My husband has been sick for the better part of a week. Congested mess. Earth shattering sneezes. Poor guy. Last night was torture. More for me than him. When he came to bed around 1:30am (because even though he is sick he refuses to stop working until the wee hours of the morning) he woke me up to tell me there hadn't been an announcement about my office closing yet (it didn't but I decided to work from home ... our neighborhood doesn't view plowing snow as a priority!). Then for the next 5 hours his sneezes, coughs, congested breathing (D is not usually a snorer) kept re-waking me up. Now I know he is the sick one. And during the day it is he who suffers. But last night? As my lovely husband slept peacefully through the congestion/nasal symphony he produced, it was I who had it worse. Way worse. I am functioning today.
But barely!
What do you do when your spouse is sick?
Showing posts with label husband. Show all posts
Showing posts with label husband. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
A Movie May Well Have Ruined My Life!
When I was about 8 years old, I went to a neighbors house to play (way back in the late 1980s/early 1990s kids still played!). A group of neighborhood kids were there and the kid whose house we were invading, his or her (cannot remember) parent was home. The parent asked if we wanted to watch a movie and we all said sure and piled onto the couch. Now seeing as this was over 15 years ago, I cannot remember if we agreed or selected which movie to view. Regardless, the movie was chosen: Arachnophobia.
If you've never seen the movie or cannot remember what it is about, the title is a good hint! Very brief synopsis: an exotic spider hitches a ride in a coffin and comes back to the US only to attempt to kill off an entire town.
Now you are probably wondering how on earth a movie could have ruined my life. Allow me to explain. Prior to this movie, I have no memory of being scared of bugs. My parents are not afraid of them so it is unlikely I picked up this fear. In fact, a few summers before the viewing experience, I unintentionally "shared" a bed with a spider at sleep-away camp. I still managed to go to sleep every night. Rather, until I watched that movie, bugs existed but did not impact my life.
And then Arachnophobia.
Ever since then, and getting progressively worse, I have an immense, almost unhealthy, fear of bugs. The bigger and faster the worse the reaction. A few years ago I moved into a basement apartment ... only to move out a week later. Or more accurately, after being chased out by insects a week later. Including a 3-4 inch (my dad saw it and confirmed its size!) water bug or roach (debate still remains).
Since moving with D to a new apartment, the bugs are few and far between. And D, fortunately, is not scared of them! Now even though I am scared, I don't need bugs dead. I just need them gone. Out of sight. Away from me.
I have done some self therapy. I realize that the teeny, tiny ones, I can kill myself. Flies and even bees (usually) are annoying, but don't instill fear. Ants I find annoying (and at times fascinating), not scary. In this case, size does matter.
Another part of the fear is the threat of touching the bug. If the bug is small enough and there is no one else around, I can take my shoe and smash the bug against the wall. I cannot, without exception, take a tissue (or equivalent) and scoop up the bug. Cannot. Nope. Not at all.
Weird?
If you've never seen the movie or cannot remember what it is about, the title is a good hint! Very brief synopsis: an exotic spider hitches a ride in a coffin and comes back to the US only to attempt to kill off an entire town.
Now you are probably wondering how on earth a movie could have ruined my life. Allow me to explain. Prior to this movie, I have no memory of being scared of bugs. My parents are not afraid of them so it is unlikely I picked up this fear. In fact, a few summers before the viewing experience, I unintentionally "shared" a bed with a spider at sleep-away camp. I still managed to go to sleep every night. Rather, until I watched that movie, bugs existed but did not impact my life.
And then Arachnophobia.
Ever since then, and getting progressively worse, I have an immense, almost unhealthy, fear of bugs. The bigger and faster the worse the reaction. A few years ago I moved into a basement apartment ... only to move out a week later. Or more accurately, after being chased out by insects a week later. Including a 3-4 inch (my dad saw it and confirmed its size!) water bug or roach (debate still remains).
Since moving with D to a new apartment, the bugs are few and far between. And D, fortunately, is not scared of them! Now even though I am scared, I don't need bugs dead. I just need them gone. Out of sight. Away from me.
I have done some self therapy. I realize that the teeny, tiny ones, I can kill myself. Flies and even bees (usually) are annoying, but don't instill fear. Ants I find annoying (and at times fascinating), not scary. In this case, size does matter.
Another part of the fear is the threat of touching the bug. If the bug is small enough and there is no one else around, I can take my shoe and smash the bug against the wall. I cannot, without exception, take a tissue (or equivalent) and scoop up the bug. Cannot. Nope. Not at all.
Weird?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
My Own Money Saving Meal!
