Whatever does not kill you makes you drink a lot of wine

I really don't know what Mr. D and I were thinking when we planned this fall schedule.  Between a out-of-town wedding, a trip to wine country, and college football games - we're at the end of our tether.  We've been away from home five out of the last six weekends.  Granted half of those were at our condo, but it's still a lot of travel time.  And there's more.  This weekend we are headed to Baton Rouge to meet up with some friends.  And next week is Thanksgiving (not to mention another football game), and I'm ever so grateful that my mother insisted on hosting.  Nothing for me to do but bring a couple of sides and a couple of bottles of red wine!   Three weeks from now is a conference in Chicago, where some friends are meeting us.  I'm too tired to even contemplate Michigan Avenue shopping.  All I can envision is spending the day in our hotel room....sleeping until 9 a.m. and spending the rest of the day in my pajamas, drinking wine and eating cheese.  I have simple needs, what can I say?

What about Christmas, you say?  Believe or not, I'm looking forward to it....because I'm staying home!  Hallelujah and praise baby Jesus!  Hell, I might even throw a party to celebrate being home.  I even bought Christmas cards this year!  Seriously, I send Christmas cards about as often as Matthew McConaughy wears a shirt.  It's a Christmas miracle. 

I'm on the downhill portion of this race...let's hope it's a smooth ride from here out.

Relationship rituals: romantic or a rut?

Ooh, a bonus post!  I just realized I wrote this a while back and forgot to publish it.  So here ya' go!

Mr. D and I had a conversation this weekend about relationship rituals and whether they are beneficial or indicative of a rut.  We know a couple who, as a rule, go to lunch at the same restaurant after church every Sunday.  Another couple we know goes to see a movie every Tuesday night.  Mr. D. and I used to make pizza for supper every Friday night, but that ritual has died out, because frankly there are Fridays when I don't feel like kneading dough.  Recently, in the spirit of establishing a new ritual, we have been having a Saturday morning breakfast date.  However, we change up the restaurant and there are some Saturdays we skip.  But we try.  And it is nice time to talk without distractions and maybe plan our weekend to-do list.

Mr. D's opinion is that couples' traditions are nice.  I'm okay with some tiny traditions, but I  feel some can also be a slippery slope to dressing alike in your 70s.  (Have you seen this couple?!  http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/155430885.html ) I understand there is comfort in going to your favorite restaurant, but why at the same day and time every week?  I like when a bartender/waiter recognizes me, but when they anticipate what I will order, then it's time to change it up.  I understand my husband's point, though.  He likes consistency and reliability, and it does seems that many traditions are the mark of a couple that truly enjoys being together.  

So maybe the trick is to have traditions, but don't let them pull you into a rut.  Don't always get the same meal, or the same wine at your favorite Wednesday night restaurant.  Also, invite other couples (or singles) to join you! 

PS.  There is one ritual Mr. D and I have that I think will be with us until our journey ends and that we both enjoy.  We hold hands on airplane take-offs.  (I know....awwww.)  I was nervous one time (I think I had just seen some plane crash) and grabbed his hand.  He's been holding my hand ever since. 

Keepin it real

Happy Halloween!  So much for doing better at blogging, eh?  To be fair, I've been dealing with some weirdness in my physical condition lately.  Forties are a crazy age, folks.  I'm prepared for more aches and pain being less tolerant of some foods. (Seriously, what is it with being obsessed with your gastrointestinal system in your 40's?!)   But I began to get agitated and stressed over absolutely nothing, so I decided to talk to my doctor about during my annual physical.  I won't bore you with the whole story, but he prescribed some meds, which I now realize I didn't need.  I had a serious adverse reaction that took me three weeks to get over.  Basically, it made me a crazy person.  Try imagining every nerve in your body is ultra sensitive and rushes of adrenaline every 15 minutes.  Seriously, there were times I was crawling out of my own skin.  But I'm starting to feel normal again, thank God!  And I'm very proud that except for a couple of things, I manage to continue to live my life normally, with the help of Mr. D and a lot of wine!

Speaking of, we went to wine country two weeks ago with friends.  (See there? I'm kicking anxiety's butt!)  Drank some really good wine and found a cool bar to hang out in that was walking distance from our rented house - SCORE! 

Anyhoo, one of the joys that us child-free couples miss out on is taking kids around on Halloween.  But then, I also don't have to pay their dental bills either, right?  Hope everyone has a safe and fun time tonight.  Might be concocting some witch's brew myself (insert cackle here).   I will hopefully regale you with stories of our upcoming tailgating adventures.  We are going to a football game (both home & away) for the next four weekends.  God, give me strength and a strong liver. 

The Hunger Shames

I'm quite tardy to the party, but I finally broke down and read "The Hunger Games" last weekend.  And "Catching Fire" in the last two days...and I'm almost halfway through "Mockingjay."  Seriously, this stuff is literary "crack"!  While it is young adult fiction, it's quite entertaining and doesn't actually sound like a 14-year old girl wrote it (side-eye at you, Stephanie Meyers, rolling in your millions).   And poor Mr. D just sighs everytime he walks in and catches me trying to read another 2 pages before work.  The other night, I actually hid the book under a pillow when he came into the living room to avoid the "tsk-tsk" look....oh the shame!  He has nothing against my reading a book.  I think it's my inability to put the damn thing down.  I did refrain from bringing it to work, so hopefully I'm not too far gone. 
So that makes me even more appreciative that my wonderful and patient husband is accompanying to probably the last "Hunger Games" movie showing before it leaves the theater for good and re-emerges on DVD in August.   On the plus side, it should be an empty theater so I need to go stock up on mini wine bottles to get us through those 144 minutes!  I will however refrain from the Hunger Games drinking game.  Drink everytime Katniss climbs a tree or shoots an arrow?!  Hello, alcohol poisoning! 

We can only hope I return to normal by this weekend after I've exhausted all "Hunger Games" books and its progeny, and go back to watching reruns of "Big Bang Theory."   Flying my nerd flag high, folks! 
 

Gone Drinkin'

I know you'll be glad to know that I've abandon the Beatle's song thing.  Although I really wanted to use "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey."  If you didn't know the Beatles used drugs, I think that pretty much clinches it.

Hooray, renovation is over.  Actually, it's been over since January, but life happens (blah, blah, blah).  Too much chardonnay, not enough time as it were.  Screw the excuses, I just got lazy.  But I know all my followers (hello you two!) will be thrilled to know I'm back in the groove.

I know they say a good blog has a point and a specific focus.  I feel perhaps I strayed from that, so I'll try to get back on the proverbial horse and attempt to entertain and enlighten you with the life and trials of my and Mr. D's childfree fabulous escapades.  While you sit there in judgment calling me an booze-hound with an empty life....po-TAY-to, po-TAH-to.  (But since there are currently only two of you, and one never comments, I think I can handle the criticism.  And the other...well, I know where you live Sara.  And I'll just chalk it up to your pregnancy hormones.  Kisses!)

Peace out, homeys!