Monday, August 3, 2009

Sidetracked

It's a grand idea. I'll gather information for the article proposal, note my personal experience, track down the editor's name and I'll be ready to--

Toilet paper. I have to remember toilet paper. A roll and a half isn't going to get this family of four past 3 o'clock. I'll just add it to my list, the one I have sitting here on my desk, right next to the...

Ooh! A couple new blog comments, I see. And Mom forwarded that recipe. Ooh, that looks reeeaaally goooood. Awesome. And... since I'm here... maybe I'll just check on Faceb--

"Mommy! I'm thirsty! Can I have some milk? And a snack? I'm hungry, too. When's dinner? I mean lunch. Did we have lunch yet?"/"Yes, sweetie. Remember, we had beenie weenies?"

Chumbawumba! That's that band's name. And the song, oh, what was that called? Tubthumping, yeah! I remember, like, back when I worked at Paradise Grill, that song would come on the radio as we prepped for lunch, and what'shername would crank it, and we'd--

Oh, shoot. What time is it? What day is it? I've got to get the car payment in the mail today. But do I have any stamps? I think I'm out of stamps. I'll have to run into town, to the post office, and maybe grab some toilet paper at the store. Which is just down the road from... The doctor. I really need to call and make that follow-up appointment with the doctor, too. I think I left my to-do list--

"Girls!? Why are there balled-up socks all over the kitchen floor? Can we pick them up? And the Barbies, too? I nearly fell over Alexa, you know how clumsy Mommy is. Please? Girls? I love you."

Thank You for my girls. Thank You for all my blessings. Please be with us, guide our paths. Help Dad, be with the church ladies, bless--

What is that smell? Is something burning? No, it's the dryer. The dryer? Good heavens, I--

Well here's the book I lost. How'd it get in here? Wish I had time to read it. Maybe in the loo later, since that's the only place I seem to have any down time. May if I could--

Cripes. I forgot toilet paper.

37 comments:

septembermom said...

You sound like me on some days! My mind can go all over the place. I found three Barbies under my blankets last night. I think my daughter was playing hide and seek with them :) Have a great day!

Jessica Nelson said...

LOL!!!!!

Jody Hedlund said...

Are you spying on me? :) Sounds like a day in my house, but add a dog eating those balled up socks! Good things for laptops that we can take to the loo too!

Terri Tiffany said...

LOL I felt like I was right there with you:) So ...how did you manage to write all that you have?

Rebecca Nazar said...

Yup, been there done that . . . well, half-done. :-)

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

LOL! Even though I don't have young kids under foot, I still can relate to the multi-tasking, side tracked writer's brain!!

Lori said...

Hilarious! And so honest and true and perfect. A great piece of writing, Janna!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Meanwhile, can someone over at your place stop over here and find the book I lost. :D

~ Wendy

Stephanie Faris said...

I resemble this blog!!!

I have to force myself to focus when I'm writing. Submitting isn't that tough. I get in a zone and just won't stop until I'm done. But writing?

Here's what I do that helps. You'll see me post this a LOT! I write 2 pages an hour over the course of the day. At the top of every hour I MUST have butt in chair and write until those 2 pages are done. Once they're done, I'm free to get up and do all those other things I want to do (or sit in chair and surf the 'net). Of course, I don't have kids around...when we have my boyfriend's daughter every other weekend I get very little writing done.

Sara (07GRAD) said...

You crack me up!

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Lol, that was hilarious! So true, too! And reading the book in the loo? He he he...

Janna Leadbetter said...

septembermom - Got to appreciate their imaginative minds, huh? ;)

Jessica - The way my morning has started I'm SOLing. (sighing out loud) :)

Jody - Yes, I admit. I've done that a time or two. :D

Terri, it's snatches of time, back and forth, between days just like in the post. Sometimes I handle it well, others I'm nothing but frazzled and inefficient.

Becca - LOL!

Donna - Argh. Do we expect too much?

Aw, thanks Lori!

Janna Leadbetter said...

Wendy - LOL! I'll add it to my list. ;)

Stephanie - That sounds like heaven! I aim to line out a schedule like that when mine are both in school. Good job!

