Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Death And Faxes

I enjoyed reading everyone's suggestions on what to say to the tactless funeral home employee; but I must say that threeundertwo's contributions took the prize. What do you say next time a funeral home worker complains of being busy? Either you can express empathy:

"Yeah, my freezer at home is full, too."

Or, you can go the vaudeville route:

"Gee, I hope nobody STIFFS you!" (Ba-da-bum)
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Okay, I know it's not a good idea (impolite, even!) to listen in on someone else's conversation; but I think I unwittingly did the blogosphere version of that. I visited the blog of someone who linked to me this month, and in the comments someone mentioned that she reads my blog too, and that she feels sorry for me.

So now I feel downright pathetic.

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The BBC is apparently eight light years behind the times. That is the only way to explain how they could publish this article which informs us, with an almost breathless astonishment, that SAHM's use computers to socialize. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Here's a sample of this piece of cutting-edge journalism:

...many mothers now routinely use technology and social networking as well as coding their own websites, texting their babysitters, installing wireless routers, blogging and using Facebook.


Really?!? But isn't that too hard? I mean, how do these women figure out how to use all those...those...buttons? You know, the ones with the letters on them?

The article goes on to theorize that mothers use all this, um, complicated technology to socialize and to feel less isolated. Gosh, who would have thunk it? Thanks, BBC, for keeping us caught up on the absolutely latest-breaking trends in the technological world. Oh, and it ends with this quote from a stay-at-home "mum":

...being a mother is a "thankless, horrible, awful job that nobody should actually have to do for free - but we do. So blogging is our outlet."

Did they catch that woman on a bad day, or what?


26 comments:

  1. These are all gems. Full freezer - hilarious.

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  2. Wow...talk about perception is everything. I may commiserate with you sometimes, but it would never occur to me to feel sorry for you. I also have a suspicion that you don't have much trouble with getting the last word, should you want it of course. :)

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  3. Oh this post just made me laugh so hard...

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  4. That commenter obviously has never heard the axiom I live by--if it makes a story better, tell it that way. I have never felt sorry for you--I've just felt like I'd like to have a drink with you while comparing notes on teenage daughters.

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  5. Um, at least she reads you?

    {Makes me shudder to think what pity would feel her breast if she stumbled on some of my posts.}

    Interesting, too -- you know they say women want sympathy, and men want solutions. I think with blogging, we want laughs or empathy, or recognition of genius (of course), but empathy is not the same as sympathy (which I equate w/ "feel sorry for").

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  6. What the hay? Feel sorry for you?

    Heh, heh...what is that person living in, a bubble? Or is she self-delusional.

    I enjoy reading about real life---its refreshing! Thank goodness there are those of us who do it!

    Oh, and by the by---check out my blog if you have the time---I am doing a small giveaway.

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  7. I followed your links (and you didn't even insist) and had to have a laugh at the blogger who feels sorry for you. I feel sorry for me, that's why I read your blog. I know I'm not alone!!

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  8. Huh...feel sorry for you? Really. Sorry? It's amazing. I struggle to understand WHY someone would feel sorry for you. I have my suspicions, but it's best that I bite my keys for fear of needing peppermint ones later.

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  9. terrible, horrible, no good, VERY bad day . . . for sure.

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  10. How could I possibly feel sorry for you? You not only found the perfect way to get the dishes done with a happy daughter, you SHARED it with us! (Of course, if you WANT me to feel sorry for you, I guess I can...) Besides, it's hard to feel sorry for someone who makes me laugh nearly every day.
    Now that mum in the article? I feel sorry for HER. Bad day indeed!
    I'm still choking on the full freezer comment.

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  11. Glad that women wasn't my mom....wait I think she was.

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  12. Gee, what did mothers do before blogging as an outlet for this thankless, horrible job????? Drink?

    I don't understand this attitude the media so often displays towards families. Don't they come from families? Don't they have mothers? Might they even know a child or two? They act as if family life was some alien form that don't quite understand and seldom interact with.

    I don't even believe that quote. I think the journalist made it up. It too much reflects their own inability to grasp motherhood.

