Anyone watching Wife Swap?

[stormie_skies]

Just thought I would mention .... I read the teaser for tonights episode.... they are switching a gun-toting hunting conservative with a veggie PETA member! This should be amusing...

[GalvestonDuck]

It was!! OMG! Did you see the woman go crazy after the husband said the other one treated Emily like a dog! "You treated my daughter like a dog? You mistreated my daughter? You don't mistreat my daughter! I hope she told you off!"

Sheesh...she taught her some manners and had her do some chores.

That whole thing was just crazy!

[stormie_skies]

I agree .... both families annoyed the heck out of me this time .... I could barely watch

[Miss Mary]

Yeah, here I was plugging this show last week, hoping newcomers would give it a looksee. And then this week's episode aired....ugh. Of all 4 spouses, the only one I could see me getting along with is the dreadlocks husband! The overweight couple - forget it, they're stuck in their 'bubba South Carolina' ways of doing things....that wife was too rigid, not very huggy to her family. Too cold if you ask me. Then the PETA lady had promise but within a few short minutes she came across as real dingy! OMG, her last breakdown at the end, when both couples were brought back together again, was over the top. Just prior to that, we saw her RUN to her husband acting as if she was 12. So we all decided she was just a very immature person, good ideas (animal rights and all) but I can't see myself having a long conversation with her, she didn't seem to possess much common sense (sleeping until 10 a.m., not doing housework, not doing anything with her time!).

I still like Lynn, the wife from New Jersey that got sent to Manhattan, from last week. She was a keeper!

Wonder if we get to vote for our favorite wife at the end of the season? If so, Lynn would it so far for me.

Mary

PS - one more thing, what was up with the overweight hunting hubby getting all lovey-dovey with the PETA wife? Even going as far as giving her kisses (on the cheek) and showing her off at the smoke-out (this is my 'new wife' everyone)? I sure hope we don't have to see scenes like this again! That's going down completely different path than I think this show should go. Jim just said he was horny, since he hadn't slept with his wife in 12 years. Men!

[chicagopizza]

Wow! That show last night was over the top. It was kind of like a guy getting pulled over on the side of the road. you know you should just keep on moving, but....

Whistlin' Dixie: That SC man-What a JERK! "I was expecting someone fat and ugly"- acting like he was Mel Gibson-what right did HE have to say that? That whole display -kissing her and showing her off-I was ready to barf!! Nothing wrong with looking, but he crossed the line. Then, he wouldn't even eat dinner without a fuss-what a baby!

Dixie Dictator: First off, the house WAS a mess and teaching manners to kids is fine. However, she wasn't very loving at all and a little condescending.

As for the dogs, why couldn't she just get them groomed, bathed and put up a puppy gate? One of our dogs is from Sheltie rescue and we agreed to her being indoors. I'd be ticked about them being outdoors- although WAY less dramatic.

PETA Pacifist: HOLY COW!! What a drama queen!! I agree with her about hunting for sport, but she was way over the top. That scene with the deer head..The hysterics..there are no words...

Dreadlock Dad: The most normal of the bunch. He wouldn't be my type at all, but he was a loving dad and tried to play along.

[Miss Mary]

chicagopizza - I agree with you 100%....make that 150%! Dixie Dictator....LOL, that's a perfect nic for her. Wooeee, she was not so nice....the litle girl did need to be disciplined but she was cute enough, it could be done! Seeing her make her own breakfast all alone was sad. Her making it is a useful thing to encourage, but when her mom was still in bed, now that did irk me. So I agreed with the dictator mom on that one. But wow the Peta lady was overly dramatic, as you said. So many tears and so many bugged out stares! Maybe she needs to be on Ritalin....her house would benefit!!!

Well anyways, thanks for the critique Chicagopizza.....hey BTW, can I ask what your first name is? I usually like to put a name with a nic! Thanx

Mary

[chicagopizza]

No problem. My name is Ellen, but I prefer Elle-less formal. I could tell you the reason for "chicagopizza"-kinda funny, but long so I won't post that!

Anyhow, I agree with you. There is no reason the mom can't get up and cook breakfast with or for her daughter.

I actually videotaped it for my husband and I thought his eyes would pop out of his head! He was just dying when he saw the PETA drama queen! We are still talking about the cleaning habits of this woman. We ended up coming up with a term for this family's house cleaning habits. Here it is, your new vocabulary word for the day:

Dustarian: One who believes very strongly that every living creature including dust mites and "dust bunnies" should cohabitate with man in a peaceful environment instead of being brutally murdered by feather dusters and cleaning supplies.

Goal: Save the dust mites!! Save the dust bunnies!! Stop this senseless violence against these creatures!!!

[Miss Mary]

Ellie - that's so funny!!! Dustarian...I like that. LOL

Here's a question for all that are watching this show.....

Are you finding yourself looking at your own home in a new light? As if someone is coming from this show and swapping lives for 10 days? Oops, 2 questions....

