All posts by Denise

flying, problem solving

Making changes

It’s been a long time since I wrote here. Primarily, that is because things have been just crazy.

My husband changed jobs. However, he spent a period of time working for his former artist as well as his new artist. I keep two schedules for him. One in simple spreadsheet format. The other on a calendar. Despite my double-schedule system, I have had a hard time keeping up with where he was supposed to be when and with which camp! Luckily, by having to focus harder for that period of time, I’m having an easier time keeping his one schedule memorized now.

I love problem solving. I love the challenge of keeping a schedule on track. Yes, it gets frustrating at times. However, I thrive under pressure. I guess that’s part of why I went into journalism for my degree. Those deadlines actually thrill me even as they can be stressful. So, in a similar respect, keeping up with the crazy schedule we keep is actually fun to me.

We are entering peak travel season, though, and airline stress multiplies when talking about big groups. Especially big groups with gear and a time schedule.

My husband has had his share of crazy travel stories in the last month. I know he’s sick of flying by now, but I also know he’ll have plenty more flights coming at him soon. What is worrisome is news reports like the one I saw just the other day. Over-booked flights. Unable to get a later flight when a flight is canceled or you’re bumped from one. It all just gets to be added stresses for everyone involved.

Peak travel season is also peak tour season for musicians. I’m spending more and more time home alone, but I’m also getting out more with friends. I also have friends coming from back home to visit me soon. I’m looking forward to that!

It also means, though, that time when my husband is home is more precious. Be it a few days, or only a few hours. I’ll take what I can get.

me time

Time alone

I have a surprise for everyone: I don’t fall apart when my husband goes out on the road. Nor do I consider my decision to stay at home for a day or two “becoming a hermit” and my husband certainly doesn’t “lock me in the house” when he’s gone.

No, I will admit I enjoy my time home alone when he’s on the road. It’s the time in which I throw myself into housekeeping. It’s the time I can focus on my writing. It’s the time I can focus on ME. It is my choice to be home and do my thing.

I have always been a big homebody. It’s only been since I came to the city to live with my husband that I’ve become far more extroverted. My personality has distinctly changed in the last few months, in that I love going out into crowd and I don’t fear walking up to a stranger and talking to them. But, despite that, I do still love being alone. I love books, cleaning house, bubble baths, and just enjoying the home we pay for every month.

Most importantly, I love to write. I am striving to build my career in freelancing, but I can’t do that if I don’t close myself up in my house and WRITE. Doing my writing when my husband is on the road is what allows me to run around with him when he’s home.

We don’t spend that much time at home when he’s off to road. We’ve always got somewhere to be and someone to see. I love that fact. I love my husband. I choose to do “my own thing” when he’s on the road so we CAN spend so much time together.

I treasure this time together. I know that could change any day. His schedule could pick up and he’ll be on the road for weeks at a time. (That’s when I’ll be craving to go out on my own more and more just to break up the monotony of days alone at home.) We could find that I have to go out and get a day job and abandon my freelance writing. And then the time will come when we have kids and things really will change drastically then.

So until that time, I will take each day together and treasure them. And I’ll save the house chores and “me time” for when he’s on the road.