Got Your Leg Warmers?

So with just over a week to go before Dan arrives back home, its been difficult to see the things that are nice about him being away.  That being said, with the cold weather starting to set in, one last thing came to mind.  Now as I begin to think about this a little more in depth, I realized it hasn't just been beneficial during the cold  lonely nights, but it has saved me barrels of time too!

Before I go any further, consider this:

Your alarm goes off in the morning.  You groggily roll over and hit snooze (or in my case just turn it off).  And while you are waiting for the alarm to go off again (or in my case just procrastinating) you start to think of the morning routine before you, and start eliminating things.  You realize that the more things you can eliminate from the routine, the longer you can stay in bed.  So you ditch your bacon, egg, and toast breakfast for a glass of juice and maybe a fruit if you got a minute to spare.  You consider wearing the same outfit as yesterday cause its still on the floor, and lord knows you haven't picked anything out the night before.  Then you get to the shower... there isn't a lot you can eliminate from that.  You know you need it, otherwise your likely to be pulled over for DUI cause your so sleepy that your eyelids can't make it any higher than the level of your pupils.  But as you consider your shower routine, you come across a not so necessary component.  Let me pause here for a moment... For those of you who are living full time with your significant other (damn you Laurie), or at the very least, getting to see them every day, you have not been able to benefit from what I am about to disclose... but for the single ladies, or those like myself... we've been enjoying an extra few minutes of sleep for quite some time.

You see, when you are not sharing a bed with someone, or the chances of that happening are so slim you don't even consider the possibility, then there is a part of your shower routine that can be eliminated - Shaving!  I mean, lets be honest here, if you could sleep an extra five minutes, are you honestly gonna tell me you won't take it??  And with the cold weather moving in ever so quickly that little extra layering keeps you from freezing your butt off as you walk across the parking lot to work.

But lets not get outa hand... I mean, if my pant leg happens to breach the top of my sock and skin is exposed, don't expect to see something that resembles Chewbacca.  Sure, I'll drop my shaving routine here or there for the benefit of a little extra shut-eye, or because I know the instant I get outa the shower and into the cool fall air, I'll immediately get goosebumps and my ever so soft legs are gonna feel like sand paper anyway... I'm just clearly pointing out, that for the greater part of the last 10 months I've been able to enjoy this simple pleasure, and will continue to enjoy my built in leg warmers for another few days :)

Splendid Shopping

Have you ever gone shopping with a toddler?  Following their initial excitement of being taken for a ride in the car, and getting to ride in the shopping cart, they begin... "I want a treat!" ... "I need to pee!".... "I'm hungry!"... "How much longer?!"... Then there are the inevitable temper tantrums when things just don't go their way, which leads to the glares of everyone around and total embarrassment making you question why you ever believed taking your toddler shopping was a good idea in the first place.  Well, if you have had to do this, then you know that taking your significant other shopping with you warrants almost the exact same reaction.

Unlike my mother, I don't go into a store and molest every item sitting on the shelves (sorry mom, but you know you do this).  Typically I'm not one of those women who go into a store to browse around see what I could find.  I usually have a predetermined list, then I check the websites to see what is available, and I go in with a set mission: In and Out quickly as possible.  I usually even time my shopping trips at times I feel are least busy.  Nevertheless, on the few occasions that Dan has accompanied me, mere minutes pass before he feels as though his life is coming to end - especially if we go to Walmart.

Dan once described the air at Walmart as if it sucks the life out of you.  He'd probably tell you he was allergic to it (like his onion allergy) if he thought you'd believe that.  And so while I am rushing around to make sure we have all our household necessities, he is complaining about how hungry he is all the while passing sly glances to the other men being dragged around the store like they share some kind of secret pain.

Most people would think the natural solution to the problem would be to just not take him with me.  However that option can be just as bad.  See if you come home with nothing, men roll their eyes at you like what were you at all that time and you came home with nothing!? Or you come home and they want to know what you bought, then when they find out how much it cost, they say "Next time I am coming with you!"

So you see, with Dan away, its a not an issue.  I can shop til I drop, I can spend til I'm broke, and I don't have to answer to anyone!

DIYing Machine!

I've always considered myself one those self proclaimed "Independent Women" who when Destiny's Child wrote a song about it, was sure it was made just for me.  So its no surprise that I've always enjoyed a little DIYing, or Doing it Yourself for those unfamiliar.  There has never been a project I've considered too big for me to take on.  As a child I would spend the whole day rearranging the furniture in my room, even if it outweighed me by several hundred pounds.

