Ryan, the sacrificial lamb

Sometimes my hubby amuses the hell out of me. This is one of those situations where I just don't know whether I should laugh at him or bop him on the head.

Ron got off work early on Friday since he'd already put in 60 hours this week. (Amazing feat to put in that many hours prior to Friday, wasn't it? It was convenient too since Ben was sick all week with flu, but had finally broke his fever and was feeling better on Friday. Quite the coincidence, mmm? The coincidence being that Ron got off work "early" just in time for the child to be well. Ron had alledged to me after our umm blow out discussion last time that he was going to make a concerted effort  to get off work early enough to get Ben to the doctor and help with the sick child. It never happened, but I'm supposed to give him an E for "effort" on the parenting front. Ron says it's his dispatcher's fault, not his own. I can't really contest that one way or another.) I'd told Ron the H1N1 vaccine was available on Friday from 8-4:30 at the health department, and that he should grab the boys and go if he had time. (Any man worth his salt knows that in wife translation that's a nice way of saying you'd better damn well get there if you're not clocked in at work.)

I know, I know...men absolutely HATE these assignments we wives like to dole out. But honestly with him working 60 hours per week you have to trust me when I say I don't feel I iota of sympathy when he's stuck with a child-duty. The majority fall to me as a curse consequence of having that "normal" job.

Side rant: I didn't ask the man to work 60 hours per week, btw. Heck, no. I specifically asked when he found THIS job that he get one working only 40 hours a week so he could spend more time with the boys on week nights. That didn't pan out with this job, and it seems soooooo wrong when there's so many folks that can't find work at all.

It doesn't seem very well balanced at all, this present work force. How does it make sense for a company to work someone like Ron the maximum allowable hours by law because corporate won't allow them to hire another person? Ron is on overtime for about 20 hours per week. That's time and a half, and very good money, yes, but I'd personally rather have my hubby around the house and helping raise the boys than the extra $$$. I don't see why hiring someone part time at a normal salary wouldn't be more cost-effiecient for the company.

So, Ron's wife-assignment was to obtain the new flu shot. Of course, I'd mentioned that he AND the boys should get the vaccine. What's he do? He listens to my mother.

My mother has been on this tangeant about how the H1N1 vaccine can't possibly be safe as they created it too quickly. This coming from a woman living in a house less than 5 years old which means it was probably put up in a week. I'm just sayin'.

Mom's next argument is that her friend Metta told her that Dr. Sprenkle (Metta's doctor, NOT my mother's) told Metta not to get the shot because whatever the base of the injection is is something that might make Metta sick. Metta might have an allergic reaction to it. And because Metta might have an allergic reaction to the vaccine's base my mother is convinced NOONE should get the vaccine.


Sheesh.


However, of all times for a man to choose to listen to his mother-in-law, my hubby chose THIS particular moment. Convenient, eh?

Ron told me he was too wary to get himself vaccinated because he was afraid the vaccine would make him sick. He can't afford to miss work you know. I suppose it's MUCH better that he get H1N1 itself. Ben had been sick all week, so he didn't qualify to receive the vaccine yet. But Ron did do his duty by Ryan. Ryan got to be the family guinea pig as Ron made him get the vaccination even though he wouldn't do it himself. Ryan was the human sacrifice to appease the wife's concerns regarding the family being vaccinated.


And in some odd twisted way I find that too funny for words.