WE'RE STARVING

It had been a long week and I had just scrubbed and put away the last pan from dinner when my son Alex came out into the kitchen and began opening cabinets.

“Are you going grocery shopping anytime soon?” he asked as he closed one cabinet and opened another.

“Maybe tomorrow.” I said as I headed for the living room to finally kick off my shoes and lay down on the couch.

“There's nothing to eat in here.” He complained as I heard the microwave start up.

“There's leftover chicken and rice from dinner.” I called as I grabbed the television remote and began scrolling though the listings to see what mind numbing, non-thought provoking show I was going to pretend to watch while I closed my eyes for a few minutes.

“I just ate that for dinner.” he said. “I'm looking for something else.”

“So make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” I suggested.

“We're out of bread.”

“Make it with waffles.” I called. “You like that.”

“Maybe later.” The microwave beeped and I heard him open the door.

“So what did you make.” I asked.

“I found a frozen chicken taquito in the back of the freezer.” He walked into the living room holding his plate as he took a bite of his snack. “This doesn't taste right.” he complained. “How long have this been in the freezer?”

“Honestly, I don't even remember buying them.” I admitted. “Maybe your Dad picked them up on one of his shopping trips.”

Alex dropped his snack back on his plate. “So this could be months old?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe.”

I'm not eating this then.” He looked at me with sad eyes. “So, we're back to nothing to eat in this house.”

“Do I have to remind you that we just finished dinner about ten minutes ago?” I wasn't feeling sorry for him no matter how pathetic he tried to look.

“That was First Dinner.” He said. “You know we always have Second Dinner right after you clean the kitchen.”

Just then Steven walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. “Are you going grocery shopping soon?” he asked.

“Are you kidding me!” I cried.

Steven looked confused. “What?” He looked at Alex for help. “I was just in the kitchen and there's nothing to eat.”

“WE JUST ATE DINNER!” I reminded them.

“And it was good.” Steven assured me. “But now it's time for snacks and there's nothing to eat.”

“There's leftover chicken and rice.” I said. “Try heating that up.”

Steven looked at Alex again. Alex shrugged his shoulders. “We just ate that.” Steven said. “We want something else now.”

“I tried telling her that.” Alex said to him. “She doesn't seem to get it.”

“Oh I get it.” I said as I adjusted the pillow under my head and looked back at the television. “You two are trying to guilt me into going grocery shopping tonight and I'm not doing it. There's plenty to eat out there. Go find something.”

The two of them turned around and headed back into the kitchen. I smiled as I drifted off to sleep with the sound of cabinet doors opening and closing.

SWEET DREAMS

I was showered, dressed and ready for another hectic day at work. My lunch was packed, my car was warming up and I was just smoothing out the comforter on my bed when I patted my pillow and said, “I'm going to miss you.” I sighed as I took one last wrinkle out of the covers. “I'll be counting the minutes until we're together again.”

Just then Steven came out of the bathroom. “Ah.” he said. “That's so sweet. I'm going to miss you too!”

He'd startled me. “I didn't know you were in there.” I said.

Now Steven looked confused. “You didn't?” He looked around the room. “Then who were you talking to when you said you were going to miss them and that you'd be counting the minutes until you were together again?” I could hear a slight annoyance in his voice.

I patted the bed. “I was talking to my side of the bed.” I smiled but I felt a little silly getting caught talking to a mattress.

“You were talking to the bed?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “What can I say...you know how much I love to sleep.”

Steven laughed. “I sure do. You can do ten hours on a weekend without a problem.”

“It's not ten hours.” I corrected. “I might be in bed for ten hours but I'm up and down so many times during the night that I'm really only getting six or seven hours of actual sleep.”

Steven didn't look convinced. He looked back at the bed. “I know how much you love to sleep but I didn't know you talked to the bed like that.” He looked a bit hurt. “When you say good-by to me in the morning it's usually with a quick kiss and you asking if I'm going to be home for dinner.”

“I'm sorry.” I said, I felt so guilty. I looked at the clock and could see I was now running late. I went over to him to give him a quick kiss. “I'm going to miss you.” I said. “I'll be counting the minutes until we're together again.” I smiled at him. “Does that make you feel better?”

Steven shook his head as he looked at me. “Not when I know you said it to the bed first.”

I wasn't sure how I was going to make it up to him. “What if I stopped at the store after work and got whatever you wanted for dinner tonight?”

“Whatever I want?” Now he seemed interested.

“Sure.” I said. “You'll beat me home so you can already be in your sweats relaxing on the couch and have full control of the channel changer when I get in.”

“That sounds nice.” he said.

“So we're good?” I asked, as I glanced at the clock one more time. “No more hurt feelings?”

“That depends.” he said.

“Depends on what?” I asked.

