This week’s Works For Me Wednesday edition is sort of counter intuitive seeing as how it’s theme is, “What Doesn’t Work For Me.” And since I had a tough time narrowing down my list I thought it better to just post the whole thing. Have a Lookie Lu. I’m sure you’ll find a thing or two you agree with. And please, feel free to comment with an ‘Amen sister’ if you are so moved.
Without further ado, here are just a few of the things that don’t work for me:
- Bratz dolls. Because since the day these things showed their hideous faces on the shelves next to their far more wholesome counterpart, the Barbie, I have refused to purchase one for my own daughters. I have also refused to purchase them as birthday gifts. I refuse to support a doll who wears more make-up than she does clothes. Period.
- Speaking of make-up …my ten-year-old daughter has classmates that wear eye shadow. Purple and blue eyeshadow. I’ve seen this with my own eyes and I find it very disturbing. I only recently succumbed to my 13-year-old’s desire to wear eyeshadow and even then, I only allow muted tones. These other girls are barely ten. I have a vivid memory of getting a Cabbage Patch Kids stroller for my tenth birthday. Make-up was so far into my future that even a crystal ball couldn’t have picked it up. I’m sad for these young girls and their misled, pouty-plum laden eyes.
- Attending to personal hygiene in church. I kid you not. There is a lady who, without fail, pulls her fingernail clippers from her purse and starts clipping away during the sermon. I don’t know what else to say about that.
- Fast food. We’re not fast food people. Not even during road trips. I can’t tell you when the last time I stepped into a Taco Bell was. I have visions of my two-year-old growing up and going on to play quarterback of his high school football team. They’ll stop at McDonald’s after the game and he’ll look upon the french fries his teammates order with wonder and amazement.
- Gas Prices. We’re on the lower end of the spectrum here in Southern Arizona; I think we payed $3.22 per gallon when we filled up on Sunday morning. But even that has me choking.
- Chocolate Desserts. I know I’m in such the minority here but I’m not a fan. I would take a tangy slice of strawberry pie over an ooey gooey brownie sundae hands down, any day of the week.
- Pets in the bed. Or near the bed. Or in any proximity to the bedroom really. God bless all of you dog and cat lovers out there. Really. But I’m just not a pet person. The thought of dog or cat hair coming in contact with my bedding gives me the heebie geebies. I’m into admiring them from afar though.
- Sharing food/drink with someone else. This, too, gives me heebie geebies. I don’t even share water bottles with my children. Or drinks from a straw. If they are thirsty and I happen to have a water bottle in my hands from which I’ve been drinking, I gulp down as much as I can and then I hand it over. When they try to give it back I tell them that it’s all theirs. I’m not sure if they’ve figured out why yet. I hope not. I wouldn’t want to give them a complex.
* I do have an exception for desserts. It is acceptable to order one dessert and split it with my husband or my children. I just try to partition off my section. I’m not sure why it’s okay with desserts but not dinner foods. That’s just the way it is and I accept my limitations.
- Wasteful peeps. These are the people who could care less about conservation. I don’t consider myself to be hyper-eco-friendly by any means, but I do what I can when I can. We use canvas shopping bags. We conserve electricity whenever possible. We recycle. All easy steps to make our world a better place right? Well, I went to Target recently and neglected to bring my canvas shopping bags. (Tsk Tsk, I know). The cashier proceeded to bag my items very liberally. I kindly let her know that I was sort of opposed to using bags that weren’t necessary and asked that she place as many items into one bag as possible. My request seemed to fall on deaf ears and she continued to bag each item in it’s own bag. I ended up combining all the items into as few bags as possible before I left the counter and I gave her the excess bags to use for another customer. You want to guess what she did? Yep. She threw them in the trash!
That so didn’t work for me.
- Modern Programming. I can’t believe the filth of some TV shows that have the gall to air during family time. Case in point: The Moment of Truth. Oh boy, don’t get me started. Did you see the promos for that? Yikes. Enough is enough. When American people are entertained with the destruction of marriages and families before their very eyes, it’s a sad day. A sad day indeed.
Yeah, so, those are a few of the things that don’t work for me. Maybe not exactly what Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer was looking for with this week’s theme, but it’s what came to mind.
