doodledee

The Strib has been running this 4-part mini-series about a couple that's going through some tough times because the wife had an affair. [start with part 1] It's got me totally sucked in... It's like the Martha Stewart docudrama on NBC only it's way better. It's got everything: anger, sex, tears, laughter, and, to keep it interesting, there's this wacky religious group that somehow manages to play a role through the whole thing.

My favorite part was when they gave some background information about why the wife was pissed at the dude:

She hated the mess in the house, the may-not-pass-fire-code crowded mess. Brian collected everything, parted with nothing. The family room had three couches: one for sitting, one for "short-term storage" and one for "long-term storage." Stuff was piled on every piece of furniture -- mostly books and papers, but also hundreds of random things including the guts of a refrigerator ice-maker, a plastic ficus tree, a straw hat and bare wrapping-paper tubes.

A couch for 'long term storage'? That's arguably the greatest thing I've ever heard.

Along with the main articles, there were a bunch of supporting pieces that talked about infidelity as a larger issue instead of just focusing on this specific case. There was this one snippet - that I can't find online - where a psychologist said that in a good relationship there should be 5 positive experiences for every bad one. After I read that, I decided to start keeping score at home.

That night, we went out to dinner. After a simple 10-minute car ride, we were already 35 good experiences in the hole. ("I had plenty of gas when I was driving home, I have no idea why the light is on now." Sure you don't, babe.) I'm thinking that may be some kind of record, but I don't know who to call to find out. Dr. Phil, maybe?

During dinner, we wondered if/how our relationship could be saved. Then that got boring, so I wondered how anyone ever thought 3rd Rock From the Sun was funny. [Answer: who the hell knows.]

Later, on the ride home, I slid some Marley into the stereo and we opened up the windows and danced in our seats and decided to call it even. All was right with the world.

don't worry about a thing
cause every little thing is gonna be alright
don't worry about a thing
every little thing is gonna be alright

rise up this morning
smiled with the rising sun
three little birds
pitch by my door step
singing sweet songs
of melodies pure and true
saying, this is my message to you

Unfortunately, after only one verse, Libby got cold and we had to roll up the windows. And with that, we were back to 5 under par.