Sanctuary

In a few hours,,Daddy is taking the kids on a trip without mouse. Yes, you read that right, Daddy is taking the kids on a long weekend without mouse. A few days without kiddos, without Daddy, without kids....yes, mouse mentioned kids twice; it's pretty significant. The reason mouse isn't going is someone needs to take care of the animals. We have many, too many it seems. Something about kids that mean animals. We have dogs, a bird, fish a cat (don't ask and shhhh Daddy doesn't know about that one yet) and a hermit crab mouse strongly suspects is dead.

There's no one really available to care for the dogs and kennels won't take the bird, the fish, the cat and well the maybe dead hermit crab. It's too expensive for such a short holiday. So, Daddy asked mouse if it wouldn't be too much of a bother for her to stay home.

A bother?

Yes, mouse tried to feign appropriate disappointment. Daddy said he was looking forward to some time alone with the kids. Now, honestly having been alone with those people, mouse rather thinks he's lost his mind. But, the big question is what will mouse be doing with herself for the next several days?

Of course there are a stack of movies mouse has been planning to watch. Sense and Sensibility, The Notebook, and a bunch of other girlie movies that Daddy can't stand.

There's a mani and pedi in mouse's future, Sunday brunch with the girls and after that who knows. Maybe there is a pizza in mouse's future? The kind of pizza she likes without all the junk she doesn't like. Well, it's not that she doesn't like it -- it's just more about getting the stuff eveyone else likes. Isn't that what we do?

Maybe a big stew with mashed potatoes?

Why is it mouse only thinks of baths, movies and food that's totally not kosher? Yes, she wants to mix dairy and meat! Macaroni and cheese, with mushrooms, garlic and bacon? Ok, there's also movies...

And books.

So how long will it take before mouse is crying that she misses everyone?

 

Zero Hour

And now we embark on the happiest day of the year! Summer is over and school begins today! Around the neighborhood a collective sigh is heard. No more having to back out slowly (ok we do that anyway), but less concern about kids running around creating mischief and bored. No more listening to the endless baseball hoops and balls hitting the side of houses or becoming lost in our backyard. No more kids running barefooted and hunting for garden snakes (they're probably relieved too). No more bicycles left sideways on the driveway.

You can hear the excitement from parents everywhere. All the supplies happily purchased while the kids lagged behind. In dressing rooms children lamenting -- no more -- please...and the favorite, "can't we just go?!" in just a coupe hours, kiddo will be walking down the road to the bus stop to wait with the other kids -- gosh, mouse cannot wait! Yay! Of course, kiddo's all sullen and even asked why mouse was soooooo happy. Giggling and humming....

How can they understand it's like Christmas for us...a wonderful gift. All the boring stuff we've been putting off all summer can finally be accomplished! There isn't someone calling the moment mouse settles for a moment of peace asking where something is, or asking as they stare into the fridge and lament there's nothing to eat....or ask what's for dinner before mouse is finished loading the dishwasher.

Ahhhhhhh...how lovely!

 

More than Roses

There are few things in life that make mouse smile than fresh flowers.  A good friend of mouse's brought her some Peonies  and mouse simply drooled.  To mouse they're prettier than roses and they don't have thorns.   The problem is the scent.  

Some are pretty strong in the scent department.  The ones gifted to mouse were no exception.  Within an hour of bringing them inside, our older dog was sneezing.  He even made the sneezing face...

Strangely, mouse didn't consider the flowers were the culprit.  Honestly, mouse just figured the dog had gotten a snout full of something...He's always sticking his nose into something.  

It really wasn't until Daddy came home and asked what the smell was and heard the dog sneezing that he instantly recognized the issue was maybe the flowers.  The scent he said was strong enough for him to take notice of.   So rather begrudgingly Daddy gave the dog a benadryl and mouse took the flowers into the garage.  

Within a short amount of time, the dog again settled, the sneezing stopped -- too quickly for the benadryl to really have an effect.   The next day, mouse (because she's totally stubborn) brought the flowers back into the house.  The dog again began to sneeze not just a little -- but a whole lot, just like before.  So again mouse took them into the garage.

Lesson learned while gorgeous Peonies are not welcomed.

People have asked what we do with our dogs while we host dinner parties.  The old man dog prefers to stay away from all the activity provided that he doesn't miss out on food or seeing who is entering the house.  We tend to keep corralled upstairs, then he's free to go into the kids rooms, up the other set of stairs to our master bedroom -- where he'll sleep on the bed!  Its his doggy way of saying, "screw you guys."

When we have casual get-togethers the dogs are free to roam about.  Our newer dog generally goes and lays on his bed -- he's watchful but never interferes with anyone.   While the older one lays....well...he'll lay where ever he can be close to people.  He weighs nearly 65 pounds and is convinced he's just a little itty-bitty lap dog -- who has the uncanny ability to squeeze himself into smallest of spots.    Our friends actually adore him.  So do children of all ages.

Our newer dog, is more aloof with people.  He only cares if they're safe to be around his family -- he loves children too and has much more energy (poor old man dog tries vainly to keep up).  When its time to eat, he will sometimes look at our other dog's watchfulness for dropped anything as sign of poor manners.  Dunno if he feels jealousy or if he just feels it's not his job...He's been very well trained.   Young one is more of a guard dog type, well disciplined and clear ideas of right and wrong.  While the Old man dog is more a happy dippy dog.

Perhaps our newer dog is more a reflection of Daddy's personality and our older one is more like mouse?

Really hadn't thought of it that way -- but it's totally possible. 

Nervous

This is a companion place to The Power Exchange blog we maintain. It's a place for mouse to freely discuss party ideas and other obligations of her slavery, mothering, and being a wife.

It's a way for mouse to address her fears...of people. It's weirdly convoluted. But mouse is afraid deeply so of being an embarrassment to Daddy. It should be noted for the official record that he hasn't any such fears. He dislikes entertaining because he finds it rather taxing on his nerves. He prefers to stay aloof than to be at the center of anything. However, it's a requirement more or less for his job.

It's an obligation he's graciously been shirking for sometime and it just cannot be ignored any longer. For some reason, while people seem to not mind the occasional restaurant gathering, it's not acceptable really to invite people out. It's awkward when the check comes (even if the server is prewarned NOT to deliver it to the table). It seems most people prefer to be entertained at someone's home,

We're invited out each month it seems twice, but only recently did we actually begin accepting the invites. Well, Daddy began accepting them -- truthfully it was something mouse was in the dark about. Little bit of peer pressure -- colleagues wondering why he refuses.

He enjoys very much his coworkers, and they do understand how intensely guarded and private he is.

Not very concerned about the cooking part....it's more about being scared about everything else one must do. And this will be happening much more frequently. At least once per month Daddy explained. These dinners could actually affect his career! No pressure there!

So, we're hosting our first really important meal next month! 8 couples and none of them "friends" but people Daddy is quite aquatinted with. Perhaps they will become friends? Really mouse can only hope. Two couples have been to our before...they seem very nice...but the others...just no clue.

Let the countdown begin....