seems to be at the store when I’m there? Even the express lanes are packed! Grrrr!
3- My dogs, whom I adore, seem to require more attention than usual, and no one else in my family happens to notice! Once again, Mom is the only one who will do!
Good luck with your revisions, Julia!
Karen Hawkins on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:32 am #
Julia, I hear you! I’m between deadlines now — waiting for an ok so i can write and when I get it, I’ll start out behind because the due date is creeeeeping up. I hate that.
Three things that drive me crazy when I’m on deadline/in a hurry:
1) phone calls — you nailed that one. And somehow, my family instinctively knows when I’m on deadline and the ones I haven’t talked to in a long time but should have always call and I feel like I HAVE to talk even though I don’t have time.
2) Errands — seems like I end up having to do a TON of little errands during deadline week. Things like dropping stuff off for this person, making a call for that person, etc etc etc.
3) Like Gannon, my dogs always sense when I’m in deadline mode and become spastic out-in-out-in dogs, requiring a ton more work than when I’m in non-deadline mode when they just sleep all day as all good dogs do.
elsiehogarth on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:46 am #
I agree with everyone the Goddess Blog is the best stress reliever during my day too.
1. Long lines-gas, Post Office, Supermarket etc.
2. Telemarketers-any time is a bad time with them. Especially first thing in the morning.
3. The Dentist because you know you’ve been bad…haven’t flossed enough, have a cavity etc.
Sandy "Snik" White on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:52 am #
Every afternoon by 3:30, I am in full on schedule mode at work. To my assistants in the office, they know this means to leave me alone until 4:25, or risk getting their heads collectively chewed. What are my triggers?
1. If you are going to interrupt me to ask a question, and I answer it, Do not then sit in front of me and then debate my answer. If you don’t agree with me, fine, go solve the problem yourself, and leave me alone.
2. Now is not the time to tell me how challenging your day was. I’m sorry that you had to go to 8 people’s homes and work a total of 2 hours today while being paid for 9, I totally understand that some old man had the audacity to ask you to spray under the kitchen sink, but didn’t have it emptied out so you had to wait 2.5 minutes while he did. Put on your big boy panties and deal with it.
3. I live, work with and drive in with my assistant. Enough said.
Lisa H on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:20 am #
LOL Snicky - exactly, put on your big boy panties and deal with it!
KariE on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:30 am #
Trouble is Sandyville, Sniky?
TGB is the stress reducer for me, too.
I read an article that said when you are stressed try to smile as often as possible. It is supposed to help.
1. Something happens to my voice when I get stressed because no one can hear me unless I yell. I don’t know what it is but it is starting to bother me.
2. Waiting for gas to pump is on of my peeves. It is interesting that a NASCAR can get all 4 tires changed AND get gassed up in 14.7 seconds. It takes me 5 months to get 4 tires and 10 minutes for gas.
3. My dh bothers me when I am stressed. He could look at me and I would go apey. 9 times out of 10 he is the cause of the stress. The other 1 time is PMS.
3.1. (Bonus) My dogs are constantly at my feet. I can never hurry in one direction then turn to go in the opposite because I will trip over one of them.
doglady on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:51 am #
Don’t get me started!
1. I am with you on the snail-like pace of gas being pumped. Kari is right. How can NASCAR get gas so quickly and I feel like mine is coming on a slow boat from Saudi??? URRRRGH
2. Screaming children. I work at Wal-Mart. We have listened to the same child scream as if being murdered for TWO HOURS! I want to snatch that kid out of the buggy, spank his little behind, then snatch his teenaged mother in her pajamas and 47 earrings and tell her “TAKE THE KID HOME AND PUT HIM TO BED! I DON’T GET PAID ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO THE RESULTS OF YOUR HOOKING UP WITH ANOTHER LOSER!” Sorry, got a little carried away.
3. Dial up internet. Yes, there is no DSL out here so I sit here and scream at my computer when I am trying to do research or check my mail before work.
KariE on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:55 am #
doglady-Dial Up?!?!?! My heart goes out to you. (((((hugs)))))
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:56 am #
Oh, I didn’t mean to say goddessblog annoys me - YIKES. I love coming here, too. I meant MY particular whiny post was annoying me.
See? No time, words get left out, posts aren’t reviewed before hitting the button.
DOGS. My old old dog moves so slow, and he has to walk right in front of me. He has to guess which way I am going and try and stay one very slow step ahead.
