Wednesday, January 2, 2013

IWSG: The Write Fit








As we begin 2013,   Alex J. Cavanaugh's IWSG  will give more writers a safe haven to help them better achieve their goals. Be sure to visit these talented authors who are always willing to offer helpful suggestions. For everything else stay tuned.

Between working long hours, taking care of the home, and raising a family, many writers struggle to find the time to write. There are so many obstacles that can get in the way. As an empty nester, I should have less distractions than most people, though that's not always the case.

With our boys home for winter break, I was busy sorting out everyone's laundry. The other day when  I was carrying their clothes from the laundry room up to their closets, I also put my husband's freshly washed jeans away. I specifically put them off to the side, so he could methodically arrange them in his closet.

The following night he told me that he couldn't find them. We were on our way to dinner, so I said that I'd help him look for them when we got home. Later I began searching for his pants. I checked all of the boys closets, as well as the laundry room. Still frustrated, I  plowed through the bag that was put aside for the cleaners. A task that should've only taken a few minutes, was escalating into a major excavation. I couldn't stop now, and my husband was so torn up about it that he passed out on the couch.

The next step was to search the boys' hampers. Maybe someone threw them in there by mistake. Even though I had just done laundry a few days ago, they both were completely full. I sifted through socks that may have been remnants from the twentieth century, and I still had no luck.

I finally had no choice but to go back into my husband's closet. Of course I found them immediately. By this time it was almost 2am, and my husband woke up when our older son came home. Expecting gratitude, my husband had a different reaction after seeing his long lost jeans, "Oh those aren't the jeans I was talking about. They're only a size thirty four. They won't fit."

I saw him wearing the jeans just a few days earlier. I washed the jeans, and even put them away, but somehow someone else had snuck into his closet to trade his jeans for an identical smaller pair. I calmly told Cinderfella to try on his jeans, while I called in our son as a witness.

As the suspense was building, I explained how denim stretches to conform to your body. I also mentioned that you can't only go by waist size, because cut is an important factor. He had a huge smile on his face, as he buttoned his jeans. "I really do fit into a size thirty four." Then I pointed out how most of him fit into his jeans. My son laughed, and quickly closed the door in his room, so I wouldn't keep him up any longer. Though I knew that they were the right size, I was not thrilled that this wasted hours of valuable writing time. After this incident, they'll probably send me away to a quiet little place where I'll have nothing but time to write.

42 comments:

  1. Aaaah... family. Gotta love them. :-P

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  2. You are such a patient woman. I need some of your patience. But at least you can get some writing done now, unless you have to do more laundry. Good-luck with the writing and I hope you get tons of writing time this year.

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  3. I often get the feeling that what I am doing is not important... never mind, they'll get used to it.

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  4. Happy New Year!

    Family does account for a majority of my time, too. Of course, working full time ranks up there as well. Lol

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  5. After two minutes of somewhat looking, the weaker sex will often throw their hands up in frustration and give up. They do this because they know the stronger sex will do it for them. This has been going on for thousands of years and will likely continue to infinity.

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  6. I thought for sure they were going to be back in the dirty laundry even though they were clean. Definitely find some time to write today. What are you working on?

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  7. Family DOES take up huge chunks of time! But then where would we be without them? :) Happy new year!

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  8. I honestly think men are born without the gene that allows them to find anything. It's like the item they are looking for (which is always the most important thing in the world) is draped in an invisibility cloak that only Wonder Woman can detect. :)

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  9. Ah, why is it that we're always able to locate the missing items misplaced by the hubbies?
    I'm sure you enjoyed having the boys around... and to a certain extent welcomed the distractions during the winter break...? The home is extremely quiet when they're not around...
    I hope you had a great new year, Julie.

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  10. My wife is always finding stuff I misplace. I try to tell her a rogue wormhole swallows them but she doesn;t believe me.

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  11. And this is why wives were created!

    Happy New Year.

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  12. Misha - Yes we do!

    Murees - I wish that I had a lot more patience. I just couldn't go to sleep until I found them.

    Delores - Don't you feel better now?

    Miranda - I'm impressed that you're able to do it all. Thanks and Happy New Year to you!

    Arleen - Excellent job of explaining how men think! No wonder more women experience silent heart attacks. Thanks Arleen!

    Tonja - I thought so too. I wish that I was as organized and disciplined as you are Tonja.

    Ravena - As they should, but this was just silly. Thanks, and I wish you the same!

    Luanne - I do think that they have selective hunting skills. Love the "invisibility cloak!"

    Michelle - Our older son just went back to school this morning, and we miss him already! Fortunately, his brother will still be here for awhile. We did have fun, and hope you did as well.

    Stephen - I'm sure your wife gave you extra points for creativity!

    Julie

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  13. They were already hanging up and he thought they were the wrong pair. I think my wife would've killed me at that point.

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  14. I had the same thought as Tonja, I expected the jeans to be back in the dirty laundry. I totally cracked up at your husband passed out on the couch while your frantically searched for the jeans LOL LOL.

    Happy New Year to you and your family, Julie! :)

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  15. Lee - It all makes perfect sense now! Thanks and the same to you and yours Lee!

    Alex -The thought did cross my mind, but he puts up with a lot too! Looks like the IWSG is off to a great start this year Alex!

    Julie - Well it was time well spent rummaging through the hampers anyway! Thanks Julie, and Happy New Year to you!

