It's Summer! Take It Outside For An Exciting Change Of Pace!

Ahhhh, summertime! Tan, smoothe bodies, the scent of tropical lotions, the sounds of nature lulling you into total relaxation every night. Here in the midwest, we only get a few precious months of summer warmth and sunshine. That's why this gal recommends taking full advantage of the hot summer days and sizzling summer nights.

Warm weather is the perfect time to break out of your ususal routine and take it outside. Yes, I mean having sex outdoors! Most men find the mere thought of having sex outdoors extremely exciting. It's the combination of the caveman mindset and the idea of being out in the open...where you might be seen. For us ladies, it may not be our dream idea of making love under the stars, but just give it a try and see how much you can make your personal thermometer rise!

Here are some ideas for sizzling, sexy summer fun!

Have your own back yard? Pitch a tent and camp out! Take along some yummy summer fruits, a bottle of chilled wine and an ice bucket. Use the ice to give one another shivers of delight by tracing each other's body curves as the ice slowly melts on warm skin. No tent? No problem! Find a dark spot in your yard and lay down a big, thick blanket. Make love right in the open and under the stars! Don't forget the mosquito repellant! Utilize your outdoor furniture too. A lounge chair, hammock or cushioned patio chair can make for some interesting and exciting love making. Be creative and enjoy the rush!

Water folies! Got a pool? Grab your lover for a one on one "adult swim". Day or night, making love in the swimming pool can be exhilerating! Just remember, this is a big no no if you're using insertable birth control or condoms. Go for a sexy swim and then continue your fun on a big beach towel. And always remember.....deep thrusting in water can drive infection into the pelvic cavity.....so take it slow, sensual and smoothe. After all, most of the fun is getting there! Take your time and have a nice, naked swim together. Day or night, the feel of your partner's wet, nude body against yours can be intoxicating.

Cuddle up to nature. Take a hike in your favorite woodsy park then sneak off the trail for a quickie. Be as descreet as possible though, in some states, this is a felony! Have a mid day picnic and wear a beautiful, flowing sundress....and no panties. Make sure to mention this to him after you've nibbled on your scrumptious picnic fare, that way he can finish his meal while fantasizing about what might happen next. Wearin a sundress sans panties makes it easy to straddle his lap for a cuddle and maybe a little bit more. No one but you two will know what's going on under your dress!

Don't have your own back yard? Offer to house sit for vacationing friends and "borrow" their back yard! If you have access to a balcony or roof top you can create your own romantic space under the stars with soft blankets, tons of pillows and a bottle of your favorite wine or spirits. And there are plenty of camp grounds all over this beautiful country of ours. Buy or borrow a tent and make a weekend of it. Sneak away from the campgrounds and find an out of the way spot in the woods or near a lake.

No matter how you decide to do it, now is the perfect time to take the bedroom outdoors. Enjoy the thrill and relish the hot summer nights with the one you love, because before you know it, summer will be a memory fond memory.

See What Happens When You Google Yourself!

And when I say "Googling yourself", I don't mean *wink, wink* "Googling yourself"....I am referring to the search engine Google.

Yes, ordinarily, I'm here talking about sex...but just hang on a moment while I relish this incredible discovery and I'll get to the sex, I promise!

Since I am an avid sweepstaker, I occasionally Google my own name to see if it appears on a winner's list somewhere, you know, for a tee shirt, water bottle or gift card. This evening when I typed in my name, I scrolled through the usual things I see: older winner's lists, articles I've written etc. But this time, I was shocked to find my name tied to a book! Yes, a real paper, ink and bound book!

I clicked on the link and there it was....my name....the title of one of my articles.....listed as reference material for chapter 17 of this book. The title is "Sexual Intimacy in Marriage" and it's written by William Cutrer, Sandra Glahn. My article used as reference in an actual book.....and a book with pretty good reviews as well.

I have been on cloud 9 since finding this little bright spot, this literary treasure and it has inspired me. I am going to (finally) start the book that has been stewing in my brain since I retired from being "The Sex Toy Lady". And when I'm finished, you'll be the first to know! After all, I'll need help finding someone to publish me!

