Friday, February 4, 2011

So Icy

Yes, here in the Lone Star State, ice has overtaken us. I just came in from taking Baby out to use the bathroom and there's even ice on the grass. The good news is that we've been getting warned for days, so as a precaution, my job informed everyone yesterday that today, we'd be closed.

One of my older brothers is coming into town today and I'm so super excited. He was supposed to arrive last night, but the airport cancelled his flight. The good news is that the weather is supposed to increase to 40 degrees today, 55 tomorrow and 67 Sunday. I am just hoping that by the time I leave for the airport this afternoon that the sun has melted away the ice.

I have an itinerary of things things planned while my brother is in town. What I'm most excited about is to have him meet Teddy. To date, the entire time we've been dating, Teddy has only met my sister. I think that Teddy and my brother will hit it off well. My brother is the life of the party and I think it'll be nice that Teddy gets to hang around a guy close in age.

I guess I'll nap for a bit since my body clock still woke me up instinctively at 5:30a.m.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Communication Woes

It has been brought to my attention that my communication skills could use some tweaking. I have never claimed to be a communicating guru but I always assumed that my plethora of friends spoke volumes for me. Although in the beginning, it may take me a while to warm up, after that, you can't get me to shut up.

My biggest communication flaw is when it comes to answering questions. I have known this about myself for many years. I don't mind being asked a question, it becomes a problem for me, however, when I begin to feel interrogated.

Teddy has a tendency of asking me a series of questions and after a while, I grow irritated by the "Grand Inquisition." My mother is also a "question maniac". She will call me with a list of things that she wants to ask me. While I can't necessarily control the fact that my Mom does this, I would like to have a relationship where my man isn't bombarding me with questions.

I know this may sound silly to some of you, but it has actually grown into a problem. In the beginning when we first began dating, I guess I didn't mind the questions so much because they are a part of getting to know each other. I had hoped though, that after knowing each other almost two years, that the questions would dwindle, but they haven't.

Let me give you an example of a recent conversation and you be the judge...

Teddy: What have you been up to?
Trish: Just getting out of church.
Teddy: What church did you go to?
Trish: Church on the Hills
Teddy: How did you hear about Church on the Hills?
Trish: BeBe told me about it.
Teddy: Does BeBe go to Church on the Hills?
Trish: *insert annoyed face*

These types of conversations happen all the time. It's like the questions keep coming if I don't get irritated by them. He says they are a way to get a dialogue going, but to me, it feels like I'm on a job interview.

The craziest part about this issue is that if I ask him what he did, it's usually a)watch tv, b)job-hunt. He is currently unemployed and looking for a job and is in school. He has absolutely nothing to talk about and cops a tude when I don't want to "be a contestant on Jeopardy." He even said in frustration to my refusal to answer the questions one night that he looks forward to talking to me all day, then when we speak in the evening, I have nothing to say. The sentiment is sweet, but I'm not your entertainment.

Sorry if this comes across like rambling or complaining. I love Teddy and I enjoy spending time with him, we never argue in person, but the phone time is very taxing on our relationship. He lives about an hour and a half away, so we typically only get to see each other once or twice a week. I like that he shows genuine concern for me and my day but once it becomes a constant flow of questions, I tune out.

Suggestions? Opinions??