Archive for June 23rd, 2008

Usually when people find out Tom works from home their first reaction is “Wow! That must be great!”

You’d think so.

Come to think of it, those women whose husbands have worked from home give me that sympathetic look because they’ve been there. And they know it’s not the greatest thing sometimes. Most of the time.

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, imagine the opposite. Imagine, if you have the intestinal fortitude, the college roommate who never leaves the dorm room. And you have a good impression of what it’s like around here most days. I know when he has a bad day; I can feel the vibes swirling down the stairs. At least he’s better about screaming at the computer when we’re out of the house now. I know when he has good day; I can hear him laughing. I’m his “water cooler.” He comes down to me to share info, to vent, to talk to a person other than via email or phone. Then when the work day is over, we have nothing left to share. We’ve seen each other all day.

Add kids (especially these two), and it’s an interesting household.

And then there’s a day like today.

To honor and remember George Carlin, who died yesterday at the age of 71, we are laughing ourselves sick trying to use all “Seven Words You Can’t Use On Television.” That’s his monologue that got him arrested, and the case went all the way to the US Supreme Court. My husband, who gives a great impression of being a kind, decent, nerdy nice person, can rattle off all 7 words without thinking. So we’re seven-wording our way through the day. We’ve hit four of the seven, and have added words/phrases that sound dirty but aren’t. Dinner plans had us rolling; come on, roasting meat!

It’s days like today that make his working at home fun. The other days, not so much.

Dear Body,

I still haven’t received a response from the letter dated April 24th. Very rude to not reply, you know. Miss Manners would not approve.

Did you think I wouldn’t notice? That I’d let it all pass? What do you want from me?

I’ve had to go to a gluten-free/dairy-free diet because of you. Do you honestly think I wanted to go down this road? GFCF is a new lifestyle for me, and right now I’m not finding it terribly easy or cheap. But I’m persevering, because I feel better (much better) when that stuff isn’t coursing through my bloodstream. Ahem…your bloodstream.

See, I’m doing this for you, to make things easier for you.

And how am I thanked? Severe stomach pain if a wee bit of dairy sneaks by. Migraines out of the blue. Sudden and noticeable fatigue if some gluten cons its way in.

What do you want from me?

I know we’ll never look and feel as good as when we were 20, back when getting somewhere meant walking, distance be damned. That was also 2 years and 14 kids ago…wait…switch that…it just feels like that.

Don’t give me that look! No…nooooooo….don’t pout and sag like that! Stop it! Stop it!

Fine. Exercise is what you want? Really?

You promise to shape up and behave?

How about I do the one hundred pushups challenge? Would that make Your Highness happy? And walk? Then when the boys are back in school we go back to the New!And!Improved! rec center?

Ok. But you, Body, you fickle bitch, I expect something from you. Knock off the stomach issues, fatigue, and migraines. I’m too young to feel this old.

Love and kisses,

Jen