Welcome to Things That Must Go. This week’s giveaway is a custom L.L.Bean Tote Bag, but first, here are a couple of my favorite entries and the winner of the iTunes giveaway from last weekend.
Almost-Wons:
Robyn of Robyn’s Online World: Long drawn out pauses on reality shows announcing winners of the challenge, event, show, etc. Thank goodness for TiVo so I can skip that, but geez folks come on! (At first glance this might seem a tad superficial, but, really. Do they need that seven minute cliffhanger before revealing that Kherington and Gev are going home? Not that I watch So You Think You Can Dance or anything. No. I can wait ’til American Idol is on again for my reality show fix).
Celena Metzger: hmmm definitely those cloth hand Towels in public restrooms where everyone and their mother has used with goodness knows what kind of germs! (I think we’ve touched on public restrooms before, but the fabric hand towels. Yes. Those must go!)
And the winner is:
EMama: Fish pill burps. Like being pregnant isn’t nasty enough on its own. (I’ve been thinking about pregnancy lately, and no, I’m not pregnant, nor am I WonderWoman. But also? If anyone ever tells you that castor oil induces pregnancy? A) It does not, and 2) It tastes awwwwwful, and 2.5) It is a laxative. Lax-a-tive). Congrats to EMama. I shall be emailing you shortly.
And now, (pause) (pause). My
Things That Must Go
False Confessions. Recently I read a post* inviting people to anonymously confess their darkest secrets. Several commenters made absolutely painful, heartbreaking confessions, and I hope that doing so allowed them to envision making more meaningful confessions and figuring out how to fix whatever needs to be fixed in their lives.
One of the confessions was just a bit off, though. Here it is, in my words:
All right. I’m going to be brave and not go the anonymous route. Of course, anonymity is fine for you cowards with such bizarre problems, but here’s my terrible, hideous secret: Once I worked for a very mean man. He said I couldn’t read [insert literary classic] at work, even when all my work was done to perfection. But I can’t go even a day without reading, and so I read, and . . . sniff . . . I LIED to him when he asked me. This was terrible, because I am NOT a liar, and even if my boss was as bad as Hitler burning books in Berlin, I should have told the truth. This weighed on my sensitive conscience for years, until I broke down and wrote him a letter confessing all and apologizing profusely. Even though he was a very, very mean man. Who didn’t like to read.
This is like saying in a job interview, when they ask you what your biggest flaw is: “Sometimes I work too hard.” Or, to a fellow-PTA Mom: “I just love my family too much, I guess.”
False confessions, while understandable in a job interview (Make your weaknesses sound like strengths!) or in any highly-volatile situation like a PTA meeting, are just one of the many Things That Must Go!
I hope you’re ready to share your Things That Must Go. This week’s giveaway is a custom LLBean Tote Bag (small or medium, shipping to the U.S. only). You can design it any way you want (including monagramming, though that does seem a bit . . . hmm). My mother-in-law gave me an LLB tote several years ago, and I can definitely recommend it — with the long straps, outside pocket and zip-top. Mmm-mmm.
Simply leave a comment with your Things That Must Go before midnight Monday July 21st.
*I’d link to the post, but if my mom knew I was reading posts (and comments!) like those, she probably wouldn’t let me use her laptop ever again.
Tags: bragging, false confessions, llbean, post secret, things that must go, tote bag
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Yeah, that’s a pretty lame “confession,” especially in light of all the people genuinely baring their souls. It makes a mockery out of them.
My thing that must go this week is when people with huge trucks, minivans, and SUVs park in the “small car” spaces at the grocery store. They even have “small car” painted right there on each individual space. My car? Is small. A Dodge Caravan? Not small. So there’s all these huge vehicles parked with their tires on the white lines, butts hanging out into the “street,” leaving the spaces in between unusable to anyone, except motorcycles.
Things that must go:
My addiction to bags (pick me, pick me).