So I want to hear it. What doesn’t work for you?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I agreed with *everything* on your list…even the chocolate bit. And we’re not fast food people either. I haven’t been to a fast food joint the whole year. Wait – I take that back – we did go to In N Out with our neighbors a few months ago…
Other things that don’t “work” for me?
I started making a list here, but I think I’m going to go make a list on my blog…Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m with you on most of it. I’ll happily share a water bottle with Annie, but Catie is the princess of backwash so she gets a bottle all to herself.
And pets on the bed – I once would have agreed with you, but when I was very sick and bedridden my fabulous faithful dog was such a comfort to me, I totally let him take over when dh was not home. Of course that was an exceptional situation and no animals are in our bedroom now, but still there was a time…
I agree with those bratz dolls, and I know that you didn’t see them since you don’t eat fast food, but McDonalds had some trashy dolll things in their happy meals last year, and I know it didn’t matter, but I emailed them and gave them a piece of my mind!
ten year old’s and make up?? at school?? I can’t believe we even have to go there!! Sheesh.
seriously? clipping your nails during church?
now, the chocolate I am just going to have to disagree with you whole heartedly on that one!!
Thanks for your fun doesn’t work for me!
Why don’t Bratz dolls have noses? They are so freaky looking!
I agree about the gas prices, just this morning I saw one pump that was $3.65. Makes me want to cry.
I think you may turn into a fabulous detective in later years.
Have you seen the sitcom “Monk” on the USA channel? He has many of the obsessions you have (and many more). Good Luck with your coming career in sleuthing.
“I’m LOL out loud” (One of Monks statements while trying to fit in with computer people)
I’m so on your page. Except for chocolate and fast food. I gotta have my fries!
Make up at 10??? Over my dead body. I have a 10 year old who hasn’t even asked. She’ll have to wait until 8th grade, just like me.
What are these parents thinking? Probably the same parents that have cell phones for their 3rd graders. Which makes my 3rd grader feel like I should get her one. Not happening.
I too remember being 10 and still playing with dolls and Barbies. Times have changed.
I have bought the Bratz though, they are ugly and a little trashy, but they are after all just a doll.
Great list!
Well, color me impressed. You put some serious thought into that! And I LOVED reading it. I love your writing style. I always wonder about people whose writing really resonates with me. Would we be BFF’s in real life?
I can’t stand being around someone clipping there nails. I put on a smile when my roommates do it around me, but in public? I about want to scream. There’s a GUY I have class with who clips his nails during class…don’t they realize everyone can hear you? Hearing = thinking = unable to enjoy the yummy Diet Dr. Pepper I brought to class with me.
Lets’s see… What doesn’t work for me?
Kennedy and Cassidy and Jayce all screaming at once.
Taco Bell
Bathroom Cleaning Week
Homework
Bumpy plane rides
And… When I look at donuts when I can’t have one and they call my name. That definitaly doesn’t work for me. :D
Gas prices are not working for this Californian, I paid $4.04/gal on Monday…
And people who can get away with not telling the truth to achieve their selfish goals.
My family living so far away:(
I agree with you on most. Definitely in disagreement over the chocolate. And the fast food. Hmm…what doesn’t work for me? Where shall we begin. First the secretary in my office who chooses to pop her pimples while she sits at her desk. How about the woman at our Moms Gala/Fundraiser the other night who was screaming at me about how she had to get home to her babysitter at 10pm (ps – our event wasn’t slated to be over until 1030pm). What else? My nanny saying to my 5 year old – do you think I’m stupid? I should probably stop now. Maybe I’ll post on my own blog instead of taking up space on yours….
$3.22? Are you kidding me? That must be why I miss living in Tucson, the gas is so much cheaper than where I live now!
Very funny! I am with you on the no pets in the bed thing. We have a great dane and it was a battle between me and the dog for a whole year on who would be in the bed with Daddy! lol I won! I read a few of your posts and they were all so fun and touching. I would love to add you to my blogroll at http://mommylounge.wordpress.com
Now something that doesn’t work for me is the rarity of seeing a real mom at the park so everyone assumes I’m the nanny or teenage babysitter!