I know I am! All kidding aside (my family saying hey let's swap you Mom!), it does make you take a hard look at your closets, cleanliness, organizational skills......let me just say quite honestly - all of those areas in MY house need attention! So maybe this show will be useful in indirect ways, the producers never thought possible. Suddenly, American homes are June Cleaver Clean!!!

Now where did I put my pearls and high heels....oh there they are.....LOL

Mary

[chicagopizza]

In answer to your question, I see that I get more accomplished than I think AND makes me look at what I do wrong. I don't sleep until 10am, but attitude is my downfall.
I am a housewife with 2 dogs, so I will get blasted for being like the "lazy" women, but I get mad at my husband when he tries to help me. And he hasn't balanced a checkbook since we've been married! The house (except lawnmowing) is my job and unless I help him at work, why should he have to help with mine?

But, I have learned that, when I let him help, I tend to be critical of the way he loads the dishwasher/ does chores and that has to change.

Goodness-they would have a field day with me. He goes to work and I do the chores/ cook meals at 35 years old. What they would hide is that we tried the DINK thing and found we had less money, argued more (I bring my job home with me), and were less healthy.

Very 1950s around here -just what works for us. Even yesterday, we were in Sam's club and a demonstrator thought we were newlyweds and was surprised we had been married for 7.5 years, so I guess we are doing something right. But I could never subject myself to millions of critics like they do!!! (Just you all at storm2k)

[Miss Mary]

Ellie - I'm a stay-at-home mom too! By accident in a way...I worked for 10 years at a doctor's office. Then decided to go back to school at age 30. Quit my day job, took full time classes (15 credits) per semester and got 2 years in before I was remarried with a baby. Suddenly dropping off a newborn at the campus daycare run by an elderly nun (it was a small Catholic college, very similar to a high school campus) and staffed by volunteer Education Major students was NOT what I felt comfortable with doing. And my mom wanted a set schedule if she was going to watch her Granddaughter. Daycare was out, since quite honestly I was only away from home a few hours a day. So taking off one semester led to another and I didn't go back to school until 10 years later, when my youngest was in First Grade. In between I just LOVED being home and being the one taking care of my child. Call me crazy, but I wanted to be the one feeding her (and her sister later on), changing diapers and taking her on walks. I turned into June Cleaver right before my very eyes. LOL

But, and there's a big but usually......my husband is a slob. I like to tease him that he fooled me during our dating days...once he invited me over for a home cooked meal - cornish hen, wild rice, baby carrrots, etc. - and the condo was so clean you could eat off the floor. Up until this point I was into a clean house too. After we married and I got busy taking care of a newborn, the house began to slide. And he admitted growing up their mom focused on the kids, not cobwebs. He didn't care if I didn't have a super clean house. Okay, fast forward to NOW, and OMG, I blame him all the time for saying it was okay if we had cobwebs. Ha, if that is all we had I'd be in fine shape. Just get out the vacuum. But thru the years we did focus on the kids, they came first, and so the closets got junky, the family photo's are a mess and the one thing I really regret letting slide are the baby books. My oldest is going off to college soon and I really want to have a power session one day with her, with the book open - okay who was at your 8th Birthday Party and where did we go?....sad isn't it? I should have been a little more detail orientated. I tell new parents all the time - fill out the baby books as soon as the baby does something worth noting and develop those picture and promptly put them into albums.

One more thing, my hubby works hard at a family run business his dad started. Often 6 days a week. And lucky for him he has allergies so not only has inside chores fallen upon my shoulders but now outside ones too. So I do it all. He used to take the garbage out but even now I do that since we recycle and I have a specific way I like it done. This past January he began a project he has said for years he would do - finish off half our basement. And good as his word, he worked very hard every weekend and even some evenings after work. He never, ever did that before! I used to ask him - who are YOU and what have your done with MY husband? LOL We joked the other night if we did Wife Swap he'd be reprimanded for doing nothing.....LOL His excuse - if you work again, then I'll do my share. Problem is I see all these husbands on the street whose wives do not work doing yardwork every weekend. And finally, because I do it all, it all doesn't get done. It's too much for one person (my kids have their chores though, laundry, their shared bath and rooms).

Somehow though I don't think the show would swap your household with mine. We'd have to find someone who's not a stay at home wife/mom! I'm sure we could find someone from the boards to swap with! Ah, but I do love being home.....I think I was born in the wrong era. I truly think so.

Mary

[chicagopizza]

Mary-

Sounds like you have a ton on your plate, but that you have a great family and enjoy your life!

You said you were a stay at home mom "too". Didn't mean to mislead-I don't have kids. I fear the backlash, but it is important to be honest! Just two dogs and I foster any stray I find until I get a good home for them.

If I had kids, the monetary sacrifice, if possible, would be worth the quality time with the kids. My mother is a successful career woman who gives expensive gifts, but had other priorities than time with her kids. I am very appreciative, but, even now, I would take time with her over a gift. But, she would take me having a career again so she wouldn't be embarrassed when her colleagues ask about me. It's all about priorities.

I'm sure your kids love that you stayed at home with them!! You'd have been great if Lynn wasn't chosen to go to Manhattan!! As for me, well, I'd wind up swapping with someone exactly like my mom, but with much younger kids.

