I have mentioned more than a few times that my husband and I do not fight very often. By “not very often” I mean, “I can’t remember the last time we truly fought.” We disagree, debate and discuss but it so rarely turns into a Really Big Deal. Part of it is due to the fact that we are inherently compatible, part of it is due to the fact that he is a quiet, calming force in stark contrast to my high-energy nature, and part of it is due to the fact that I am a smidgen on the conniving side.

That’s right. I plot and I ploy and I scheme. It’s all for the greater good. For the most part. Let me explain.

My husband (never reads these posts which means I can confess this, and) is great and wonderful and truly a far better parent than I will ever be. I have just learned that timing is everything when it comes to bringing up certain topics.

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The length of time (or lack thereof) that people date before getting married seems to be a hot topic this week. I read a post over at Heidikins that talked about it and then read a post on Yahoo! Shine titled, “Is One Month Into Dating Too Soon To Get Hitched?”

I have mentioned our personal story before but am too (lazy, and) busy to read through the past year (WHAT?) of my posts here to link to them.

Long story short: We had our first date on November 30th. We got engaged December 30th (Same year). We got married less than five months later, on May 20th.

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I came across an article over at Divine Caroline titled, “When “I Do” Means “I Want” – The New Rules of Registry.” The article explains what items are appropriate…and what items are not. The stores mentioned in the article that have registries was pretty varied and a little mind-blowing.

As someone who got married nearly ten years ago (Woo!) our options for registering at the time were The Hudson’s Bay Company (I’m Canadian. Holla!) and IKEA. My husband and I had both spent a number of years living on our own before we met, so we didn’t necessarily need anything.

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I came across an article over at The Frisky titled, “Eight So-Called Chivalrous Moves That Creep Us Out.” The title alone drew me in and I had to see what was listed as “creepy” moves by dudes who were trying to be chivalrous.

Most of them I agreed with. There is no need to tell me that you need to “tinkle” and there is no need to walk me to the restroom when I need to “tinkle.” Also. If I had ever gone on a date with someone who was willing (and able)(without cracking up) to hold my purse the dude would have been kicked to the curb. Purse and all.

A few of the points I have to disagree with. I like it when my husband pulls out the chair for me and helps we with my coat. I also like it when he opens the car door for me. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I kind of like being treated like a lady.

(Not like a lady of the night; that’s totally different.)

Do you like it when the man in your life tries to be chivalrous? Or are there “chivalrous” things that he does that creep you out?

After reading through the comments on my last post, I don’t think that another “commitment-related” post is in order. I feel like it is time for me to set the record straight on this here column of mine.

I am not a marriage expert in any way, shape or form. Obviously. When the idea to write this column was presented to me, it was because I had “one of the happiest marriages on the Internet.” That made me laugh but in reality, it is kind of true. I love my husband and he loves me. We are inherently compatible. We don’t fight very often, we build each other up instead of tearing each other down, we have fun and we laugh. A lot.

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I came across a post over at Yahoo! Shine titled, “Happy Marriage Secret = Separate Beds?”

The sleep researcher quoted in the article says that sleeping in separate beds helps couples escape arguments and ensures a proper night’s rest. If a husband or wife snores, twin beds might not be an option either and they should sleep in separate bedrooms, a practice that was quite common before the Victorian era.

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I have to admit that my husband and I do not watch a lot of TV, nor do we watch many movies. People often ask me how I manage to get all that I do done and I point to that fact. When the kids are in bed my husband will often putter in the shop and I will typity typity type to get my work (and play) all wrapped up.

Then there are nights where we 1) Need a break, 2) Need a break and 3) Need a break. Sometimes we curl up on the couch and see what our PVR has to offer. Sometimes we will go to a place called a theater and watch something called a movie. It’s neat.

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I ran across an article over at Yahoo! Shine titled, “What’s the WORST relationship advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from?” Before I even read the article a few pieces of advice came to mind that were given to me repeatedly when I was single but did not hold true for me.

The first piece of advice that popped into my head was, “Date for at least a year before you get married.” I’ve mentioned it a few times over here, but we started dating in November, got engaged a month later and then got married the next May. We’re in our tenth year, so I think we proved that one wrong.

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This will probably come as no surprise to anyone who knows me even a little bit: I am a social being. I took one of those quizzes once and it told me that I was an introverted extrovert. That sums me up pretty perfectly. I do need my down time and feel the most balanced if I have quiet time to read and to write and to just recharge.

On the other hand, if I am at a social gathering  I become entirely energized and lose all track of time while I sit and chat with with friends of mine. I look forward to these times of connecting, so much so that I go on regular girls’ night and usually take a few solo trips a year to spend time with these people whom I hold close to my heart.

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