When Murphy Comes to Visit

Some weeks just stink.  Kid's sick, or you're sick...  Something breaks.  Customer service, isn't.  Weeds grow faster than you can chop them down and sometimes the bad mood makes everything even darker than it is.

I don't like Murphy, or as my friend calls this paragon of pisstivity-- Murphina.   Life becomes more difficult, and he shows up when you're least likely to be able to handle things.

Here's a secret.  Murphy, and his counterpart Murphina, are cowards.

Lily-livered, yellow-bellied cowards.

Want to know how I know that?

Because I fight back.

Yard guy quits?  Suddenly, and without notice?   Find a new one.  Quickly.   You'd be surprised what niceness comes out in people when they realize you've been stranded and you nicely ask for help.  Spend the rest of your angry energy pulling up weeds so they don't grow back after the next mow.

An order comes in for someone and it's missing stuff?  And late?   Be as polite as you possibly can, but firm.  Get things straightened out.  Then raise a mental middle finger in Murphy's direction.

Turn signal goes wonky?  It might not be a wiring failure.  It might just need a $6 bulb replacement.  And you will feel TERRIFIC when it works.

For every little irritation, black cloud, big mess and utter failure, we can find the strength within us to fight back.  And every time we do, Murphina loses her power over us.  There will always be bad days.  Sometimes bad weeks.  But humor, friendship, and chocolate go a long way to helping us keep our perspective and the emotional strength we need.

This only looks like chocolate.
In reality, it is a secret weapon.

Tuesday's Ten

I have a friend (and fellow blogger-- check her out HERE -- who says that Murphy must actually be a woman, because no man has ever given her as much grief as this B----.

So, I'll call the "lady" Murphina, just like my friend does.

Listen up, Murphina.  Listen good.

1.  Look, no pets this time, okay?  Both deployments, I had to take a sweet old girl to the vet and say goodbye.  Both deployments, my heart broke.

2.  You can leave my kids alone too.  Sure, one is pretty independent.  But she's miles and miles from home and I miss her and can't just go and help her.  So leave her alone.

3.  That means the little one, too.  First day he's gone on this thing and you send her home in tears because some little miscreant is bullying her?  Uh-uh.  No way.

4.  I know your tricks.  I know when he leaves, you like to play with the car and the plumbing and all of that.  Stop it.

5.  For my part, I'm going to the gym.  I'll either do it at home (yay, Wii!) or I'll find out that the circuit gym really does give a deployment discount.

6.  In case you can't read between the lines, that means leave me alone.

7. Stay the heck away from my husband, too.

8.  And our parents.  Oh for all that is holy...Murphina, keep your nasty little trouble-making hands off our parents.  Yes, stuff happens.  Wait til he's home and we can deal with it together.

9.  Or better yet, go away,  Shrivel up.

10. Remember...I'm watching you, Murphina.  And I am stronger than you could ever be.

[11.  Please don't take this as a dare.  :)  ]