[Brent]

Bumpety.

I'm watching for the 1st time tonight. Hilarious. In one house, the man works and the woman stays home and in the other, the man stays home and the woman works. They are swapping.

The working woman isn't happy at all.

[GalvestonDuck]

I liked when they showed Hallmark's resume. I gave it a quick glance and caught the movie "Computer Beach Party" on his list of films. That was filmed here in Galveston. I haven't seen it yet, but I know it's at one of the video stores here that also has "Keaton's Cop" and "Night Game" (two other not so well-known flicks filmed here).

I checked imdb.com and Hallmark isn't in the credits for CPB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150179/combined . But he has his own listing also: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0887603/ but it doesn't have everything they showed on his resume on "Wife Swap."

[GalvestonDuck]

Well, that one had an pleasant ending (for once).

The only thing I had a problem with was the husband and the swapped wife doing medical transcription (the original wife's job). Unless they signed some kind of agreement with the employer, they should not have been allowed to do that due to patient confidentiality issues. Furthermore, the hubby couldn't type to save his life.

[Miss Mary]

Shawn - I also thought no one but the transcriber should be doing that type of work either! And medical terminology can only be worded one way...unless it's a prescription, but then again, the abbreviations for meds are confusing too. From what I remember working for a doctor's office.

Off topic - my family and I want to know where do you find these 8 hours a day transcribing jobs? I want one! A legit one that is (many are scams).

Back to the show - the actor, stay at home dad I liked. He was happy being at home and taking care of his stepdaughter. I didn't like how the career mom made him feel inferior and less of a man for it. But in the end he got a job and I laughed when he said his job is dangerous!!!! LOL Yeah maybe if you're painting the exteriors of houses. But inside, if you step carefully up and down a ladder, you'll be okay. Dangerous? That's so funny. But I did like him. The career mom was a bit much. This is going to sound so mean but we couldn't get past how large her nostrils were. Maybe they were bigger b/c she was always so mad - they were flared out! I liked the other mom too. This show seemed more about ways the two husbands could change than what ways the wives would change. A twist for a change.

And why is it that each week one husband breaks down and cries? My husband says - see there, we can't go on this show, I won't cry!!! LOL

Still it's an enjoyable hour and in our case, it makes us appreciate things the way they are around here.

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

The company that transcribes for UTMB hospitals and clinics is Medquist and they're based in Dallas. However, I'm fairly certainly I recall them saying something in a meeting once about a transcriptionist from Montana calling in to ask a question about a doctor's name. Usually they transcribe for hospitals in their own regions, but this was during the holidays (when some go on vacation and can't type, and others want overtime so they ask to type for other contracts). If I understand correctly, Medquist pays the transcriptionists per line, not per hour. So if you can type fast in four what some can type in eight, you'd get paid the same.

I don't get what they were transcribing anyway. I didn't see them listening to anything -- no headphones or headset or anything.

[Miss Mary]

Good point - that was odd - you'd think she'd have to listen to something!

I can type 50 WPM but don't have transcribing training. Ads in the local paper state you need it. I was just wondering. Laura even said hey mom you should do that (I'm the family typist, a lost art IMO). 4 to 6 hours a day sounds more ideal for our situation.

JTS has a page up now for Wife Swap. I already posted! I'm post happy I guess....LOL

Mary

[Miss Mary]

Anyone watch Wife Swap last night? From ABC's website....

____________________________

http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap/index.html

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 10/9c
Fontaine/Herman
A bargain-seeking, coupon-obsessed, pack-rat mother from Ohio who refuses to work so that she can dote on her four children, swaps lives with a high-powered, high-paid executive mother from Maryland who loves her career and disdains coupons, clutter, and kids who rule the house.

_____________________________

I thought I was going to really like the pack-rat stay-at-home mom, but she was nuts! About the only thing I identified with her on was spending quality time with her children and husband. The way she shopped was crazy!!! And taking a spare bathroom's shower stall and using it for bulk paper items?!!!! We all just kept shaking our heads at her. In theory, her philosophy was wonderful - treasure your kids b/c one day they'll be grown and gone. As for the state of her house, oh my. Her house makes our house look immaculate!!!

I had more hope for the exec mom. Didn't really warm up to her either but she at least had more sense. Common sense and readily admitted she didn't want to clean or cook, or come home from work. None of which I am, but she did seem like someone you could have a normal conversation with.

Thoughts/reactions? We usually really like one mom and family. Not this time! The kids were very likeable compared to last's week's out of control ones though.

We've just decided we'll never see one normal mom on this show. A normal mom (be it working or stay-at-home) is rejected. They have to have an odd quirk or obsession to apply! None here.....LOL

Mary

[Brent]

I loved last night. The storing of stuff in the shower was really over the top and don't even get me started on the shopping. On the other hand, the workaholic mom's house was TOO clean(yes a house can be too clean), and she works too much.

[alicia-w]

a house can be too clean!?!?!?!

spoken like a true teenager.