Two Sphinxes

The Husband in Vegas update stands at: up by $2,000 from the three card poker tables, 1 proposition from a prostitute, and two Cirque du Soleil shows. Never mind the fact that I’ve always wanted to see Cirque. He went without me. But then I went without him to a movie on Friday that he’d wanted to see. But it’s not the same. Cirque du Soleil, twice, versus Tropic Thunder? It hardly compares. The only reasons why I didn’t go with him were that I still don’t have the vacation time at work piled up, and it’s the busy season now, and we’re prohibited from taking more than two days off in a row. No, I am not jealous. Nor am I bitter. Nope. Not at all.

The busy season’s been interesting, to say the least. Today I came back from lunch at 1:20, then the next thing I knew it was 3:40. I had a meeting at 4 and I hadn’t yet prepared for it. Where did the time between 1:20 and 3:40 go? I have no idea. And this isn't the first day this has happened, and I imagine it won't be the last.

My dogs have taken it upon themselves to be the men of the house in Todd’s absence. Sure they doze when I am just chilling out and watching TV. But the moment we go upstairs to sleep, they take their position on the foot of the bed. They sit like a pair of sphinxes, facing the door of the bedroom.

Sometimes Griffen will drop down to the floor and stand at the top of the stairs, staring down with his head cocked to the side as if to say “What was that? Wait. There it is. Did you hear that?”

Then Nemo will pop down from the bed, and stare with his brother, his hackles slightly raised, as if to say, "Yeah, I heard it too. Do you think they have steak?"

"No, they don't have steak, you moron. But wait, if it's Todd he might. It could be Todd," Griffen cocks his head to the other side.

"Do you think we should check it out?" Nemo half barks.

“Guys, there’s nothing there, come on to bed,” I’ll say. They hesitate at the top of the stairs for a moment longer before turning back to the bedroom. The tiptoe into the room, easily jump back onto the bed again, and assume the position of two sphinxes standing guard as I read, waiting for intruders bearing steak.

And then one of them will get distracted from the vigil and try to hump my shins.