Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Two sides to every story?

They say there are two sides to every story. I think there are actually more.

There is HIS side, and HER side. The RIGHT side and the WRONG side. It all depends on who's side you are on when you look a little closer. Tonight, I guess I actually learned something. There are many sides to the story, and it all depends on how you look at it.

Eight years ago, today, Dennis and I were married. We'd been together for 8 years before we finally said, "I do". So, technically, we are together for 16 years.

All day long, I imagined how the night would play out once he got home from work. He'd come home and get a shower. We'd eat supper and then go out in the back yard to the spot we were married and we'd have our picture taken. Then, Trevor would keep an eye on his brothers and Dennis and I would take a little ride in the country before stopping at the Boulevard for an ice cream. (I'd have a vanilla in a cone, and I just know he'd pick chocolate!) We'd talk about everything and anything, uninterrupted! We'd come home to our lego-scattered living room and watch some tv before he'd have to go to bed. (He has to get up very early in the morning.)

I was not at all prepared for how the night really went..........

Dennis came home from work. I was on the phone with a friend. This was at least the 4th or 5th phone call I got today. I talked to EVERYONE!! When the call ended, he looked upset and asked what he should get from the store for supper. We decided on bbq'd chicken. I asked him to get drumsticks and thighs, since they are on sale at Giant this week.

He came back with leg quarters. Don't ask me the difference between a leg quarter and a whole leg. They kind of look the same, only a little smaller? Of course, I made a face, since I requested drumsticks and thighs. He told me to just cut them in half. So, I did. If there's one thing that really ruins my appetite, it's Giant's chicken legs. EEEWWW!!! They should just label them "Portly Poultry". The thigh part is more FAT than meat! YUCK!!

I cut them all and had them ready for the grill as he talked on the phone. He was all smiles, even after he hung up. I put the chicken on the grill and came back into the house to get the potatoes going. I don't even think a whole minute passed when Collin came running in to tell me the grill was smoking real bad. A second after that, Dennis came in and told me the chicken might be ruined. I went out to have a look.

Well, the drumsticks looked fine. A little charred from the raging fire beside them, but still edible. The thighs, on the other hand,......YIKES!! They were black and burnt beyond recognition. I told him this happened because they were so fatty. He didn't think so. I'm sure, if I would've brought the fatty chicken home, it would've been the chicken, but because he bought it, the fire was from the burgers he made on the grill nights before. UGH!!

He got mad, I got mad. He said he'd eat the chicken, he didn't care. I ended up finishing the drumsticks in the oven to make him happy, even though they weren't making the grill flame up. The whole point in making bbq chicken on the grill was so I didn't have to turn the oven on and make it hot in the house. But, what do I know?

By this time, my appetite was completely gone. He said some things, I said some things. It got pretty ugly. I fed the kids, he ate his burnt chicken. After supper, and a few apologies, armed with my camera and tri-pod, I headed outside for the "anniversary photo shoot". Dennis was filling the kids' pool, and was more worried about how much money was on the debit card so he could go and put gas in his car. I went back in, got the phone and handed it to him. I then went to the back yard and did my solo photo shoot. He saw me down there, knew what I was up to, yet said nothing. I took photos of myself. Yipee. They were a flop, and I really didn't care. The camera wasn't focused right, but so what. A miserable picture for my miserable night. UGH!


Not long after he got back from getting gas, he went to bed. I got online, and went to the message boards where I have friends that always make me feel better. My frown was turned upside down. :) A nice little chat, and I'm feeling much better.

So, then, after all of this, I came to realize that a story does have more than one side, and if you look at both sides, from EVERY angle, there could be something you are overlooking.

I see now that this wasn't the first time, in 8 (16) years , for burnt chicken, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Life is too short to worry about burnt chicken, especially when there's a Burger King just up the street. ;)

I LOVE you, Dennis, and I guess sandwiches and potato chips will be fine tomorrow night. ;)

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