To Christmas shop or not

For the past couple of weeks, I contemplated getting a jump start on my Christmas shopping. My boys are getting older and keeping presents a surprise from them is at times challenging. Like many kids, even moi, I began to scour my mom's room early for any clue of presents. Unfortunately, my mom did not shop early due to monetary issues which I learned only later on. But nevertheless, I know my older son snoops making it difficult to hide presents.

Do I shop early or wait until the stores become unmanageable and beyond crowded or do I start? Ummmmm. I will say that there are deals out there for certain items and it's tempting.

MID LIFE CRISIS

You know that saying "it's all a matter of perspective" got me thinking yesterday as I drove to my hair appointment. Feeling glum and a tad bit icky from a bad hair day, even the prospect of getting my hair done could not shake this mood. Is it really all a matter of perspective? Am I putting more thoughts to a problem at home or is it totally out of perspective. What I think is not necessarily what Hot Husband thinks and that is reality. But my own reality of the a certain situation could be quite different from HH. Could I be imaging issues in our home. Nah.

In the last couple of months, Hot Husband is melting faster that the polar ice. He is moody, at times reclusive and evasive. And he spews like Mount Etna. Like last week, desperately needing a break, my doe sister invited me out for the afternoon, initially reluctant to go, I accepted her invitation. My older son could not come due to a game but my little one was free so I decided to bring him along. Well, that did not go over well with Hot Husband or should I call him Hot Headed Husband, lol.

As we set out the door the volcano erupted and he insinuated my poor parenting skills for taking our son away from homework. With PMS only slightly subsiding, I roared back and an argument erupted. My younger one covered his ears. All I wanted to do was run and cry. It seems the simplest things set him off. Initially, blaming myself I realized he is having a MID LIFE CRISIS. Ugh. Not enjoyable for me and definitely not for him. Funny thing is it's the name of his band.

I tried a soothing approach last week to no avail but an eruption of anger. This week, I decided it's best to step aside and maybe it will pass. At what age do men go through this? And quite frankly how long does it last because this wifey is tired of gazing into ashen clouds. Yes, call me what you want but he should man up to his issues. There I said it. Comment all you want but it's true. No more pussy footing around. You have a problem and don't want help. DEAL WITH IT. And rather quickly I may add. Not only is it causing havoc on me but it's affecting the boys.

Writing is therapy, I do digress.

Put on hold

On hold is one of my top pet peeves and I could say it is for most in the modern world with phone service. Yesterday, I attempted to get to make an annual appointment with my OB-GYN, to no avail. While on hold I was put on hold, sounds stupid but it's true. It has something to do with call priority.

So when a message describing a service while on hold you can leave your name and number and a brief message then when your turn comes they call you, I jumped at it. While, I thought what a neat invention, no more waiting on hold. I am still waiting for my call to come some 18 hours later. Invention and convenience my a$$.

All this advance in technology and inventiveness adds more time and effort. Push 3 for appointments, push two for emergency. Call priority is a cruel joke.

What happen to the day the secretary answered by the third ring and quickly gave you an appointment. And while I am on the topic of doctors, why can they not keep to their schedules. It's the rudest thing to have your clients sit there for two hours only to be rushed through a medical appointment. I wonder if they give a course in med school on punctuality or client relations.

I recall a conversation between to women about phone calls and something she said stood out. If she did not answer her business line by the third ring she generally lost business. Now, should this not be the same for doctors? Without clients what are they, men/women with lab coats and awful necklaces.

Ah, some 18 hours later and another morning of being on hold for twenty minutes I finally got through for an appointment in February 2010. Please stay on the line in order to maintain your call priority. LOL.

Phone Bugs Anonymous

I talked on the phone incessantly since my teenage years. I must have racked well over hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills. I loved to talk on the telephone with friends. My girlfriend and I tag teamed during a break up for close to a month until one day her boyfriend gave her an ultimatum, him or the phone. Politely understanding and for the first time seeing what a pain talking on the phone transformed into, I made a point of using the greatest invention less.

Fast forward to today, I am a reformed phone bug. I can go for days, weeks and sometimes months without using the phone for mundane conversation. I do use it and answer it for necessary reasons: my children, my husband and other mandatory things. What I do not use it for is to chit chat. Seldom. Really. Last month my BFF called to catch up keeping me on the line for over an hour. I finally let her go by agreeing to dinner later that week.

Aggravatingly, my closest and dearest sisters are phone bugs. One doe calls me two, three, four times a day. Often our conversation is plagued with dead air because there is not much left to discuss. She now does a play by play of her passing hours to fill the time. I love her dearly but find it such a waste of time. I don't mind speaking to her once a day but more than that is unnecessary.

You know there is not much left to discuss when you begin chit chatting about the weather. I like meeting in person over lunch or drinks to enjoy their company. And as any born again phone bug can attest to is the deep dislike for their former hang up. All the pun intended. Enjoy your day and don't call me, please.