tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post8923910742700732855..comments2024-03-27T00:13:45.857-07:00Comments on Tote Bags 'n' Blogs: CALGON! TAKE ME AWAY (or May is a Four-Letter Word) by Jenny GardinerLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14583249444580245924noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-5570040181508558612008-05-28T05:57:00.000-07:002008-05-28T05:57:00.000-07:00I totally subscribe to that volunteering-optional ...I totally subscribe to that volunteering-optional thing. Learned THAT the hard way...When I ever-so-stupidly volunteered to make a quilt--yes, you read it right, a QUILT!!!, by hand, no less--for a lovely kindergarten teacher my son had. What was I thinking? And then in 1st grade his fabulous teacher was retiring. One more quilt. 2nd grade? Teacher got pregnant. I merely made her a raggedy ann Jenny Gardinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958016422431736544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-41596266032230104122008-05-27T20:49:00.000-07:002008-05-27T20:49:00.000-07:00Down with May! Up with summer! Yeah! O.k. less che...Down with May! Up with summer! Yeah! O.k. less cheerleading. <BR/><BR/>Ha, ha! Loved your blog! Hilarious take on birth control! O.k. I don't have kids but have enough friends to know that it is excruciating at times to get them to listen to our words of wisdom.<BR/><BR/>Oh and volunteering is optional remember? Practice the word "No" in your head before you approach the teachers/other mommies/Michele L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15827059770508809460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-35149290844770102892008-05-25T18:38:00.000-07:002008-05-25T18:38:00.000-07:00This sounds like a must read!This sounds like a must read!photoquesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00852198422778372606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-33966317399163740242008-05-22T20:05:00.000-07:002008-05-22T20:05:00.000-07:00Kalynne, your logistics are like some very complex...Kalynne, your logistics are like some very complex math problem designed to solve the unanswered questions about the black hole theory or something. I do need to know how you manage the logistics of SIX schools (uh, not to mention NINE kids!!!!)<BR/>I will speak on Claire's behalf (I'm used to it) NO WAY!!!!Jenny Gardinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958016422431736544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-32347227055363888452008-05-22T19:41:00.000-07:002008-05-22T19:41:00.000-07:00Oh, the room mothers know not to call me. Once th...Oh, the room mothers know not to call me. Once they find out (and I make sure this happens no later than September 10) that I have nine kids at six different schools, they actually start vying to cover my share!<BR/><BR/>So there's your solution, Claire: FOUR MORE. You can do it! C'mon! Just like Hearbreak Hill!Kalynne Pudnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04804224012895512550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-4871516780573534402008-05-22T19:14:00.000-07:002008-05-22T19:14:00.000-07:00Judi--you are right!! SUV. Everyone needs to remem...Judi--you are right!! SUV. Everyone needs to remember that motto! Though not much of what I'm doing involves volunteering. Well, okay, I admit, I *did* stupidly volunteer to bring volunteers to senior awards night, even though senior parents weren't supposed to bring anything (but I felt bad! no one was offering!). Martyr mom...<BR/>Alison, that is SO true--we perform for the outside then feed Jenny Gardinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958016422431736544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-19063409818214907202008-05-22T16:26:00.000-07:002008-05-22T16:26:00.000-07:00Jen--I mean, Claire, please listen to the advice m...Jen--I mean, Claire, please listen to the advice my good friend Jenny gave me, via specially monogrammed napkins: SUV<BR/><BR/>Stop Unnecessary Volunteering.<BR/><BR/>It works. It really works!Judi Fennellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12913199632952461638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-73611072612481379122008-05-22T15:24:00.000-07:002008-05-22T15:24:00.000-07:00Jenny,You are spot on. Down with May! If I get o...Jenny,<BR/>You are spot on. Down with May! If I get one more call from the PTA...Scouts (both)...school...etc. I will take my sniper rifle to the rooftop.<BR/><BR/>Leslie LangtryLeslie Langtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616716802552673056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-46150505795530152082008-05-22T15:23:00.000-07:002008-05-22T15:23:00.000-07:00Ah, Jenny!How selfish of Claire to be unwilling to...Ah, Jenny!<BR/>How selfish of Claire to be unwilling to part with her "spare"<BR/>kidney for the sake of the school fund raiser!<BR/><BR/>I'm still laughing....great piece!Lisa Marie Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760318748623872747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-73915126723088235072008-05-22T15:11:00.000-07:002008-05-22T15:11:00.000-07:00Truly, you have nailed the blitz. And it all brea...Truly, you have nailed the blitz. And it all breaks loose again in late August/September. Don't even get me started on Christmas.Beth Trisselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13742049964476824594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-10656842240997000472008-05-22T13:04:00.000-07:002008-05-22T13:04:00.000-07:00Jenny (um, Claire :),Your post really made me laug...Jenny (um, Claire :),<BR/>Your post really made me laugh, esp. since I read it right after I checked my 3rd grader's take-home folder. There's an actual PACKET of events/activities the school is asking parents to volunteer for in these last 2 weeks: Imagination Day, Field Day, the big Class Trip, "Amazing You" Day (not sure yet what that is) and even "Wacky Facts" Day...Marilyn Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05303846770348840645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-54464627210985395032008-05-22T12:19:00.000-07:002008-05-22T12:19:00.000-07:00Jenny, This is my first experience with the mad, m...Jenny, This is my first experience with the mad, mad month of May because we always homeschooled until this year. Well, with my husband out of town, my daughter's concert was on the schedule for 7 on Tuesday. On Monday my sixth-grader brought home an announcement about his class play at 6:30 Tuesday. And, of course, it was conveniently located across town. I ranted about the one-day notice, untilPaulitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611117766982930997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-91327153024309112422008-05-22T11:50:00.000-07:002008-05-22T11:50:00.000-07:00I think it's a dope-slap because quite frankly, I'...I think it's a dope-slap because quite frankly, I've never made my kids a hot breakfast on a school day that involved more than the toaster or microwave.