If you’re a long time reader you may know the background of how this blog came to be. If not, I’ll give you the short story.
Like many other people, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job a little over a year ago. This was truly one of the most difficult times in my life. In order to deal with my anxiety and the excess of free time, I started a blog (Active Leisure) where I humorously journaled my unemployed life. It was great therapy for me. If you’re ever bored and want to have yourself a few chuckles about muffin tops & pajamattire take a moment to surf around my other blog (unfortunately, or fortunately, since I’m now gainfully employed, life has become a bit too busy for me to update it regularly). Another unexpected benefit of having all that free time, was more than enough opportunity to pay attention to stuff around the house. Things like the drawers that needed cleaning or shoes hubby tried to put on the table or his inability to throw trash in the garbage, all seemed to make their way to the forefront. Since I was chronicling my life, and almost every day hubby did something around our house that made me crazy, he made many appearances in that other blog! So much so, that The Hubby Diaries grew out of that unemployment blog.
What I didn’t realize when I started a new blog that revolved around our relationship, was that by making hubby the star I was creating a monster. I’ve posted before about hubby’s spotlight syndrome and about how he actually now highlights possible topics for the blog as he does, how shall we say….. stupid things around our house. I’ve tried my best to diffuse this bright spotlight. I’ve tried to place large objects in front of the light, I’ve propped up umbrellas around our house and I’ve even tried to swap out the big spotlight for a tiny little flashlight. With a flashlight at least I can shine it on him at any angle I choose and for as long as I choose. By only turning the light on him when I want to, I can still manage daily life as hubby trudges through our house with dirt on his shoes and then, with that little grin he has, asks me if he’s just provided me with a new blog entry. (No, dear hubby, you’ve just provided yourself with another chore of mopping the floor!)
But again, life is full of surprises, and what I never expected was for some of hubby’s friends to try to dip their toe into this bright light. I guess I never realized how competitive men can be or how much innate desire a man has to be the star of his own show. Now, I’d guess this doesn’t apply to every man as I know there are plenty of guys out there who like to fade into the background. But for many others, who seem to celebrate hubby’s quirks and like to relish in the male strength & solidarity created by this blog, I’ve seen some interesting behavior. Not only have I seen hubby noting his own “blog-worthy” behavior in our house, but I’ve started to see other male friends doing this too. I often wonder… What have I done to myself??
Just this past weekend we hosted a poker game. As you may know, we have a custom poker Man Cave and we host games regularly. So, Friday night we host an 18 player Texas Hold’em game. That’s 17 men and me. (not completely crazy, cause after all… I am “one of the boys”.)
Anyhow, here’s a conversation with one of our friends who is a regular blog reader… (yes Joe.. this one’s for you…..)
Joe: “How do I get into the blog?”
Me: “Joe, it’s called The Hubby Diaries, it sort of needs to be about hubby”
Joe: “But, I do stuff that’s blog-worthy”
Me: “I’m sure you do, but it doesn’t exactly work like that”
Joe: “But what about the Pomegranate soap? That has to be worthy of the blog”
Me: “Joe, just because you have an unusual (and quite possibly unhealthy) fascination with the hand soap in our bathroom, doesn’t automatically get you into the blog”
Joe: “But, I wanna be in the blog”
Me: “Sorry Joe, sometimes a situation will just jump out at me during the course of the day that inspires a post. We can just hope you’re part of it”
Joe: pouting (and probably also mentally conniving about how he can “inspire” a post) “Well, that sucks”
Me: “I don’t know what to tell ya Joe…. I really don’t take requests….”
Joe: “But I like to eat my cheese flat, and I’m an awfulizer.”
Me: “Well, I feel sorry for your wife.. but that’s sort of not the point…”
So, now I’ve disappointed Joe. It’s not the first time he’s asked about how he can get a guest appearance in the blog, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. And, just for the record, the interest in our Pomegranate/Mange scented Softsoap in the bathroom is definitely a bit odd. I think I’ve actually caught him at times, during poker games, smelling his own hands………..
A little later in the evening we’re all on a poker break hanging out in the kitchen. And one of our other friends makes a comment that has everyone laughing.
Immediately Joe gets all upset at himself since he’s not the one who said it, and, in the most disappointed voice, he says….”Oh man, I bet that’s gonna make it into the blog!!”.
Apparently spotlight syndrome can hit anyone at any time. And apparently I have created my own absurd little world…. where men now come to my house and try to figure out ways to illustrate odd or annoying behavior just to make a blog appearance. I have plenty on my hands with hubby, and I think any more men with bizarre quirks could quite possibly push me over the edge.
There’s just simply not enough time in the day to blog about Every Single Stupid Thing that Every Single Man does. I’d have to quit my job and blog full time and I still probably couldn’t cover every single topic!
Right ladies?? 🙂
Become a fan of The Hubby Diaries on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thehubbydiaries
Just found your blog via blogfrog and had a hilarious time around here. I started to blog about our relation just about 2 years ago. By now HE is participating. Yet he belongs obviously to the minority of men avoiding the spotlight!
Well, Joe had his guest appearance – is he content now GRIN
I am German, he is American and we lived for some years in Spain, after 2 yeras of LDR and major issues we managed to solve all of this and I am moving across the pond”for good”.
I think all relation provide lots to laugh and blog about.
For sure I will be around more often.
LikeLike
Paula ~ You are so right. I think every relationship provides tons of comedy. I also think laughter is one of the most important things in life! Best of luck with your move “across the pond” 🙂
LikeLike
saw you followed me and took a look at the blog clearly men and women are in two different world – wait till you mix a little one in – and BAM! its fun 24 and grey hairs at about twice the married without kids rate. 🙂
LikeLike
Visiting from The Lady Bloggers Tea Party, just saying from a blogger whose hubby DOES not like being the main spotlight of my blog, you’re lucky.
Without being able to blog about him, I have nothing, nothing I tell ya! lol
LikeLike
Lisa B ~ Yes, I am lucky! He’s not only a good sport about it but, he’s also given me carte blanche to write about absolutely anything I want! He really is a good egg, even if I do want to whack him in the head most days! 🙂
LikeLike
As a hubby myself I LOVE your blog. I don’t know what I’d do if my wife were to write about my stupid actions… oh yeah I know… I’d do exactly what your hubby does. I LOVE things about ME *evil grin*
But honestly, your blog is so well written and funny it definitely has been followed by subscription as soon as I found it. 🙂 Keep on writing!
LikeLike
Bajanpoet ~ I’m so thankful to have some male readers who enjoy the blog! And thanks so much for your kind words!
LikeLike
It’s a long-established principle in both New Age thinking and in animal training: you concentrate on the behavior that you want to see more of.
Meanwhile, congratulations on the the budding new career. I see a TV show in your future, something like The Marriage Ref, only without the final rulings, just the snarky humor.
LikeLike
I am a fan of the Hubby Diaries on FB now. I can’t wait for more posts, and I’ll be back!
I laughed at the discussion between the two of you, and the pomegranate soap thing…could be worse!
LikeLike