    Julie



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  16. A wife's work is never done. And you thought the kids were challenging, huh, Julie? Hubby's making up for their absence. Actually, you two sound like a silly, playful couple. That's a very good thing.

    xoRobyn

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  17. ha ha - men are the oldest child in every family! Love it.

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  18. Ah yes, it's all the jeans. I'm now hoping you can focus back on something important like getting back to your writing. Your hubby sounds like quite the character.

    And this multi-tasking single dad, um what am I doing, oh yeah, will now go back to his site. Happy New Year :)

    Gary

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  19. Men, geesh. Jeans are a big issue in our house, too. I thought when I had all boys clothing would not be a problem, but I was wrong.

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  20. Robyn - The silly part is true, but when you combine it with playful you could also be describing puppies or small children, but I'll take it! Thanks Robyn!

    Thanks Mary, and I couldn't have said it better!

    Gary - Yes he is quite a character, as well as a great sport! Thanks and Happy New Year to you and your family!

    Ciara - Many boys are more concerned about their appearance than girls. Your boys are still young, and that can always change.

    Julie

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  21. LOL! Totally an entertaining story. :-)

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  22. Funn, but almost to close to home for me . . .one day I searched for a pair of my husband's jeans - a particular pair, of course - and found them in my drawer - how did that happen? Anyway, I feel your frustration. Maybe moments like these will make our writing stronger eventually - maybe a character will have to deal with a similar situation somewhere along the way and it will become a key humorous moment in a novel?

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  23. Thank you Morgan!

    Tyrean - Funny that you had a similar experience. I like your idea about recycling this for a future project. Thanks for co-hosting Tyrean!
    Julie

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  24. There is never enough time to do everything. Those silly games just keep getting in the way.

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  25. OMG. I may have uttered a few unpleasant words had that happened here. He would owe me big time. Just sayin' :)

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  26. That must have been frustrating--but it makes for a good story. :)

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  27. Yvonne - At least they give us something to laugh about.

    Carol - Why do you think I called a witness in? If my son turns into a hostile witness, I have it in writing. But I would never raise my voice, or even suggest that my hubby owes me anything! Thank goodness my nose isn't growing!

    Thanks Golden Eagle, and in the end that's really all that matters!

    Julie

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  28. HA! I love the part about your hubby being so "torn up" about it, he fell asleep on the sofa. At that point, I think it would've been justifiable to beat him around the head and shoulders with a tempurpedic pillow. (Those suckers are HARD!) Around here, it's kind of a joke that whenever my hubby can't find something, he always accuses ME of "doing something" with it. (Right! As if I'd snitch his foot-long Philip's head screwdriver and go on a home repair binge.)

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  29. You always crack me up Susan! I usually reserve the surprise pillow attack for middle of the night snoring suspension. Don't worry I'll come up with something. In the meantime, hands-off your hubby's precious screwdriver!

    Julie

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  30. LOL! That's the point where you tell them to do their own laundry. ;)

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  31. LOL! I hate when that happens--when you think you'll only spend a second doing something and end up wasting hours instead :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  32. Haha...too funny! This is why my husband and so are forced to do their own laundry. Hope you get to make up your wasted hours soon!!

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  33. Cherie -Somehow it would end up being more work for me if I let someone else do it.

    Nutscell - Unfortunately, this happens to me all the time, and I usually have only myself to blame.

    Thanks Tamara, but like Rosanna Rosanna Danna used to say, "It's always something."

    Julie

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  34. Great story. I learned long ago that empty nest does not mean boredom.

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    1. JJ - Though we always have more fun when our kids are at home, it's nice that we still get along when they're away. I've been called a lot of different names in my life, so it means a lot to hear that boring isn't one of them. Thanks JJ!

      Julie

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  35. As I'm sure you know, we've been getting our kitchen renovated the past month. Slowly but surely, it's returning back to normal. On Saturday, the sink was put in, so my son and I thought it would be a perfect excuse to cook dinner. Well, a LOT of our kitchen implements are scattered all over the house, so it took some searching to find everything. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find a can opener (we have two) so we weren't able to have soup. Well, when Mrs. Penwasser returned home from Connecticut (she spent the weekend there for our niece's baby shower while I watched the plumber), I told her I couldn't find the opener. She pointed at the kitchen table and asked, "You mean THAT can opener?"
    Probably easier to find than a pair of jeans, probably.
    It wasn't my fault it was under the napkins.

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    1. Al - It was nice that you and your son made dinner. As for the can opener, we both agree that it wasn't your fault. I hope that you ripped those nasty napkins to shreds!

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  36. Tight Jeans Tip #43: After you squeeze into your jeans, liberally wet your hands and rub the water over tight parts. (I'll leave that to you to figure out.) Then do some deep knee bends. Upon standing you will find your jeans are tailored perfectly to your bod.
    Caveat: This only works if the jeans are remotely within your size.
    Funny post...and looky-loo what you got from the whole ordeal? A great story. Thanks for the laugh. ~Just Jill

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    1. It might just be easier to buy a larger size! It's great meeting you Jill, and I look forward to getting to know you. Thanks for the kind words.

      Julie

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  37. Confused, did you ever find the pair he thought he was looking for, or do they not exist at all? Great story though.

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    1. I found them as soon as I looked in his closet. He thought that they were the wrong size, but they fit perfectly. Thanks Rhonda!

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