<BR/><BR/>AlisonAlison Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17698291307955889097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-69674363317519212092008-05-22T11:41:00.000-07:002008-05-22T11:41:00.000-07:00$150 lunch??? Are you crazy? We got invited to a f...$150 lunch??? Are you crazy? We got invited to a fundraising dinner 2 weeks ago. They wanted like $400/head. Um, for $400 a person I hope there are dancing boys and grape peelers and some magical machine that instantly removes about 40 pounds from my butt and another one that de-wrinkles your face. My friend who went told me it was the most amazing home she'd ever seen--an Italian villa plunked Jenny Gardinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958016422431736544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-61352915260938079262008-05-22T11:18:00.000-07:002008-05-22T11:18:00.000-07:00Jen, you always make me laugh. Love the field tri...Jen, you always make me laugh. Love the field trip to Pakistan!<BR/><BR/>I'm so glad to know other mothers go through this too. I thought I was the only one!<BR/><BR/>And I am forever saying, "Calgon, Take me Away!" LOL.<BR/><BR/>Donna RosenbloomGailRoyTopianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09246662900398283415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-41750515698352312052008-05-22T11:03:00.000-07:002008-05-22T11:03:00.000-07:00You totally hit the nail on the head. I had this ...You totally hit the nail on the head. I had this exact (well, almost exact) conversation just the other day. As the mother of 4 kids, I have all those above mentioned events happening right now. I even had to set my alarm an hour early the other morning to make a breakfast dish for staff appreciation! Who appreciates me!!!!<BR/><BR/>Alison Stone -- who can't wait for summerAlison Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17698291307955889097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-45912445294643590362008-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:002008-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:00"I get nightly calls: can you come in for the teac..."I get nightly calls: can you come in for the teacher appreciation luncheon? Can you drive for the field trip to Pakistan? Can you pledge your extra kidney to be auctioned off at the school fund drive?"<BR/>LOL spit my coffee on the keyboard laughing at that one- I just got an invite to a lovely party- $150 a pop! I'm like What Planet are you ON,cuz lunch ain't that high in my neighborhood! Oh Suzanne Macphersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09294544251490293666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-16308030199881683302008-05-22T08:02:00.000-07:002008-05-22T08:02:00.000-07:00Hi Tish! Oh, it's true that they no longer want vo...Hi Tish! Oh, it's true that they no longer want volunteerism from the parents, but the level of have-to's with high school kids is even more insane. I haven't been home from 3:30 till about 10 pm for the past 3 weeks--between soccer, soccer and more soccer, the school musical, the rehearsals with that, the consort singing group, the tryouts, the tournaments, the sports banquets, the spearheading Jenny Gardinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958016422431736544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-53976839753772948622008-05-22T07:06:00.000-07:002008-05-22T07:06:00.000-07:00Mommy cleats. I did a little snort over that. And ...Mommy cleats. I did a little snort over that. <BR/><BR/>And just to give you hope, by the time they're in middle school, the school wants very little to do with us mommies.Tish Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04838160604612888101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-19522901738666436722008-05-22T06:56:00.000-07:002008-05-22T06:56:00.000-07:00Joanne! LOL! THis is precisely what my youngest br...Joanne! LOL! THis is precisely what my youngest brother used to say every time he visited our house. He'd walk around saying "birth control, birth control."<BR/>Though he eventually yielded and now has 2 small kids himself. And his voice betrays the stress level every time I talk to him on the phone ;-)<BR/><BR/>Holly!!! You are so right? Who in their RIGHT MIND has 17 teenaged girls to a slumberJenny Gardinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958016422431736544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-14068262560683831292008-05-22T06:48:00.000-07:002008-05-22T06:48:00.000-07:00Ya right. I think what a mom should do is to figh...Ya right. I think what a mom should do is to fight back by voluntarily hosting 17 fourteen year old girls for a sleep-over...<BR/><BR/>No, that would be insane.<BR/><BR/>I am still laughing at the Pakistan sentence.<BR/><BR/>We actually had a field trip ON the last day of classes...wha? Hello? Anyone? Anyone?Texashollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17982077447405220888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36709846.post-64450080519897378552008-05-22T06:41:00.000-07:002008-05-22T06:41:00.000-07:00Poor Jenny - whoops, I mean Claire. But thank you...Poor Jenny - whoops, I mean Claire. But thank you for this post - it is excellent birth control.Joanne Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735440622911669055noreply@blogger.com