My name is Julie, and my carpets are just fine!

This afternoon, I get a call at home from an automated solicitation call:

"Isn't it time you cleaned your carpets?"

No hello, or how are you--just an automated operator telling me that my carpets are dirty. I immediately told the automated operator to "F you!" as I hung up the phone.

Yes, I'm having one of those weeks. I usually don't say the F word, nor do I usually talk back to automated operators.

Yes, it's been one of those weeks: Nicholas is testing his boundaries again! He is in that mode: "How long will it take for mommy to chase me around the playground, if I run in circles and hide behind a tree." He apparently was playing the same game with his grandmother this afternoon. My mother was not pleased--especially when he threw her shopping list she had written over the fence in the neighbor's backyard! "Now my neighbors are going to know what I need at the store!" Sure they could care less, I'm sure---even if they could read my mother's writing--(another story). So, I left a hour early from work and raced over to my mother's house, where I immediately met Nicholas in the front yard, wearing a devilish grin. After chasing him around the house, into the house, upstairs, and onto the deck, and dragged him into the van--finally strapping him in. I was ready to go home and try to relax.

Nicholas finally fell asleep in the van, and joyfully he continued to take a nice long nap at home...when the phone rings, and this automated operator tells me that my carpet is not clean.

I HATE solicitation calls---especially from automated operators!! I get these calls at work for refinance, insurance for my credit cards..etc..etc... I even get calls from President Obama telling me to go back to school! I PRESS THE 2 button like they tell me to STOP getting these calls - to be taken off the phone list, but does it work?! No--it doesn't!!

Okay, and now lets talk about the solicitation calls with REAL people. What a joy they are. I cannot tell you how many times people call me and ask for "Maureen". That is not my name. That is my husband's ex-wifes name. I tell them, and try and correct them, but it never works--they don't care. I was once sent a whole kit to distribute in the neighborhood for a charitible cause, but they still sent it to Maureen. I sent it back. They called, and asked me why--I told them they had the wrong person. My name is Julie. I not only get calls for her, I also get mail for her. Why in the hell do I get her mail? She has never lived at this address! Not only do I get calls and mail, I also get free samples. Today I got free samples of Kotex Maxi Pads with wings, and panty liners! Okay..I'll keep those, but what I want to know is WHY I get mail for her MOTHER-IN-LAW?! Not my husband's mother, but her new spouse's mother! WHY??!!

Okay.. Perhaps the real reason I'm feeling angry is because I REALLY think my carpets need a good cleaning. Now I got a call confirming what I already know. Lovely. You know how hard it is to keep a carpet clean with teenagers and a 5 year old and a husband, and an art student?! Time to get my steamer out this weekend...