The Jive

I have been an absentee parent this weekend, and I wish I felt bad about it. Friday Abby was whisked away to her Grandma's house for the evening which left us feeling strangely free even though we still had the babe. I had to go to a baby shower Saturday afternoon which is another post entirely, and I can't lie, I happily left Tim with the kids. I went out with Tony last night, and today I went to book club. The absentee weekend was capped off by my mom babysitting tonight so we could go out with Tim's cousins.

For some reason I have been feeling like the walls are closing in on me when I am at home lately and I welcomed the idea of being out in the world sans children, even if it was for a crappy baby shower (again, another post), a bizarre dinner with Tim's extended family, or a new book club.

Last night I crashed Tony's night out with his peeps and tagged along to a mini fundraiser and a birthday party. At first I felt bad leaving Tim at home, but he really wasn't into going, and earlier in the week when I asked if he wanted me to get a sitter he said he wasn't interested. I had contemplated staying home and looking at the thank you notes I have to write, the first birthday party I need to plan, the ironing i need to finish, as well as any number of other nonsense that I need to take care of around the house. I am not sure that Tony welcomed my company, but he was willing to roll with it, which i needed.

So we went to this theater company's fundraiser at this bar that they frequent. A while ago I saw this amazing play that they produced, and really supported the cause, however the quality has fallen off and I am not sure what direction they are going in. I don't think they are either. I had offered to help them, once upon a time, raise money and try to make this thing go, however there are too many cooks and not enough organization to make it work. Any advice I offer has fallen on def ears, but yet they still ask me to reiterate the finer points of fundraising. Last night I was cornered, and again told them to get their act together, something they have yet to do. I still bought a raffle ticket,l and did my part, but I don't think they made enough money to put up that "awesome new production" they are planning.

At any rate it was weird to be out with Tony (sorry pal, it kind of was). It was not like our Sunday nights at the AMC in Barrington (Tim and I alternate Sunday nights going to see movies with Tony, it may sound odd, but it works for all parties involved). I go plenty of places without Tim and do just fine, but a small part of me wished he was there because he would have laughed at my joke about the girl in the camouflage pants, and then cracked one about he guy who kept hovering over everyone, fitting in less than I did. I got hit on for a brief moment, which was flattering, albeit strange and uncomfortable. I was involved in a low grade hostage crisis involving the wife of one of Tony's friends. She and I have some stuff in common, and I wish I could relate to her the way that she needs someone to, but there is something, I am not sure what, stopping us from being BFF. I like her, but there is something that makes me just the tiniest bit wary of her. I wish I could put my finger on it.

From this bar we went to Tony's friend's birthday party. I have met this chick once, and she is fabulous in every sense of the word (right down to the Xavier Roberts tattoo on her tush). We feted her appropriately and then it was time to head out.

On our way home Tony and I got to talking about some of the folks we encountered over the evening. Somehow we got on the subject of how some couples "jive" despite what people see on the surface. Tony is the one person who knows about the jive between Tim and I. I know that I trash him up, down and all over on here, but really I am quite lucky that I have Tim in my life. Sure, he didn't put a single dish in the dishwasher while I was out gallivanting all weekend, but he knew when it was time to buy Abby a Slurpee and let us hang out in the Target Cafe today while I composed myself after a random phone call. As much of his crap that I put up with he puts up with mine that you don't see because this is my blog and you don't need to know about all of my tics, quirks and imperfections. Our jive is not just that, it is more, and then some, and it is ours- even if you don't see it.