And it is dinner time again! Now that D will eat chicken (though only free range) I am trying to cook it more. Last week, when he first consumed chicken after many years, I was unprepared, having made dinner for myself as he was at class. Once I knew chicken was a possibility, I knew exactly what recipe to make: Sandra Lee's Guava and Rosemary Glazed Chicken! I found this recipe in one of her cookbooks that I had taken out of the library. When D was at a conference late last year, I made it for myself and my mother. My mother, I might add, who is not a huge chicken fan. She couldn't get enough of it. And actually asked for seconds! My father was shocked! (My father is an incredibly picky eater so I had to make him a hotdog.)
So tonight I told D I knew exactly what I was making for dinner and he agreed! On Sunday when we went grocery shopping, the free range chicken was buy one package, get a second package free! So naturally I purchased two. If we act as though we are on an episode of Money Saving Meals, that means my package of chicken's total cost was $3! Now although I love the recipe, I do make a few changes. First, D and I are not rosemary fans. I live for parsley (not literally) so I substitute that. Second, to keep costs down, I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh. I can't taste the difference but someone else might be able. Lastly, I use a large teaspoon of minced garlic (the large plastic bottle you can buy at the grocery store and keep in your fridge for months!). Since I strain the sauce after heating it through, the bulkiness doesn't matter.
In the cookbook, Sandra Lee paired the chicken with Saffron Rice. Now let me say that this recipe looks delicious. However, saffron is a very expensive spice that I have never had another occasion to use. In its place I use tumeric. I like the subtle flavor and the color! The first time I went to the grocery store I wasn't able to locate currants so I used dried cranberries. Since it worked the first time I keep using it! I also use a rice cooker and Uncle Ben's brown rice (healthier). I find if I put the rice up first, it's pretty much done when the meal is. (How much tumeric and cranberries? Eyeball it. Probably a teaspoon of tumeric and 1/3 c cranberries.) You could also use other spices/additions as well. I didn't think I had dried cranberries so I was going to skip the tumeric, use another spice (hadn't decided what yet) and put in pine nuts.
Anyway, below is a picture of our meal. We both had seconds. How could you not?
Now to tally up (approximately) the cost of our meal:
Chicken: $3 (thank you sale price! Otherwise about $6)
Guava Jelly: $1 (used approx a third of the jar)
Lime: $.25 (if even that! benefit to using bottled)
Parsley: $.05 (I bought a HUGE container at BJs--think Costco if you are without a BJs--and had a coupon. Spent next to nothing!)
Garlic: $.10 (estimate. I buy the large container at the grocery store and it really does last months even though I use it a lot!)
EVOO: $.50 (estimate again. Again I bought a LARGE thing of EVOO at BJs and received as a wedding shower gift a container to pour it into to keep on my counter.)
Salt and Pepper: $.05 (though technically zero since these were cute gifts from Target!)
Flour: $.25 (again an estimate ... I know I am doing that a lot!)
Rice: $.10 (this is a HUGE bag ... I'll have to take a picture eventually)
Tumeric: $.10
Dried Cranberries: $1.00 (approx 1/3 of the bag)
TOTAL: $5.40 for dinner for 2 of us. And enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think!
So tonight I told D I knew exactly what I was making for dinner and he agreed! On Sunday when we went grocery shopping, the free range chicken was buy one package, get a second package free! So naturally I purchased two. If we act as though we are on an episode of Money Saving Meals, that means my package of chicken's total cost was $3! Now although I love the recipe, I do make a few changes. First, D and I are not rosemary fans. I live for parsley (not literally) so I substitute that. Second, to keep costs down, I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh. I can't taste the difference but someone else might be able. Lastly, I use a large teaspoon of minced garlic (the large plastic bottle you can buy at the grocery store and keep in your fridge for months!). Since I strain the sauce after heating it through, the bulkiness doesn't matter.
In the cookbook, Sandra Lee paired the chicken with Saffron Rice. Now let me say that this recipe looks delicious. However, saffron is a very expensive spice that I have never had another occasion to use. In its place I use tumeric. I like the subtle flavor and the color! The first time I went to the grocery store I wasn't able to locate currants so I used dried cranberries. Since it worked the first time I keep using it! I also use a rice cooker and Uncle Ben's brown rice (healthier). I find if I put the rice up first, it's pretty much done when the meal is. (How much tumeric and cranberries? Eyeball it. Probably a teaspoon of tumeric and 1/3 c cranberries.) You could also use other spices/additions as well. I didn't think I had dried cranberries so I was going to skip the tumeric, use another spice (hadn't decided what yet) and put in pine nuts.
