October 16, 2010

Rats


Just one rat, actually. And right now it's over the Pacific Ocean, tucked inside my husband's luggage. It's sort of a love note and good luck charm that we try to send with each other for out of town trips. I always endeavor to get it in his luggage without him knowing which usually means I spend the morning acting like a total weirdo and suggesting that he perform unnecessary tasks in remote parts of the house. 

I originally bought the rat nine years ago to get hubby's goat. We were living in this crazy small apartment in Chicago. And I mean Chicago Chicago, not "I grew up in such-and-such a suburb Chicago". One night he saw a mouse, which ran under the refrigerator, and he spent the next fifteen minutes banging the hell out of the bottom of the fridge with a broom. The mouse, of course, was long gone. I bought the plastic rat and left it in the kitchen to get him going again and it totally worked and I love telling that story so much.

The prospect of a week and a half of single parenthood has me a little on edge. Maybe I'll get more sewing time instead of clutching my husband's arm through Dexter episodes. Or maybe I'll sit down in front of the TV anyway and gorge myself on Project Runway. I'm hoping that I figure out the shower conundrum and the dinner dilemma and keep the whining to a minimum!

13 comments:

Kim West said...

Well.. I hear you on the single-parenthood. I am about to face 7 months of single parenthood.

Fat Chick Design said...

I really like the idea of the rat! Its actually very sweet, without wanting to make sick noises :)
Gorge on Project runway!
Bonnie
:)

Diana said...

Hang in there! My husband works shifts so I'm a single parent 6 to 7 months out of the year. I eat bananas and take B6 to calm my nerves! :O

Suzanne said...

That's a sweet (and original) way to express love. Hang in there! When my husband was away every fourth night, I got a system down to get my boys to bed a little earlier so I could recharge at night for a little longer. The only downside to that plan is that when the creative juices flow, it's harder for me to go to stop for bedtime which makes for an extra tired mama in the morning. It's all about balance. :-)

Gene Black said...

I would love to see someone find that while doing a TSA luggage check! Ha ha. Of course you could be delayed while explaining it (over and over.)

Michelle said...

Family traditions. You gotta love 'em. The rat story is priceless.

Kay Lynne said...

You have rats!!! I have spiders!!! Your rat is plastic--my spiders are just frosting :) I'm sure security will get a chuckle out of a plastic rat. Have a nice week!

Cricket said...

Heehee! My sister and I have a rat, too. I can't even remember where we got it, but it is ugly as sin and though she lives 500 miles away from me, I will occasionally find our rat stowed somewhere completely unexpected. In the glove box, in with the Christmas decorations or some other random spot. Then when I find it, it is my turn to hide it somewhere in her belongings to scare the bejeezus out of her.

Good luck with that single parent thing. I get better at it as the years go on, but it's never fun. I have four days coming up next month. Sigh.

Teresa said...

As a single parent, "embrace" it. There are good things.
You get all the hugs.
You get all the smiles.
Every decision you make, is the right one.
Nothing else matters.

Mama Pea said...

Or if you're like me, you'll be so exhausted you'll flop in front of the TV at night and be too tired to sew. There are lots of great things about single-parenting (as Teresa says), but it's a lot more fun with two!

Sand and Sunshine said...

OMG, I saw this photo the other day and didn't have time to read the post. You'll do okay, and you might not get anything at all done while he's gone. I find I use the time to clean, but that's because with my handicap I can't clean when he's around (or else he hollers that he'll do it). Take care and if you need to express yourself just blog! We're here!

Unknown said...

I love it! My aunt and I used to do something similar with a toy rat but we would hide it in each others cars.

Pétra said...

I need to do something like that! My husband is leaving for Canada in a few days and I'll be on my own with two kids, I am planning on Amazing Race catch up and finishing a quilt.

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