But in the meantime, please have a peek at the article that was referenced in William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn's book. The Title is, "When He's Not in the Mood. Tips For dealing With Your Partner's Waning Libido". The article was posted just below this blog entry. Enjoy...and please, give me your feedback!

And while you read, I'll be here doing the *Happy Dance*!!!

Stay sexy......

Ms. E

Recession Proof Romance For Gals Watching Their Wallets

Let's face it, times are changing and things aren't so good for many of us right now. It's not so easy for us to whip out the credit card and spend, spend, spend....we're counting change, saving as much as we can and putting alot of luxuries on the back burner. With Valentine's day fast approaching, romance is NOT something that should be put on hold. But you don't have to spend a bundle to give your man some romantic fun.

Here are my 10 romantic ideas for the gal on a budget..............

What is romantic to women and what is considered romantic to a man, is vastly different. While we may enjoy candle lit dinners, wine and roses, our men are enchanted by things that are completely out of our definition of "romantic". Try some of the tips below to woo the man in your life without breaking your budget.

1) Take some sexy snapshots: Grab a Poloroid instant camera or a digital camera and have your best gal pal capture the sexy you. Model some lingerie, swimwear or one of his shirts. You could take this opportunity to fulfill one of his fantasies and dress up as a school girl, beer wench or teacher.

2) Be naked: This is something very simple, but something that eludes most women. Men like seeing us naked....period. So forget the fact that you think your thighs are too big or your tummy needs trimmed, he doesn’t see what you do. He sees naked. He sees beautiful.

3) Have dinner in bed: This involves two of the things most men love most: Food and sex. So bring a lush dinner into the bedroom and don’t forget the strawberries and whipped topping for dessert.

4) Make him King for the night: Whatever it is that he enjoys, do it. Make his favorite dinner, let him control the television remote, give him a massage and YOU initiate the sex.

5) Movie night, his way: Let your man choose the movie for the night, along with the snacks and beverages. This may not seem significant to you, but this is something that will warm his heart.

6) Pack a special lunch for work: Not only does this involve food, it involves guy-envy. Imagine how he will feel when all of his male coworkers ogle his pot roast, potatoes, gravy and rolls then tell him what a lucky guy he is to have such an awesome woman at home.

7) Go for a drive and then park: Going for a nice, long drive can be romantic for us ladies. The drive will be romantic for him if you offer a little leg fondling and some steamy action when you find an away spot and park. Remember, park before you get steamy! Driving while horny could have serious consequences.

8) Try something he enjoys: Accompany him to a boat show, a wood worker’s work shop or a basketball game.....and smile. Showing interest in something he enjoys will score you major points in the "guy-romance" category.

9) Play a sexy game: Men like to play hard, whether it’s at sports or a card game. Combining sex with a game will appeal to his competitive nature and add a bit of fun to your sex life. Play strip chess or poker or make up your own game by putting sexual commands on the back of checker pieces.

10) Offer to wash his car: If your man isn’t a total freak about who washes his car, then take this opportunity to rev up his engine on a hot day. Put on your shortest shorts and a tank top or t-shirt. Let the water, soap suds and his imagination do the rest! (This only works in the summer or warmer climates! Shivering, wet Smurfs are not sexy!)

Busted In Bed

*Previously published by Edwina Caito on Club Mom

Have you ever had the feeling you were being watched? A couple of weeks ago I experienced that eerie sensation. I was in bed with my husband and deep in the throes of passion. I was enthusiastically tossing my hair and panting breathlessly when suddenly, I felt as if we were being watched. I slowly turned my head and opened my eyes to find my 8 year old daughter nose to nose with me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I fumbled and groped for the blankets as my husband quietly slid under them and out of sight.

This is the child that makes an uproarious racket wherever she goes. But for some reason, that night, she had the silence and speed of a Stealth Bomber with tiny pink feet. The dogs didn’t even hear her sneak attack. Their tails usually alert us by pounding out a friendly, "Hello" on the floor, welcoming anyone into our bedroom.

