Ugly Ass Opinion

Common Sense is an elusive creature many people never see. Unfortunately, too many folks hold Common Sense in the same regard they place unicorns, leprechauns and a balanced national budget. But Common Sense is real. It exists! It CAN be caught and almost mastered.

Almost.

There are moments when Common Sense disappears and Duh-Mode sets in. It happens to us all. I’ll even prove it to you.

When Duh-Mode sets in: examples of Common Sense Gone Awry

 1. Believing my children when they promised to care for guinea pigs SO well, “You won’t even know they’re in the house, Mom!”  Indeed. Two years later I can assure you, I know they’re in the house! After bringing the little furballs home, I did some research into their housing requirements. It seems the cute little tabletop pet cages Petsmart sells are not even close to big enough, no matter what the grinning salesperson says. I now have the guinea pigs in an appropriate sized cage — a 2-story monstrosity the size of our dining room table. 

Common Sense Mistake: Not doing independent pet research beforehand.

2.  Allowing live chickens in my bedroom. No, it’s not a weird sex story. Why I went along with chickens IN MY HOUSE is somewhat beyond me. Especially when you take into account the fact that I have an aversion to birds. Frightened or not, 12 of Satan’s Evil Minions small chickens slept in a cozy box beside my bed for several days because it was too doggone cold outside.

Common Sense Mistake: Not watching the weather channel.

3.  Encouraging my youngest when she showed an interest in how things work. Items formerly in one piece at our house have become jumbled messes of leftover parts. Some kids play with building blocks, my kid tinkers with electrical components.

Common Sense Mistake: Giving the child a real tool kit and turning her loose on the world.

4.  Expecting a cat to show the same uncomplicated devotion as a dog.A few years after losing our beloved Rott/Shep mix, a sad, skinny cat showed up on our doorstep. We took him in and made him a part of our family, but a cat is most definitely not a dog. Where Baby the dog was happiest trying to please her masters, Fisher the catviews us juuuust a little differently. Cats are arrogant and not easily impressed. To his mind, we’re simply likeable staff.  

Common Sense Mistake: Confusing canines with felines.

5. Allowing Hell’s Exercise Equipment a trampoline in our front yard.I knew better. Really, I did. Insurance issues, hoards of children descending on our house… “But Daddy already said yes!”  Thanks for having my back, dear.

Common Sense Mistake: Not thunking my husband with my 2×4 of Reason.

So there you have it. Even those of us who actively pursue the Common Sense creature can find ourselves hopelessly lost in the woods. The trick is to accept our mistake, suck it up, dig the compass back out and to try again.

 This article is an original post from www.UglyAssOpinion.com© Kelly L. Trainor 2008 All Rights Reserved