Karen H — yes! the errands! When I have all the time in the world, I have NO ERRANDS.
Snik, I hate to admit this, but years ago when I was a Big Cheese, I had a message on my computer: “If you can’t say it in 10 seconds, come back when you can.” The staff thought it was a joke. It so was not a joke. Its a good thing I work alone now.
Sandy "Snik" White on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:04 am #
Kari- all things are generally good, but when work annoys me, and I can’t just escape on a car ride home alone…it gets tough. I have a new routine though, and once I get home, I get dinner ready and I feed grace, then I hide in my room for like a half hour. This gives me enough time to shake off the work aspect of my day and move into friend/mommy mode rather than boss/basketcase mode.
Julia - that sign is priceless. Currently, I have “I’ve stopped listening, why haven’t you stopped talking” taped to my computer, clearly, nobody can be bothered to read it though…*sigh*
I am quite thankful for these blogs through-out the day. If it weren’t for the antics of this group, chances are really good, I would be writing from the prison library on my recreation time. I’m just saying…
Kim on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:12 am #
1. Phone calls. Specifically my mom. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom dearly, but she calls and reads me the grocery adds or goes through and reads me everyone of her stinking emails. UGH. That’s when I put the phone on speaker, keep working and do the occasional “uh-huh. Really?”
2. I’m a google-tard. I’ll spend an hour searching for some should-be-easy-to-find tidbit, give up, IM my friend for help and she’ll have it in like .2 seconds. Feeling stupid does NOT help at all.
3. My husband wanting my full and undivided attention or saying “Hon, since you’re on the computer can you look this up for me.” Which leads me to #2.
Bonus: the family wanting some time consuming meal like fried chicken with homemade dessert when I’m to the point where its “You better drive your *** over to McDonald’s or call in a pizza.” I have been known some times when I get the “What’s for dinner?” whine to hand over a $20. *g*
Kim on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:14 am #
Sandy–I completely hear you on needing a ride home to decompress. When I was in the factory I had a 30-40 minute commute each way. There was nothing like 30 minutes of driving the back roads at break neck speeds listening to AC/DC cranked up to full volume to relax me by the time I walked in the door.
Julie on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:15 am #
The top three things that ANNOY me when I’m stressed out are:
My Husband
My Children
And the Horrible Guilt that I feel because I’m annoyed at them for no good reason Which of course Stresses me out even More!
SuzyQ on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:16 am #
1. Phone calls. I’m with everyone on this one.
2. People who can’t make a left hand turn (especially when I have to make a right turn and they took up the whole lane so I can’t even sneak around them)
3. The person that has to email and copy everyone and their mother on an issue that have been solved and or is being worked on. This sets off a chain reaction of replies that goes on for days. Of course, people have to also hit ‘reply to all’ instead of just hitting ‘reply’
Claudia Dain on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:19 am #
JULIA!!! My deadline is TOMORROW. This blog is just too perfect. You’re describing me exactly.
Filling the gas tank. I’m always on empty when I have NO TIME. It feels like it takes 10 minutes to put in 2 gallons.
Answering the phone to find it’s a sales call. GET OFF MY PHONE. You just pulled me out of a scene that will take me 20 minutes to find my way back into.
Food. I have to eat. Why does eating take so much time??
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:31 am #
Kim — google-tard? HAHAHAHAAA! I laughed so hard!
Doglady — DIAL UP?!?! Here is my knife so you can slit your wrists now, you poor thing!
Julie — I WANTED to say that but didn’t have the guts, LOL
Claudia — junk food, consumed at your desk, takes no time at all. Shovel it in with one hand while the other hand chicken pecks the keys.
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:32 am #
good lord — the number of typos and misspellings in my post does not bode well for the revisions, does it?
RachelG on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:36 am #
I’m also up against a deadline and really really really behind. At times like these, even the smallest thing feels huge. Things that drive me insane when I’m stressed:
People who drive slow
People who talk slow
People who eat slow
People who walk slow
Claudia Dain on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:38 am #
Peck.
Peck.
Peck.
Gobble.
Hey, you’re right! It works!
Sabrina Jeffries on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:48 am #
I’m in the floating stage and trying not to float, so I don’t end up having the deadline nightmare this time (go ahead, say it … good luck with that). This is my usual state, since I try to get ahead in preparation for the days when my son is home, and I have to drop everything for him. It’s not that much these days, but still …
But what annoys me most is having to grocery shop. I wish the groceries would magically appear. They don’t. *G*
goofy girl on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:50 am #
Why are you answering your phones!!! Stop the madness!!!