“What I decide I'd like for dinner tonight.” he said. “I'm going to have to give this some thought.”

“Seriously?”

“Hey, I don't get to choose the dinner menu very often.”

I looked at the clock one more time. “I'm going to be late.” I said grabbing my purse and heading for the door. “Text me when you decide.”

“I will.” he called as I closed and locked the front door.

As I walked to the car, thinking about the hours I'd just added to the already long day I had ahead of me, I made a very important decision. That was the very last time I was going let him catch me talking to the bed.

SNOW VALENTINE

I was busy loading the dishwasher while Steven cleared off the table. As he handed me a pile of dirty plates it seemed to trigger a romantic thought for him.

“Is there anything special you want for Valentine's Day this year?” he asked.

I began scraping bits of leftover pork chops into the trash. “I don't know.” I said. “Why don't you surprise me?”

Steven groaned. “I hate when you ask me to surprise me. You never like what I come up with.”

“That's not true,” I argued. “I love your gifts.”

“See, that's what I mean.” he said. “You just said gifts. So, if I took you out to dinner, you'd be disappointed because what you were really looking for was a new pair of earrings.”

“I don't want a pair of earrings.” I said as I rinsed the plates before putting them in the dishwasher.

“That's not what I mean and you know it.” Steven complained. “If you were looking to go out to dinner, I'd make the mistake of bringing you a box of candy. If you wanted candy this year, I'd think it could all be said in a card.”

I had to smile as I made room in the bottom rack for the serving bowls. I loved the fact that he was worried about coming up with the right gift. I closed the dishwasher door and pushed the start button. Leaning against the counter, I watched as Steven put the salad dressing away. “Whatever you come up with will be perfect.” I said.

That's when Steven had another idea. “Why don’t you tell me your favorite Valentine's gift I've given you and maybe that will help me pick something out for you this year?”

I didn't have to think very long.

“Remember a few years back when we had a really heavy snow? You took the boys outside and after a few minutes you called me on the phone and told me to go upstairs and look out the window.” I smiled as I remembered the day. “When I looked out the window there were all of my guys standing in the front yard, pointing to the heart shapes you'd made in the snow with your boots.”

I went over and gave Steven a kiss on the cheek. “That was my favorite Valentine’s Day present.” I said.

Steven looked out the window where all the snow from last week had melted. Only a few piles of dirty snow were left. Steven turned back to me. “Okay, so what was your second favorite present?”

CUTTING BACK ON CAFFEINE

Steven walked by my office and stopped when he saw that I was bent over with my hands wrapped about my ankles while I unsuccessfully tired to press my head somewhere close to my knees.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I was reading an article on how to cut back on my caffeine intake.” I wheezed. “It says that any inverted yoga pose is just as energizing as a cup of coffee or tea.” I was really hoping it was true because right at that particular moment it felt like my head was about to explode and I was pretty sure it wasn't from the lack of caffeine in my system.

“How long do you have to do that?” he asked.

“It said only about two minutes.” I felt like my two minutes were up so I stood and quickly sat back down in my desk chair.

“How do you feel” Steven asked.

“Dizzy.” My eyes were busy following the burst of little stars as they floated around in front of me. “Maybe I got up too fast.”

“Well, as long as you're feeling energized.” Steven laughed.

“It's not working yet.” I complained. I gave myself a few seconds then got back down on my hands and knees, I pushed my legs up straight so that my knees were locked and my rear end was sticking up in the air. “I'm going to try some downward facing dog instead.”

“How is that going to be any different that what you just did?” he asked.

“This one involves the pose and my breathing.” I told him.

“You weren't breathing with the last one?”

“You trying taking a deep breath while your head is smashed up against your knees.” I argued.

“I guess that's true.” Steven took a sip of his coffee. “So how long do you have to hold this pose?”

“Can you wait a minute?” I asked. I pulled a deep breath in through my nose and slowly released it through my mouth. “I shouldn't be talking right now. I'm supposed to be concentrating on my breathing.”

Steven leaned against the door frame to wait. After a few more deep breaths I got up from my pose and looked at Steven.

“So, did that one work?” he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “At least I'm not as dizzy anymore. But I'm not sure I'm feeling energized with either one of them.”

Steven held out his mug for me to see. “Have you thought about skipping the torture and just having a little caffeine?”

“I know.” I sighed. I missed the several cups of tea I'd usually be drinking throughout my day. “But it was too much. It's time for me to find something else that's going to wake me up in the morning.” I went to grab a towel and headed for our bathroom. “The article also said that if I end my shower with a quick burst of cold water it would perk me up and get me ready to start my day.”

Steven laughed again. “I know that's how I'd want to start my days.” He called as he took another sip of his coffee. “Dizzy, cold and still tired.”.

I have to admit, he was beginning to get me to rethink my caffeine-free morning