Queen of double standards

I'm back from my trip to Florida. While I was there I had dinner with my hubby's parents and sister. I enjoyed seeing them and spending time together. It will be nice to have his sister back in the Midwest before the baby arrives. Although it was a relatively short trip, I missed my husband and remembered why I prefer to travel and share places with him.

However, this loving, mushy feeling didn't last nearly long enough and last night I pulled a MAJOR double standard on him. It was the last night of his summer session I class, corporate finance. He took his exam and then called me to tell me that he was going to grab a drink with some other classmates so he wouldn't be home right away. I didn't say so, but I'm sure he heard in my tone that I was not pleased that he wasn't rushing home to be with me. : ( I've only been home since noon on Tuesday and beyond a walk and a brief dinner together, we each had our own school commitments that night. We haven't spent much time TOGETHER.....really together.

I cleaned up my mood somewhat before he got home last night but this morning I am feeling very remorseful! The reason that we won't be together tonight is that I'm doing something for me. I'm leaving home to attend a cattle show and a reunion of some friends in Missouri. He didn't once ask me to not do this. In fact, I think he encouraged it. I also went to dinner last Friday night, the day before I was leaving for Florida, at a friend's house with a group of other professional woman. I asked him if this was OK before I RSVPed to ensure he was alright with me spending my last night before my travels somewhere else. He replied enthusiastically that he thought it was a great idea.

Now, why didn't I respond with the same enthusiasm last night when he was just going out quickly to celebrate the conclusion of this class? He was still home before I fell asleep. I know that he wants to be with me whenever he can and I need to keep my double standards in check. He grants me the individual freedom I need and although I don't keep him leashed to my hip, I need to be more understanding when he needs to do things for himself too. This queen of double standards needs to put away the crown and grant him the same respect he gives me.

Hitting the road

Business travel can be fun but it can also be a hassle. I've been looking forward to going to Orlando for business for months. Travel (along with some great friends) is the one thing from my first job that I can say I actually miss. However, business travel for me must come in moderation.

I leave for Florida tomorrow morning and I've been a bit scattered all week because of this trip. I'm trying to make sure I'm taking all the supplies I need from work, completing tasks at home and ensuring that I actually have enough clothes to pack that fit me. I crawled into bed Wednesday night and moaned to my husband about how I felt like I had so much on my mind and my plate but this morning I'm feeling much better. Yesterday I finished my homework for next week, set out my clothes to pack, took a walk with my hubby and even managed to make some phone calls that I have been meaning to take care of for quite some time.

Granted there is still plenty on my mind but it doesn't seem so overwhelming or immediate. I'm actually hoping to use some time on the plane to write some lists, set some timeline goals and "get organized". HA! Here's to hitting the road...even if it is for business.

Time for us

Yesterday was our third wedding anniversary. My husband had class and we are looking at a few big expenses coming up, so we exchanged nice cards and left it at that. It was pretty low key. However, it made me start thinking about needing to put extra effort in to making time for us. If we can't even find a time to set aside to celebrate our anniversary, then when are we going to do it. I don't just mean having dinner together (we try to do that when we are both home) but really disconnecting from other things and just spending time with each other.

J has class two nights a week and although my class is online, that is on another night. So those three nights are dedicated elsewhere quickly. Then, there are distractions like laundry, dishes, bills, studying and the like. I realize that all couples have to manage all the happenings of life, but I really want to make a true effort to find some time to focus on us. I think J is better at leaving behind some of those other tasks to find time for us and I need to work on this, specifically before another PERSON arrives to focus on.

We're going away for the weekend, with some other people but I would like to have a special brunch with him on Sunday before we rush back to study, mow the lawn and prep for another week. It would be a nice way to honor our marriage and our relationship, and celebrate his father-to-be Fathers' Day.

Sometimes, timing is everything

On Saturday my cousin got married at a very unique outdoor location. It has a restored school house and barn. For months he and his bride have been planning to get married on the steps of the school house. However, the weather in Illinois this weekend wasn't exactly what one would have predicted for a wedding on June 10. I think the high for Saturday was around 55 and it was raining. It was pretty gross out. However, this bride and groom had faith in their plans and had no intention of changing them. There was no alternative plan (that I know of).

Their wedding was at 4 p.m. As we drove to the wedding site at 3:30, it was raining and I think most of the guests were wondering what they were going to do. About 3:50 the rain stopped, the groom quickly grabbed some towels and with the help of others wiped off most of the chairs. At 4:00 p.m. they got married outside on the steps of that school house, just as they planned. It didn't rain again the rest of the night.

Yes, sometimes timing is everything....but I also believe there were more prayers sent up for that rain to stop than I could count on all my fingers and toes. Luckily, the one in charge was listening and answered.

Ding Dong, It's gone...

I'm taking a few minutes on a Monday morning to write because I finally feel like I can move on to a few other things at work, and in turn the rest of my life. (like the blogging I've been ignoring). On Friday I took a 28 page annual departmental newsletter, which I wrote, designed, and edited, to the printer. That was right after lunch on Friday. Then, I came back to my office and started making the list of everything else that I can actually start working on now. It's a long list but I'm just relieved to be working on something different. There are only so many times you can read over the same news, look at the same pictures and mess with the same strange justification tweak.

So, here's to a new week, a new start at work, and hopefully some time to refocus!

In other news, we are super-excited to have a new laminate floor in our dining room. Thanks to my husband and father-in-law this was a quick weekend project that looks great and makes our dining room seem bigger. I prefer to have to clean carrots and squash off of this in the future, rather than beige carpet. I'll try to figure out how to post pictures and put one up.