1] people talking loudly in public places on their cell phones
2] stupid people driving cars [comes with subsets]
ct009ct on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:55 am #
What ever happened to humans answering phones???
After playing 20 questions with an automated answering machine,
that I swear took hours!!, I am now on hold with the gas company.
Listening to the same annoying song while receiving bits of advice on
saving gas, etc., that I’m not interested in at the moment.
As I was doing the exact same thing last monday and stupidly thought the problem was solved. HAH, little did I know.
This blog is saving my sanity!!!!!!
goofy girl on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:57 am #
Why are you answering your phones!!! Stop the madness!!!
1] people talking loudly in public places on their cell phones
2] stupid people driving cars [comes with subsets]
a] not paying attention while
1] talking on their cell phones
2] putting on make-up
3] reading something
b] not using their turn signals — just stepping on the brake & heading one way or the other
c] changing lanes back and forth and back and forth and back and forth
d] not clearing off the snow/frost from their windows [how do they see?]
3] coworkers asking the same questions again and again and again and again… and again — and the answers will never change — yes the sun will set in the west and rise in the east tomorrow. Who hired these idiots? Is the best in the employement pool ?
Kim on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:58 am #
Claudia–NicoleJ saved my life on this one, protein drinks! Put a straw in it and you don’t even need to peck with one hand.
Julia–LOL. Glad to give you a chuckle. Google is thy enemy! What I wouldn’t give to be those CSI people who put in one word and find the exact obscure fact they need. Yeah RIGHT!
Meg on 31 Mar 2008 at 9:58 am #
The three TOP things? I might be hard pressed to narrow it down.
1 & 2– It would have to be a combo of aggravating customers and co-workers. The customers who see you wearing a uniform and see you in that store all the time and still ask “Do you work here?” and then proceed to ask you about something in a dept that you don’t even work in!! And the co-workers who need a price check. They call, have to wait for you to get to them, then you have to go check on the price, and then get back to them! All this time standing with a customer doing NOTHING while you are actually rushed because you are so behind because of stupid stuff like this!!
3– One thing I really can’t stand is a stupid driver. I mean, didn’t they have to read that book and take a test too? And when I am stressed it’s like they are attracted to me. My husband used to have terrible road rage, but I believe that as I get older, mine gets worse.
Kim on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:00 am #
May I interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to make this announcement:
We’ve got a very cool contest this week in The Forum! Go to Gifts of the Goddesses and then to Match a Goddess.
And the next three weeks we’ve got uber cool prizes! This week you get to raid the Mt Oly prize temple :O
Meg on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:08 am #
ct — I can soooo agree with you. That song (whatever it may be) just adds to the stress. And what are those automated questions for anyway? When you actually get a live person on the other end they ask you those same question ALL OVER AGAIN! Sheesh
ct009ct on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:10 am #
2. When I am in a hurry because I’m running late (which is quite often), why are All the morons on the road.
You know, the person who must wait for all 4 lanes to be clear before he/she can turn left.
The person who doesn’t know the center median is for turning left.
The person who drives 20 when the speed limit is 40.
Why does the lane I’m not in always move faster???
The person who doesn’t know you can turn right on red here.
The person on the cell phone not watching what they are doing.
ETC. ETC. ETC. must go - a human came on the line.
Marianne Harden on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:32 am #
. . . three top things that annoy you to death when you are under stress
1) The lightning speed in which my husband eats (. . . . Honey, slow down. I’m not gonna to steal your food!)
2) My teenage son’s relentless flexing of his ‘big guns’ in the mirror (Looks like golf balls in a tube sock to me)
3) My thirteen year old daughter’s ever changing moods (Did I just see an eye roll?)
amy1242 on 31 Mar 2008 at 11:02 am #
I’m with RachelG, anyone in slow-mo mode. Get the HECK outa my way! And doglady, I too, have dial up. I find myself saying, “come-on, come-on, come-on!” all the time.
Feeding my kids is also a biggy. I just get the dishes cleaned up, sit down to concentrate on something and someones’ still HUNGRY! What??? WE JUST ATE!!! FIND A STINKIN’ APPLE OR SOMETHING!!!!
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 11:22 am #
How about people ahead of you in line who decide to tell the person behind the counter their life story? Or why they are in the store that day buying whatever?
