Work does not end...when they come home.

Since summer ended, and fall sports began it has been a hectic few weeks trying to find time to spend with D. Yesterday I started my 5 day stretch off (life of a nurse has it's perks sometimes) and without fail, Tuesday was the beginning of D's 5 day stretch of work. I wish I could say this is a rare occasion but it is NOT. This happens almost every year, sometimes even during the summer. I've been with my husband long enough to know this should be the norm and I should get used to it. But then again, why should I? I hate it.

Last night after a 15 hour plus day at work, my husband told me he still had work to do. Ugh! Exactly what I was thinking (and may have even complained about on Twitter). It was midnight. I had already stayed up waiting for him to come home. Now, I am sitting in bed and he's telling me he still has work to do. "It will only take 10 minutes." I roll my eyes, because I know it will be longer than that. He's a perfectionist. Nothing gets done in 10 minutes. Not even sex. Half an hour later, he finally rolls into bed. We cuddle and chat for a bit, but that is all because I know he's exhausted. I do not want him to get sick. With all these long days and few hours of sleep his immune system is at risk. And within minutes, he's snoring in my ear.

I know I should be grateful for a hard working husband. I know I should be happy he isn't sitting on his butt, playing video games, or even going out to the bars. But sometimes I just want to have my husband back. I want that person I fell in love with. The guy who wanted to spend every day with me. The person who took me on dates, and made me laugh. Sometimes D tells me "I have all these days off next week" or "just wait until summer when nothing is going on" well some days I think...will that just wait be too late? Maybe.

Over-Under...And No, Ladies it's NOT a Sex Position (I Wish!)

A few months after being married to my husband, I found a long extension cord that D had left in our apartment. Since our one bedroom apartment was quite cramped already with all of his stuff (that's another story) I decided to be nice and wrap the cord up and put it away. Wrong idea. When D came home that night from work, he brought the wrapped up cord out to me and said something along the lines of "what have you done?" as if the world was ending. I of course was on the defensive and went on about how I was just trying to help clean the place up and thought I would be nice and put it away for him. That is when I got the Over-Under lecture.

Over-under? Is that a sex position? Oh no! Not even close. If you know what that is, you are a step ahead. I for sure had no idea what he was talking about, and to be quite honest once he told me I thought he was JOKING! Of course, I was a bit disappointed that it had nothing to do with the bedroom. Anyways, that lecture has stuck with me, and now I know better than to try and wrap something unless I am going to do it the proper way. And yes, D did teach me the over-under technique (see, doesn't it sound sexual? Such a bummer) and after a few glasses of something strong I tend to think I'm a pro at it, of course D thinks differently.

I do not think my words to describe the over-under technique would be adequate or helpful so here's a link. Now you will know what these guys are talking about when they complain about newer utility workers etc. who don't know how to wrap cable properly. I guess there really is a right way to wrap a cord/hose/cable/connectors and so forth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-74OEVUOKOw

And PS...this basic learning tip they use is what got them to where they are today...just remember that.

What Not to Ask...

Every time someone asks me what my husband does for a living I have to pause for a second before answering.

Why can't my answer be something easy like, "he's a doctor" or a "businessman" no, no. It always is a struggle to find the right words to describe him, and it usually starts with "he works free lance..." Of course then I get the blank stare and I have to go on to explain the details of my husband's job.

This of course comes with their false understanding by the follow up comment, "oh, you mean he's the guy on TV" or "the announcer guy, right?"

Oh goodness no. My reply?  "Uh...well no, not exactly. He's the guy behind the scenes...he's the guy wrapping cable..."  or "...shooting the show with a camera..." and sometimes I even add that "...he's in the truck editing and working on the replays, or directing."

By this time I know I have really lost them. How much more in depth can I go to make them understand? And now I've just thrown the word truck at them. I can see their faces, they're more confused then when I started with my classic "he works freelance" line. Oh crap.

The next question they always ask is "Do you get free tickets to the show?" (or whatever it is he's working that day) Of course not! And, even if I did, I would never tell anyone because then everyone and their cousin would be asking us for freebies. Does anyone understand how rude that sounds? I guess not. Only if you work in free lance.

So now that I've gotten all of that out on the table, they nod their heads and mumble something like, "Oh that's cool. He must love his job." Of course he loves his job, why would anyone want a crazy schedule like he has if he didn't? "Or they say, "he's so lucky to go to all the games/concerts/whatever it is that he's doing that day." Oh he's lucky alright...10 hour days turning into 17+ hour days, and I never get to see him. He's so lucky.

In summary, asking me about my husband's job is fine, but seriously, be prepared to listen to a long winded explanation, and please, don't expect to understand after it is all said. You won't. I've been married to him for a few years, and I still don't. But thanks for asking!