But seriously?
Gas prices…
Must go…
DOWN.
I write this because the other day at work someone requested I take my hand-made Go Celtics!! poster down off my cubicle wall. They told me it was so last month (or maybe even last, last month). I told them I needed to replace it with something (cheerleader that I am, I have to be cheering something).
I came up with this:
Go (down) Gas Prices!!
Another thing that must go:
Gas stations that lure you in w/ slightly lower prices (more along the lines of a home equity line instead of a second mortgage in order to fill up) only to have a higher price at the pump. The lower prices have small print under them indicating “cash price.” I cry foul!
Finally, this also must go: Oil rose $4 a barrel and gas went up some 15 cents. Then in two short days oil fell a total of $10 a barrel and gas hasn’t dropped a penny. I cry foul!
compulsive writers last blog post..funny ha ha or funny sad?
This week it is home contractors/repair people whose idea of setting an appointment is “we should be there sometime between Monday and Friday”. Really? that is an appointment? C’mon guys! I’ve got a 4 and a 2 yr old and you expect me to sit in my house with both of them ALL day, EVERY day for 5 days in anticipation that you MIGHT show up?
And another thing – would you be doing this to me if I WASN’T a stay at home mom? If I had to be at a full time job would you be yankin’ me around? I don’t think so. So get your butt over here and install my tile back splash!! So I can take pictures of it and blog about it. Gosh!
And if that isn’t enough – I’m really upset that all the “cool kids” got to go to Blogher and reminiscent of high school I’m left at home wondering what all the champagne and high heels were for and about. *sigh* I’m going next year – I don’t care where it is – and I’m dragging the whole family with me!! (please don’t remind me of this post next year when I realize once again that I don’t have the money to go and I’d rather spend those funds on new wood floors to match my new counter tops and back splash that I installed this year).
Beths last blog post..Look At Me Grow!
I agree about the false confessions – Post a secret was fine in the beginning, but now people just post a lot of made up things to get their postcard on the web/printed in the book.
Another thing that needs to go are television talk shows like The View where publicists have written the entire script. Yes, the show is live, but the four ladies have become puppets to the producers and when the producers think the shows ratings need a boost they throw in controversial topics such as white and black relations. This week, one of the shows hosts was crying over it (see video here: http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=1745). People love to see that girl cry so the producers let Whoopie lead the topic.
But the real truth is that the script was written by producers just looking to increase ratings. And those fake “live” conversations need to go.
My things that must this week is childrens clothing that has bratty things written on them.
This week while my family has been sick and we’ve been lying around like dead dogs, I taught myself to crochet.
You see, we have these onesies. They are good quality onesies, but they were a gift (without a gift receipt) and I just can’t let my daughter where a onesie that has “spoiled” written on it. Or “grandma magnet” or “Princess” or “2004″ for that matter (kind of makes you think this gift was second-hand, doesn’t it?).
Last time I checked, “spoiled” wasn’t something I’d want to brag about, but there it is on that onesie. I just don’t know why we want our children to look like brats.
Anyway, now I have little crocheted flowers that will be sewn over the words. We’ll get use out of the onesies and I got to use up some spare yarn. And my daughter will actually look cute instead of displaying an attitude.
But yes, bratty children’s clothing. It’s got to go.
TopHats last blog post..Friday Fill-ins
Dude! You suck. Can’t believe you spoiled my favorite dance show for me. I hadn’t gotten to it on TiVo yet. I’ll have to see if I can bring myself to forgive you and leave my TTMG comment later.
Taras last blog post..BlogHop ’08
Things that must go? People in my neighborhood who refuse to acknowledge stop signs. Today my family was almost hit by a man who just turned right through the stop sign without looking to see if anyone was there…hello…how can you miss our station wagon 2 feet from you?!?
Another thing that must go: High School Musical. I don’t have preteens, thank god! But I am so sick of all the merchandise everywhere. It’s a bit much.
