Friday, June 10, 2016

The Dog Ate My Homework

Certainly one of my least liked chores, and my weakest skill, although I can talk the leg off a dead horse, is asking for people to volunteer their time.  My work for political parties is non-existent because of that lack of talent.  Anyway, I have had to step up to the plate and get more volunteers to help us work in our children's garden during the upcoming hot summer months, especially while we are on travel (more about that in another post).



I got the following excuses for why people were absent from helping in May and June:

My daughter had a premature baby and her daughter-in-law who was going to help got Mersa in the hospital while visiting.

I am helping my son move to Kentucky.

I am moving my husband into a nursing home.

My wife has gotten very ill.  (stroke).

I have been sick with Pneumonia the last two weeks and am now heading out for Italy.

I am having a growth removed from my face.  (We later learned it was cancerous.)

My work schedule is such that I am now on-call seven days a week and do not know when I have free time.

I will be away on my sailboat all of June.

These are all valid and honest excuses and probably not atypical for our group of retired, old, farts.  Looks like I will have to put in more hours for a while.


On a lighter note you can go here for our weather report.



19 comments:

  1. They do seem valid. Don't work too hard.

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  2. At this stage of life, anything can happen! Good luck with the garden.

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  3. Frustrating that the excuses all sound so legitimate - you can't even get annoyed at 99% of them.

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  4. Gosh, it's hard to take offense at those excuses, for sure. Wish I were there to help you. :-)

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  5. I don't volunteer for things that require asking for donations or additional volunteering but I would enjoy something like your garden project. The travel would kill me though. My friend Donna, on the other hand, is masterful at getting volunteers. It really is a talent in its own right.

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  6. I would help,but I think I'm going to have a headache on that day...what ever day it might be.

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  7. Keep asking folks. Those answers seem typical for the ladies who work at the shop here. I love joeh's answer.

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  8. Keep asking folks. Those answers seem typical for the ladies who work at the shop here. I love joeh's answer.

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  9. Guilt, guilt, guilt. I need to be a better helper.

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  10. If I volunteered my services all those glorious plants would die.

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  11. It's difficult when people don't have excuses, but valid reasons.

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  12. Everyone is so busy or too tired. So much to do, so little time. Going to my own garden now ...

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  13. One of the things I learnt as I neared overload was to be prepared to say No - and without necessarily giving the reason. I hope you are not near overload yourself. Blessings from Dalamory

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  14. Keep a weather eye- Happy travels

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  15. It's so much easier to just do it myself -- or it used to be, I should say.

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  16. Hope you two are traveling. I miss ya.

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  17. My problem is the opposite. I have a hard time saying "no" to things. I need to perfect the art of "no". I then join and volunteer for too many things and then I am constantly over scheduled. Which I loathe.

    I have been weeding my garden just about daily. Yesterday my kids were helping me. It was nice to have some help. Man! Gardens are so much work! I hope you get some helpers soon!

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  18. Those plants look wonderful. I know it's disheartening when you expect people to volunteer and they don't.

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  19. Just checking in. Stay cool and dry.

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Take your time...take a deep breath...then hit me with your best shot.