Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

July 22, 2014

The Thursday Routine

Like most people, I suffer from bouts of OCD, and I am very OCD when it comes to Thursday, each week. That's the day my sweetie gets home and I like things to be 'just so' when he gets in.  

What I do is not something he has ever asked for, or told me was expected of me as a stay at home wife, but over time it's become a routine that I look forward to.  He works so hard, drives and sleeps odd hours. When he gets in, he's exhausted and he's either chilled to the bone in winter or dying of heat exhaustion in summer.

If the grocery shopping hasn't been done, I'll get up really early and go that morning, however I usually do it on a Tuesday or Wednesday, so as to plan the weekend menu.  I spend Thursday morning making the dinner salads, putting together fruit salad, tuna fish for sandwiches, coleslaw and pre-cooking vegetables.  Sometimes on Wednesday night I will prep the crockpot so it can start cooking when I get up at 7.  

I like for Russell to come home to a clean house, so I vacuum and dust the whole house, and clean the bathroom.  All the trash is taken out.  I do whatever laundry is left so that the hamper is empty too. Clean sheets and towels are a must for when he gets home.  In the winter, I warm the house up with all the heaters on.  Conversely in summer, the a/c and fans are cranked.  Dog toys picked up, kitchen table paperwork put away or left out neatly, if needed.

Then there are the little things that I like to do as well.  His towel is hung on the bathroom doorknob, easy to reach when he finishes his shower.  I make sure to replace the bar of soap if it's gotten real small.  His comfy clothes are taken out of the closet in the bedroom and put in the bathroom.  In the winter, I'll run them through the dryer for a few minutes to warm them up.  There is always a bottle of water and some cough drops on his nightstand.

Out in the living area, the dishes are done from all the dinner prep, dried and put away.  The fridge & freezer are stocked with his fave foods and ice tea drinks.  The kitchen usually smells really good from whatever soup, chili, crock pot meal, etc. I've got going.  I love seeing his face light up like a Christmas tree when he walks through the door and smells the food!  I will also do a few errands in the morning and get his fave scratch ticket, which waits on the table next to his chair.  I also put the remote control, or 'clickah' as he calls it, on the table because he likes to surf channels and watch his shows.

While he is in the shower, I unpack his computer and set it up so he can get right to his games.  I finish making dinner and bring his salad and drink to the TV table.  After he's showered, comfy and has eaten his salad, I bring him his dinner.  Anything he needs, I am happy to get for him.  If I go out to do errands, I'll stop and get him his fave iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts.  I spoil him rotten all weekend long and, having never experienced that in his life, he's more than happy to let me.  It brings me great joy to see him so happy, and very appreciative too, I might add.  When he leaves, I always pack a lunch for him and enclose a love note on a yellow stickie.  

I figure it's the least I can do for the love of my life. 

23 comments:

  1. Jojo, you are so in love. I remember your posts BR (before Russell) and you sound so content now. I am very very happy for you.

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    1. Yes it's true....I am in love and so happy. And I remember the pre-Russell posts too. They were often very, very dark and reflected the sadness and stress I was under out west.

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  2. And what does he do for you?

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    1. Well I don't have to work anymore, leaving me to spend my days crafting, taking day trips to shoot my pictures, see my friends, etc. That right there is a priceless gift and one that keeps on giving. He treats me like a queen. The loving texts he sends me from the road sometimes make me get all teary eyed. Our physical relationship is incredible....we are very affectionate. He helps me whenever I ask him to. He's the only person who has ever truly loved me and has done a lot to bolster my terrible self esteem. He loves my dogs. My ex husband was a selfish, narcissistic, passive aggressive, mentally ill man, so believe me when I say Russell is truly my knight in shining armour, and I do what I can to let him know how much I appreciate him.

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    2. Sounds like you have a wonderful relationship and I am glad you are so happy together.

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  3. We should cherish that which hold dear. Kudos to you, JoJo!

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    1. 'which we hold dear', need more coffee.

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    2. LOL I didn't even notice you left out a word!

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  4. Wow! Lucky guy! You are making the rest of us look bad, you know... ;)

    Note to self: do not read this blog post to hubby.

    J/K. I love getting hubby's stuff all ready for him too. Even though I work, I usually get home well before he does - he works a lot of OT and is so tired when he finally makes it home. I get his chair all set in front of the TV too; with the side table pulled up and the remotes at the ready while dinner is getting ready.

    It is never a bother when he is so appreciative. And it works both ways; he is always bringing me treats when I am in the studio creating.

    After 34 years of marriage, we really do have our routines too!

    Lovely post JoJo.

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    1. And the thing is, Russell knows he's a lucky guy....he's the first one to admit it and he does, to everyone. He's always worried that I'm 'going to recover from [my] head injury' and dump him. That will never happen.

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  5. Jo, you know I feel as Elka does. I know what you have gone through and what Russell has done for you. You deserve it my friend. So very happy for you. He's VERY lucky and if he ever screws up, he has to answer to me. :) <3

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    1. Thanks Ducky. Oh believe me, if he screws up he's gonna have to answer to a lot of people! lol His family, his kids, our friends....

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  6. This is my first time visiting you. You're a good woman! Russell knows that and I hope you know it as well.

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    1. Hi Mildred! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting, and your kind words. I'm very lucky to have this new lease on life.

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    2. You give romantics everywhere hope that their relationships can be as successful as yours with time and effort.

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  7. Love is a precious and beautiful thing. You and Russell are blessed to have found each other. If you continue to tend the relationship garden with such exceptional care your love will grow and flourish for years and years to come. Your happiness is inspiring :-)

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    1. I truly do not know what I would have done if he hadn't tracked me down after 30+ years. He walked into my life in 2011 and my soul was like, 'there you are, I've been looking for you.'

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  8. Anonymous2:26 PM

    Awwwwwww :0)

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  9. You're a very sweet wife, and I know you wouldn't be so kind to Russell if he wasn't deserving. That makes you a very sweet, blessed couple.

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    1. I'm not sure I'd be able to accomplish all this if I worked full time though. He loves having a stay at home wife and he thinks I work harder than he does but I don't think that's true. lol

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  10. Oh you don't half spoil that man! It's lovely that you are both so happy. I too don't have to work because my hubby does so maybe I should spoil him a bit more....

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  11. Oh JoJo, I've been visiting over a year and I've never read you write so much from the heart. your love for Russell is obviously something very special. Sometimes we have to have that less than perfect marriage (been there, done that, got the tee shirt!) before we find our Prince Charmings.
    Suzanne @ Suzannes Tribe
    x

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