Sunday, September 30, 2012

Blogging is never having to say you're sorry....

I know, I suck. School, work, wedding, work, riding, work, husband, work, homework, work. Mrs. Tuna is about to turn into a cheater. Here is a repost so that you don't think I've died on the vine. I've lost 5 followers in the last week. Likely due to neglect. Blogging is never having t say you're sorry. But I am, really. xoxoxoxoxo


The Chore Wheel of Death
It always seems to be an age old struggle of Men versus Women. While I had been a child bride in the stone ages, my mom ingrained in me that I wasn’t allowed to be a fragile flower and needed to be my own financial sugar daddy. The Big Tuna came from a more traditional upbringing where the little woman would hook up a big post church Sunday dinner and birthing babies. It’s all about negotiating. But somehow there are a few kinks in our chore wheel.



Every Saturday I do the grocery shopping, pen poised in hand quizzing Team Tuna on needed items. I do not have ESP to see that you are out of deodorant or ketchup a vegetable I do not eat has run dry. This however translates into 27 phone calls while at Safeway for missing items and several loops back to the condiment aisle thus ensuring my exercises for the day. I have to go before noon, heaven forbid there isn’t anything in the house for lunch for the starving masses.

But I have been making this trip for over 25 years, I’m always gone for 47 to 53 minutes and yet………no one is available to lug in the 83 pound bags. Excuses range from I was in the shed, taking a shower, mowing the lawn, going potty. Didn’t you hear me kicking the door in the 500 degree heat shrieking that the Cherry Garcia was melting?

Why is it that recycles are left at the end of the counter instead of walking the THREE additional steps to the recycle can. I even bought a great big one so you can’t complain it’s too full. A side note, the recycle people don’t take dryer lint, it cannot be woven into a new sweater. It should go in the other can, RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

Laundry is the bane of my existence, pushing it through the washer and dryer and piling it a gigantic pile in the middle of our bed does not constitute doing the laundry big guy. Nor does washing my work blouses and bras with jeans. I don’t mind folding it but untangling the maze of wire hangers to drape up our work clothes I hate. I live for when Kathy the Wonderful comes to clean the house every other week. She even DOES MY LAUNDRY, neatly folded and put away. Let’s bow our heads in thanks for the cleaning woman.

In honor of the Sunday dinner here is what we’re eating out our house tonight.

Beef and Broccoli

1 pound round or flank steak cut in 1/8” strips
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons oil
1 clove garlic minced
1 medium onion minced
2 ½ cups beef broth
2 cups broccoli florets cooked
1 ½ teaspoon corn starch
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. In large skillet heat oil, add beef, onion and garlic and cook until meat is browned on all sides. Add beef broth, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix cornstarch, soy sauce and a bit of the heated broth in a small bowl. Add to meat mixture, add broccoli and stir until sauce has thickened. Serve over hot rice.

In all fairness I’ve never mowed the lawn or strung the Christmas lights. All that mechanical stuff gives me the willies. One day at work I was rushing out of the office to get home in time to prepare our anniversary dinner my boss asked, “And how many years of marital bliss is the lucky Big Tuna having?” At the time we’d been swapping wedded saliva for 15 years I answer 2. You see it’s not always rainbows and puppies, marital happiness happens in 10 minute increments Viagra notwithstanding. Just call me Vanna White.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I missed this one, first time 'round. Thanks for the repost.

Laughed at your 2 years vs 15. Happiness in 10 minutes increments, indeed!

Andrea said...

Here, here! I would also like to add that emptying the bags of groceries I have just lugged into the house onto the kitchen counter and walking away earns zero points! Love the notion of lint recycling.

Val said...

At least they call you with their requests. I get home and am chastised for my lack of ESP. Deodorant is a major offender.

I lost 32 followers overnight when I updated my blog due to too many posts. I guess now I know how many occasionally stop by for a read.

Elpoo said...

Don't worry, Mrs. Tuna. I caint quit you.
Elpoo

Janie Junebug said...

I'll never leave you. You had me at Tuna. My followers seem to come and go. I don't worry about it anymore. I have my faithful few who always comment. By the way, do you have Schwan's in your neighborhood? I worship the Schwan's man, who pulls up with his frozen food truck, unloads my order (placed online), and carries it into the kitchen.

Love,
Janie

Janie Junebug said...

You might be losing followers because of the word verification. A lot of us old timers can't read them. I know people who won't follow any blog that has word verification.

Love again,
Janie

Marianne said...

Wait. They're all going to start to HIDE on me one day when it's time for the groceries to get hauled in??? I so appreciate the warning. Now I know: always take one of 'em to the store with me. Much obliged, Tuna.

Hilary said...

I could never quit you either.... Bloggy is one time consuming hobby that often has to take the back seat to real life...

My husband is usually OCD about grocery lists (I am more of a seat by my pants girl) which makes it funny he went to Costco on Friday knowing we were making eggplant parm on Saturday. Of course I ran out of bread crumbs (which he didn't think to buy) and had to go to the store & fetch me some more...

Kimberly said...

You cannot make a sweater out of lint?
That is absurd. I was really looking forward to a lint sweater speckled with "someone forgot to take out the tissue from their pocket"
At first glance at your first sentence I thought it read "Ride husband."...hee hee.

Red Nomad OZ said...

Don't be such a suck! You DON'T have to apologise or make excuses ...

And the trick to housework? Is genuinely NOT CARING if there's a pile of crap on the bench or someone else doesn't have clean undies or no ketchup.

Or am I just a crazed Aussie??!!

Liz Mays said...

Oh, but once you put all the groceries away they come running to the cupboards, right?

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Annie (Lady M) x said...

I'm still following. I lost 9 followers this week to my shock, but then found out it was because Networked Blogs were deleting accounts that weren't being used. So I am guessing that something similar has happened to you .... so don't worry about being neglectful! Great post by the way - you have nailed the bugbears!

Ms. G said...

God I hope so, because I've been gone for weeks! Love the re-post : )

Me lover said...

I've never noticed about that before.
סרטים

Meg at the Members Lounge said...

Dear Mrs. Tuna, I too have been negligent in the blogosphere since returning from France and selling my house. Good news - I'm going to Texas which means weekend trips to Arizona are much more possible for guzzling wine with Team Tuna!

Lisa said...

I've died, gone to heaven, return. Hello Mrs Tuna, this is oceangirl calling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Don't study too hard.

Stephanie said...

It is amazing to me how many of us carry guilt about our blogs! How often we post, don't post, too many sponsored posts etc. No worries my friend we still love you and must add I SO understand the Chore wheel of death!

Nicki said...

I am SO down for some beef & broccoli right now. And we've got some flank steak in the freezer...

J.R. said...

Soooo, Did you sneak into my house and write about what you witnessed? OMG- same thing happens here. Groceries, laundry, all of it. Where do they all go when mom pulls in the driveway from the store?
Great Post Mrs. Tuna!

Anonymous said...

Mrs. T, we miss your laugh out loud funny (but I feel your pain, the new job has totally taken me out of the blogging loop - can't even imagine having to study!) Look forward to the funny over your break.