Under normal circumstances, I think aaah, look, people are connecting. Under stress, I debate which one I am going to kill — the customer, or the customer-friendly clerk.
Meg, I hope you are not customer-friendly, or else I might have to kill you.
Suzanne Enoch on 31 Mar 2008 at 11:25 am #
LOL, Julia. I have a book due May 1st, and about 250 pages left to write.
1) Going to the grocery store. I joked with my agent when I wasn’t home to get her call that I was out stocking up so I wouldn’t have to leave the house for the next month. Why can’t *%&$ fruit last longer than 3 days?
2) The tax man. Why, or why can’t I wait to figure out my taxes and make an appointment until AFTER my deadline? Won’t the IRS understand that I have a book due?
3) My brain. It never works when I need it to. Get me out on the middle of a Disney ride with no pen and paper and I’ll have a brilliant idea. Sit me down at the table with the computer, pen, paper, tape recorder, puppets, tarot cards, crystal ball, and…nothing.
Nicole Jordan on 31 Mar 2008 at 11:31 am #
LOL, Julia…. only that’s a very sympathetic lol.
My top three:
- interruptions of any kind
- loud noise of any kind
- interruptions of any kind
- idiotic drivers — idiotic people in general — run a close 4th.
Best of luck on your deadlines, Julia, Claudia, and Suzanne!!!!!!
Sandy "Snik" White on 31 Mar 2008 at 12:16 pm #
Pen clickers. I can’t stand pen clickers.
Tattle tales. Kids or grown ups. Seriously, my brother came in today, asks me a dumb question, i gave him a dumb answer. He calls Pa and tells him that I’m being B-t–y.
I am so having a Monday, it isn’t even funny. I’m bout to go off…it ain’t gonna be pretty.
Sandy "Snik" White on 31 Mar 2008 at 12:18 pm #
And I am being such a big one, I can’t even spell it, but you all got my reference right? Female dog type with a Y at the end. I’m sure you all got that…i just hate feeling stupid when I’m being self righteous. Its annoying. LOL
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 12:30 pm #
Did I mention the garage door is broken and I have to MANUALLY open the door and MANUALLY close it, which of course means getting in and out of the car???
KariE on 31 Mar 2008 at 12:47 pm #
Sandy- I will one up you, Einstein put the bottled water in the freezer last night to “get them cold”. Of course, he forgot them until this morning. So I am sitting here parched waiting for the water to thaw out. It is almost worse than waiting for water boil.
He got a job. Finally. He’s driving me nuts.
Julia- You use your garage for your car? My garage hasn’t seen a car in it since Hurricane Charlie in 2004. This annoys me all the time, not just when I am stressed.
Sandy "Snik" White on 31 Mar 2008 at 1:01 pm #
That’s excellent Kari! That he found a job, not that he froze all your water and you’re lapping at an ice cube like a deer on a salt lick…that’s just annoying and I would say it sounds par for the course eh? When does he start his new job and what is it? LOL guess I could email you this…durr.
Karen Hawkins on 31 Mar 2008 at 1:39 pm #
Oh, you guys are SO right! Dawdling people are the worst. I live in the South and I appreciate a nice, polite drawl, but that does not excuse people who take FOREVER to get to the point, or meander while driving, or just piddle around when they need to be DOING something. If you have something to say/do/go, say/do/move it or let me by! I’ve got work to do!!!
I only eat fast food during deadline week. Every time I go there, some joker is in line ahead of me and thinks he’s at Starbucks. “AH, I’ll have a #2 with no pickles, mayonaise, three packets of ketchup — and can you super size that and– No wait. I’ll have a #6 WITH PICKLES — did you get that WITH PICKLES? — and extra cheese, and oh, do you have a whole wheat bun or–What’s that? No whole wheat bun? Then scratch that and I’ll have a #5 WITH PICKLES and TWO packets of ketchup and a medium fries and a–”
Meanwhile, I’m sitting behind them, steam coming out of my ears.
Sheridan LA on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:02 pm #
Kim… Google-tard! awesome!!
Stress irritants…
1. inane questions. You asked, I answered, do we need a follow-up session on the “why’s?”
2. I can somewhat deal with lines to check out.. EXCEPT when the person in front of my starts debating prices, playing the “I don’t have enough cash, can I put this back? Wait, how about this and that so i can keep that?” I have actually paid the difference to get them out of there. I sympathize, but if you are that strapped, either do the math during shopping or forego the sodas and magazines.