"I have a headache." She whispered as she rubbed her tired little eyes.
I snatched up my robe and hurried her off into the kitchen for a dose of Ibuprofen. She didn’t mention seeing or hearing anything, but she did ask, "Where’s dad?" I should have told her he was cowering under the blankets in shame.

My son, the middle child, was never one to wander into our room in the middle of the night. He did, however, have the keen hearing of a fruit bat. I discovered his super sonic hearing talent one evening during a family dinner.

Noticing my son yawning and looking bleary eyed, my father asked him why he was so tired. My son stretched and said, " Mommy was having a bad dream last night. She kept saying ‘Oh! Oh! Oh!’ And she got louder and louder. I didn’t think she’d ever stop dreaming."

I cleared my throat and gazed at my feet, "Anyone want more chicken?" My mother was appalled, my father was obviously amused and my son was clearly confused.

I thought I had gotten lucky with my oldest daughter. She never wandered into our bedroom at an inconvenient time nor did she ever overhear anything and announce it to the entire family. She did, however, develop impeccable timing as a teenager. The worse part about getting busted in bed by my teenager is that she let us know exactly how she felt about it.

Before moving into our house, my husband and I were sharing the sofa bed in the living room of our tiny apartment so our teenager could have her own room. She was out one evening, and since she wasn’t due home for hours, we decided to take full advantage of our time alone. At the apex of passion, the front door flies open, and there was our teenager daughter, two hours before curfew.

She stood there with her mouth gaping as she absorbed the site of her precious mother with her legs sprawled in the air. She wrinkled her nose in apparent disgust.

"What are you two, rabbits? Geesh, are you trying to scar me for life here?" She stomped off to her room, slammed the door and turned up the volume on her stereo.

We didn’t learn our lesson and the second time she caught us was far more humiliating. It happened during an overnight stay at a Ronald McDonald House. Our daughter was out and about in the house, hanging out with new friends she had met . My husband and I were stressed, tired and were in need some very quick comfort. So as we were relieving some stress, we hear the sound of a key card in the door. The lights from the hallway spilled in and pierced the pitch black darkness of the room. There we were, naked and eyes wide with shock, literally caught in a spotlight.

Our daughter stood there in the open doorway and read us the riot act. "Oh my God!" She exclaimed at the top of her voice, "You are in the Ronald McDonald House! Have you no shame?! Can you not stay off of each other for one night?! I’m leaving again, please be dressed when I get back. Eeeeeeeewww!" She shuddered as she slammed the door.

We got dressed right away and made sure we were fast asleep when she returned. We were humiliated, embarrassed and fearful as to how many guests in the house were aware of our deviant conduct. We felt like perverts. We had soiled the name of an upstanding clown and world wide children’s icon. We didn’t have sex for weeks after that incident.

So let our story be a lesson to you. Try not to freak out when your toddler wanders in and announces that he sees daddy’s bottom. There’s no need to cower in humiliation when your daughter asks you what you were screaming about last night. It’s okay, really. You will have plenty of time for humiliation when they are teenagers!

Turn-Ons After Forty

*Previously pubslished at Club Mom by Edwina Caito

I have never been one to complain about my libido. As a matter of fact, I have always had the strange feeling that I was part rabbit. But since I’ve turned forty, I’ve realized that my hormones are beginning to play cruel tricks on me.

You see, when I should be turned on, I feel as sexual and exciting as a garden gnome. Yet, suddenly, I’ll be aroused by something completely mundane, like a margarine commercial, or something totally outrageous and unexplainable like Gene Simmons singing "God of Thunder" accompanied by the Australian Symphony Orchestra. (Don’t ask.)

Thinking back to when I was a young woman just beginning to explore my sexuality, I can’t help but wonder what the heck I was thinking. That starry-eyed young tart fantasized of sex on a secluded beach under a sky bursting with twinkling stars. Now, my forty year old brain has concluded that the fantasy is good in theory, however, I now have no desire to pick sand out of the nooks and crannies where sand shouldn’t be.

