Daily Archives: January 8, 2009

So Garrett has been out of town for 7 days now (BABY COME BACK!) Wow, I hope I just got that song in your head for the rest of the dayfrom those obnoxious Swiffer commercials where the old school brooms and mops beg to be “taken back” while a surly housewife rolls her eyes. Argh! I hate those ads. So, yeah, you’re welcome.

Anyway, since he’s been gone (oh god, now I’m hearing Kelly Clarkson — Jesus, Calgon Take Me Away!) I have observed that my life really is pretty different when he is not around. It’s not that I am lying around on the couch, eating bon bons, and pining for him — but there is just a whole different vibe (especially on the weeknights) that I’ve been noticing during the last week So I have noticed the following:

1. I grocery shop A LOT less.
When you are are only cooking for one person, you do a lot less meal planning. My kitchen creativity has definitely suffered in his absence; however, my bank account has been singing HALLELUJAH! Also, I hate the grocery store between 5 and 6pm, which always seems to be when I go there during the week when I’m cooking for us both. This week, I have totally avoided that! Woo Hoo for stress relief! So I guess that’s okay, but…

2. Apparently, I turn into a vegetarian!
Speaking of cooking, I have not cooked meat since he left! And this one was kind of a shock to me, because I like meat just fine. Actually, this isn’t entirely accurate, seeing as the enormous batch of split pea soup that I made did have some left over ham in it, but in general my entrees have been meat free in the interim, and I also have been shopping around on the internet and bookmarking delicious looking vegetarian recipes. I think my inner vegetarian is trying to get out. Ack! What’s happening to me?

3. I really commit to some AWFUL television.
It’s not like I don’t watch TV when Garrett is around, I certainly do. And he definitely watches his fair share of silly TV with me (Top Chef, CSI: Miami, etc). But in the last week or so I seriously have not missed an episode of Oprah, Rachael Ray, Real Housewives of Orange County, The City, The Bachelor (hello! the worst offender!) Gossip Girl…I mean I promise you I have left the house, but my DVR has been working overtime to record my girly guilty pleasures. And I have “made time” to watch them all…while filing my nails, to boot! And I know this sounds great, but seriously…

4. I laugh ALOT less.
And really, folks, this is the fact that I have tried to deny but it so much of the reason that my life is so differnet when he is gone! And I hate that. I like to laugh. God, do I sound like a bad internet dating ad? “Likes to laugh and likes long walks on the beach.” Seriously though, Garrett is one of the funniest people that I know and he keeps me in stitches pretty much from the moment he wakes up (sometimes even when he is sleeping!) until we go to sleep at night. And even though I have a pretty good sense of humor and I definitely look for reasons to laugh throughout the day, there is such a shortage going on as of late, and that is a downer!

Which is why I’m so happy there are only 5 days to go! Because clearly, when Garrett is out of town I get over analytical and write posts that have absolutely no point except to say “Get back here, boyfriend! I need some snuggles!” But you know, the wordier version.