My husband is generally the one to plan our dates.  And generally they fall into place something like this:

Get in the car.  Drive somewhere.  Turn around because we decide we cannot commit to a location so far away.  It is 7:30.  We panic.  Bed-time is just around the corner.  And we have not slept in since Y2K, so we want to be cautious with our evenings.  Wind up at California Pizza Kitchen.  Pat scolds me for listening in on all the conversations around us (last time it was two teenage girls discussing their decision with lesbianism).  He tries to seat me away from people or I am very dull date.  We talk a little and check the time.  And wonder whether everyone went to bed alright. 

And then we head home.  Exhausted from our time driving around the suburbs and eavesdropping on other people’s conversations.

Well, this weekend is my turn to plan.  We have eaten our satisfaction out of pizza joints- they simply don’t hold the romance anymore.  And Pat has not had much to look forward to lately.  He has worked around the clock for almost an entire month.  Our poor children are suffering ill effects from his absence, and I am actually wondering how to administer spankings to 3 children all at once, myself. 

It is all in the stealth chase, I think. 

So I am planning an over-night for him, without any small dependents.  We will stay local to Chattanooga.  And even though my greatest desire is to sit and do absolutely nothing,  Pat’s love-language is: outdoors.  And  since this is all about him, I figure that outdoors + wife + new camera = great and profound happiness.

I think we’ll stay at here, at the Chattanoogan.  (www.chattanooganhotel.com).  We have visited once before, and it is very nice.  Contemporary- which is not my favorite style -but somehow the pieces come together at this hotel and it all works out well. 

I am a fan of the fireplaces all around.  And I hear there is a warm indoor pool- so, we will have to incorporate the kids somehow.  Leaving them out of the water would be so cruel after our mixed-up, decade-long southern winter.

Speaking of cruel: I had hoped to avoid a bathing suit for well over 2 more months, since Will’s exiting my body has left it a little confused.  My stomach used to have some self-respect, but not anymore.  No more. Kathy Kaehler’s step aerobics is a step in the right direction and the improvements are on the up-swing, so I can’t complain too loudly.  But I do need to be careful with that one.  KK  has the build of a Ken-doll and that is not the end-result I am aiming for.  Something a little more stream-lined would be good.  

Truly, in all likelihood our hotel will have large towels pool-side.  At least that is the hope and vision I have, so that I can sweetly wave at Pat covered head- to- toe in children, from the safety of a chair.  Exposing my winter-white self is something my emotions simply cannot handle right now.

Back to Pat:  I am very proud of him.  He has worked so hard lately, and he never complains.  His attitude is eternally good.  And when he comes home after working 12-hour days, he is a father and a husband too.  A really nice one.  His boss sent him a gift-card today as a gesture of kindness, and I noticed it went far in his mood.  We have been ships in the night he and I, waving to one another as we pass by in the hall-way.  He with his lap-top, me with kids and homework.  These are not the cycles of marriage I enjoy.  The ones where we are both having to give all that we have and without rest.  But really.  This is a recession and jobs and money have risen to a whole new level of respect for me. 

God has been very good to us.

Back to booking.  Taking on planning has been more fun that I thought.  I think it is an inward satisfaction of deeper control issues, but also a sense of: “Oh good.  This ensures that I am not staying in a Motel 8″.  Which is where the two of us disagree.  Motel 8 is a subject of nightmares to me, but to Pat on the other hand, such accomodations are completely fine.  After all, a room is a room.  He thinks environment is over-rated and budget is fine.  Generally, I do my best to win these arguments.  Because I personally am a proponent of: Have you watched Dateline and their spy-cam hotel series?  We need to make careful decisions with bed-spreads and such. 

Back to planning…….