It's hard to type with frozen fingers

Chillin', get it?  HA!  It's cold.  GET IT?

OK, so we got very little snow, but KC got quite a bit more.  Our bus routes are so rural that school was closed.  It was tricky getting to work, but getting home was fine.

Now, let's examine my relationship with my husband, 13 years later.  There are many differences.  It's kind of amazing.

Going out used to mean getting fixed up and taking in a movie and dinner.  It was quite romantic.  Now, going out means taking the dog for a pee, helping to ward off the wildebeests.

Dinner used to be a big deal, with homemade rolls and candles.  Now, dinner is fish sticks and macaroni and cheese, eaten on the couch in front of the TV.

The kids used to be Brett and Jonathan.  Boys through and through.  Farting was the biggest annoyance, but that was funny.  Now "kids" means Monica and Natalie.  Drama and tears and problems with fixing hair.

Parents were visited, but not very often.  My parents saw a long-haired, sandal wearing, tattoo'd freak, and his Mom saw an immature husband-hunter who looked out only for herself.  Now, we wouldn't trade time with the parents for ANYTHING.  We learn so much from them, and we love them.

Finally, Kevin was a guy who seemed to care, but was NOT to be trusted.  He would eventually find someone else, or hit me, or ignore me, or worse.  I'd lived "worse" and I knew it was coming...eventually.  Now, Kevin is a guy who I trust without a second thought.  He is my soul mate, and my life.  He cares for us, works when it hurts, goes without decent clothes so we'll have new shoes, and worries non-stop about us.

Yup, I think I'll take "now" over "then" any day.  I miss the freedom and carefree days of going out with friends, but the trade-off is worth it.  I am comfortable here.  Comfortable when we're broke.  Comfortable when we're alone, and comfortable when we're surrounded by people.  I know what my life is, and I know my place in it, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Peace out, icicles.

PS, I love it that "chillin" is a "mood" for AOL, but their spell check tool doesn't recognize it.  LOL  Also, I'd LOVE to see some of YOUR comparisons of then/now.