What drives me nuts is being on the phone and someone is talking your ear off but you have basically tuned them out. But then they catch onto that and say, “What have I been saying?” Busted!
I had a son who would tune me out 10 seconds after I started in on his responsibilities. Fortunately, my father taught me (by example, alas) how to cope with that: Finish a sentence. Ask the target audience to paraphrase it back to you. Do the next sentence, Ask for a paraphrase of the TWO sentences. Repeat. Break for lunch. Repeat. Break for dinner… Eventually, you DO get through, though it’s a lot like pulling teeth. Without pliers. (The moaning is similar, too).
sorry Opal, we weren’t listening either… zzzz. :-) Kinda reminds me of my mother in law, she can talk for hours while you just nod, say mmhmm, and do whatever you want! read a book, watch tv… lol she doesn’t care, just keeps on blabbing! You couldn’t get a word in edgewise anyway!
I was on my land line one time with a friend that just kept rattling on and on. I was in the middle of cooking supper at the time and needed to stir stuff on the stove. Cord wouldn’t reach that far so I gently laid the phone down, went over and stirred my stuff, came back, picked up the phone and he was still rattling away and never knew I was gone for a few minutes.
That’s the very reason I don’t like the phone! Some go on and on but when you have something to say they seem bored and not interested….one friend seems to think everything is funny….and it’s all about her….BORING!
When I was child, my Mother would continually accuse me of not listening to what she was saying during one of her half-hour (literally) lectures. The only entertainment I got out of it was repeating verbatim the last five minutes of what she had been saying. It didn’t stop her from accusing me of the same thing next time. :)
Before my dad passed away, we’d be talking and he’d fall asleep in mid-sentence. A few minutes later he’d wake up talking right where he left off. “I did it again, didn’t I?” We’d all have a good laugh. I’m still listening.
I simply say, “Oh well. My train of thought has just derailed. There were no survivors.” I never ask anyone “What was I saying?” I’m afraid they might tell me.
I catch hell from people, my wife included, because I hear every word around me although it appears that I’m not paying attention. It’s a trick I learned when I was in outside sales and I was calling on customers, it’s amazing what people will say out loud when they don’t think you’re listening
My son was watching a piece on YouTube the other night and the speaker was describing the family trees of half of Europe’s royalty. I lost track somewhere and when it ended I switched to something more interesting since the guy who started that one was in the bathroom by then.
Mikey Jay about 3 years ago
What drives me nuts is being on the phone and someone is talking your ear off but you have basically tuned them out. But then they catch onto that and say, “What have I been saying?” Busted!
Ratkin Premium Member about 3 years ago
I think she’s catatonic. The cat is her tonic.
Concretionist about 3 years ago
I had a son who would tune me out 10 seconds after I started in on his responsibilities. Fortunately, my father taught me (by example, alas) how to cope with that: Finish a sentence. Ask the target audience to paraphrase it back to you. Do the next sentence, Ask for a paraphrase of the TWO sentences. Repeat. Break for lunch. Repeat. Break for dinner… Eventually, you DO get through, though it’s a lot like pulling teeth. Without pliers. (The moaning is similar, too).
Cornelius Noodleman about 3 years ago
And so then I said to her, it’s none of your business!
juicebruce about 3 years ago
Opal ask the cat the same question ;-)
iggyman about 3 years ago
Muffin makes an appearance !
iggyman about 3 years ago
Just lost your train of thought, Opal!
jmworacle about 3 years ago
Couch city here he comes.
Frankie5466 about 3 years ago
sorry Opal, we weren’t listening either… zzzz. :-) Kinda reminds me of my mother in law, she can talk for hours while you just nod, say mmhmm, and do whatever you want! read a book, watch tv… lol she doesn’t care, just keeps on blabbing! You couldn’t get a word in edgewise anyway!
Doug K about 3 years ago
Did you ever “wake up” in the middle of someone else’s sentence, try to figure out what they were saying, and pretend that you “got it all”?
nosirrom about 3 years ago
I’ve never had that problem. I don’t know what I’m talking about when I’m wide awake.
The Reader Premium Member about 3 years ago
I think he might get away with this one!
tremaine53 about 3 years ago
There HAS to be a song in this…
jagedlo about 3 years ago
One of the few times that honesty may not be the best policy…
1953Baby about 3 years ago
Where’s Earl’s one-piecer????
monya_43 about 3 years ago
The crash you heard was her train of thought derailing.
walstib Premium Member about 3 years ago
Opal needs to get her bunny slippers on to get her brain in gear.
ANIMAL about 3 years ago
…..and THIS is what I have to look forward to..????
azhoosier41 about 3 years ago
I was on my land line one time with a friend that just kept rattling on and on. I was in the middle of cooking supper at the time and needed to stir stuff on the stove. Cord wouldn’t reach that far so I gently laid the phone down, went over and stirred my stuff, came back, picked up the phone and he was still rattling away and never knew I was gone for a few minutes.
Zebrastripes about 3 years ago
That’s the very reason I don’t like the phone! Some go on and on but when you have something to say they seem bored and not interested….one friend seems to think everything is funny….and it’s all about her….BORING!
mistercatworks about 3 years ago
When I was child, my Mother would continually accuse me of not listening to what she was saying during one of her half-hour (literally) lectures. The only entertainment I got out of it was repeating verbatim the last five minutes of what she had been saying. It didn’t stop her from accusing me of the same thing next time. :)
ScratchyPDX about 3 years ago
Before my dad passed away, we’d be talking and he’d fall asleep in mid-sentence. A few minutes later he’d wake up talking right where he left off. “I did it again, didn’t I?” We’d all have a good laugh. I’m still listening.
MuddyUSA Premium Member about 3 years ago
And there you have it….ain’t it?
Bookworm about 3 years ago
I simply say, “Oh well. My train of thought has just derailed. There were no survivors.” I never ask anyone “What was I saying?” I’m afraid they might tell me.
zeexenon about 3 years ago
I often have to ask Alexa the same question.
Buckeye67 about 3 years ago
Say good night Gracie, I mean Opal.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace about 3 years ago
Whenever I forget what I was saying and nobody else knows what it was, I take the wild guess it was not important to them and drop the subject.
kab2rb about 3 years ago
Ya I get where I tune out. Except on my husband, I have to stop doing what I do when he talks.
donwestonmysteries about 3 years ago
Made for each other.
Phanakapan about 3 years ago
Are those Crocs on Opal’s feet? Would go well with the jumpsuit!
circleM about 3 years ago
I catch hell from people, my wife included, because I hear every word around me although it appears that I’m not paying attention. It’s a trick I learned when I was in outside sales and I was calling on customers, it’s amazing what people will say out loud when they don’t think you’re listening
wiatr about 3 years ago
My son was watching a piece on YouTube the other night and the speaker was describing the family trees of half of Europe’s royalty. I lost track somewhere and when it ended I switched to something more interesting since the guy who started that one was in the bathroom by then.
comicalUser about 3 years ago
So, which one forgot about the jumpsuit?!