11/21/2004
Both Sides of the Mouth
Yeah, it's been ages. I realize that. And all I have to offer -- for the moment -- is that my life has sunk to new and previously unrealized levels of hell. I'll elaborate further at another date; honestly, I just don't feel like getting into it right now.
But this is an improved me. I've lost over 100 pounds from the stress, and close to 6 inches from my waist. My job is getting me toned without my even noticing. I'm emerging from these trials a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. And a lot more opininated. There's a lot more stuff I'm noticing about people that are really pissing me off.
Hypocrisy, for example. People who say one thing and do something else entirely are really grating my cheese lately. Let me give you a "for example":
I occassionally hit a parenting chatroom when I feel a need to contact other adults. And considering how unresponsive my Bitter Half has been of late (that should be a clue as too where some of my hell has been originating), I'm craving decent conversation more and more. So I met a mother online, and we've been chatting out of the regular confines. And we've been arguing about the duties of a stay-at-home parent.
She's a soon-to-be single mother of 5. She works full-time, takes care of her children, the house, etc, and simply can't understand why it takes me so long to do all my duties. Mind you, I work 24 hours out of the house per week, do my cartooning, my writing, take care of my two Things, clean, cook, do laundry, yardwork; everything I'm supposed to be splitting with my Bitter Half but a continue to do alone.
Don't get me wrong; I feel bad for Mother-of-5. She's had a lot of bad shite happen to her, not the least of which was breaking her back in a skiing accident. She's got a lot on her plate.
But she told me at one point, "I don't consider housework to be real work. Certainly not work in the sense of a job."
And then I find out the other day that she doesn't really do all her own housework. No, she has someone come in and do the "deep-cleaning", as she put it. Scrubbing the toilets and tubs, cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming, changing sheets on the beds. Which, oddly enough, is only part of the list I do on a weekly basis. Alone.
So, as I understand it coming from her, a man staying at home isn't really doing anything; and a woman staying at home is being held back. She doesn't consider staying at home to be "real work". But it's enough of a hassle for her to go out and hire someone to do those things for her.
That's just stoopid, if you ask me. I bust my arse 7 days a week, sometimes as much as 60 hours in those days, to keep the house running properly (not that anyone notices). I get squat for my efforts, barely even a "thank you". If I didn't work, I'd be trapped in the house 24/7. And what makes it worse is that my job entails many of the duties I do at home; but at least I get paid for them there.
Watch what you say, people, before you start lobbing stones. Think about your own life before you decide what someone else does is unimportant. I saw my mother stay home and raise my sister and myself while my father worked two jobs to keep food on the table. Nothing is more important to children than having one parent around when they need them.
Staying at home ain't all bon-bons and soap operas.
Doc "Janus" Absurd
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But this is an improved me. I've lost over 100 pounds from the stress, and close to 6 inches from my waist. My job is getting me toned without my even noticing. I'm emerging from these trials a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. And a lot more opininated. There's a lot more stuff I'm noticing about people that are really pissing me off.
Hypocrisy, for example. People who say one thing and do something else entirely are really grating my cheese lately. Let me give you a "for example":
I occassionally hit a parenting chatroom when I feel a need to contact other adults. And considering how unresponsive my Bitter Half has been of late (that should be a clue as too where some of my hell has been originating), I'm craving decent conversation more and more. So I met a mother online, and we've been chatting out of the regular confines. And we've been arguing about the duties of a stay-at-home parent.
She's a soon-to-be single mother of 5. She works full-time, takes care of her children, the house, etc, and simply can't understand why it takes me so long to do all my duties. Mind you, I work 24 hours out of the house per week, do my cartooning, my writing, take care of my two Things, clean, cook, do laundry, yardwork; everything I'm supposed to be splitting with my Bitter Half but a continue to do alone.
Don't get me wrong; I feel bad for Mother-of-5. She's had a lot of bad shite happen to her, not the least of which was breaking her back in a skiing accident. She's got a lot on her plate.
But she told me at one point, "I don't consider housework to be real work. Certainly not work in the sense of a job."
And then I find out the other day that she doesn't really do all her own housework. No, she has someone come in and do the "deep-cleaning", as she put it. Scrubbing the toilets and tubs, cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming, changing sheets on the beds. Which, oddly enough, is only part of the list I do on a weekly basis. Alone.
So, as I understand it coming from her, a man staying at home isn't really doing anything; and a woman staying at home is being held back. She doesn't consider staying at home to be "real work". But it's enough of a hassle for her to go out and hire someone to do those things for her.
That's just stoopid, if you ask me. I bust my arse 7 days a week, sometimes as much as 60 hours in those days, to keep the house running properly (not that anyone notices). I get squat for my efforts, barely even a "thank you". If I didn't work, I'd be trapped in the house 24/7. And what makes it worse is that my job entails many of the duties I do at home; but at least I get paid for them there.
Watch what you say, people, before you start lobbing stones. Think about your own life before you decide what someone else does is unimportant. I saw my mother stay home and raise my sister and myself while my father worked two jobs to keep food on the table. Nothing is more important to children than having one parent around when they need them.
Staying at home ain't all bon-bons and soap operas.
Doc "Janus" Absurd
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