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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

What Would You Have Done?

Picture if you can, this Menopausal New Mom sitting at her computer enjoying her morning coffee while reading your blogs. Her 3 1/2 year old daughter is eating cereal and Dora is playing in the background. It's around 10:00 in the morning and the only grooming I have done so far is brush my teeth (I know, I'm lazy).  Yes, I'm sitting here in big old ugly unmatched PJ's, hair uncombed, face unwashed, eyes crusty, with my husband's heavy, gray flannel shirt over those ugly PJ's (did I mention there is actually a small hole in the arse of the bottoms?).

I am minding my own business when there is a knock at the door. After swearing under my breath that some outsider would dare interrupt my precious blog reading time, I get up and go the the door. There standing on my back doorstep along with his camera man (no, it's not Oprah) is a reporter from our local news station. Yes, I'm serious! They had been out driving around looking for some slob who has a pile of chopped up wood in their driveway and because my husband is too lazy busy to actually pile ours up, they picked us.






After regaining my balance (did I mention I nearly fell over?), as stupid as it sounds, I asked the reporter for ID because he doesn't look familiar to me. While he is digging it out, I look around the corner of my home and there in the driveway sporting huge letters advertising their television channel is the van. ID presented.

They ask for my permission to film the messy pile of wood in the driveway so I say "Okay", then they ask if they can film our wood stove where the wood is burned.  I say "No problem but let me clean it up first." (we had used it the night before so there were wood crumbs on the tile and the glass was a bit smoked up). They wait, I clean, then they ask, "How about you light it for us so we can get a shot of that for our story?" Okay, I'll light it.  "How about a picture of you lighting it?" That's where I started to draw the line.

"Wait a minute, how much of me are you going to shoot?" After going back and forth with them, I make them promise to film only my dried out, chapped hands. They agree. So they get that shot. While we are doing all of this, we are chatting and it turns out there have been complaints in our one-horse town about people burning garbage and plastic in their fireplaces. This story was being done in the hopes of educating those birdbrains on safe burning practices.

To this I can take a bow because we are the poster-couple for safe burning, we use only dry, seasoned wood, we light with birch bark, we have purchased the most efficient wood stove on the market to create the least amount of smoke blah, blah, blah.  While we are chatting, the reporter is telling me that these are exactly the points they want to make in their story so would I agree to an on-camera interview.

Okay, wait a minute. Not only have I not combed my hair this morning, I haven't been to the hairdresser to have it colored or cut since last January. I know, I have already made an appointment for tomorrow but this is today! I'm serious, they tried every trick and every lie in the book in the hopes I would throw my vanity out the window and agree to be interviewed.

So you know what I did? I waited for my husband to come home for lunch which he thankfully did around 11:00 and got him to do the interview. After all, he's the one who was actually showered and dressed and he's the reason they stopped at our house in the first place, ie that messy pile of wood.

So be honest, what would you have done? Would you have blown off you own vanity for the opportunity to be on TV even if you looked like shit on a stick crap???

45 comments:

Unknown said...

Deb,

I would've been in precisely the same predicament as you here (in pj's, hair a rat's nest, etc). I think you handled it perfectly! Can you post a clip of the news where it aired? Would love to see!

Unknown said...

i'm with you! i live in the boonies so no one ever comes a knockin'...but if they did, i would run and HIDE.

p.s. you BRUSH YOUR TEETH before you check blogs...? wow...you are an over-achiever! i...uh...well...oh, yeah, me too. ;)

Lee said...

I would have done what you did as well. I would never have gone on live...even if I looked my best, I wouldn't have done it!!

Mama-Face said...

I promise you I would not have answered the door. My house would have to be on fire, not just my wood stove.

And I'm with Erin...are you going to post the interview? Or link it? I'd love to see your dry chapped hands.

yonca said...

Another great post as usual. I'm with you.I think you handled it very well.

Kimi said...

Not unless they brought in hair and makeup guys, lol

The Four Week Vegan said...

Thank goodness your hubby comes home for lunch. I would have probably agreed, but asked for a few minutes to freshen up.

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

Wow, good for you! I may have just ignored the knock at the door...

I also think it's very smart to ask for ID.

Formerly known as Frau said...

One smart girl thinking on the fly like that! Seriously if anyone dare rang my bell before noon that's how they'd find me.

ZenMom said...

The morning scene you described is me right now -- minus the reporters and the brushed teeth. Glad to see I'm not alone.

You handled the situation very well. Wow what a shock to the system.

Anita said...

HELL NO!

entertaining post - lol

f8hasit said...

I don't think I would have even carried on the conversation with him that long before going to change, put on make-up, etc.

It if that exact reason that I wear lipstick when I mow the lawn. You just never. ever. know.
:-)

Hey, I tagged you with an award! C'mon by now ya'hear!

Respectfully Yours said...

I definitely would not have even opened the door. I would have ignored them, showered and dressed then called the station to see what they wanted. Then and only then I might have granted the interview. Great blog, very funny.

Connie K said...

I wouldnt have even open the door (haha) great story... I guess im that vain ...Love how you got your hubby to do the interview ~love it

G said...

You should have plugged your blog!

Life Laugh Latte said...

Sometimes I'm vain...but mostly I'm not that concerned. I probably would have taken 5 to put on makeup and brushed my hair and gone on. But I love the camera:) Holly at lifelaughlatte

Unknown said...

Once I peeked out and saw the news van, there'd be no way in hell I'd open the door. I may talk to them behind closed doors, cough a bit and tell them that I was contagious...but that would be it! LOL

Can't wait to see the interview and your chapped hands.

Dale & Brennan said...