Elaborate sexual schemes involving painful bustiers, flowers, silk scarves and music used to be my forte’. I loved the risk of getting it on in the back seat of a Chevy Nova or the sweaty, exhausting passion of foreplay and intercourse for hours! This lady is now happy to slide between the sheets naked, discover that my husband hasn’t fallen asleep yet and pray the sex is fulfilling and fast. After all, I have laundry to do, carpets to shampoo, a pediatrician’s appointment and a PTA meeting to attend all before ten in the morning.

I used to be turned on by guys with hot cars, cute little butts and popularity. Now I’m hot and bothered by a man with a job, an SUV that seats 7 plus groceries and a cute butt. (Some things never change.) I used to purr like a kitten for men like Johnny Depp, rock stars with long flowing hair and buff, tan guys with washboard abs and rippling muscles everywhere. I was breathless while watching them racing their fast cars, pumping iron or playing a throbbing hard rock tune on their guitars.

Okay, so Johnny Depp is still extremely hot and there’s the Gene Simmons thing. (Again, don’t ask.) Now, my pulse races for the men with a little more around the middle to cuddle up to. Any amount of hair is wonderful so long as it is neat and smells nice. I’m turned on my firefighters risking their lives, businessmen in their crisp shirts and ties and men who work hard just to get the bills paid. Who needs a muscle head, all greased up and preening, when I now get turned on by seeing my husband play My Little Pony with our daughter?

Maybe my hormones are now better suited to shove razor sharp chin hairs out of my face, cause my bottom to slide down the backs of my legs and make me cry during soup commercials. Or maybe it’s my age, life style or years of experience that have changed the way my libido reacts to stimuli, I’m not sure. But I do know that when a good set of false teeth, the smell of muscle rub and a smoothly rolling walker rock my world, it may be time to hang it all up!

Women 101.....A Guy's Cheat Sheet For Figuring Her Out

Women are pretty tough to figure out at times! What do they want? Why is she crying? Why is she yelling at me? Why doesn't she like the sweater I gave her? Why is she ignoring me....again?
Yes, women are pretty complex creatures, whether we admit it or not. However, if you follow a few simple pieces of advice, you'll make her happy more often. And when she's happy, your life will be a great deal easier!

Have you ever watched two women talk? Did you ever notice that while one is talking, the other is leaning over and completely captivated by what the other has to say? Women love men that are good listeners!

Never again hear her say, "You never listen to me!" Just follow these simple steps and she'll be talking to you and not at you:

Look at her when she's talking. Don't watch the game, even out of the corner of your eye! No laughing at beer commercials, the sitcom on television or when your dog breaks wind.

React to what she's telling you. When women talk, the listener always responds with words and phrases like, "You're kidding me!", "How terrible!" and "That's wonderful!" Simply replace those words and phrases with guy talk. Say things like, "Cool.", "Right on!", "That sucks (stinks, blows, bites)!", and "No way!" Nodding and shaking your head works too, as long as you are looking at her.
If she's got a problem, don't try and fix it, unless she specifically asks. Make sure you are really listening to her and not silently reciting the new Godsmack song in your head. Trust me, you'll probably be quizzed later.

Gift Giving:

There are two types of gift-giving situations: Obligatory and "just because."

Obligatory situations are birthdays, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day (if applicable), the birth of your child and Christmas. These are situations where you must give her a gift or be subject to her angry wrath for a very long time...maybe even years! She will never forget!

"Just because" situations are optional gift-giving opportunities and include her getting a promotion at work, anniversary of your first date (sexual encounter, kiss, engagement, apartment etc) or any day for no reason whatsoever. Giving a gift "just because" is always a smart move, especially if you happen to remember the anniversary of your first date!

Buying The Gift.

Well, you know you need to purchase a gift, but what do you buy? Here are some easy tips on how and what to buy for her.

Never, ever give her an appliance or something practical! If she asks for a waffle iron or a new mouse pad, it's okay to give it to her, but always add a personal gift too.

Jewelry is always a great idea, but be careful to choose something she'll actually wear! You can do this by paying attention to what jewelry she wears to work, on the weekends and when you go out. Yes, there is a difference. If you just can't figure it out, ask her mom, sister or best friend to help.

