So in less than an hour, I hear her bellowing for me, yes bellowing, four times. And I run down two flights of stairs and then back up two flights of stairs, then back down, the back up. You get the picture. I was not very pleased. So somewhere around the sixth time, I put on my headphones and decided to play deaf. That didnt go over very well. She came up the stairs and we started to argue. I called her dependent, she called me selfish and it just escalated from there. She apparently had never worked out alone and didnt like it. I knew I had kind of lost ground when she saw that the headphones I had on werent plugged into anything.

Ok, long story, not so short, we decided on the intercom to let us call for the other without bellowing.

Alice! Your headphones werent plugged into anything??

I have an active imagination, I could pretend I didnt hear her and I had nice soothing sounds. She looked over at Tina and solemnly said, Never underestimate the power of self delusion.

Tina watched Alice as she was working the kitchen. It was actually impressive. Alice was multi-tasking well and it suddenly dawned on Tina what Alice was making and she grinned, Al, what are you cooking? 

Oh, chicken francese. I said that at The Planet, didnt I? You like it, right?

Yes, I like it and no, you said youd cook. Dana said she loved your francese though. Tina said as gave Alice a look.

What? I make do make a good francese and for your information, I also have shrimp soaking in water, Im making chicken and shrimp, not just the chicken.

But Alice, thats a lot of work, youll be prepping forever. We can do something simpler.

No, I already started. And one of my best friends is here for the first time in over five years. And I dont think Ive ever cooked for you, so let me get back to work.

Fine, fine. Ill have to thank Dana for the dinner suggestion, Tina said, reminding Alice that she didnt believe that this fanfare was just for her.