Happy anniversary HippieHusband

I can't believe it, but I missed our two year anniversary. Today at dinner, HippieHusband mentioned that 'oh by the way, yesterday was our wedding anniversary.' Luckily that was also followed with him saying he forgot too. After that, I didn't feel so bad...

But something is clearly amiss - my work life balance aspiration has become a work aspiration driven by the insane attachment to getting enough data for a stupid manuscript. A manuscript that in the end won't mean diddly squat to the progress of science. Over the last 10 days, I've been putting in 10-12 hour days every day, including weekends. And when I get home all I want to do is sleep. I'm tired and grumpy when I wake up in the morning.

Today, after dinner as we were sitting out on the porch looking at the sheep and turkeys, HippieHusband asked me what were my aspirations and dreams and all I mumbled that all I wanted was to survive the next two weeks.

"That's not an aspiration," he cried.

"Yes but it's true," I lay my head back in the chair and put my legs up on another.

"That's kinda sad if basic survival counts as an aspiration." he said simply.

My response was to baa like a sheep. I tried to think. But I was just too tired.

[Sidebar: Have you noticed that in the words tried and tired the "ir" is reversed. I wonder what it all means...]

"I'm trying to have a serious conversation and you're baaing like the sheep," he complained with a whiff of hmff in his voice.

"Well they're pretty loud. And they don't really sound like sheep. They just sound like really drunk undergrads at a frat party," I tried in vain to stay his frustration. "I don't know. I guess I want both of us to get permanent jobs so that we can settle down in one place."

"I want to be able to function not like a student," HippieHusband said fiercely. He continued, "I want us to have jobs that will allow us to put enough money away for things like emergency surgeries."

"Have a family." I chimed in.

"Fly half way across the country for a family funeral." he said

"Buy a home and some land," my eyes were closed now.

"We'll never be able to afford a home in YummyLargeCity." said HippieHusband.

"Okay then a small apartment."

"Go on vacation," he sighed.

"But we just had a 3-week vacation," I reminded him.

"Yeah, that was fun. We saw a lot of the US on that trip. And now we're moving to a totally different part of the country. I'll be so glad when we're moved and I can leave SmallUniversity and the bullshit behind," he said sinking into the chair as if the weight of his bad postdoc experience was pulling him downwards.

I opened my eyes and looked over at HippieHusband, kissed him lightly on the cheek and gently said, "It will all work out, love."