WRITERS WORKSHOP

MamaKat at Mama’s Losin It has a Writers Workshop weekly.  If you want to participate click on the button above and follow her directions.  I haven’t participated in a very long time but thought I might do so today. 

This weeks choices:

The Prompts:

1.) Time for your tangent…what is your latest complaint?

2.) If you could have given yourself a snapshot five years ago of what your life is like now, what would the picture be of and how do you think you would have felt about it?

3.) What’s in YOUR name? What does it mean? Why was it given to you? etc..

4.) Write a letter to the first person who ever broke your heart.

5.) Welcome to the most shocking rose ceremony in writing prompt history. Please award roses to the ten people (or items) in your life that you’d like to continue pursuing a relationship with.

This week I am picking #1

My tangent is about people who do not think before speaking.  As you may or may not know I have basically been unemployed since the end of September.  I am getting multiple calls daily from bill collectors.  No I don’t feel like a deadbeat because I have ALWAYS paid on time and with credit cards I paid a lot more than the minimum payment.  Obviously the people calling are aware of this as they are as nice as you could ask for.  I am not being threatened, berated or made to feel like poo. 

However, sometimes a few just don’t think before they speak. 

Example:

Actual conversation after explaining over and over again that I have no income. 

Collector: Mam, are you trying to find a job?

Me:  No.  I lay on my fat ass all day watching tv. 

Seriously.  What was she thinking.  Of course I am looking for a job.  Along with millions of other Americans.  Does she think I enjoy not being able to pay my bills?  That I enjoy her calling me multiple times a day as if something is going to happen in the span of a few hours.  Woo Hoo….I won the damn lottery five minutes ago.  I will pay you off as soon as this gets in my bank account.

Recently the little turd I did a short term part time gig for stopped payment on my check.  After I had spent it.  You know.  On frivolous stuff like electricity, food, gas.  That meant my bank account was redder than my ass when I saw the balance.  So today a sweet girl calls to ask if I know that I am behind on my business account with Dell.  I explained to her my situation, wish they took notes, and let her know there was no way possible to pay anything today or in the foreseeable future.  Trying as hard as she could to get some sort of resolution, in a nice way, she went on and on. Even after I told her my bank account was in the red.

Dell Rep:  Mamn, can’t you at least pay 60.00 today to keep your account from going to collections?

Me:   Of course.  I am sure the bank will honor that payment with my account being overdrawn and all. 

crickets

But seriously, they have all been rather nice, understanding, etc.  I know they have a script to go by, big brother standing over their shoulder to make sure they are doing every thing they can to extract a payment from my dead beat ass.  However, after explaining myself for like the 5th time, explaining no “plan” is going to work until I have money to pay, all in the same call I get a little frustrated and say…”Sorry.  I can’t do anything right now or in the foreseeable future.  Thank you.”  Then I hang up.

And then they think I have a crystal ball or I am psychic.  Do you know when you will get a job?  Really?  Did you just ask me that?  If I knew that I was going to get a job on March 17th, 2010, I would have myself a goodtime until then.  It would be easy because I would know exactly when I would start working.  So….most of the time I just don’t answer the phone anymore.  

Now.  Here is my other TANGENT.

My niece, whom I love dearly.  She is after all my blood.  I have taken care of her, fed her, clothed her, etc., when she was very young and her mother was going through a difficult time.  Even though I love her she makes me wish that I had snatched her out of the incubator when she was born and drowned her.  She isn’t a bad person.  She just needs to GROW UP.  And learn to filter what comes out of her very big mouth. 

I try to stay out of her business because it frustrates me to no end.  She is 30 and should be in a much different and better place right now.  Due to bad choices in her life and in boys men she is now sleeping on our sofa and has no transportation.  I would never let a relative sleep on the street.  I would never ask my sister to throw her child out on her ear.  However, she drives me bonkers. 

Yesterday she sat on the sofa all day in a t-shirt and pj bottoms downloading music.  Music that I can’t stand. She did clean the kitchen which I truly appreciated.  When I asked that she put more clothes on, ie a sweater, long sleaves, etc., and turn down the heater, she got mouthy with me. Well you have on long sleaves and I am cold.  Hello….it is Winter.  Dress warmer.  In a huff she totally turned off the heater.  Not what I asked for.  Neither was the lip service I got.

Last night….she takes a bath close to 10 pm.  Then she does a load of laundry.  I don’t know if it was the cycle she had it on but I had never heard the washing machine be so loud.  She had all day to do said load of laundry.  The night before she woke me and Twisted Sister up arguing on the phone with  her cousin.  This morning she complained about how strong our coffee was.  Then I heard a bunch of  *&&^%()_$ over something a dog did.  I don’t know which dog.  I didn’t want to know.  I just looked down the hallway at Twisted Sister and then shut my door.  Get the picture. 

I don’t want to get in a major blowup with her.  That would just upset all of us, especially Twisted Sister.  She has been extremely ill.  So ill that she lost 20 lbs.  She didn’t have it to lose.  She needs her rest. And Peace.  So I am venting to you guys. 

Whew….that was my tangent.

Tags: FILTER YOUR THOUGHTS, SHUT UP, THINK BEFORE SPEAKING

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