Date night

In theory, my husband and I have no excuse for going so long without a date night.  We have the best neighbors in the world whose kids we can watch one night and then they watch ours another.  This is crucial because the kids are with people we love and trust and we don’t have the expense of a babysitter (I should know,  babysitting was my main source of cash flow from middle school through college.)   These saintly friends even watch our kids when we fail to uphold our end of the date night trade.  

I’m all about the date night because in my mind and according to my definition it is comprised of several things that I love:

1. Routine

2. Deep though-provoking conversation. 

3. My husband 

Some date ideas I always offer as options are:

1. Both reading a book silently and then discussing what we read
2. Reading a book out loud to each other and discussing it
3. Listening to a book on tape and then discussing it. 

However for my free spirited love of my life

I’ve realized even the components that I consider mandatory to make a “successful date night” are not the same as his.  He values:

1. Spontaneity 

2. Laughter

3. Me 

His ideas for date night are usually

1. Watching a movie
2. Go out to eat at a new place
3. Making Rice Krispy treats and then eating them while we watch TV.

Here are the things we both love:

1. Sports

2. Being outdoors

3. Good food

4. Eclectic music

5. Each other

And so I consider our day at Fenway a huge success!  

1. The Red Sox won
2. We got to walk around Boston before and after the game.
3. We sat beside each other uninterrupted by chores or work for 9 whole innings.
4. Fenway Franks, Hot Pretzels, Corn dogs and Ice Cream...what is not to love?  
5. The time away made us miss our kids and the level of exuberance in their eyes when we came home (and presented them with a new baseball hat) was half ridiculous and mostly priceless.

Guest Blogger: The Pioneer Woman (I wish...)

http://www.amazon.com

It was all set.  I was going to meet Ree Drummond, THE Pioneer Woman!   My husband to be home early which is no small feat.  I withdrew the exact amount of cash needed for her most affordable book. I plotted different tactics to convince her that we were kindred spirits and she should take me under her wing and then introduce me to the world of writing and fame.  I knew I would only have a minute as she was signing the book so I practiced witty banter with my 2 year old just so I wouldn’t sound totally like  nut case.  My friend and I navigated the most expedient way to get downtown from here. 

And then, the book signing was canceled.  

Ok, I’ll admit there were good reasons:

Reason #1  Game 6 of the World Series is taking place at Fenway Park a mere T stop away from where Ree was scheduled to be.  In case you have never been to Boston during a Red Sox Game...trust me it is total insanity.  And if we win tonight for the first time at home in almost 100 years...well, notice how I said we....and I’m not even close to the caliber fan of our 80 plus year old land lady who watches every game, including Sox in Two (which is the same game just aired again for a second time the next day.) Bostonians eat, sleep and breath baseball in October.  

Reason #2  President Obama is in town.  He is following in the footsteps of old school presidents aplenty by appearing at Faneuil Hall and speaking to the public about Healthcare. I am not sure what his PR person hopes to accomplish since we in Boston have had Mass Health for more than 5 years and I’m not the first one to notice the striking similarities between our Healthcare and Obamacare.  I mean in Boston, government healthcare is so 2008.  But it’s still very thrilling to have the President of The United States visit our city.  

This is the look I think the President would have given me
had I been in attendance today.

Reason #3 It’s just not safe here.  Seriously, this year has not been a cake walk for law enforcement in Boston.  

“It's all quite a challenge for outgoing Boston police commissioner Edward F. Davis, whose last day on the job is Friday.
"The World Series, a visit from the president and Halloween all at the same time," he told The Boston Globe. "You  can't make this stuff up."

An unnamed police department source told The Globe that preparations are being made in case the president decides to close his night at Fenway, but the official added that "we hope he doesn't." (providencejournal.com)

I’ll leave it there because three reasons just feels right.  All that to say that Ree Drummond will likely not be guest posting on this blog despite my big dreams about convincing her to do so. But, I do recommend her new holiday cook book and her hilarious blog.  

http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2013

Also, let me take this opportunity to say that yes, I too “love that dirty water” and there is no place in the world I’d rather be today.  

#BostonStrong