And I love LL Bean totes. I gave one to my mom for Christmas last year and she uses it all the time.
Nicole J.s last blog post..Mindful Mama Magazine
Sorry Tara! I guess I should have put a spoiler alert, but since I had to look up the names (even though I happened to be surfing past this week when it was . . . . announced), I just didn’t even think about you being on the edge of your seat.
I promise not to do that when American Idol is back on!!
I work for the home heating assistance program. We have certain eligibility guidelines to meet in order to qualify individuals. Some of these people are within dollars of qualifying, but don’t have the necessary medical deductions to take off. Thus, no fuel assistance-even though they are struggling with home energy costs. Everything has gone up, gas, oil, food you name it. Things that must go, you ask? The federal poverty level guidelines as they now stand. They need to go UP, so more needy middle class people who are struggling with mortgages, high energy costs and food costs qualify for programs to help them get by.
Hi! Found you through the BlogHop ’08. Your blog name caught my attention because it’s a question my boys ask when they discover I don’t do camping, or hunting, or mudwrestling.
Anyway, if I’m going to play here, I must play right so my things that must go is the superstores that have 28 registers but only open 2 for serving scores of customers. By relying on those self serve options that don’t really serve, once again customer service has become its own dirty word. I long for the days of personal attention in stores and am considering not patronizing anymore of these superstores, which are not so super.
Elles last blog post..My best blogging…
What I think must go in our world…SELFISHNESS. I hate that. I know that some people aren’t natural givers, but, we have so much, even if we only have what we view as “a little.” There is literally always something you can share, no matter what your circumstance is. There is always someone worse off than you, therefore, YOU CAN SHARE something, if it becomes necessary. People don’t even like to share good, useful information anymore. We suffer from this “me” mentality. “It’s all about me.” It’s also like the crab in the bucket syndrome where we’ll clammer over each other to get to the top, pulling others down instead of helping them up. What’s the point? Where is our faith that if we give what we can when we can, God is faithful in taking care of our needs. The blessings are usually just around the corner, the minute you open that closed hand and give to someone else.
Peculiars last blog post..PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!
Alright, I’m warning you, this is a gross one. My Thing That Must Go this week is…..
The carnie running one of the children’s rides at our CHURCH’s carnival wearing a hat that said “Ride Me and Ride For Free”. Inappropriate and ewwwwwwwwww!!
Karis last blog post..Exhausted and Tired and Sleepy
Another super store Thing That Must Go:
Even though I’m annoyed at having to keep my receipt out and get it checked at the exit, I can vaguely see the point.
The thing that MUST go is the receipt-checker insisting on drawing one smiley face on the back for each of my children. And even though I’m talking to my child about what a big hurry we’re in she pulls him into a conversation and then hands HIM the receipt. Because I let my 3 year old do the books and totally trust him to keep track of that thing.
Wow, lots of people have some annoying things that must go!
My thing that must go this week? Women who blame situations on their husbands when they could actually take care of the sproblem. Someone I know told me she didn’t go to church because her husband “wouldn’t man up” and take their family. Grr. I wanted to say, but was too polite ( & scared of hurting her feelings), to say why didn’t you man up and take the family to church yourself. I know it isn’t easy to wrangle 4 kids, but you do it a good portion of the time anyway… Yeah, women need to buck up and just do it sometimes, and not wait for their husband to hold their hand.
Another thing that must go, why do I feel this need to not say something to avoid hurting someone’s feelings when it is something that really needs to be said. Oh well. Live and learn I guess.
Laura Williamss last blog post..The Next Food Network Star Updated…
I’m a winner! I won! I’m so excited I can’t think of things that must go even though this morning getting ready for the day, I thought “Well, that must go!” It was probably over-growing eyebrows.
I WON!!
EMamas last blog post..Picture of my Booty, Contest
Hi! I’m so glad I found your blog! And, I want to enter your fun contest.
