Books, Exercise and Politics, and A Reader Needs Advice, FTW!

Amie asks a couple of doozies:

1. Read any good books lately?

I did! I did! Pick me!

Flames of Resistance was very, very good. I downloaded Anna Karenina - can't help but be intrigued, as the movie trailers look ridiculously good - and although I'm just at the beginning (35 pages is NOTHING) - it's pretty good. I read a couple of freebies. Most of them were so stupid that I could totally see WHY they were freebies. But the above Flames was a freebie - a fluke, but very good. Before I Fall was good. On the "To Buy as soon as I get some Cash" list, which means I read the sample and liked it enough to fork out the dough - Year of Wonders, Escape from Camp 14, and Call The Midwife.

Which is a new series on PBS that I LOVE.

2.What is your current favorite workout? Zumba?

Yes. I love Zumba. It's fun, it's dancing and it's crazy sweat producing. It's also not happening as much as I'd like it to - my new job often goes into later hours and it's not feasible for me to get there always. I'm trying to pick up the walking and thinking that I might try to join a gym in which one of the teachers holds Zumba classes in the morning. I love where I go - I have a few really good friends - but it's also a crazy amount of Le drama and this mama has plenty of drama in her life - she doesn't need you to bring yours with you. 

I keep seeing people run, now that the weather is cooler, and I miss running. I miss my calf muscle hurting less, though, and so I'm ok with it - but I still miss it. 

3. Didn't you say you wouldn't discuss religion?

I did say that - but we didn't descend into a religious free for all, so it was all good. I actually have another topic in the religious vein for next week. :)

4.Are you as sick of politics as I am right now?

Oh, golly geez, YES. We don't answer the phone unless we know who is calling. We've almost stopped watching the news as a family - I just don't have any patience for it. I do discuss matters with my kids, I keep up to date via social media (how could I NOT?) but I'm really ready for the election to be over. I've made up my mind, I'm not going to change it - just like the bulk of the populace. The mud slinging, the tantrums - it's not going to change my mind.

And Sonja presents a really good query:

My husband is out of work for the first time since he was 18 (he is 44), not by choice. He is home all the time, as am I, since I do not work at present. I am wondering if you can pose the question to the group - how do you deal with this situation? He will go back to work eventually, but since it is not a financial necessity at the moment (thankfully), he is dragging his feet. I am on the cusp of getting a job, which will help. As much as I love him, it is really hard being together that much.

My answer is the that everyone needs their own space. All of us. What say the brains in the bunch - you, the readers?

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Comments

[addy]

Space is a must. If he is not the home improvement type - maybe you can be the creative type. I just grab my camera and go find some pictures to take. Good Luck!

[Joless]

Ha, we are in exactly the same situation. My GF just got made redundant and is climbing the walls already. She doesn't do 'free time' well and anything I can suggest is really boring (but would satisfy me to get done) so we just mooch about. Neither of us are creative. And we already had the 'how do grown ups have fun' discussion on here. We just finished renovationing our house so, other than chores, nothing needs doing there. But I am enjoying having her around more because if she gets a job which requires commuting, it will be hard work for us. We were spoilt as before her job was a 15 min walk away and she was home at lunchtimes to play with (read, exhaust) our 5 mth old puppy :-)

[PamL]

I read Anna Karenina in high school and loved it! It did take me about 100 pages to get into it--I remember being at like page 75 and thinking....I am never going to get through this! But since I had to read it for school, I kept reading and I am glad I did! I reread it recently (well maybe 5 years ago)and loved it again. I didn't know it was coming out in a movie and I'm not sure I'd go see it--some parts are a bit risque for me on the big screen, if I am remembering correctly. :) Enjoy!

[Anita]

I feel your pain! My husband is a race car driver so its feast or famine around here - he is gone completely for weeks at a time or here all the time and now the season is over - he will be here all the time for months!

Anyway, you have to be honest and acknowledge how you both feel about the situation, how you see it working out etc. Then make some plans, take some trips and complete some projects, some together some alone. Make it clear if you expect him to pitch in more with housework now and all that. I have found my husband will do anything and everything but I must ask first and nicely at that. This time last year my husband bought a house and renovated it and sold it all within three months, that was a great use of his time off and made us some money too. We have four little kids so I think he needed to get away!

There is always a way, just keep talking and try to enjoy each other. Good luck!

[Sonja]

Thanks, peoples. I agree - space is KEY. He makes lunch or coffee dates with his friends a couple days a week (okay, that sounds too girly but you get my drift) as do I. He has been trying to complete projects around the house that have fallen by the wayside over the years. He has been taking turns with me getting the kids up and off to school which is HEAVENLY!! On the other hand, we have been having stand-offs over things like dishes - who will cave in and do them first, etc. Childish and stupid but I figure he's here, why should I do it all? So yes, Anita, we need to have a little talk about that. LOL

[amie]

I have been reading tons of vegetarian cooking and nutrition books. I need some fiction, preferably of The Outlander variety.Zumba scares me. I am uncooridinated. Doing yoga and tennis, looking into fencing. Broken toe has slowed me down for now, I hate the election. I detest people who see the world in black and white, or maybe I am jealous bc I can not.