The legislature is gearing up for session and we are officially hunkering down at home!

Actually, the kids and I love this time of year. Last night, we had breakfast for dinner. This would not have flown with our Senator. He is a meat and potato kind of guy at the dinner table. He likes his routines. The rest of us, we are easy. Maybe this is a result of having to be flexible. That can be debated.

However, when he was new to the legislature the kids were so sad he was frequently not with us for dinner, they took an old card table and converted it to a three person table because his empty chair made them depressed.

Now, when he has more pressing “official” business, the children and I have an “official” party of our own. Call it survival, call it pathetic, call it whatever you want, but I have chosen to stay on the upside of being a legislative widow. We make our own fun, our own dinner and it is usually on our own time!

There are debates among legislative wives on who has it easier when the legislature convenes. Is it the wives whose husbands travel hundreds of miles to work at the Capitol? These guys rent an apartment in the City and return home for long weekend visits then head back to the Capitol to start the process over again?

There is an upside to that formula. Inevitably, while the legislators are gone it would be easier to establish a routine. Moms and children are used to the empty chair at the table and one simply plans accordingly. Now, that does not mean it is fun when daddy misses your piano recital or basketball championship game, but there is always YouTube, right?

On the other hand, is it those local wives, who live within fifty miles give or take from the Capitol, whose husbands are in and out at all times of the day and night? Even though they are home, their chaotic schedule wreaks havoc on any type of daily routine. They are there at the end of the day (or their day) to sleep in their own bed, but is it cool to walk in horribly late to that piano recital as opposed to missing it completely? You decide.

There have been some days when my Senator has returned after the children were asleep and left the house prior to their waking up in the morning. This makes for an interesting discussion over breakfast.

I have talked at length about this with my legislative spousal friends and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I am sure we would love to trade places just to see for ourselves what situations the other deals with on a daily basis. Did I just call for a Legislative Wife Swap?

One thing is consistent, however, and that is regardless of geography, every legislator and his family has the constant demands of their constituents, ( a group of voters who elect someone to represent them). And, that is a topic for a completely separate post!

O.K. children, time to say goodbye to dad for a while! Just remember our vocab word for the day: constituents. Using it in a sentence: You are daddy’s constituents, so feel free to tell him how you feel about the pressing issues facing our state. The chances are fairly good that you will get a response back!

Still can’t quit thinking about that Orange Bowl. My five friends who read this know I could have cared less about the outcome of that game being the ardent USC fan that I am. However, we went to such a fun watch party and I brought along my camera.

It was quite a festive gathering hosted by some of the nicest people I know. We feasted on fabulous food brought over by one of the yummy restaurateurs in town. He made sure that each pot of chili, one with beef and one with authentic Louisiana sausage, flown in especially for one of his restaurants, was seasoned just right.

We listened to great music piped in during the commercials.

There were several big (I mean, BIG) flat screens for viewing the game and lots of spirit (and spirits!).

The interesting mix of people was icing on the cake.

In downloading the photos today I was reminded how much I really do love college football.

My Senator thought he was a member of the Orange Bowl committee, (notice the patch from the 2001 Orange Bowl on his blazer).

And, I made an extra effort to be on my best behavior that evening. Really, I did. It is like part of the Trojan doctrine, to be a kind and courteous fan. You think I’m kidding? I even wore red. Well, more like burgundy.

But not everyone did…

The only thing missing was a win for the Sooners. Oh well, there’s always next year. But, then they’ve been saying that for a while.

Love, the Senator’s wife

I am a politician’s wife, stay at home mother of two who is constantly flying by the seat of her pants!  I have a passion for motherhood, family, my faith and the United States of America.  Six years ago, my smart and sweet husband entered the political world as a businessman, with the hopes of providing an environment for individuals and businesses to succeed.  I learned very quickly that politics is a contact sport.