Anyway, below is a picture of our meal. We both had seconds. How could you not?
 | |||
| Guava Chicken and Rice! |
Now to tally up (approximately) the cost of our meal:
Chicken: $3 (thank you sale price! Otherwise about $6)
Guava Jelly: $1 (used approx a third of the jar)
Lime: $.25 (if even that! benefit to using bottled)
Parsley: $.05 (I bought a HUGE container at BJs--think Costco if you are without a BJs--and had a coupon. Spent next to nothing!)
Garlic: $.10 (estimate. I buy the large container at the grocery store and it really does last months even though I use it a lot!)
EVOO: $.50 (estimate again. Again I bought a LARGE thing of EVOO at BJs and received as a wedding shower gift a container to pour it into to keep on my counter.)
Salt and Pepper: $.05 (though technically zero since these were cute gifts from Target!)
Flour: $.25 (again an estimate ... I know I am doing that a lot!)
Rice: $.10 (this is a HUGE bag ... I'll have to take a picture eventually)
Tumeric: $.10
Dried Cranberries: $1.00 (approx 1/3 of the bag)
TOTAL: $5.40 for dinner for 2 of us. And enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think!
Not another today like yesterday!
Yesterday, if you recall, I got to hang out with D for a few extra minutes and then didn't get a chance to eat/drink anything until late in the afternoon (but I did get a good workout in!). Not so today. I am heading to the office where my breakfast (frozen waffle) and free coffee await.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Guilty Pleasure
I have a handful of tv shows I follow. One particular series makes D roll his eyes often: Real Housewives of OC ... and NY ... and NJ ... and Atlanta ... and DC ... and Beverly Hills. And starting next week Miami! I also love watching all the Top Chef versions. I am currently obsessed with Top Chef: All Stars. (Go Antonia!!!!). Now D usually rolls his eyes, smiles at me and puts in his ear buds. (Although with Top Chef he will sometimes will watch ... but not for an entire episode.) Yesterday, out of the blue, he informed me we HAD to watch Top Chef: All Stars tonight. Having already planned on doing so this presented no problems. But I was curious why the sudden interest. He told me the reasons: Sesame Street characters are appearing on the episode. And there you have it. Talented chefs being put to crazy tasks in small amounts of time gets a glimpse and eye roll. But bust out Sesame Street characters ... and you've got his undivided attention!
Oh Canada!
So have I mentioned I am obsessed with all things Royal Wedding? I am around the same age as Prince William. So naturally I fantasized about marrying him when I grew up. I didn't pay any mind to the fact that I'm American, I'm Jewish, I'm not rich. Eh. Our love was going to overcome all of that! Sadly our future was not to be. But that's ok ... I found my own prince (intentionally corny!).
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Watching TV
So D often shakes his head while we are watching tv together. Anything possibly scary and/or extra sappy, I cover my eyes. I always have, I likely always will. I get scared easily ... and grossed out easily too!
Does your loved one have a funny habbit? Or does your partner have a habit that amuses you? Let me know!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A haircut can be an emotional experience!
Almost a year ago I last got a haircut. Now I wouldn't say D and I are "frugal" but we don't spend tons of money on ourselves. D is probably a little better about spending money on himself that I am... However, I finally decided it was time. The woman who usually cut my hair is taking some time off so it was off to the internet to find someone else who could cut my hair for what I considered a "reasonable" price. Now, to put it in perspective: for the past 10+ years my haircut consisted of a trim. Chop off the dead hair and we were good to go! I figured anyone who was licensed could do this. I found a hair place listed online and gave them a call. The price was right so off I went.
What's In A Name?
As I mentioned in my first post, I didn't think marriage would happen for me. However, I thought if it ever did I'd probably be well into my mid to late 30s and "taking my husband's name" wouldn't even be a consideration. I then went and got married in my mid-twenties. Now it was decision time. I don't consider myself a feminist (though some may say I am). I guess I am somewhat of a 'modern woman' but not to extremes. My husband, D, is what I would consider a feminist. As a result, he didn't want me to take his name. Or more accurately, he left the decision to me all the while secretly (or not so secretly as he told me multiple times) that his preference would be for me to keep my married name.
Now I did like my maiden name. I'd lived 2.5 decades with it. But it was my decision to make. Although I didn't know whether marriage would happen for me, I knew kids would. The idea of having kids with my husband and not all having the same last name sealed my decision. Taking D's last name became my decision.
Now I did like my maiden name. I'd lived 2.5 decades with it. But it was my decision to make. Although I didn't know whether marriage would happen for me, I knew kids would. The idea of having kids with my husband and not all having the same last name sealed my decision. Taking D's last name became my decision.
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