Will hopefully not be reduced to Primordial Matter

I am, despite my titanium liver, a very delicate flower it turns out. By nature I am an introvert, I am recharged by a few nights at home in my pajamas with all the DVR'd Law and Order I can get my mitts on. The need for the recharge nights goes up ten fold by how many social events I'm attending.

This means that, in general, I can handle three things a week.Then the other four nights of the week are filled with rejuvenating alone peace and quiet. Now, if I were to have seven straight days of alone time I'd be clawing my own eyes out and/or playing Hangman with myself. Hysterically. I need balance.

I am married to an extrovert and he needs like two hours a week to "recharge" while plugged into the wall. The more social things he does, the better he feels. This presents some issues.

I know it's December and there are a lot of fun things to do in December. In the last week I've planned dinners, went to dinners, spent days with friends and nights with other friends. Then, on Monday I spent the evening burning off my fingerprints while volunteering at the Cub Scout Holiday Meeting. On Tuesday we had date night at my friend Laura's cooking class. I'd give you more information but they laid her off with a note on her paycheck so, not doing it.

Date night at a cooking class is super fun. So was the gourmet dinner I had at my friend's Joe and Cari's Friday night. And the progressive dinner on Saturday Logan and I hosted. And the casual hang out we did with Logan's friend Kimberly on Sunday.

Now, I didn't particularly like the Cub Scout Craft Table Debacle (I think I killed at least 3 kids....no fingerprints left after the glue gun I was using....so don't worry, not going to jail), but even in my most crabby introverted way I like to volunteer a few times a year and everyone has to take a turn burning their fingers off. This is how life works.

But everything else we've been doing is pure fun. Like dinner Friday and a party Saturday at a friend's house and another party Sunday night. I love it. I wouldn't say no to these dinners or parties. I love going to them, I love throwing them and they're fun.

Yeah, I need to be in a Hyperbaric chamber until the New Year. Okay, at least until New Year's Eve since we're hosting New Year's Eve. Okay, but then we're also hosting Christmas Eve and kids tend to be fond of Christmas day. Fine, I'll just hop in the chamber in 2009, New Year's Resolutions? Done.

Until then, I'll be over here in a fetal position.

PS: Please let me know if I start getting too "Edward Jessup", we'll plan a dinner party at that point, just to kick start me out of it.

Happy Holidays!

Comments

[mar]

Laid off - with a note in the paycheck - at Christmas? Wow, that's a special level of cold!

[Fer]

they use the chamber on the new Fox show "Fringe." you should check it out...

[Ashley Gailey]

Too many social activities throw me into a tizzy. I very much need quiet "recharge" time so I do not turn into a raving lunatic as well.

[Cat]

I'm with you - I'll see everyone next year. Hang in there! The couch will be waiting for you with open arms!

[Grace]

I really need alone time. I crave it. I can socialize with the best of them, but I'm best when I'm home recharging for the next event.

[kbreints]

I am totally the same way-- I have to REally push myself to go socializing.. with people I don't know very well that is. If they are already good friends, and it is a night away from the kids...I'm in!

[HouseofJules]

If I wasn't already freaked out about the economy & working at a small design firm, now I'll have to calm myself before opening the envelope with my paycheck in it if it seems another ounce heavier. Laid off with a note? That is horrible! Glad you're having a fun holiday season; I know exactly what you mean about the whole recharging thing. You know what takes it out of me? Digging out my car from the Chicago snowstorms in an effort to GET to the parties!
Jules
House of Jules

[Angela]

Was the note an actual 8.5x11 piece of paper, or do they go all out on the tacky and just use a stick-it note?

[Cary]

I'm glad I'm not the only one like that. I love being social, but then I just, hit a wall. Once I hit my limit, it's time to return to my cave of solitude to rejuvenate.

[Katie]

I know EXACTLY what you mean. Also an introvert married to an extrovert. It took me about 10 years to make him understand that just because I want to be alone sometimes doesn't mean I don't like him.

[Alyce]

Sorry to hear about your friend's lay-off. And the way they did it was just rude.

[amy]

I agree with you...time alone is soooo necessary! Try and sneak some in. Take care.

[Deb]

And here I was thinking I was the only one who tivo'd Law and Order and watched them hours upon end! But you're right, alone time is really important.

[Bossy]

January and February are the perfect antidote.

[Mental Momma]

Maybe the snowstorm will give you a little break. Blame it on the weather and stay in with a frosty beverage and some wooly socks on!

[Sharon]

Sounds like you are describing me. Except my limit is two things per week. Hang in there.

[Mike G]

Enough about the hubby already, sheesh, after reading 3 posts I feel like I'M married to the guy

[melissaS]

Aww, it's a nice feeling isn't it?

[Steph.]

Delurking to comment on this one because my GAWD do I get this! It's like we moms need a place we can go from December 26-Dec 31 (maybe be back in time for a NY Eve party, but hey, maybe Jan 4 sounds better) just to recharge. I'm thinking somewhere with spa amenities, no kids, and oh, let's say lots of chocolate and margaritas. Yep, that's on my Santa list for next year...

[Katherine]

My boyfriend and I are the same as you and Logan. He is gogogogogooooo while I'm all, I need to sit and not talk while in my pjs catching up on movies I've wanted to see but couldn't because you wanted to go hang out with friends. I'm grateful for football because he's out of the house and I get a Sunday afternoon. But an afternoon just isn't the same- I need nights. And when we get home from being social I shut off and he thinks I don't want to be around him. This is insane.