Paul has been gone for more than two weeks taking intensive Spanish classes in Puebla. He returns this weekend, at long last. Three weeks is a long time to be apart, and it felt much longer than I expected. This is the second intensive Spanish course he’s taken – a couple of years ago he went to Guadalajara for two weeks and this time for three in Puebla. We’ll be doing a blog post on his experiences when he gets back after he gets settled in.
But rather than cry on your shoulder about how much I have missed him, I thought I’d share some observations.
One of the biggest things I realized while he’s been gone is that I’m not as much of a self-starter as I thought I was. I’d set myself a long list of things I intended to accomplish while alone without Paul to distract me, but I am ashamed to say I am perfectly capable of distracting myself! I’ve gotten some things done, but others get transferred endlessly from to-do list to to-do list.
I also became aware of how much we really do share the chores around the house. Adding his watering, mowing, and edging to my watering, trimming, bagging, and hauling makes for a lot of dripping wet yard work. I’ve always been the one who sees to keeping our drains clear in the rainy season as well as keeping the upper patio swept, caulking, and rainy day window and towel management. But to add to it when he’s gone I also get to reprogram all our blinking clocks. Sometimes I’ve let them blink away for days, I will admit.
Paul manages our electronics, too. I don’t know how long it has been since I’ve personally used a TV remote control. I have to tell you, I don’t like it, either! I also got to reboot modems and correct the wireless thingies when the housekeeper moves them and kills the internet while cleaning.
And garbage! How many nights did I run it to the curb at the last minute? Why couldn’t I seem to remember it?
I’ve also been responsible for sweeping up the dead creepy-crawlies (thank goodness they’ve been dead!) and a baby bird that fell out of the bamboo and didn’t make it through the night.
Paul usually is the one to keep the cash flowing so that we have the right money and denominations for the car wash guy, the housekeeper, the water bottles, etc. No one ever has change so this is an important task! Last time I went to the cash machine it gave me all 500 peso notes…no way would that work. I marched on in to the bank and got smaller bills…kind of negates the efficiency of a cash machine, but oh well! I also seem to be late paying the water bill this month, just couldn’t get over to the kiosk to pay it on time. It’s on my list though for this afternoon, transferred over from yesterday’s list. This time though, really, I’m going to actually do it. Check with me tomorrow?
heatherinparadise
July 26, 2011What a nice partnership you have. I will settle for nothing less myself.
Nancy
July 26, 2011Heather, It took us a while to get it right, learning from our previous relationships. It really is a partnership, I know how lucky I am. And I agree, don’t ever settle.
Jonna, I think I also found out I’m not as neat as I thought! I think he has great powers of focus, and he has incredible determination. As I was writing that he called, and did say that he has about had it, getting very tired. So maybe his limit is 17 days! That’s still pretty good. We’ll write about the experience when he gets back.
jonna
July 26, 2011I just realized why Mimi is the one who is always complaining about Gabi moving the TV thingies and disconnecting us from the satellite – it’s because fixing that is on her list, not mine. It doesn’t bother me because it’s always fixed before I notice it.
I notice all the additional chores when she is gone, I also try not to notice how everything stays in its place. I guess it is an even trade.
I’m interested in how Paul did with his intensive class, 3 weeks is a long time. I found that after about 10 days of daily classes, I’m done. I’d try one for a week, maybe.
Zoe
July 27, 2011Hey, we found out that you, Nancy, are NOT a wonder woman, but a “pinch me” human! With all the things you manage to accomplish in a week, I know I was beginning to wonder. ‘-)
Funny, John was gone last week and I forgot to pay the water bill, too, and for the first time in three years, it was two days late. At least they don’t turn you off like MegaCable does for one day. In our house, I do pretty much everything other than the dishes every night and the garbage, but those two alone are worth the price of a marriage license! John wants to talk to Paul about his classes when he returns.
Nancy
July 27, 2011Zoe, Nope, I have always been human, it’s the truth. And I didn’t get the water bill paid yesterday, either. Today for sure. I’m going to give them 500 pesos to pay it a year ahead of time, too.
Contessa
July 27, 2011Lists make the world go around as well as the love go around. So much more fun doing things together. Sometimes when Colin is away I just draw back a little and sit, look around, enjoy the silence & aloneness yes long for the togetherness. Much more pleasant just being together.