quiet time

Sometimes I crave alone time. Time where I don't have to tend to anyone or anything else. As a working wife and mother these moments of solitude are rare and hard to find. I don't need a whole lot of alone time, but sometimes I feel like the world is swollowing me whole with stuff.

I devote about 40 hours a week to my job- where even though I have an office all to myself I am surrounded by people. Other people in the office, people calling me, church members wondering the halls during the week. Then I come home and have to take care of my family until bed time. I know, I know, that's the life I chose- I'm not saying I want out now, I don't! I love being the wife/mom/working woman. I think I do a pretty good job being all of the above--well most of the time.

Right now I just want some peace and quite. It's almost 10 pm and I can't even talk my husband into going to the bedroom to watch the rest of the Nascar race so I can sit in the dark in the dinning room on my computer... I just want a few hours of:
No whining (from children OR adults).
No TV.
No laundry to fold.
No dishes to wash.
No toys to be picked up.
And I could bore you with many many more NOs....

Is it really too much to ask? Probably. I'm not asking for the complete opposite. I'm a social dragonfly (I know, I know, the saying is butterfly, but I just like dragonflies better so deal with it!) and love my family fiercly and would NEVER wish anything ill. I just want peace and quite for... I don't know, 4 hours... ok ok, I'll settle for 2... still too much? How about 30 minutes? Well, since I can't talk him into going to bed to watch the race maybe I'll go to bed and dream of a quite place.

Good night world, sleep well.