So- my thing that must go- shower curtain hooks! You know, not the rings but the hooks that are open in the back. My mom has them on her guest shower and we stayed there for 2 weeks. I just about went crazy re-hanging the shower curtain every time I bathed my 3 year old or got in the shower. If you moved the curtain the hooks fell off. It was not fun.
Cable companies who make me waste a day for them to hook up my internet and cable (we finally got cable) then they send a suprise guy a couple weeks later to make sure everything is ok.
I let him in, then thought he was probably there to rape and murder me but didn’t b/c I had a baby in my arms and a toddler running around talking who would tell on him. I think I would have called THEM if there was a problem. Why the suprize visit? Why did he come, and why didn’t he at least call to tell me that he would be there some time between 8am and 7pm like usual?
I got a lecture from my husband about letting a stranger in my house. I called to complain and since I didn’t have my account number handy, they asked me to verify my phone #. So they have it, but don’t use it. The cable company system has GOT to go.
Sour pusses in the workplace must go. We all have to be here, just put on a happy face and try to deal with life. It won’t last forever.
ORGANIC RAISINS! I bought some from Costco last week, because they didn’t have regular ones. And I don’t get all into buying organic things, but as long as they are comparable in price and quality, I’m okay. Raisins are a *staple food* in our house. We expect a certain degree of plumpness and juiciness. The organic raisins I purchased at Costco looked much more shriveled than your standard raisin. And they yielded raisin flavor only after much, much chewing. If someone can point me in the direction of yummy organic raisins, I’m there, but these disgusting chewy tiny organic raisins must go.
Emily M.s last blog post..Roots
The White Van Abandoned in My Front Yard.
Yes, that’s right. A solitary evening last week I was nestled in my bed, listening to the rain pound against the panes of my skylights while reading when I heard something that resembled a tornado. Okay, so I have never survived a close encounter with a tornado, but I’ve watched enough of those storm chaser specials on the Weather Channel to know what a tornado supposedly sounds like.
And it sounded like what I heard. And felt. a little rumbling on the ground, screeching, almost a groan like a train….
I dashed out of bed, ready to grab my kids —oh yes, and my 72 hour kits that are complete and ready to go…riiiiight— and hide out in the laundry room . I peered through the blinds to find a white van crunched into my lilac trees in my front yard.
I was too chicken to go outside to check out the situation (hubby was out of town) until the cops arrived. Apparently the driver of the van fled the scene and left me a fine yard ornament. GRRRR! Oh, and did I mention he ran over my recycling bin, too?
The nerve.
It gets better. Meaning my week. Allow me to rephrase my response of What must Go:
ALL DRAMA THAT OCCURS (conveniently while the hubby is away):
#1: The drive home from the airport in rush-hour traffic. In a thunderstorm. With 2 cranky kids.
#2: Locking keys in car at pool. Waiting 34 minutes for police woman to tell me it’s impossible to get in my car. Walking home 2 miles home with two kids in tow. Calling emergency roadside. Locksmith opening car in 0.3 seconds flat. Whatever policewoman.
#3: The previously mentioned crazy man ramming his van into my front yard ruining my lilac trees (and recycling bin)
#4: Leaving the house in plenty of time to arrive at church on time. Arriving late. Dang train.
#5: Phone call from woman in the ward having a nervous breakdown and borderline suicidal. That was just terribly sad. Nothing funny about that.
#6: Waking up at 3 in the morning to my 4 year-old poking my face whispering he had an accident like his little sister. Translation: poop. All down the legs. Ew. Ew. Ew.
#7: Dear friends of ours announcing they are moving away in 2 weeks. Far, far away.
Yes, all of these things must go. Like, YESTERDAY!
[...] finally, after seven years of procrastination on my part, the winner of the LLBean Tote Bag is Michelle @ Woodbury’s Four with: The White Van Abandoned in My Front [...]