Slaving in the kitchen.

It's been several weeks since I've cooked more than three meals during the work week.  Work has been the biggest factor. I am grateful my husband does not mind leftovers or that as long there is food to eat in the house he can fend for himself pretty well without relying on takeout.

This afternoon I thought I would make an effort to cook something labor intensive that I would never have time to prepare during the week.  I made "Chiles Rellenos".

Now at my forty something I had never made them (start to finish) on my own.  Usually I have assisted "Mamacita" and let me tell you, I don't know how she cooks them all on her own on top of a kid friendly (for my picky eating siblings and nephew) dish like "Flautas" or "Tacos" when she gathers us for family dinners.

Usually when I cook at home, my honey shares in the work, but I thought I would tackle the job by myself as a way to make up for my lack of cooking lately.  That, and my honey was wiped out from his long run today (he is training again for another marathon).

Anyways, after blistering, seeding, stuffing, battering, frying and finally simmering, the Chiles came out pretty decent. Of course the kitchen was a different story. It looked like I used every utensil and appliance in the kitchen, so cleaning up was what pushed this dish to the labor-intensive category. As if that wasn't enough, the frying (which I rarely ever do) caused to have me re-mop the kitchen floor which I had already tackled yesterday.

My honey was pretty happy, and I am glad he is the type of man who appreciates a home cooked meal.

Now I have a bed time..

All my life I suffered from insomnia.  No matter what I did I usually ended up falling a sleep around 1 a.m.  As a child, my mother would order me to bed when she would find me awake past midnight watching T.V.  As a preteen I would get in trouble for staying up watching re-runs of "M.A.S.H." or
"The Benny Hill Show".  Of course one would get me in to more trouble than the other.

She (my mother) attempted to send me to bed too when after her divorce I moved back in with her (then she had never lived alone EVER).  I quickly put a stop to that.  I was in my 20's and "keeping each other company" (living under the same roof) while she transitioned wasn't going to give her the right to set my bed time again.

Thru the years I tried many things to help me sleep.  As advised I abstained from keeping a T.V. in my bedroom so my subconscious would not associate laying in bed with watching T.V.  I also tried (unsuccessfully) not to watch T.V. or surf the Internet late at night, not to drink caffeine after a certain hour, drinking hot tea or a glass of wine, journal, reading the bible. You name it I tried it.  I am ashamed to say reading the bible did work a little, but guilt of using it to make me sleep made me stop reading it at night!

Most evenings I would lay in bed with my mind raising thinking about my "to do list" or the most idiotic things!  Things such as.. "When is the car due for an oil change?", "Did I remember to turn off the space heater in my office this evening?", "X's birthday is next month; what would be a good gift?", "Was that a noise I heard? Did I leave my escrima sticks in my trunk? What could I use as a weapon?"

In the end I just gave up and proclaimed myself a night owl!  I often thought I should go to bar tending school.  If I was going to stay up late most nights I might as well have a night job and get paid. 

Anyways, things changed when I met my honey.  Don't ask me how but being in his company on the nights we would spend together would quiet my mind.  No, he would not BORE ME TO SLEEP.  When it was time to go to bed I would curl up next to him and boom, OUT! No thinking, just brain pause!

I started falling a sleep at a decent hour!  It's been that way for me.  Now I even pass out before "bed time", but on the rare occasion I am not sleepy I have an internal fit if my husband "sends me to bed". Sometimes he turns off the T.V. when he is ready to turn in.  I could be in the bedroom with the T.V. on as background noise and he will turn it off on his way to brush his teeth. I absolutely want to hurt him!! 

We have this argument often!  I ask: "Why are you turning off the T.V. on me if you are still going to spend 15 minutes getting ready for bed?? His answers have been: "we've seen that program/movie before", "you aren't even paying attention", "you weren't even in the room watching." It does not matter!  I think it's rude of him and when I am PMSing I sure want to inflict pain, but I abstain, mainly from throwing something at him. 

The other thing my honey does is start announcing the time of night. What the heck is he, a watch man? (and not the superhero kind)  "It's 10 o'clock and all is clear!!" is what I wait to hear from him.. 

Not to defend him, after I've gripped about him but he does have the hardest job in the world and that is to help get me going in the morning.  No matter how many hours I have slept I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!!! I am not fully awake until I've had a shower and may be a cup of coffee.  I know he is patient, but he is also smart enough to back off when I am PMSing because that is when I have my freak out moments. I start making smart ass remarks to his innocent/non-thinking/irritating as hell actions!!  "I am over 40, I don't need to be sent to bed ho-neeeey!", "Just because you are ready to turn in, doesn't mean I AM!", "HELLO??  I am still watching T.V.!!" "When did you turn in to my parent?"

Yes, he has to hear me grumble and walk around eyes half closed in the mornings (he calls me mole woman), but I am not his child!!  When I tell him I am not sleepy, well.. you can imagine the suggested entertainment he offers me. ;-)  Thing is, FORCING me to do anything only puts me in a bad mood!

This morning as I sluggishly got out of bed and shuffled thru the house getting ready for work I longed for his "bed time" reminder.  He is at a conference out of town and I stayed up later than usual.  Once I actually got in bed it was quite a while before I fell a sleep so today I am on "Slow-Mo". 

I have another night "unsupervised" ahead of me.  I sure hope it's not a repeat!

The gift that bombed!

My husband and I like to give each other little gifts when the other least expects it. When we first got together I asked him NOT to send me flowers when expected, for example birthdays or anniversaries.  To me such flower arrangements feel obligatory. 

I love it when I come home from work to find fresh flowers.  I can't help but to ask what prompted him to buy me flowers, and his usual response is "It's been a long time since I brought you flowers my love".  Such a response makes my heart skip a beat! 

My husband is relatively easy to shop for.  He can easily get excited over a gift card to a craft supplies store that he can use for his miniature building hobby. I admit that I miss the mark when I come home with clothes for him for example.  He really could care less to have a new shirt, tie or belt, but since HE WON'T keep up with updating his wardrobe someone has to.. 

Earlier in the year I gave him a gift certificate to a boot shop so he could replace his beat up cowboy boots, but it's been almost 7 months and that gift card is still in his wallet.  I don't know if it's because he doesn't want to replace his boots and keeps putting it off  or because he hates to shop.

Last week out of the blue I got him jewelry.  He really doesn't wear anything other than his class ring from AT&M and his wedding band, so why exactly I thought it would be a good idea it's beyond me!

I am sorry to say his reaction to the gift was less than I hoped for.  You see, my honey has been a bit stressed with work. Like most spouses he vents for a while and that is that.  He is very diplomatic with dealing with people though in his mind he mostly thinks "I am crushing your head, I am crushing your head".  I thought this charm would be a reminder to keep calm and be wise about his actions.  It is inspired by the serenity prayer which I love.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

Funny thing is my husband pointed that out to me as if to ask if I realized it.  "Well, I do realize that"  was my response. His was, spelling out that it was the prayer that has been adopted by alcoholics anonymous..and other programs for substance abuse.  "Oh, so people will think you are an "alchie" or something?" - Wheels quickly turning in my head.

Still trying to salvage the gift and my reasoning for choosing the gift..  "I am sorry, but I don't have a problem with substance abuse (if you don't count my addiction to Cheetos) so I don't relate the prayer to 12 step programs".

I felt bad about my gift, but had to laugh!  I offered to return the charm and chain, but he insisted on keeping it.  I again presented my case. "Since there have been several incidents where you've had to keep your cool, I thought this would be a nice reminder".

His response "Like George Costanza? Serenity now, SERENITY NOW!!!"  I tell you, the man makes me laugh!!