Tag Archives: rob

Go Women

In honor of International Women’s Day, Scarlett made a piece of art in class depicting her “She-ro.” Spoiler alert: It was me! I was extremely flattered, though a little confused because the text under her drawing explained that she is mainly impressed by me because I was brave enough to attend my own wedding.

I’m glad she’s proud of me, but I had to tell her that I wasn’t scared to get married, that it was something I wanted to do. Still, I did use the whole thing against Rob for a little while, enjoying the idea that his daughter thought it took a great deal of courage to marry him.

I don’t find myself feeling fearful very often. Sad, angry, frustrated: those are all emotions that I’ve described in detail on this blog. But I try very hard not to spend my time feeling scared, telling myself that it doesn’t help anything. That logic works for me more often than you’d think it would. I suppose this might be the result of my anti-anxiety pills, but I don’t actually take very many of those. Just enough to get me to my first glass of wine, and then it’s smooth sailing. That’s a joke! It’s not smooth sailing at all, just ask Rob. Don’t look him directly in the eyes, though, he’s terrifying and that’s why it was so gutsy of me to become his wife. Read More>

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Vegas and everything after

Rob was traveling for work this week. He had to go to Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show, which he has been attending every year since at least 2008. That was the year after I started my first blog, and I wrote the following:

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Rob got back last night at 2am from a trip to Las Vegas where he spent several days communing with tech geeks from around the world at the Consumer Electronics Show. So he started his official birthday morning in an unconscious heap of jet lag, accompanied by Smokey, who does not sleep well when Rob is gone and can finally, finally rest. Which means that tonight maybe I can finally, finally rest.

For his birthday dinner Rob has requested pizza and cake. Yes, that’s right, he’s turning nine.

So for practically a decade, each new year has started out for us with CES and Rob’s birthday. I can see how much has changed just by reading that short post I wrote eight years ago. Rob would leave town for work frequently, and it hardly broke my stride at all. Aside, that is, from dealing with two annoying cats. And given the difficulties we face now, cats don’t seem particularly challenging.

I was 29 when I wrote that post. Read More>

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Vacation

You want to know what’s not relaxing? Vacation, for Rob. To be fair, vacation for anyone with children cannot be described as relaxing, as these little bundles of energy tend to get up early, ask for things like food, and then want you to watch them and take care of them all day. So it’s just like being at home, but without most of your stuff.

Of course, we have some added stressors, as everyone who reads this blog is more than well aware. I’m sure Rob could have a truly lovely vacation, if he would just travel alone. But instead he brought a puppy, a five-year-old, and his increasingly disabled wife. Not his smartest decision. Not a recipe for sleeping in (or even sleeping through the night.)

You know your situation is unusual when the five-year-old is the second most self-reliant person in the family, and the 12-week-old puppy is handling himself pretty well, too. Sigh. I am the weakest link.

For example, both Scarlett and Otto can at least feed themselves. When Rob finally settles down by the pool to enjoy a sandwich, he has to balance his own food intake with mine. This is a completely new development, and it’s sort of unfortunate that it began when all of our meals are on display. I keep my attention on our table at each restaurant, quietly wondering what other people are thinking of our performance. Maybe they just think we’re really in love? I doubt it, and I don’t care that much (less so every time), but I do wish my husband could enjoy a meal without having to help me enjoy mine. Read More>

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