Sara - And you've seen me in action!

Cindy - You know it. *grins* Now if only the bathroom door would lock...

Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl said...

This is such an entertaining post, Janna! You're so cool for writing it!!! :-)

There is always just so much going on, it's hard to focus sometimes, isn't it???

Take care, girl, you're the bestest!

:-)
Michele

Melissa Amateis said...

LOVE this, Janna! And I do the same thing every single day!

stacey said...

Mah sistah! Er, we're out of toilet paper too...can I borrow half of that half roll? I'm sending the kids out into the woods now, telling them to pretend they're bears. ;)

Susan R. Mills said...

You crack me up! It's always so much fun, isn't it! I just had to go to the store at midnight last night because I'd forgotten to get toilet paper.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

This put such a smile on my face. :)

Stephanie, that's an awesome idea -- I may have to steal that.

Stacey, funneh!

Amy Sue Nathan said...

thanks for the laugh -- and the look at myself! and it reminds me of all the things i have to do. eek!

Analisa said...

OM Gosh. Nice to know I am not the only one. I love the but in chair comment. Sounds like me when I worked outside the home. I guess I better start applying that. The internet is my personal black hole. LOL

Rosaria Williams said...

You captured your inner voice beautifully. Fun.

Karen said...

Hey, my kids are grown, and I STILL have thoughts like that! Uh oh. Excellently written.

Blessings

Anonymous said...

Too funny!!!! Loved it, and can completely relate on a minute by minute basis... Great post Janna, gave me a good belly laugh! Now if I can sit down for a minute when I get home from work maybe I can update my week-old blog. Already bought toilet paper so I'm good... :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Michele - I like to be cool. *wink* Thanks!

Melissa - Thank ya!

Stacey - Bears, hmm... That has potential.

Lazy Writer - Sheesh! I'd be in serious trouble if I needed some at midnight, because the local places would all be closed.

Melanie - *big smiles*

Amy - You better hop to! ;)

Analisa - A black hole? I sooo know (all-too-well) what you mean.

lakeviewer - Thanks. :)

Hi, Karen! Thank you. And to you, too.

Sharla, you're one up on me! ;)

JLC said...

Have you been watching me at home this week? How did you know that's what my day is like? :)
Awesome post! Perfect example of a writer/mommy's life. In fact I have a munchkin shaking me right now saying, "Water Please! Water Please!!"

Jill Kemerer said...

Oh, this is too funny! And too true. My life is much the same...

Kathy said...

This post was a lot of fun.

Yes, I get sidetracked all the time. My brain has to remember so many things it's ridiculous.

Milk! That's what I forgot to buy.

Hill Country Hippie said...

I know exactly what you mean! Thank goodness I'm not the only one. Do they make blinders for people?

* said...

so funny. Thanks for the belly laugh. Unfortunately, this is me every day...

Nadine said...

I can relate 100%. And I'm always amazed at how fast the day goes with all those little instances. Suddenly it's 5pm and I'm cooking dinner. Where did the day go?

Joshua said...

that is one funny.....OH LOOK AT THE KITTY!!!.....blog :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

JLC - And my husband doesn't for a second believe I multi-task. ;)

Jill - :)

Kathy - We're forever running out of milk, too. Did you get some?

Hill Country Hippie - Welcome! I say I'd like to try a pair of blinders. :D

Terresa - A belly laugh? Awesome!

Nadine - I know, right?

Josh - Well, hey stranger!

Kathy said...

Janna, I bought a big jug of milk today along with groceries for the next few days.

I have to go have some outpatient surgical stuff done tomorrow so I figure I'll be out of commission for a few days.

And if my family has to wait on me, oh well, I guess I could get used to that!

Kathryn Magendie said...

LAUGHING!!!!!!.....
Angie (gumbo writer) and I laugh all the time at how we are --the "well the other day I was walking....OH SHINY THING SHINY THING LOOK AT THE SHINY THING....what were we talking about?"

Janna Leadbetter said...

I hope it goes well, Kathy!

Kat - I should like to join you and Angie in person some day. :)

Deb Shucka said...

So funny. And a little too real. :-)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Deb - Thanks! And I know all too well. ;)