George and I have an interesting history. We “hooked up” (as they say in the hip young lingo) when we worked at the studio together. We started a relationship in between song recordings and press kit designs. We stayed late at the office listening to music that had been recorded during the day (and uh, making out a lot). Long story short, we were already in a relationship for almost a month before we had our first date.

I remember our first date well because it was the ADD of weather conditions that day. We met at the studio (naturally), then we walked to a used book and CD store that I had never been to, and it was sunny. When we didn’t find any books we wanted, we went to another one owned by the same people and it had started to drizzle. After that we walked in what had become a total downpour to Peel Pub for a quick bite to eat. By the time we were done, it was sunny again but the wind nearly knocked us over when we crossed the street and went to see a movie (“Ransom”). When the movie that we barely saw was over(ahh, youth; like we would ever waste our money on the ridiculous price of movies now only to ignore it in favor of more making out) we headed to a bar that I forget the name of – and it was raining again. We sat in the back of the bar and had a few beers while talking. At the end of the night we walked through a sudden snowstorm back to the parking lot and he drove me home.

It’s hard to forget the details when they were so crazy.

We dated after that one time but really, our relationship didn’t need solid dates as much as it might have under different circumstances. Since we worked together we saw each other every week day. He was playing in a band and I went to see him play almost every Friday and Saturday night, which didn’t really count as dates. We moved in together after a whopping three months so then we really didn’t necessarily need a date night since we were together all the damn time anyway.

Then we had kids. And having kids threw a serious kink into even our low-key version of dating. We could no longer run off to go see a movie or head out to a restaurant or just wake up one morning and decide to go out of town. All those things suddenly required planning. Do you know why George and I never officially got married? Because we suck at planning for ourselves. So you can imagine how complicated dating got, right?

And so on that note, I give you some reasons I need a date with George:

• I don’t want to become one of those people who refers to her husband as “Dad” because I always talk about him to the kids.
• The last time we went out to eat together we had hot dogs and poutine at La Belle Province (a greasy diner for the non-Quebec folks) and we had Breanna with us.
• The last time we went anywhere without the kids was when he played at the Forum and that still didn’t really count as a date since he was playing.
• Aside from that time, within the past year the only places we’ve gone without the kids have been: a) grocery shopping once, b) Christmas shopping, c) to pick up my grandmother’s dresser after she passed away.
• The last movie we watched together was Monster House tonight on DVD with Breanna.
• We have seen more kids’ movies in the past year than any movies with a rating higher than G.
• Actually, come to think of it, the last movie we saw in the theater together was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Which was out three years ago.
• The height of romance lately? If I go to bed before he gets home, I occasionally leave him a note with phone messages, reminders to take his lunch in the morning, etc, and I sign it with “I love you”.
• Any serious conversations happen no earlier than 11 pm because during the day and evening neither kid will let us have more than ten seconds of air time, and then he’s usually out when they’re in bed. Which would be okay except then by the time we get a chance to talk we’re too damn tired.

Yep. Sounds like we seriously need a date night.

Back when we DID date, circa 2000:

(I’m not writing this as a big “wah, woe is me” post. I’m writing it because aside from being true, Parent Bloggers Network is having a blog blast with the topic being “You know you need a date with your husband/partner when…”. They’ve collaborated with eharmony which is a brand new online alternative to marriage counseling. Together they are offering a chance to win a paid date with your husband – including a $100 American Express Gift Card and $100 cash to cover any babysitting expenses. No, really. I know, holy crap.)