3. execs who feel they need to put their 2 cents in when they have not paid attention previously.. or they change their mind, just to change it. I am in production, so this can cost the client a lot of money.. if it is bad, I have been known to add in a “stupidity fee” as punishment.
Sheridan LA on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:04 pm #
Karen, my dad is a piddler.. I want to wring his neck sometimes. He piddles because he mostly does not have a lot to do, which puts my somewhat type A personality in a tailspin.
Kay on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:08 pm #
The telephone is a pain, but when people e email you, they somehow EXPECT YOU TO ANSWER IN TWO SECONDS! I don’t always check my e mail when I’m working-that’s how I get work done. LOL
My second is the weather this time of year—MUD. The dog and the kids track in record amounts of mud in March/April. It’s amazing that we have and dirt left in the yard for the grass to grow :-).
I was actually happy to see it snow today. That means the dog can go in and out and in and out and in and out as much as she wants and there will be no mud–until it melts in a couple of days.
Audrey on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:29 pm #
The microwave! I think the timer is wrong. Seriously, when I am in hurry mode, that two minutes seems like ten. So now I never stand in front of it waiting, I always grab the cloth and wipe something or put something away.
DH! It seems like whenever I get stressed or hurried, he gets even slower, muttering about how the world isn’t going to come to an end. Seriously, dear, if you don’t have to hurry as much as me, maybe you need to take on more of my chores.
While we’re at it, the whole darn family should take on more of my chores, being as they’re usually their chores to begin with.
Great topic, Julia! I feel much better after my mini-rant!
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:43 pm #
Sheridan, my father is the WORST piddler. And the stories he tells — I can take full blown naps in the middle, wake up, and still not miss anything that has anything to do with the story. I love him, I do, but the older he gets, the more he goes on and on.
But what cracks me and my siblings up is how he complains constantly that his brother starts telling a story with no point and with a million details that have nothing to do with the story. That’s him!
Claudia Dain on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:43 pm #
New annoyance–can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner.
Why can’t the computer fix all my speed demon typos? Why does it make me go back and fix everything???
When I type wehn, can’t it figure out I meant when? Etc. On and on etc. I’d have the book finished by now if the stupid computer could understand the word I was trying to type.
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:44 pm #
Oh Claudia, I have the same problem! If I had a penny for every stroke of the backspace key, I’d never have to write again!
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:45 pm #
kari, we only have one half the garage to fit MY car, and that was quite a battle in and of itself. But I refuse to let my car bake all damn day.
Karen Hawkins on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:04 pm #
Julia, you live in TX, so you HAVE to use the garage. In TN, that’s a storage place. In FL, not so much.
And oh, Sheridan and Julia, don’t get me started on my DAD piddling. He’s an expert. And oh, the old jokes he tells. At his house, you have to announce when you’re going to take a shower — all of those kids and three bathrooms, well, you can see where that’s a necessity. I can’t tell you how many times in the last forty years he’s said to me as I announce I’m going to take a shower, “Don’t get wet!”
Ha! Ha. Hhhhaaa. aaaahhhhhhhhh. Ah! AHHHHH!
amy1242 on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:06 pm #
LOL, Karen!
Judy F on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:34 pm #
Just three???
Girl that sits in front of me at work who has to date stamp stuff loud enough to wake the dead. Its bad when I can’t hear people I am talking to on the phone.
People in grocery stores that think they own the whole aisle. Park their cart smack dab in the middle.
This I saw saturday, cars not pulling over for the ambulance. I swear these two cars were trying to beat the ambulance. Pull over you idiots.
evlqn on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:40 pm #
You are soooo right about your bs factor going out the window when you get stressed.
1) My sister who can’t find something when I am in the middle of a project.
2) The boys yelling for Auntie (me) or Grammy(my sister) from the other end of the house because they lost thier remote.
3) Idiots of any kind,drivers, cell phone users, parking space thieves, etc,etc,etc.
Friends who keep doing the same bonehead thing over and over and over. If he cheated on you 14 times what makes you think he won’t go for 15??? And don’t tell myspace everytime you forgive him!
Sandy "Snik" White on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:51 pm #
How long have I not noticed the spring look for the Goddesses? I literally just noticed, and would like to think it’s semi new. Loving Rachel’s apron and the teapots are adorable. Love it! Happy Spring Goddesses!
KariE on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:54 pm #
I’m LOVING the new TGB banner!!!!
