He's back...

My husband returned from his golf trip Monday night. Of course, the return was delayed several times by the airlines and his initial eta at home was about 5:30. He didn't walk into the house until after 9:30 - a special thank you goes out to the airlines for that one.

Any way, his trip was great - he enjoyed himself and played lots of golf. In fact, he probably played more golf in that one weekend than he played in the last two years. Most importantly, he had some time to relax and recharge his battery. One can only work 60 to 75 hours a week for so long. So now he is rested and back to working hard.

Golf widow - no sympathy required

I officially became a golf widow today. For the first time ever, my husband is on a golf vacation with three other guys. It is a much needed break for him from the 60 to 75 hour work weeks he has had of late. Okay, I'll admit that I wasn't too thrilled that he was leaving on Valentine's day and even less thrilled when he was supposed to go to Boston yesterday for business and was supposed to start his vacation from there. But the weather was not cooperating yesterday and he never made it to Boston. So he worked at home today and we were able to enjoy a nice lunch together

I have been so blessed to have a husband who does not object, but rather encourages me to have some time away with friends to enjoy things that he doesn't enjoy. I play tennis and ski - he doesn't. He plays golf and is involved with an antique car club. Golf is not my favorite sport and while I like our old cars, I have no interest in going to a car show and sitting around all day talking about them. I might concede on the golf, but I prefer to walk the course while he prefers to ride in the cart.

What I have found amusing is that people don't think twice when a husband goes on a golf vacation. But when I have mentioned that I am going on a trip with my girl friend to the Caribbean or go with other friends to ski, the reaction that I get is often "And your husband doesn't mind?" Do I detect a double standard there?

No one has asked me if I mind that my husband is on an all guy golf trip. And if they did, my answer would be a resounding "no." And I am pretty sure that if someone asked him if he minds that I go away, his answer is the same. We respect each others interests and are happy that we can continue to enjoy those interests. One thing that I think would drive both of us crazy is if we did everything together. I love my husband, but I need some space. I think he feels the same.

In the words of Martha Stewart (who my late father-in-law taught in high school), trust - it's a good thing.

Like a Disney movie..

I always was the "goody two shoes" one in the family!

The Middle Name Meme

Thanks to a tag by Fr. Daren, herewith my middle name meme. Thank you mom and dad for picking a short one - Ann - after my maternal grandmother!

The rules are fairly simple:

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name.(If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name).
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name.

A - My college degree in in Accounting
N - My maiden name was Novak
N - I was married in November

Now I tag Barb, Christine and Michele. Good luck ladies.

Happy Birthday Maxie

Yesterday was Maxie's birthday - she is now 14 years old.

It seems hard to believe that it has been almost 14 years since we brought her home. She was all of seven weeks old when she became a "member" of our family.

Maxie has been my best little buddy - she is a faithful friend, a good listener and gives her love unconditionally - for a treat that is!

I'd like to thank the academy....

I mean I'd like to thank Esther! I am so honored by Esther remembering me with this award.

Now I would like to bestow this on the following great bloggers:

Barb of SFO Mom - my first blogging buddy
Fr. Daren of Servant and Steward - for giving me a spiritual uplift every day
Christine of The Simple and the Ordinary - my other Jersey blogger friend
Michele of The Family-Centered Life - I think her blog was one of the first I read (I don't even remember how I found it)
and The Kitchen Madonna whose name I don't know for entertaining me with her stories about aprons and life in the South!

Lenten Meme

Fr. Daren has tagged me for this lenten meme. It has helped me to stop and take inventory of my lenten sacrifice.

1. What’s been your best Lenten-effort-idea ever?

Going to daily mass at least twice a week.

2. And your worst?

The standard giving up candy and ice cream. When I look back, it didn't benefit me spiritually.

3. What Lenten advice would you share?

As I have gotten older (and hopefully wiser), I have realized that lenten sacrifice shouldn't be giving something up, but rather taking on something that I might not ordinarilly do that will benefit others or at least will benefit me spiritually.

4. And what you will feature this year?

I will try to attend Friday night Mass and Stations of the Cross and pray the rosary every day. I may not achieve these goals, but I will do my best to!

I tag any one who wants to take a lenten spiritual inventory!

I'm a product of the 60's and 70's

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

It's a good thing that I grew up in the 60's and 70's so I know what "groovy" really means! I wonder if that means I'm like Anne Romano? Nah, I'd like to think I'm more like Laura Petrie. And if you need to look up these too names, you are definitely too young to remember the 60' and 70's!

Lent

With Lent comes sacrifice. As a child, I always gave up things like candy and ice cream for Lent. As a young adult, I let this practice of sacrifice go by the wayside. When my son started Catholic school, the children attended mass every third day, the school being devided into K through grade 2, grades 3 through 5 and grades 6 through 8. Mass was at 8:30 each day, so instead of giving up something for lent, I decided to attend daily mass at least twice a week. It was a wonderful way to prepare myself for the Easter. Unfortunately, this practice was discontinued after a few years, and getting to morning mass became logistically difficult as I had to get my son up and ready and to school.

Now that he is away at school, I will again make it a point to try to get to morning mass as much as possible. It may be a little difficult as I am now working and have started to go to the Y in the morning to swim. But I will do what I can to make it to mass as often as possible. Oh, and I will give up my sugar-free chocolates too!

Skiing

I am back from my trip. In fact, I returned yesterday. Skiing was a washout - literally. We were only able to ski on Monday as the weather was rainy, not snowy. But it was good to christen my skis and I really like them. Now if my fat feet could find a comfortable boot, it would be a lot more fun.

While skiing wasn't the main activity, I did get to do some shopping for some new everyday dishes and found a killer pair of red slides. We checked out the new casino and just hung out and visited. Most of our exercise consisted of swimming and walking when it wasn't raining.

All in all, it was a good trip. At least there were no broken bones!