I'm lucky if I brush my teeth by dinner time!!!!! And yes, Murphy's Law says the day BEFORE your hair appointment is the day you will have something like this happen to you.

I just got mine done yesterday. Hubby says I was being gritchy and pulling the "why do I always come last?" trip on him so I was banished to the beauty shop.

Love your blog. So glad I found it.

Dale & Brennan's mom
(46 year old mom to a 21 year old and 6 year old)

Tracie said...

1. This is why my mother says you should always be dressed with full make-up and hair done by 8 am every morning. You never know!

2. Hell-to-the-no! I wouldn't go on camera if I just had my hair done and lipo.

3. We must have the link.

Pam said...

I can imagine this happening in our neighborhood. No way would I agree to that interview!

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

On behalf of the entire TV news industry, I would like to extend my apologies.

This is how we weasel our way into your homes & lives. We start by staking out innocent people with open garage doors and lights on inside. Then, we ask a simple question and just ask to shoot video. Before you know it, you're the lead story on the 5 o'clock news.

It was really interesting to hear your account though... I think my reporters should read it too, so they know what it's like being on the "other side" of an ambush!

~Elizabeth
http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com

Tami @ HeartsMakeFamilies said...

I would have done what you did as well. Actually I would have been a lot worse lol.

Please stop by my blog. I left you an award.

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

no way - i would have never been on tv unless i looked presentable at the very least

Sarafree said...

Wow, this seriously happened to you?!? I wouldn't have answered the door. I screen door knocks too.

Stacey J. Warner said...

Hell NO! I don't care about being on TV, especially looking like poop.

I'd do what you did(if I had a husband)

much love

JennyMac said...

hahahaha...what an escapade. My husband would decline that opportunity in a heartbeat. LOL. And then he would go pick up his woodpile. Is it on the news? Share the link, I would love to see it.

Corrie Howe said...

No. I don't even do still photos for my family.

And I'm still having a hard time even believing this story. It just seems too fantastic. :-)

Kate said...

Wow - you have so many comments on your post! I feel as if you'll never get down to read mine. Anyhow - I like your blog... think I'll follow it for a while. I'm a menopausal mother of an 18month-old!! It's a long story....

Menopausal New Mom said...

Wow you guys! The comments are flying and I'm glad to hear that so many of you look just like I do in the morning!

We must be a shy bunch, no one wanted to get on that camera looking like hell so I bet that poor reporter runs into that a lot.

Here's the good new, after attending the Memorial Services in town today, my hubby came home and cleaned up that pile of wood!

Mission Accomplished!!!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go light that stove without the glare of a camera!

Tamara said...

Hi! I would have looked exactly the same way you did. hahaha and nooooo way would I have done that interview looking like that!! I've had people come to the door mid morning when I'm lookiing my most hideous including no bra on. lol

Kudos for proper wood burning! :) I'm following you now too, I love your blog.
http://www.homespunheartscandles.blogspot.com

Mammatalk said...

I never would have opened the door. You're a trooper!

AiringMyLaundry said...

Eek.

I probably wouldn't have answered the door.

Granted, I usually wind up answering the door. My neighbor knocked on our door and my appearance was just like yours. I think I scared her a bit and she sort of stuttered out, "Can I borrow some butter..." but was looking at me as though I were a rabid animal..

Lisa said...

Just found your lovely blog and had to say this, You are one brave woman indeed. Cowardly me would have never answered the door let alone be so accommodating to that poor news crew.

Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com said...

You're a very brave woman! I would have pretended to be the maid or that I didn't speak english or something. LOL.

Now what channel and what time should I be watching?

Buckeroomama said...

The couple of times I've been in front of the camera, I hated it and I'd cringe every time I'd watch the tape... and this was with me fully made up. So, uhm, no thanks --especially not when I'm nowhere near camera-ready. :)

Sharon said...

THAT. IS. FUNNY!

COUNTRY MOM said...

Great post. We have tons of unstacked firewood. Some neatly stacked (I stacked it lol) wood that I even posted about lol. Have a great day.

Helene said...

Are you kidding?? Even if I was dressed, hair done and lucky enough to have put makeup on that day, I still would have said NO WAY!!

What a random thing, though! I bet that's not exactly what/who you were expecting at your front door that day!

Stacy Uncorked said...

I probably wouldn't even have opened the door... You are a brave, brave woman! ;)

Are you going to put in the link for the interview? I wanna see! :)

Menopausal New Mom said...

OMG, this post broke my record on comments, even if you don't count the two I made, that is still 37!! so far! That's my record guys!!

Thanks so much for taking the time, having your laugh at my expense (which I love BTW) and fessing up to how you look in the morning!!

Loved the comments and I think only one said they would do the interview, but only after cleaning up which would have taken me at least an hour based on the state I was in, you can double that when you add in a 3 1/2 year old to watch while doing it!

Thanks so much for sharing! Your comments were great as always!!!!

Liz Mays said...

Oh no way! I would have done the same thing you did. I would never have agreed to be on camera. I probably wouldn't have answered the door to begin with..lol

bingo house said...

They came unexpected and unannounced. They should wait. And yes, I would have done the same thing you did.

Annie Z said...

Handled beautifully!

ethelmaepotter! said...

I think you handled it perfectly. I'm in the I-never-would-have-answered-the-door camp.
Once upon a time, a tornado hit our neighborhood and news crews came round looking for guinea pigs to interview. Three families on my street stepped forward willingly, and the clip actually made it onto the national evening news. And what a bunch of illiterate hillbillies my neighbors seemed! I was never so grateful in my life to have had the good sense to decline an interview!

Menopausal New Mom said...

Thanks again for sharing ladies, nice to know you would have done the exact same thing!