Paula M on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:54 pm #
Three things that annoy you
1.People who tell you it will be alright - if i knew that i wouldn’t be stressed would I?
2. People who phone at the time when I’m sorting my boys out eg: teatime, bathtime or bedtime - Leave me alone!! i ususally let the ansaphone pick up those calls but when they ring back they say I know you were there.
3. my sister can stress me out as when we talk about whatever she KNOWS it all!! my youngest son is ? dyslexsic but he can’t be tested for another 18 months as at the moment he’s too young but on hearing this my sister spouts out that she knows all about dyslxsia and she can help me understand what it means he will need help with, he’s not been diagnosed with it yet for *$%£” sake!!
Sorry I had to get that one out of my system now I’m destressed !!! Thanks
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:55 pm #
It must have just happened — I hadn’t noticed it either.
Has anyone else noticed that K-Hooaaa, K-Ha, always has a drink in hand, no matter the season?
And Suz! What a lovely boa you’re wearing!
Gannon on 31 Mar 2008 at 4:06 pm #
Love your spring attire, Goddesses! And as for K-Ha’s ever present drink in hand, it’s always the right season for wine.
Kim on 31 Mar 2008 at 4:36 pm #
Love the new banner!!! Very gorgeous.
Note to self: do not special order if K-Hawk is around *g*
Sheridan LA on 31 Mar 2008 at 4:48 pm #
Claudia and Julia…
not sure if you have discovered this… but this might help with your typos.. If you are using Word you can go into Tools (on a Mac - assuming same on a Windoze machine) and select Autocorrect, you can add in common typing mistakes you make (like the wehn/when thing) I am guessing there might be something similar in other word processing applications, but not familiar with them.
I used to get upset because I would often turn “does not” into “doe snot”… I am space bar challenged. Whilst it makes for a humorous typo, it does not do well in the “proper word usage” category.
ok.. back into my geek cave.
Sheridan LA on 31 Mar 2008 at 4:48 pm #
oh.. and the new banner is fabulous.. Spring is glorious - and I admire K-Ha for sticking with the wine(o) theme…
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 6:31 pm #
Great suggestion, Sheridan — I never knew that.
So I got The Look today when I went to pick up my ward. A lady and I came to a four-way stop sign at the same time. I started first, and she gave me that look I knew very very well. HA! At least I am not the only one having a bad day!
Paula, my husband can sometimes adopt that “let me help you understand” attitude, but I have learned how to quickly correct him.
Meg on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:07 pm #
I just noticed the new spring look, too, and I think it is wonderful!
Julia - while I HAVE to be customer friendly (as per company policy) I keep it short and sweet.
Suzanne Enoch on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:54 pm #
Oh, yay. I asked to not be the only one doing work this time. Now it looks like Rachel’s doing the spring cleaning. *g*
Judy F on 31 Mar 2008 at 7:57 pm #
very springy look. I love Karen R’s purse…
Lisa H on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:36 pm #
Julia - so busy getting and giving the look and you still had time to gussy up the goddesses..
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:50 pm #
Meg, I am really sorry. I mean, you’re probably the kind of woman for whom being nice comes naturally. I think I’d be annoyed 24/7. But I’ll check back in a couple of weeks and I’ll see if Polly Sunshine has come home again.
Lisa H — I guess I am just a natural multi-tasker, LOL!
I wish I’d done it. I would have added a tiara to Suz. The boa just doesn’t look right without the tiara, hahahaha.
Sabrina Jeffries on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:16 pm #
Well, Julia, I always seem to have a scarf. Sigh. I don’t wear scarves, either.
I suppose I really shouldn’t even comment on this, since I am probably the person annoying all of you.
I talk to clerks year-round, I dawdle just about everywhere (oh, look, shiny!), and I talk on the phone in the car. Not much, just occasionally. I also take forever to get to the point in a story.
But hey, I wrote 8 pages today, and that was WITH my son home for spring break (although he did have care for 7 hours, so that helped a lot). If I can keep that up, I might actually get the book in on time!
Hope always springs eternal.
Julia London on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:32 pm #
I love you, Sabrina. And if I ever tell you to stop talking, just please know I am banging my head against a deadline
Karen Hawkins on 01 Apr 2008 at 3:11 am #
Ooooh! Digging the banner! Wine is the accessory that never stops doin’ its thing, no matter the season.
Julia, good luck with the deadline! Now you’re weekly blog is a-gone so you can focus on page count, page count, page count!