tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20020128568034891852024-03-08T04:48:26.629-08:00Happiness is SimplicityRebecca LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05931776005174850627noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002012856803489185.post-40543532468433126252012-03-15T12:49:00.000-07:002012-03-15T12:50:27.531-07:00Do Throw Pillows Serve a Purpose? Part 2"<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All marriages are happy. It's the living together afterward that causes all the trouble</span>."<br />
Raymond Hull<br />
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do Throw Pillows Serve a Purpose?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Part 2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marital Success and its Relation to the Open Concept Floor Plan</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I was in the kitchen one eve drinking an adult beverage,
preparing dinner and watching an Alabama football game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband came in and turned the game down
and started talking to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
annoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know my annoyance threshold
is generally low, but this was a legitimate annoyance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was participating in a wifely domestic
activity all the while watching football, something typically enjoyed by most
men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am a girl born and raised in
Alabama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our state flower is a football
and we like football as much as men. I put my drink down and meal preparation
ceased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked him to turn the TV up
because I could no longer hear the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To which he replied, “Oh, I turned it down so we could talk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During my long pause and crickets chirping,
my drinking and meal prep resumed all while my mind was being flooded with
questions such as “Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right
now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is game time really the best time
for intimate conversation?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally
formed a good question to liken my chances of being able to watch the game
without being distracted with unnecessary chatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I won’t be able to give you my undivided
attention during the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we talk
later when you will have my full attention?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Needless to say, I got to watch the game uninterrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fairness to my husband, he does like
football, just not Alabama football. He had already watched LSU play that week.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And on yet another side note, does anyone ever wonder if it was
a man or a woman who came up with idea of an open concept floor plan, a home
where the kitchen opens up to/looks over the den?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a question I have pondered many times
because I can see it going either way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The male idea: I can watch TV sporting events year round while
my wife is in the kitchen cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will be meeting her need for quality time because we will practically be in the
same room together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can gaze into her
eyes from across the room during commercials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And an added bonus, I can meet her need for words of affirmation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words I yell at the screen can serve a
dual purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep it going! Great move!” work for encouraging
the star quarterback and my wife in cooking my favorite recipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The female idea:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
cook meals at the same time I am watching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Bachelor</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Notebook</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be meeting his need for acts of
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an added bonus, I can meet
his need for physical touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since he
will be nearby watching TV with me (i.e. sleeping in the recliner), I can
easily pat him on the hand or pinch his face while I am covering him with a
blanket or when I freshen up his drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, surely you can see my dilemma in determining man or woman
idea.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book reference:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Five Love Languages </i>by Gary Chapman.</span></b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Rebecca LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05931776005174850627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002012856803489185.post-41265995020097996222012-03-09T21:49:00.001-08:002012-03-15T12:50:12.442-07:00Do Throw Pillows Serve a Purpose? Part 1"I don't fit into any stereotypes. And I like myself that way." C Joybell C<br />
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do Throw Pillows Serve a Purpose?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Part 1</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rare occasion of male-female role reversal in my life always
makes me laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, I am not
stereotypical in female areas such as clothes shopping and the number of shoes
I possess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I think I am pretty
typical in all others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like romance
novels and chick flicks. I do not like to take out the trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like chocolate and red wine, preferably
enjoyed together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do not like to cut the grass, even just a small area that should be
easily managed by those of average coordination with a weed eater (I had a
dangerous, ineffective attempt at independently maintaining my lawn as a single
female homeowner).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like bubble baths and this can be combined with wine and chocolate as well</span></b><b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not like to get my hands dirty (Some
have stated this suggests I possibly have a touch of OCD but I chalk it up to
being acutely aware of the importance of hand hygiene as a pediatric
nurse).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I think you get the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now to my accurate account of real life
events.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Rorschach and the Budding Friendship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This story takes me back to my college days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was such a fun, interesting time of my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A time of reckless abandonment, a
time of a little hurt and heartache, a time of tremendous growth all while
trying to become a fulfilled, responsible adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good times!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Great memories!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before I decided to go to nursing school, I wanted to be a child
psychologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I got a psychology
degree with biology as my minor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one
of my biology classes I met Mike, who became one of my greatest friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were sitting at the same table in lab
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I was supposed to be
dissecting a baby pig, or small ferret, or maybe it was an earthworm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, I was uneasy and it felt unnatural,
even though it was clearly lifeless and reeked of formaldehyde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a moment of weakness I must have asked the
nearest person, who happened to be Mike, for assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He offered help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then he later offered to have me over to his
house so we could work on our lab project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was easily annoyed that he noted my lab technique incompetency/uneasiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(On a side note, I think incompetency/uneasiness might be a
recurring theme in my life: my less-than stellar driving record, my inability
to operate small machinery such as weed eaters and my discomfort/near panic while
trying to snorkel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordinary, mundane
events for most; unnatural and challenging for me). But anyway, regardless of
my annoyance, I noted that he offered to cook for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said yes because I immediately envisioned myself
enjoying something men cook on the grill, like a hot dog or a steak!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get to eat something I love all while
working on my A for class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>GPA was
really important to me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mike called me later that week in anticipation of our offsite
lab gathering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked normal small
talk; where we grew up, college major, current weather conditions, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he learned I was majoring in psychology,
he excitedly exclaimed, “Great, you can come over and analyze me!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taken aback and disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found myself wishing we were still talking
about the barometric pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My vision
of enjoying a beer and a steak outdoors quickly changed to a real possibility of
a night spent indoors with him lying on the couch covered in his grandmother’s
afghan discussing his inner most thoughts on the lack of bonding with his mom
because he was not breastfed; thus the resultant effect of an inability to
commit to women yet a unique fascination/fixation of female breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Disclaimer: I do not think this is a real
hypothesis or has actually ever been studied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I do not mean it as an offense if you have had a similar
thought/inquiry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just a random
thought that appeared in my crazy mind while typing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was facing my new reality of the
evening, I dejectedly replied, “Well, I did just get my Rorschach inkblock test
kit in the mail and I have been waiting to break it in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It turned out to be a fun night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No afghans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No inkblock tests.
The beginning of a long friendship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Rebecca LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05931776005174850627noreply@blogger.com2