This Is How We Do It

by Cathy and Patti

We are the ultimate multi-taskers.

Since we are both so busy with work, kids, husbands and life (and we only see each other at our kids' ballet class once a week if we're lucky), we've found that the easiest way to communicate is via Gmail chat. It's not as time-intensive or restricting as a phone call and it allows easier flow than a text. And bonus! It's instant. You hear the "bleep" and the flashing "Name says" sign in your email tab and you know to respond. In the meantime? We can go about doing our "work" work. We told you we were some resourceful beeyotches!

Patti:
I work 40+ hours a week, have a daughter with activities, bathrooms that won't stay clean, clothes that somehow keep getting dirty, beds that don't make themselves, a refrigerator that yearns to stay full, activities of my own, and a husband and friends I kind of dig. The time-suck that is my life most days means that somethin's got to give. And unfortunately, most of the time, it's plans with my friends. I realize I'm not a 21-year old with a social life that must be nurtured or I'll DIE I'll simply DIE - but! I've always said: Women NEED women in their lives; we have got to have those girlfriends to get us through when our husbands make us feel murderous, our children make us feel mad, our parents make us feel drained, our jobs makes us feel strained, and we are going insane.

I have found time and again that trying to have dinner together as grown women takes more than a phone call and a "Done!"; it literally takes a master's degree in the Science of Timeology. Let me tell you: G-chatting is about 4,000 credits in the earning of that master's, and in my friendship with Cathy, it' actually served as a surrogate to getting together for coffee, dinner, or a GNO.  We have had deep, philosophical discussions over G-chat; we've made difficult decisions together; we've planned parties and had business meetings; we've cyber-laughed together over the dumbest things. G-chat is the lifeine that ensures our friendship stays a friendship.

Now I just have to get the rest of my friends - all who work 40+ hours a week and are raising children, keeping husbands happy and running a home - onboard this G-train.

CHOO-CHOO!
(or is that: CU-CKOO!)

Cathy:
We thought we would share with you a transcript of one of our chats from last week, when Patti, Michelle and I were trying in vain to plan my birthday dinner outing at a restaurant named, ironically, YOLO. Oh, when was my birthday, you ask? August 22nd. And when is the dinner planned? The last weekend in September; if we're lucky. Here's a little glimpse into our harried, over-scheduled world and how we, well...do it.

Note: there will be typos, grammatical errors, trending internet lingo and acronyms that make us sound like teenagers. Again, it's all just part of how we do it.

Cathy:
hey girl! sorry crazy mornin. yes i saw Michelle's  response and i replied to her - did you see that? Poor Miche. She has her days all confused!

Patti:
yes, just haven't responded yet. i figured she probably wouldn't be able to make it. so do you still wanna go?

Cathy:
well if it's to celebrate my birthday i would like her to be there, kwim? im sure she contributed to a gift, etc. and i would like her to be there too

Patti:
okay, we will reschedule, then.
i have no saturdays after this available until end of this month, and then only 2 in October. :o(

Cathy:
how about a friday?

(long pause)
Patti:
sorry - working on several things at once. i have the last friday of this month available and 2 in october (as i am traveling). so same deal >;(

Cathy:
dang gurl and you call ME miss social queen!!
don't know what to do

Patti:
it ain't social - it's gig or work
so basically - work lol

Cathy:
i would really not rather push my b-day celebration into october - it just seems so...eh....
let's find a way to do it this month and arrange it with miche.

Patti:
okay, so you are okay with waiting til the last weekend in september? cuz that's all i got, gurrrl. unless we do an early weekday dinner.

Cathy:
this is pathetic
i don't really want to do an early weekday dinner but don't have many options i guess. which saturday this month do you have open again?

Patti:
oh shoot - saturday the 29th is the night we are supposed to do the drive-in movie nite. how about friday the 28th? and hopefully, miche is available! lol!

Cathy:
bella has snow guide nutcracker rehearsal that night until 6:15 so by the time i get home, drop her off and come it won't be until 7:30ish if that works. plus i have to see if joe is traveling that weekend. he is going to atlanta on the 20th and the 21st but not sure about that weekend

Patti:
we can do 8 pm - works for me. can joe take her to rehearsal? or pick her up?
so you aren't all rushy-rush?
[pause]
oooh! i just looked at my calendar and have the 21st open after all. but now you're saying joe is out of town. see? it ain't just me. lol.

Cathy:
he is returning on the 21st so i just have to find out what time he is scheduled to return. if it's early then we're good - if its evening then no....lemme check. plus we need to find out if miche is available too

Patti:
michelle just emailed me and told me she is available the 28th and already put it on her calendar as confirmed.

Cathy:
can you have her also check on the 21st just in case?

Patti:
okay, but i think we need to not hold both nights. which do you prefer?

Cathy:
i would prefer the earlier date but let me make sure joe is going to be here. i just texted him

[pause]
ok so his flight gets in at 6. let's do the 28th...and my the force be with us

[TEN MINUTES LATER.....]
Patti:
lol.... oh boy... miche just emailed me and said the 21st works better cuz she has to get a sitter for the 28th. lol. i told her the 28th works better cuz joe is outta town the 21st, and she said she will make it work no matter what on the 28th. i told her to sharpie it onto her calendar.

Cathy:
O.M.G. this is totes ridik that it's such a production to schedule a simple dinner. we'll be so stressed by the time we get together that we will dive head first into some major margarita glasses at YYYYYOOOOOLLLLOOOO!!!
and how ironic is it that we are going to a place called YOLO and we can't even throw caution to the wind to live up to the name of the restaurant. LOL. we should be going to LOLO, (as in LOL, how funny you are trying to plan a girls night out) not YOLO

Patti:
Lol! Or: NOLO!  (cuz NO it ain't gonna happen!)
...................
Let's just hope ternderly braised Mexican ribs taste the same online.