It seems like funny things happen to me when my 2 little boys go to bed and my husband retreats to whichever room suits his fancy each night. Usually I raid the pantry looking for something...anything...that contains even a fraction of an ounce of chocolate. Then I change the channel on the tv to something that is not animated or reporting on something ending in "ball." Hell, I could watch HSN as long as they don't try and tell me how to get rid of my wrinkles or shrink my waist line. As the night moves on and the dishes don't magically clean themselves, I try and will myself to walk up the stairs, slip into a sexy negligee, make passionate love to my husband and then get at least 8 hours of sleep. Instead, I usually fall asleep on the couch for about 30 minutes, wake up in a complete stupor and stumble up to bed. But on nights such as tonight, I am reminded of the woman I used to be before the words "mom" and "wife" referred to anyone other than the sweet and amazing being that gave birth to me. I am actually inspired to use my brain and create a world of just me. That is to say, I can't quite shake the influence of everything that hugs me each day, but I can give back to myself and know that I am not just mommy but heather. Who heather is, at age 34, is yet to be seen...