Monday, November 9, 2009

WEIGHING MY WHINES

What has happened since my last post, you ask? Hhmmm, let's see. Oh, I know...the freight company destroyed our booth upon return from Quilt Market. Here's the booth at Market:
Did I tell you that Tim (MacGyver), my husband/engineer, devised this booth to fold up into itself? Pretty ingenious, right? Think about furniture that comes to you either blanket wrapped or in a cardboard box. Now here's the booth I received back.




While these were taken with a cell phone, and I'm only showing a few shots, I imagine you get the picture. Holes were poked throughout. So now the burden is on us to try to get compensation.
.
Let's see, what else? My business credit card has been compromised. Someone went on a shopping spree soon after Quilt Market. Then we had the water department come out to fix an underground leak in our yard. They came to the door a few minutes later and proudly announced they'd fixed the problem. At 6:oo pm I went to make dinner. No water, not even a drop. Turns out they never turned my water back on. My mother-in-law's Altzheimer is getting worse. She sometimes calls 6 times a day to tell me the exact same thing. She's afraid and lonely and we're 5 hours away.
.
Truth is, these are really nothing more than inconveniences. I get frustrated, but am quickly reminded of how blessed I really am. It truly changes my perspective when I choose to turn my attention to what a wonderful opportunity I had to be at Quilt Market.. and I was only without water for a couple hours, etc, etc. My friend Don's inoperable Stage 4 brain tumor; now that's an inconvenience. Don't get me wrong...I love to gripe with the best of them. And if I'm truthful, I most likely won't change. But what I'm trying to do, at least, is put it on an imaginary scale, and these whines all added up to about an ounce. Sigh.

I know you were wondering what Tim and I were on Halloween, so here's the big reveal:
.
Tim as a Canadian, and I as someone who works out. Amazing, huh?

I know, I know. We have pulled off some amazing costumes in the past though. It was so much more fun when we could royally embarrass our kids, but that doesn't have the same effect now that they aren't teenagers.
.
Oh my gosh, once Tim dressed as the Godfather. Not THE Godfather, but one of Peter Sellers disguises from a Pink Panther movie. Do you remember how he stuffed his cheeks with cotton so he could look like Marlon Brando then choked on a drink? Then got in an elevator with these tough guys and passed gas? So I found a double breasted black pinstriped suit, black shirt, white tie and Fedora hat...I mean the works. But before we got to the huge Halloween gathering at our church (yeah we weren't bible characters) we stopped at the mall to find a whoppie cushion. We had the kids with us. I was also dressed in an elaborate costume...oh I wish I could find pictures. But the kids wanted absolutely nothing to do with us and walked way behind. Of course, being good parents we made sure to turn around and yell to them, by name, to hurry it up.

I frankly have no trouble embarrassing my kids, sometimes unknowingly. Here's another opportunity for me to pull out that imaginary scale I was talking about. I am reminded of all the times they threw themselves down kicking and screaming in the grocery store. Or the time Jennifer ran giggling, pushing the shopping cart with Jonathan in the seat, barrelling into the end cap of cereal. Oh, and how about them hiding inside the clothes rounders to scare unsuspecting shoppers. I'm the mom who left the cart in the isle and promptly escorted them home. So my thinking is ~Hey, I'm still in make up mode, don't you agree?
.
Now as we grow older we will undoubtedly truly embarrass them. To that I apologize now:
.
Sorry. I swear, I won't do it again.

