Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Routines

I didn't realize what a rut our daily path of routine had dredged out over the years. Now that we're out of that ditch and on a new road, I'm appreciating some of those changes.

On Monday morning, the first day of unemployment for the hub, I groaned a little when the alarm clock went off and he nudged me saying "that's for you." I was the first out of bed and had to get up three times to hit the snooze button instead of the guy. I was also the one to visit the cold bathroom first (one of the joys of owning a 113 year old home.) Usually hub had the space heater turned on and the room was all snuggly warm by the time I got in there. A small pleasure that I didn't appreciate enough before. After umpteen years of getting up at 4:45 a.m. for work, the hub is enjoying sleeping until he wakes up. It's also nice that he's able to stay awake past 9:00 pm.

It's nice having the guy around all day. We're talking more. Granted it's about things like filing for unemployment, searching for jobs and details of the severance package but I didn't realize how little we talked with each other on a daily basis. This is something that I want to work on. See? There are good things coming out of this mess.

16 comments:

will said...

For years (since our wedding day) I've said to my wife, we got married so we could be together... but jobs devour the best part of the day and you're with people who aren't important to your real life.

Midwest Mom said...

My hubs workplace had a total shutdown at Christmastime. So, we were together for two weeks (unpaid two weeks, but two weeks nonetheless!)

As I look back on it, it was wonderful time together for our family. (Granted, I wear slippers, so the bathroom was not so much of an issue.) ;)

- Julia

Mark and Patty of Crystal Pyramid Productions in San Diego said...

Enjoy your free time together. This is something you could get used to. And why not? My hubby and I have been entrepreneurs working together (in video production) since the mid 90's. It can be scary to strike our on a whole new path, one that's fraught with brambles and wild critters. But sometimes those brambles yield some nice, juicy berries. And it's always fun to encounter a critter.

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm really sorry that you guys are going through this. And the whole thing just seems so heartless and callous. These are people's livelihoods they're messing with.

My thoughts and prayers are with you -- but I'm sure that he'll come out of this quite well. But you might consider compiling a "honey-do" list in the meantime.

RennyBA said...

Good to know that you can look at the bright side too - and look forward.

RennyBA's Terella

Inside the Philosophy Factory said...

A nice bit of optimisim!! When my hubby comes home in May, he'll be unemployed as well -- but, we're lucky that it isn't a surprise for us -- one of the blessings of academic hiring. I suppose the other blessing is that his first non-paycheck month will be August --

I'm looking forward to learning to live with him again full-time. It's been a long three years with him down there and me up here...

lime said...

how lovely that you can find some small joys in this and rejoice in his chance to sleep in. :)

Anonymous said...

I admire your ability to see the silver lining!

Kathleen Riley said...

Don't know what this says about the demons in my head, but when things are tough at our homestead, I always hear this tune playing...


Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistle]

If that doesn't work, you could always go to... "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay....

Anonymous said...

my other half is home last two days, sick with cold, car in getting serviced and a foot of snow falling so calling in sick, which he never does, was a no brainer. i love having him home. i just made us a coffee. he's working at my desk! i am working on the couch. snowing. time together is very good for relationships.

margie

ArtSparker said...

Glad that there are compensations. If you have a little breathing room, things may be picking up - i do believe the national mood will change when the stimulus package has passed. And I don't think the older worker thing is an issue to the extent it was some years ago. Older workers offer experience.

Kath said...

My husband and I spend a lot of time together. His work is shift and often times we have full days and evenings together. He's off most of the winter. But he's gone on a job for three weeks and I'm finding the house empty! Congratulations on finding the good in it all.

KFarmer said...

Oh Honey Hun, I KNOW of which you speak concerning the bathroom.. lol! I knew you lived an an older home, but I didn't realize anyone but myself enjoyed all the benefits thereof ... ;)

Anonymous said...

uhm.. I meant Rico..

Yup, you get a lot closer and that is a wonderful thing.

dmarks said...

I've experienced this the past few months too.

Jocelyn said...

I appreciate that you're seeing these benefits. Right now, our household is weathering a (temporary) shift, and I, too, am finding benefits--such as my enjoying being "the competent one" and not just "the external communicator."

But the cold bathroom? I don't envy that.