Clothing is a great gift, but one of the hardest things for a guy to get right. You have to know her size, the color that brings out the brown flecks in her eyes and just the right style. Check out her closet for color ideas. For sizes, don't check her closet....women have fat sizes, skinny sizes, comfy sizes and more. Instead, check the dirty clothes hamper for sizes of her jeans, blouses, slacks, sweater and tops. You really don't want to know how she'll react if you get something that's too big! Finally, go shopping with her. I know, all you can picture right now is you, standing outside the ladies fitting room, clutching a pink purse to your chest. But suck it up and go one afternoon. Listen watch and pay attention to what she oooooooh's and aaaaaah's about. Then go right back and get the item in her size. If you wait, it may be moved to another area of the store or snatched up by another shopper. Again, you can ask her mom, sister or best friend for help.

Things to avoid include accessories like shoes, belts and purses. Women are very picky in these areas!

Flowers are good. Flowers are better when delivered to her at work, in front of other women. When ordering flowers, always order an arrangement that includes a keepsake like a plush animal or pretty vase.

Books, music and DVDs are fantastic gifts, but again, you have to pay close attention to what she already has and what she wants. If she has a favorite band, author or actor, go to the appropriate store and ask the salesperson if something new is coming out. If there is something new, preorder it. Look at her collection and see if she has a cassette of a band you can upgrade to a CD or a VHS tape of a movie you can upgrade to a DVD. You can always give a gift card, but give it along with a personal gift or romantic greeting card. The same goes for other misc.

Things like collectibles, craft items and hobby supplies. Give a gift card along with a small, personal gift like a plush animal, picture frame or journal.

A photograph of you may sound corny, but if she doesn't already have a picture of you, trust me, she wants one. Go to an inexpensive photo studio, dress nice and have your portrait taken. If you have kids, you'll make her dileriously happy if you take the kids with you! Buy a frame for one of the bigger photos and give her one for her wallet. Give the leftover pictures to your mom, grandma and dear aunt Sue.

Candy and women have a love/hate relationship. Women love candy. Women hate the fact that candy makes their butt get big. When giving candy, skip the enormous, frilly heart and give a small tin of gourmet chocolates instead.

Giving lingerie is tricky. You must know her taste like you know your beer! If you don't know this, don't give lingerie as a gift.....ever. If you do know her taste and style well, make sure you go to a lingerie shop like Victoria's Secret. They'll have sales girls to help you. Make sure you go prepared with her sizes (check the dirty clothes hamper).

Just as I said before, don't give something practical unless you add something personal. But there are some gifts to steer clear of, always...........

Gym memberships ("Do you think I'm fat?!") Exercise equipment or workout clothing ("You do think I'm fat!") Anti aging creams, lotions, washes, bath items etc. ("Fine! I guess I'm not young enough for you anymore!") Big clothing like sweat pants, sweat shirts, jackets etc. ("Oh, I see! You don't want anyone looking at me, do you?!") Cook books, cooking lessons or gift certificates for those "assmeble-a-meal" places. (So, you don't like my cooking?!") This list may vary from woman to woman. Being a good listener and paying attention to her likes, dislikes, wants and needs is very important.

Romance......

Can you say that word without gagging? Very good! Like it or not, women love romance! But believe it or not, it's not all about trips to Paris, expensive gifts and men with huge muscles and hair blowing in the breeze. For women, it's all about thoughtfulness. Yep, simply by putting thought into things you do and say, you'll make her happy!

Here are 20 easy to use tips for being more romantic:

1) Be a gentleman. Open her car door, hold a door open open for her, hold her hand and place your hand on the small of her back and allow her to go first.

2) Use candles during dinner, in the bedroom, in the bathroom.

3) Turn off the television and put on some music. Ask her to slow dance.

4) Remember the "just because" gift dates.

5) Leave her a note that says, "I love you"...for no reason.

6) Take the kids off her hands, let her sleep in or give her a day out. Be the taxi for the day.