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  13. The scary part of that BBC article? Not only is this a revelation to "the industry", but they're now trying desperately to find a way to make money off of us. Sad.

    And yes, that one mom in the article was having a terrible day. I feel her pain, though. Sometimes I miss all that "real world" ego massaging, too. No one tells me I'm brilliant anymore.

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  14. That quote at the end of the BBC article--that's the kind of thing I may think sometimes but try really hard to never say to anyone but my husband, and even then probably not. The "for free" part resonates, but "thankless, horrible, awful"? I hope her kids never read that article.

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  15. Gah--how do women use technology--next thing you know they'll report on women driving and how it facilitates modern parenting! The freezer comment was sheer genius.

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  16. Feels sorry for you? Wow. Some people just miss the humor I think.
    That or they have never spent more that 10 mins. with a teenaged girl.

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  17. I'm the one who feels sorry for you... In some posts.
    I get the humour most of the time.. but obviously not always.
    I still read your blog though, just not all of the posts all the time. I really laughed at the new car search.
    Maybe I can formulate it as " I feel bad for you that you have to put up with all that.."

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  18. Poor TL - indicted for not laughing at everything I write! My post wasn't meant to pick on you, you know...I just was wondering if everyone felt the same as you. Also, it did feel weird to find myself being discussed in the third person (let's face it, I'm not Dooce) - but that is the nature of the blogosphere. And now you got to experience it, too...

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  19. The thankless, horrible mother - was she the one who commented on feeling sorry for you?

    Wow. Maybe she shouldn't have had kids.

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  20. oh thanks for your comment! I do feel better that you understand what I meant.
    I don't mind the experience, it's indeed weird to be talked about on the third person, especially when the comments are not super nice, but I guess I deserved part of it for not commenting on YOUR blog, where it should belong... I didn't realize that would be taken the wrong way. But I do apologize for writing about you on someone else blog without telling you first.

    I actually learned a lot,especially in english vocabulary, which is good for my immigration case:
    the difference between "commiserate"" empathy" and "I'm sorry for..."
    And I also totally agree with the self-delusional part, but I call it optimism...and first year of marriage.

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  21. Wow. I'd say it was a BAD day.

    The commenter doesn't appear to understand humor. Ah well.

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  22. Those who have not experienced teenaged girls will never understand - actually, my older daughter was a peach compared to her younger sister...it takes real maturity to survive with an intact relationship - and I know you will. I appreciate hearing about the frustrations of other moms of teens, I can't really express it much myself on my blog because my daughter reads it!

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  23. My oldest 2 daughters were not that bad as young teens. My 3rd, 13, is really lucky that I do not believe in physical punishment, as she could have gotten her face slapped numerous times in the last 6 months or so. I just assign extra chores before I take her anywhere or pay for any non essential items when she has an attitude.

    I thought it was great that she was chosen for the all district chorus, a few girls from each middle school in the surrounding counties, were chosen. Between the fees, music, transportation for the Cherry Blossom parade in 2 weeks, meals while they are travelling, etc this choice cost us almost $200. :)

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  24. My oldest 2 daughters were not that bad as young teens. My 3rd, 13, is really lucky that I do not believe in physical punishment, as she could have gotten her face slapped numerous times in the last 6 months or so. I just assign extra chores before I take her anywhere or pay for any non essential items when she has an attitude.

    I thought it was great that she was chosen for the all district chorus, a few girls from each middle school in the surrounding counties, were chosen. Between the fees, music, transportation for the Cherry Blossom parade in 2 weeks, meals while they are travelling, etc this choice cost us almost $200. :)

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  25. Jeepers! See what happens when you miss a day! I was at the dealership all day yesterday for my van and well it just so happens my husband's car took a dump, so we were car shopping, and I missed all the drama???? I don't feel sorry for you SC,I RELATE! I have teenagers in the house and I usually don't blog about the mean arguments we have, guess I should so other mothers can feel a "part of" because let's face it, TEENAGERS think they know it all when we know they don't know shit!

    OK I am done, sorry I was not here yesterday, but today as yet another day!
    Mel

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  26. Feel sorry for you? Heck! I want to learn to write like you!

    Thanks for the shout-out.

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