19 comments:

  1. Poem for the older generation:
    When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,
    And bring so much happiness...just as they did.
    I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.
    Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited!
    (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

    I'll write on the wall with reds, whites and blues,
    And I'll bounce on the furniture...wearing my shoes.
    I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
    I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout!
    (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

    When they're on the phone and just out of reach,
    I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.
    Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
    (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

    When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
    I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat,
    I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
    And when they get angry...I'll run...if I'm able!
    (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

    I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click,
    I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
    I'll take off my socks and throw one away,
    And play in the mud 'til the end of the day!
    (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

    And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,
    I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
    My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
    And say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Go ahead and whine! It doesn't mean you don't KNOW you're blessed it just means 'I'm letting off steam'! Hang in there...all will be better soon!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey you are allowed to "download" every now and again! Hugs to youxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. What the h*** did they do that booth? Roll it down the freeway?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! Your poor booth. I hoep you do get compensation for it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Paula!
    I can't believe what happened with your booth!! It's like a train went over it. I saw how careful, delicated and meticulous Tim was when he packed it after finishing the show!!
    Don't worry, let the steam out!
    Love,
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh my word....i think i would've taken OUT the delivery/parcel guy. but then again, i do have a bit of a temper. :)

    as for embarrassing kiddos, mine is only two and i already have ideas to get her one day. apparently i was an AWFUL child and so my mom just laughs and says payback to all the things louisa does to me, but i will get her one day. :)

    it is funny too, just earlier today i was having a pity-party for myself and then i was humbled BIG-time by a family that was beside me in a parking lot that lived out of their car. it is all about perspective, and i love when i am humbled in a way to realize that i really don't have much to complain about, you know?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my, that's horrible what they did to your beautiful booth. Good thing you have such a good attitude about the whole thing. Stand your ground and make them compensate you for it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh gosh, what a bummer! I love the attitude you are taking about it--why waste time being bummed about it!

    Have a lovely day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Paula, I'm so sorry! Just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about your beautiful booth! I'm am crushed for you! It was ingenious! and I was going to call you to get your suggestions on assembling one myself next market. (I think I'll hold off while you recover haha). And Lila and I can relate to your sweet Mother's situation. We both are dealing with something similar, only what used to be a weekly call, has now stopped completely. She doesn't remember to call anymore, or send birthday cards to my kids. So even though it can be a bit tiresome to hear the same thing over and over, I must admit, I miss getting that call knowing my mother was just thinking of me.
    I hope you get that freight company to pay! Even though it won't fix the holes in your awesome booth, it will make the rest of us exhibitors feel much better you were given restitution in some form! It takes so much to get there, it's just not right!
    -hugs
    Lucy Morey
    Hot Scott Patterns

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your poor booth! How awful! I hope they pay like they should.

    The rest about embarrassing you kids.... are you sure you aren't my parents???? lol!!! At least my dad anyway. He seemed to find such joy in humiliating us in public. He is still a character.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's not the little inconveniences that get to me. It's the accummulation of all the little ones that drive me nuts. And you have your share, that's for sure! But you're right, we are so blessed, even in the middle of the headache.
    Loved reading about embarrasing your teens with your costumes! We are on the opposite side of the teenage years, and it sounds like there's a lot to look forward to - ha!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have great insight on why we must embarrass our kids. Payback!!! My oldest will be a teenager next year, so I'll begin then. Hee hee. You crack me up!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, that beautiful booth! Time for a new company I see. Nothing that can not be fixed...you are right... your friends tumor, that's a tougher one to fix. We all have our moments to whine though. You are deserving and it helps get though the tough times! Hope the venting helps. Love your comment about your kids in the grocery store when they were small. I think I'll go hug my mom right now and tell her I'm sorry for all the crap I put her through during my growing up. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Whining is allowed! Sometimes I just need to do it to blow off steam, and then I carry on...also it has been my mission in life to embarrass my kids. They are adults now, but why change? I can still manage to do it and not break a sweat!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's when everything hits at once that makes us want to scream in frustration. Love the kid stories, I think we can all identify with them! I love your sense of humor!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Man, that stinks about your booth, but you are cracking me up here with everything else, especially embarrasing your kids! Mine are too young for that now, but I look forward to it when they get to be teenagers. My husband and I are already tucking aside all the embarrasing pictures and stories for just the right moment;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. You guys are hilarious. Love the costumes and SO sorry about your booth. I too had my business "check card" stolen and never recovered all of the funds. It's a sad situation and it happens to people too often. I'll say a prayer for you. Don't forget to put your feet up and breath!

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails