leave wolfie at the curb

from me:

work table is set up; dishwasher delivered today. gave a quote for a very large catering job but could tell the client was grumpy so i made the quote extra high – so that if i get it, it’ll be worth it, but more likely she’ll go elsewhere. ain’t got time for difficult/grumpy/ungrateful clients nitpicking about the price of a loaf of bread (literally).

now that husband is working from home again (new, larger apartment) he’s up my nose and on my nerves. i’ve restated kindly that he must go out 2 nights a week minimum. where he says? i don’t give a shit, i say. then he says that he’s going out tomorrow. where, I say. don’t know yet, he says.

from my inbox:

RPD (day 58): “I had an interesting perspective yesterday at a kids birthday party where everyone was drinking. The more people drank, even though they acted and seemed more buoyant, the more ridiculous the whole thing seemed. It wasn’t a few cocktails either, I’m talking about people getting hammered at a nine year old’s birthday. I gathered the family around nine thirty (of course the kids were having fun, almost completely unsupervised) and told them we were going and we left to drunken protests. I’ll say this, it feels good when the ball is in your court and you leave Wolfie at the curb trying to get you to stick around. Unfortunately he had plenty of other pals to carouse with.”

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E: “My husband is pissy–my son is pissy–I am pissy.  This is prime trigger time.  Those thoughts of going out to get a bottle of escape are hitting me hard. And it is only 10 a.m.   Not only for the feeling of escape, but also I realize for an “I will show them” attitude.  If they are going to be pissy and rain on my parade then I will go out and manage it the only way I know how. That will teach them. I know this attitude is sick sick sick.  But it is what is going through my head. I realize I am not responsible for them and they are not responsible for me.  So I have disappeared into my bedroom and will try to have some alone time so as not to make things worse.”

me: it’s kind of a stubborn attitude that we get from having difficult parents I think 🙂 we have a sort of ‘fuck you’ attitude to authority, even when we’re the ones (in adulthood) who are creating the authority. it’s like we want to say ‘fuck you’ even to ourselves… the thing is, if you give the stubborn 3 year old the donut she’s screaming for when you’re in the grocery store, then god help you every time you go to the grocery store … wolfie will make you feel agitated so that drinking seems like a good idea … two things: one is this post, and the other is the archived podcast called #35 Everything Else is Wolfie.  love and hugs to you

E: “Oh boy–do you ever get me.  Thanks, Belle.”

 

Belle

I want to put this online, to hold myself accountable. I want to document the noise in my head. I'm tired of thinking about drinking. date of last drink: june 30, 2012

  • I totally get the whole “f*** authority” thing. I can remember some unpleasant situations from my childhood where I felt completely helpless when it came to deeply personal things like setting my own boundaries, both physical and emotional, as though my wants and needs just weren’t even part of the adults’ equation.

    There were times when I learned the hard way that my “self” didn’t always exist to others, and the times now when I drink to obliterate my “self” for a few hours, like it’s presumptuous of me to exist.

    As an adult, sometimes I try to set limits and rules on myself in various areas of my life because the rules would be “good for me,” even though I’m not truly committed to them deep inside. And almost immediately, because the rules feel externally imposed, I give them the middle finger and do what “I” want because I’m an adult and I’m in charge of me!

  • Yes, you make me laugh as well, and it’s very recognizable, I have hubbie at home as well. It’s difficult, e.g. I hate it when he wants to make tea or something else in the kitchen when I am busy there, but on the other hand, for me is a nine to five hubbie boring. Remember your last week podcast… (prickly) ;-), there is something what he does, what resonates with something in you ;-). Find it out! And solve it. Just a new challenge ;-). Hope that you understand what I mean because I guess I have a very Yoda-English day today.

    I must confess, I love it as well when hubbie is abroad or the whole day off. But I remember the time that he had a 9 to 5 job far from home and that was worse. And boring. And he was grumpy.

    Congratulations with the dishwasher and good for you concerning that client. If it’s a bit possible, never crawl for anyone!

    Have a nice day, hugs, Anne-Marie/Wolk

  • Haven’t you left Mr B somewhere in a little box room in the roof to work?? With no water even? Maybe it’s not supposed to be funny, but you do make me laugh Belle.
    xx

    • ha, he’s in and out of here a couple of times a day, talking to me, tracking footprints, leaving his dishes on the counter, deciding to do the house cleaning mid-day instead of working … and of course any comments on my side about ‘taking work less seriously when you’re in proximity of home’ doesn’t go over very well…