Hi, my name is Tammie Brewer and I’m married to a work-a-holic.

     Being married to someone who works all of the time can sometimes be demanding. Not only does he go full speed at work, but he also does the same at home and he expects everyone else to do the same. I keep telling him he needs to slow down, but he just smiles at me and keeps on going. The Energizer Bunny has nothing on him.

     My husband, Dennis, is constantly moving when he’s home. I practically have to sit on him to get him to stop and watch a movie or a television show.

     Even when he’s watching TV, he’s folding clothes or putting a new load in the washing machine. Thank goodness for DVRs. At least I can stop the show and start it up again when he feels the need to jump up and head to the laundry room.

     He makes me feel bad sometimes, but laundry is his form of meditation and relaxation. He can’t justify watching a movie or TV show, unless he has towel or washrag in his hand to fold.

     Believe me, I’m not complaining about him doing the laundry. Having someone else do the washing, drying and folding can sometimes be a good thing.

     He was on vacation a week or so ago.

     I thought, “Good, he’ll take that time off while I’m working, and maybe he’ll get some much-needed rest.” He’s been working nights for the past five or six months, and if you’ve ever worked nights, you know you never get enough sleep or rest.

     Well, he didn’t stop the entire time he was home.

     I think in the week he was home he mowed the grass two or three times and took on a project at my cousin’s house that took all week. He just can’t help himself. He has to keep busy.

     In the past, when he’s been home alone with nothing to do, I’ve come home to find the furniture rearranged, rooms painted, my closet reorganized, the outside building cleaned out and my flower beds dug up.

     I always know he’s up to something. When I call home and ask what he’s been doing, he says “nothing honey.” That’s my first clue to be prepared for something different when I make it home.

     I had thought the huge gardens he planted this year would keep him busy most of the summer. How was I to know that the heat would just about wilt everything.

     He still has a few things growing, but it’s been so hot, most everything has dried up or died.

     For the past few months, we’ve had two children, their families and pets living with us while they purchase or look for new places to live. It looks like in about two to three weeks, they’re all going to be in their new homes.

     He’s already making plans of what to do with the extra room, since we cleaned out closets and rooms to make additional room for extra folks and their things in our house. He’s beginning to think that my mantra of “less is more” might be a good thing.

     I’m thinking when our children get moved into their new homes, maybe he could go help them with a few projects, especially since he has another vacation planned in the next few weeks.

     You’re probably thinking, “He has a lot of vacations.” He has been with his current employer since 1994, with a short break in 1997. He gets four weeks of vacation time, which equals about one vacation per quarter. He usually saves one or two weeks to use during hunting season.

     I think for this next vacation coming up, I’m going to stick around the house some or at least make him a honey-do list to keep him busy. Otherwise, there is no telling what I may come home to find.

     And how was your week?

     Lifestyles Editor Tammie Brewer can be reached at The DAILY LEADER at (601) 833-6961 ext. 134, by e-mail at tbrewer@dailyleader.com or you can write to her at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven MS 39602.