When the Clock Strikes...9:30?

"Kay, that's enough. I want you off the computer." Jay announced.

"Oh but Honey, I haven't responded to everyone's blogs yet! I'm way behind since I've been so busy. And I still have other stuff I have to do-" I reasoned.

"Doesn't matter. You still need to step away from the computer, now."

Ooh, I hate that word!  "Okay, just let me finish this one thing-"

"Kaytlin," my husband drew out my name in warning, "I said NOW!"

There's that word again! Grrrrr....I took one look at his face. Yup. Serious. Okay, okay! I got up quickly.

Jay was continuing to stare me down with that stern HOH expression. "Don't even touch it for the rest of the night. You've been on it too long!"

My hand reached of its own accord to do exactly that. Not to go back online, just to give it a little...tap. Just because, well, him saying NOT to even touch it... You know if someone tells you to not think about a pink elephant, that's all you can think about? It's maddening! And I swear, my hand has a mind of its own!

"Kay," Jay warned, "you better stop. I don't care if you are playing or being smart, you put even one finger on that computer, and there will be serious consequences."

I gulped at his tone. "Okay." I quickly clasped my hands behind my back, and out of the way of temptation.

"I don't want you on that computer for the rest of the night," he repeated again. "I also don't want you calling anyone, texting, or blogging on your phone. You're done. Are we clear?"

"Yes," I said, waiting until he went back to watching TV. Then I made a beeline for my phone. After a few minutes, "Kay!"

"Yes, Honeybear?" I made sure I was the picture of innocence. Halo in place? Check. Sweet smile? Check. Doing nothing he specifically said not to do? Check!

"Didn't I say you're done using your phone too?" His voice got ominous. "Are you deliberately disobeying me?"

Oh, not a good phrase to hear. Umm...."No!" And I'm indignant you could even think such a thing! "You said that I'm not to call, text, or blog," I repeated matter-of-factly. "I'm not doing any of those things. I'm checking my email." So...Ha! Take that, ya big bully!

"Okay, fine. No touching the phone in general. Are we clear?"

"Ummm...sure, Jay, Honey, that's a nice idea...except that, well, that's going to make it very difficult to set my alarm and bring the phone to the bedroom, where it belongs! And as you know, I have to get up early tomorrow. I really can't miss that appointment." Hey, I'm just being kind enough to point out the obvious!

Jay rolled his eyes. No fair! How come he gets to do that? "You and your word games," he shook his head. Then he turned back to me. "Okay, Smart Ass," he said, "You know what I mean. No texting, no calling, no internet. No games either. No apps other than the alarm. Clear enough for you?"

I did a quick mental check through his list looking for loopholes. Nope. None. Dang. "Yes. Okay, I'm done." I sighed, gave him a kiss, then went to take care of things I should have been doing anyway. So I'm back in my happily submissive frame of mind, taking care of the baby, when I hear...

"I'm instituting this as a new rule." Okay, might as throw cold water on my face! What?!!!! 

Okay, maybe he's talking about listening immediately? I spun around. "Huh?!!!"

"All electronic communication of any kind stops at 9:30pm. That includes both computer and phone. Are we clear?"

No, we most certainly are NOT! There's NO WAY I'm going to agree to submit to that! Okay, let's try logic first, maybe I can get him to see reason...  "But Honey, what about if my friend's online? You know we don't get to talk much! Or if I need to respond to a Facebook message, or one of my friends on Facebook needs help? Or if I need to call someone? And you know I don't even get free minutes until nine!"

"Doesn't matter, Kay, the rule still stands." I struggled not to say something that would get me in serious trouble. Well of all the unfair--  His voice interrupted my thoughts. "By the way, that's seven days a week."

Now I looked at him incredulously, like he'd just sprouted horns. Perhaps he had! What kind of new evil was this? That's the time I go on the internet on the weekends! The time I get to be a night owl! (when I'm not working). I could feel my face starting to flame with anger. "What?!" I said, very controlled, struggling to keep the steam from blowing out my ears.

"You heard me. Seven days a week. And if I catch you violating that rule, you will be getting fifteen with the paddle, separate from any other infractions, and I guarantee they won't be light. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Ha! Loophole found! You can't catch me--got it. I can live with that, heh, heh, heh. I tried not to smile.

"And if I find out that you violated the rule and didn't tell me, it will be much, much worse for you." Dang it! Why can the guy always read me like a book? It's a good thing I never play poker with him! "Are we clear?"

I deliberately didn't answer. No way I was agreeing to that!

"Kay! You need to answer me. Are we clear?"

"No!"

Jay looked at my screwed up features, my intensely stubborn face, and smiled a little. "You know, I don't need your agreement for this rule to be in effect. I'd like it, but I don't need it. You already gave me consent to institute rules as I see fit."

"Yeah, but that's not fair! You can't just make rules up just because!"

He grabbed both my hands. "Sweetie, I need you to understand something. I have to limit your internet and phone, for the sake of all of us. You spend more time on that stupid computer and phone than with your family, and it's not right. I have to intervene." 

Okay, that stung. A lot. And made me think. But still...C'mon! Weekends, too? I went into the bedroom, still feeling very stubborn, still in a huff. "Submit, submit, gotta submit, geez, this bites," I muttered, trying to calm myself down. I took a deep breath. Then another one. "God, please help, submission sucks so much right now-" I know, not the most reverent prayer. But wow, was I upset, so I think God understood that! I took one more deep breath, then turned to walk out the door. I almost bumped into my smug-faced husband, who had been staying just out of sight, in order to listen to my every word.

Jay bemusedly watched me startle at his presence, then silently wrapped me in his arms. He hugged me hard, lifting me off the ground. Then setting me down, he just held me for a moment. Finally, he pushed me away from his chest, so we could talk.

"You do understand why I'm doing this, right?"

"Yes," I answered, even though I hated saying it.

"Do this for me, just for right now, and then we'll see if we can revisit the idea of giving you your weekends back. Okay?" He gave me a kiss.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Hope. Cool. "Okay, Hon, I'll submit to this under one condition."

"And what's that?"

"You stop your stupid anime shows at 9:30 too, no matter what. I can't be expected not to be allowed on the computer or my phone, while I'm listening to girls whine at the highest pitch known to mankind--it's like fingernails on a chalkboard," I said with undisguised disgust.

"I'd appreciate a slight bit more of respect about it, but okay."

 "And DragonBall Z Kai, and Naruto, and all that other sh--stuff too," I said. "Just so there's no loopholes, for either of us. Deal?"

"Deal," Jay agreed.

"Okay, then," I said. "What if I have to work the next day and need information, or I need to unwind after working until like eight or nine?"

"Then I'll allow it when you need it. You just need to run it by me first." Jay laughed. "I'm not a tyrant, Kay."

"I know," I said, settling into his arms again. Then lifted up a teasing smile. "Sometimes."


Now I'd say something really cool and meaningful at the end of this post, but as you can tell by the time...





I gotta go. :D