Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Livin' La Vida Solo

Over the weekend, my friend Cris asked how I'm getting along with Shane gone.  The short answer is just fine.  It's been a little more than two weeks since he left and we've had no major -- or even minor -- catastrophes.

But I have noticed a few interesting things in his absence:

1.  There are fewer dishes to wash.  Normally I run the dishwasher once a day and have a sink load of pots and pans on top of that.  Right now I'm running the dishwasher about every 2 to 2-1/2 days and handwashing only a pan or two a day.

2.  There is less laundry.  We have a large capacity front-loading washing machine, and under normal conditions, I run about a load a day.  Sometimes more, sometimes none, but on most days, there's a single load to do.  In the past 15 days or so I'm finding that there's not enough laundry to do a full load for about four days, but on the fifth day, there's suddenly enough for three loads.  You'd think this would be a good thing, but I keep running out of dish towels before there are enough other whites to make a full load.

3.  The carpet doesn't vacuum itself.  Shane usually does the vacuuming.  He likes doing the vacuuming, and I like letting him do it.  Maybe I'll like it better when we get our new carpet.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I still won't like it.

4.  On a similar note, the van doesn't pump its own gas, either.  I can usually employ some high-tech strategery and get Shane in the driver's seat of the van just about the time it needs gas.  I'm finding that's not very easy to do with him eight hours away. 

5.  The TV has all but retired.  I let Kat watch a little bit of television most days, but other than that, the set's been off.  I don't like many television shows to begin with, and those I do enjoy, I enjoy watching with Shane. Essentially, I watch because he watches.  I'd rather read and listen to music when I'm alone.

6.  Shane and I don't really know how to carry on a phone conversation.  I think it's because we never dated.  We met on a Sunday and he moved in with me the following Thursday.  We skipped right over that whole small talk on the telephone stage of our relationship and I don't think either of us has a clue how to go back and try it after almost twelve years of face-to-face conversations.  So, while we've been talking on the phone daily since he left, I don't think either of us is really enjoying it.

7.  The asparagus is coming up and I'll probably get to have all of it this year.

So, other than those few observations, nothing too out of the ordinary has happened since Shane headed west.  I've been able to handle whatever needs handling, so far.  I've been able to open my own jars and everything.  I think it's a good thing, because we still have no real idea when Shane's coming home, or for how long.  Seems there is a lot more work to be done out there than he and his foreman were led to believe. 

Again, it's not all bad.  The paychecks sure have been fat nice since he's been gone, and even better, they're being sent directly to me.

12 comments:

Melynda@Scratch Made Food! said...

Nice review, from both sides!

The Cookbook Junkie said...

"I've been able to open my own jars and everything." LOL, glad you are managing.

A.Marie said...

"the paychecks are being sent to me." Gotta love that!!! :)

I am living the La Vida Loca (crazy life) right now...but, I think it should be LocO, not LocA, because I am being driven CRAZY by my CRAZY life!!! LOL ;)

Mark said...

Met on Sunday, moved in on Thursday. My, aren't we fast? I'll now have to start looking at you differently. But don't worry, it will just make my comments funnier.
Your Friend, m.

Sheila said...

I wish I could be more like you when Kevin is gone. I guess he doesn't leave often enough for me to get used to it and we've been married so long, I don't sleep well when he leaves. I find it hard to deal with the noise when Kevin comes home--who knew one man could cause so much commotion. I love peace and quiet but I seldom find it when he's home. Hope y'all have a lovely week. Take care.

McVal said...

When my hubby is gone, I know he won't be able to sleep... He needs me...
But I sure am able to sleep better when he's gone. I get the WHOLE bed!

Unknown said...

I was always ok when Robert was away too, if I'm honest I actually enjoyed being able to potter about the house and do my own thing, plus it's amazing how much of the mess around this place that he must cause (he'll argue this) but I swear there is definitely less than half the housework when he isn't here.

Of course in saying all that he's only ever been away for a week at a time so I'm not sure how I'd feel if it was longer. I'd like to think I'd still be fine though:)

slugmama said...

Met on Sunday, moved in on Thursday...hmmmmmm. I'm with Mark, you both are a speedy gonzales, aren't you? Hubs and I weren't quite that er....precocious. I always knew our connection ran deeper.lol

I love when Hubs leaves town. He doesn't do it nearly often enough! I'm sure if he was gone for long stretches like Shane is now I'd be singing a different tune.
The best thing is having the bed all to yourself!
And no SNORING.....well, just my own but that doesn't bother ME.lol
You've lucked out on the jar thing so far....just pray no high lightbulbs burn out too. ;-)

Sonya Ann said...

YOu have the perfect set up!!!! The checks are coming right to you.
"We met on a Sunday and he moved in with me the following Thursday."-That must have been 5 great days!!!!

Tug said...

I've only needed help opening a jar once in all my years, and a neighbor worked just fine for it. ;-)

Dmarie said...

*chuckle* #6 cracked me up! my hubby's idea of a phone conversation when we were dating was for ME to do all the talking, so we're not very good at it either. thank goodness that's not all it takes to make a marriage!

Frances said...

Bobby and I can talk on the phone forever. LOL! We DID do the marathon phone calls when we were dating and it was great...and still is.

Glad you are doing well. It is hard to have Bobby gone for a while, but it is always good to find the positives. And isn't the homecoming great?!