Auburn Gal Always

Old-Married Kind of Romance

I know the soap-opera/movie/sit-com version of romance...

Dressing up

Fancy restaurant

Tripled mark-up roses

Box of chocolates that you can't identify and regret biting into but smile and force yourself to chew and swallow

Dancing (?)

Baby-sitters

Snuggling in front of the fire-place in a lacy, red nighty (The Mighty Hunter in the nighty! not me! I crack me up!)

We've never bought into that kind of crap at the Auburn Family Homestead.

September 2006 was our 14th anniversary (yay, us!). We're country folks. SOME might call us red-necks.

Well, maybe. But we're hi-tech red-necks.

The Mighty Hunter and I grew up right here in NE Alabama and love it. We graduated from Auburn University, also located in a beautifully rural part of Alabama.

After college, we moved home; The Mighty Hunter worked in the Hicksville, NY (Long Island) area; then he worked in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and ended up in Los Angeles. I moved out there with him. We lived there for 15 more months. We became jaded Los Angelinos - with Southern Accents. We've been back in Alabama since October 1995.

Thank you, Jesus.

We've done the romantic stuff that the commercials tell us we should want.

There are some people who would think that a wife should expect - nay, demand! - the retail version of romance and Valentine's Day.

But I don't really think that's the only way to be romantic. Romance is different to everyone.

For The Mighty Hunter, simply being at home, watching his favorite tv shows or movies. Eating a home-cooked meal. Playing with his babies. Going to bed early.

These things are romantic.

This year, I treated The Mighty Hunter to his version of romance.

Baked potatoes

Cheesy broccoli rice (from a package)

Macaroni salad (from scratch)

Yeast rolls (frozen)

Rotelly baked chicken (my made-up recipe*)

I didn't get flowers. Didn't want any. We have some very close friends who own a florist shop. We've volunteered in the past delivering for them. They've donated not-so-perfect roses to The Mighty Hunter's retail-romantic efforts. Even their beautifully perfect flowers wilt. I usually kill the plants that are given to us. I wouldn't buy flowers from anyone but my friends. But I repeatedly told The Mighty Hunter - no flowers.

I didn't want candy. I have a HUGE bowlful of Halloween, Christmas and birthday candy - plus some things I indulged in before Lucky was born. I will buy my own chocolates.

I can't drink right now - Lucky would definitely be considered an under-aged drinker. And I would probably guilt-trip myself into confessing to contributing to the delinquency of a minor if I had more than a sip of his home-made Scuppernong wine. Even if I weren't breast-feeding, I'd probably have only a couple of sips. I'm a light-weight.

I can't seem to get a shower on a predictable schedule - so going to a crowded restaurant was not a viable or DESIRABLE option.

I'd also rather spend the evening at home with my babies

and my favorite big, growling teddy bear.

It was a wonderful, romantic Valentine's here. How about you?

*Rotelly baked chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (as many as you want/need)

My Famous Spice Rub**

1 can Rotel-type diced tomatoes and chilis

1 can tomato sauce (same size can as Rotel)

2 Tbs brown sugar

**My Famous Spice Rub

4 parts Chili powder

1 part Cumin

1 part Cinnamon

1 part Ginger

1 part Thyme

Preheat oven to 300. Lightly sprinkle both sides of chicken with My Famous Spice Rub and place in an oven-safe dish. In a mixing bowl, combine Rotel, tomato sauce and brown sugar. Spread Rotel mixture over chicken. Bake, uncovered, approximately 45 minutes or until chicken reaches internal 170 degrees or you can slice into a piece of chicken and it is completely cooked throughout. Eat. Wash your dishes. Brush your teeth. Have some dessert.