7) Do housework.....the right way! (Remember, doing housework the wrong way will only backfire).

8) Run a bath for her (with candles) and warm her towel or robe in the dryer. Who knows, she might invite you to join her.

9) Listen to her when she talks. Look at her when she talks. (Yes, even if it's during football....sorry!)

10) Compliment her. If she looks hot in that red top, tell her! ( Don't just say it because you think she wants or needs to hear it....trust me, we know the difference.)

11) Show your soft side. Watch a chick flick with her, hold a puppy at the pet shop, look through pictures with her.

12) Rub her feet, back, shoulders, arms etc without being asked and without expecting sex in return.

13) Dinner in bed. Breakfast in bed. Dessert in bed (real food).

14) Walk up and hug her for no reason. Take that opportunity to smell her hair.

15) Show interest in something she likes. "What's that book about?" "Wow, scrapbooking looks hard."

16) Compliment her for being a great mom, neighbor, secretary, salesperson etc. Tell her your proud of her.

17) Do something with her that she likes. Take her dancing, have a picnic or go shopping with her.

18) Touch her face and look into her eyes next time you kiss her.

19) Never leave the house without a kiss and saying, "I love you."

20) Never take it for granted that she'll always be there!

Always remember that each and every woman is different. You may need to adjust things to fit her personality. Knowing her better is all you need to do to make her happy. You can do this by simply listening to her and paying attention to her.

Yes, it's that easy!

The Truth About Thongs

The thong used to be worn exclusively by exotic dancers and ladies of the evening, that is, until someone decided it would be wonderful to introduce these tiny scraps of material to the mainstream woman. This some, I am guessing, had to be a male. No woman would subject another woman to this type of torture unless she wears a lot of shiny leather and insists that you call her Mistress.

The whole idea behind the thong was to give today’s woman an irresistibly sexy under thing to wear that eliminated panty lines, all the while making men dissolve into puddles of warm goo. Mission accomplished! BUT...the thong has a dirty little secret. A secret so intense and so filthy that no one wants to talk about it.

Now before I reveal this "dirty little secret" for all to see, I would like to remind you of the intimate relationship you have with your thong. Thongs are very tiny, with a petite triangular strip of fabric covering your genitals and a string or thinner strip of fabric going up your butt crack and splitting your vagina even further in half. The thong doesn’t stay in place, oh no. The thong loves to venture into deeper and darker places and you enable this journey simply by walking, standing, sitting, squatting, crossing your legs, doing deep-knee-bends, sweeping the floor, doing the cha-cha or walking the dog.

To bring your thong back from the depths of your body, it takes a sly and subtle act of either wiggling as you get a grip on the elusive thing through your slacks or boldly running to the nearest restroom and yanking the thing out of your butt-crack-and-beyond with the force greater than a three-hundred pound linebacker.

Now I venture into an area I’ve yet to see any woman touch. And I will stand boldly in my words and just say it, no matter how disgusting, putrid and gross this may seem. Thongs stink!
I don’t mean that thongs stink as in they aren’t nice, I mean that thongs stink in the literal sense of the word....as in smell, stench and p-u. Think about it. We are human women with human body parts that do human things. Our vaginas create and emit fluids every day to keep our ph balance just right. We also, like all human beings, sweat. Our genitals sweat and yes, our butt cracks sweat too. And let’s not mention what happens if you had fresh broccoli or a bean burrito for lunch.

Now unless you have some teeny, tiny, string skinny thong liners keeping your thong as sweet and dry as a meadow in summertime (and adding to the crowd in your crack), you have realized that your thong isn’t the cleanest and freshest thing when you take it off. These things are sticky, damp and well, downright eligible for the garbage. Granted, some days are much better than others, but some days, you should just burn the thing! Disposable thongs would have been a nice idea...in a little pop-up container like Kleenex or baby wipes. But thongs aren’t disposable, they cost several dollars a piece. So we take the dirty thong and cram it down the leg of our pants (so it doesn’t end up stuck to your husband’s favorite t-shirt) and put it into the laundry hamper.

