You've Read This Before
The "I'm too busy for my pants" Away Message

There comes a time in all of our lives when we start to get busy. When we reach that point, many of us start to feel sorry for ourselves...but what is the best cure for a busy schedule? Why, sharing with the world!

The "I'm too busy for my pants" away message typically takes on one of two formats: the Dirt on My Shirt and the Spin Cycle.

The Dirt on My Shirt
These away messages are characterized by a certain sense of desperation, akin to the feeling you get when you discover you have dirt on your shirt and not enough time to change it (as if your day could get any worse). These away messages are generally short, negative, and sometimes end in a plea for divine intervention. Please see the example below:

"tuesday...my longest day in the week...pray for me"

Notice how the author of the away message is too busy to include basic sentence structure elements, including capital letters and punctuation. The over-use of ellipses is effective in communicating the author's hurried state of mind. He does not even have time to separate his thoughts! I know that I ALWAYS feel sorry for Dirt on My Shirters because going to a few classes and a dinner meeting is terribly difficult.

The Spin Cycle
The Spin Cycle message gets its name from the "laundry list" of constant activity that leaves your mind in a twirl. Spin Cycles are typically longer, multifaceted messages that sequentially list the day's activities. Unlike the Dirt on My Shirt, Spin Cycle messages generally end on a positive note for the "energizer bunny" effect. B-Fresh provides us with an excellent example below:

"writing up the homework, turning it in, class, lunch, class, grading hopefully 3 labs before a meeting, have to finish the other 20 labs tomorrow morning...
p.s. probably going to peru may 24! machu pichu and ancient ruins and all that!"

The Spin Cycle gives off the impression that, not only is the author busy, but she is busier, and thus better, than you (but you already knew that because all you do is sit around and read away messages).

"I'm too busy for my pants" messages are only one example of away message communication. Keep tuning in for more You've Read This Before!

a few more people with busy pants:
"another super-busy day...back sometime after chapter"

"Quick run to the library to return books, Acting III, Chorale, dinner, final dress rehearsal :-D, then back to do homework and relax."

"lesson before school, at school, piano lessons after school then rehearsal at the high school"

"TUESDAY exam, class, class, lunch, helpin sarah out with some stuff....basically, back way later.:-D"

scott adds:

"7:30-2:00 Workin' Girl
2:30-6:30 FaBW rehearsal
8-10 Freedom Board Mtg. "

"I'm physically and mentally exhausted... im going to try to be a loser and go to sleep at 8 at night! LoL leave a message!"

"I need to get more sleep at night!"