If you’re anything like me, your thongs are divided into two categories: "Thongs for everyday" and "thongs for sex and going out". Your everyday thongs are the ones that rather than burning, you toss in the wash and hope for the best. These are the thongs you wear on the weekends with your favorite jeans and to work under your slacks.

The thongs for sex and going out are the ones you only put on right after a shower, pubic hair trim, douche and that special feminine spray. These are the thongs with the delicate lace, tiny satin bows and sparkling rhinestone accents. These are those special occasion thongs that are only worn for special occasions.....and then quickly taken off so they aren’t soiled or subjected to butt crack sweat from a night of dancing or sitting on your butt in an uncomfortable vinyl chair at a restaurant. And you may even have a couple of thongs that are so special that you put them on right before having sex with your special someone. Mere moments before you both get naked, somewhere between the neck kissing and the pants unbuttoning, you excuse yourself to the powder room, pull out your super-special-ultimately-sexy-pristine thong, give your genitals a quick wipe down with a cloth or toilet wipe, spritz yourself with body spray and saunter out knowing your super-special-ultimately-sexy-pristine thong won’t be on long enough to even absorb a drop of butt sweat!

Yes, thongs are a neat little item of torture that gives us smooth bottoms under our clingiest of clothing and make our men shudder with desire. If they only knew the truth about thongs!

The Evolution Of Passion

*Previously published on Club Mom by Edwina Caito


I fondly remember the night I met my husband and how, when his arm brushed mine, everyinch of my skin responded with an electric tingle. When we slow danced and it seemed like Iwas melting into him. My raging body wanted to take over my mind. I wanted to throw caution to the wind, rip off his clothes and do unmentionable things to him, right there.

After we started dating, I was on cloud nine every time we were together and I yearned for him every moment we were apart. Kissing was amazing! We could kiss and kiss and kiss for hours on end, each one getting more fiery and passionate than the last. I felt alive in his presence, sexy and insatiable in his arms.

What the heck happened to those people?

You see, I was given a stark reminder of just how much our steamy, passionate and erotic love affair has fizzled during 10 years of marriage. My neighbor and good friend has started dating someone special. He's a terrific guy who takes her nice places, does nice things for her and constantly compliments her. Oh, and did I mention that they regularly blow the roof off ofher house with the passionate sex I used to have?

She has this musical giddiness in her voice whenever she speaks of him. She gets all dolled up before they go out, making sure her hair looks perfect and her butt looks amazing in her new jeans. She looks forward to every brush of his arm, every kiss and every opportunity to rip off his clothes and do unmentionable things to him. I started thinking about how much I miss that. How much I miss dressing perfectly, doing my hair, cramming into tight jeans and..........wait a minute!

While my friend is dining by candle light and wondering if dinner will give her gas, my husband and I are cramming kettle corn into our faces, swigging cola and passing gas freely (well, my husband is). While my friend ponders whether her new love interest will spend the night with her, I am yet again snuggling against my husband's warm chest with a pillow over my head to drown out the snoring.

While my friend works to plan the perfect meal to make an impression on her Prince Charming, I am passing off pizza rolls and salad as top notch cuisine. While my friend frantically searches the far reaches of her closet for the perfect outfit, I realize that I had better sew up the fourth hold in my blue sweat pants or throw them out . While my friend is dashing out the door for another evening on the town, I'm dashing in from my daughter's dance class or was that my son's bowling practice?

While my friend is waiting for a sign of commitment, for her new beau to give her a signal that their relationship is progressing, my husband and I kiss again and say, "I love you." We will kiss our kids goodnight and fall into an exhausted pile on the sofa and watch anything but cartoons. We won't worry where our relationship is going because we have already been there and done that.

As much as I miss those special tingles and the breathless anticipation, I think I'll take the comfort of being me in all my holey -sweat- pant, kettle-corn-eating, pizza- roll- baking glory!My husband and I may not be exciting every moment we are together, but we have the passion and the tingle when we're not too exhausted to muster it up. And yes, we can still blow the roof off of the house from time to time. I love my husband and he loves me. I think I'll take it!