With Dan away, I've embraced the DIY.  I can't be certain if its because its something I would have done anyway, or because when you are here alone there is no other option than doing it yourself :P Nevertheless, I have proven, if only to myself, that I can pretty much do anything!  I have mastered the skills of painting, plastering, and sanding.  I can lift any object from the car to the house (which includes about 20 stairs) despite its size or weight.  And when my project of the day proclaims "Some Assembly Required" I almost scream out a "Hell Ya!"  (Even when I get to the instructions just to find out that the assembly requires at least two people - oh yea I can handle it all).

Now all that being said, there are lots of people around I can call on should I need help with anything.  However, I have come to enjoy the gratification of looking at my finished project and being able to take all the credit, and enjoy the bragging rights of having done it completely myself.

Today was when I truly realized that I was a DIYing Machine... it happened while I was working on installing a new closet organizer.  You see, there are three poles for hanging clothes on, and since I've already established in a previous post that I have the closet pretty well filled to the brim - I needed to ensure the poles had a good strong foundation on which to be hung so that I didn't wake up one morning with it all collapsed on the floor.  This required having a piece of wood to anchor each pole.  The difficult part came when I needed to nail that piece of wood to the wall.  Sounds easy enough, but here's the catch:  While nailing the wood to the wall, I needed to hold the nail with one hand and hammer with the other, while maintaining that the wood remained at the correct height (so the pole wouldn't hang diagonally), and remained level.  I needed four hands!! I'm not exactly sure how I managed to figure this out, but once I had it done, not only once, but three times I realized I really am a DIYing Machine!  

 The Den - Before!

 The Den - After!

 My well anchored poles

My new closet organizer!

Mr. Perfect :)

Anyone reading this could probably come up with dozens of stories about couples where one or the other did something stupid that leaves the other complaining about said stupidity to their friends.  We'll I am no exception... I mean there is the friend who's boyfriend took $5000 out of their joint account to buy himself a new quad (because he NEEDED it of course); the friend who's husband sits on the couch all day watching sports re-runs while she has to work around him to do the housework; the friend who's boyfriend shows more interest in his video games than her, or the friend who gets ditched every weekend cause for some reason or another there is another acclaimed "boys night out." And the list goes on and on... 


So while I was out with a girlfriend not too long ago, while we were sunning ourselves our conversation drifted (as most women's do) to the inevitable topic "boyfriends."  We swapped stories on recent date nights, intimate encounters, and acts of stupidity the same as we usually do; but she made a comment to me that day and I realized the next greatest thing about having your significant other a million miles away...  (okay, its actually about 7080 miles, but you get the idea).


I made some very minor complaint about something that had come up while Dan was home on his vacation and while I was ranting my way through my story I noticed my friend smirking... "What?" I said.  She replied "This might sound terribly mean, but its so refreshing to hear you actually complain about something. I feel like every time we are together I do all the complaining and your relationship is just perfect."  And that's when I realized it: When your boyfriend isn't around - He can't do anything wrong! No acts of stupidity, no extra mess around the house, no spending of money, nothing! Your boyfriend becomes exactly what every woman pines for - Mr. Perfect. :) 


Now, that being said I have to give credit where credit is due... even when Dan is home - there is very little to complain about :) He helps out around the house, he always gives me lots of love and attention, and his acts of stupidity are quite limited.  Perhaps its that old adage "no one is perfect until you fall in love with them" but whatever the case may be what I do know is that whether he is home or away Dan is definitely my Mr. Perfect.  (That's why I said yes when he proposed last month!) 

Vacation Fixation :)

I have received a variety of different responses and questions about what I am doing all the time now that Dan is away.  Some people are jealous of all the peace and quite I must have, others offer me advice on how to fill my time, while some have had the audacity to encourage me to "test the waters" while he is away! Although, I'm sure they must be kidding...  And while I have found each and everyone's questions and comments helpful in one way or another, I have ultimately had to figure this one out on my own and determine what works for me. This is what I have found - I have a vacation fixation!! 

Before Dan left I had a mental list of things I wanted to do or accomplish while he was away.  Kind of a "to-do" list of sorts to keep myself busy, and always amidst a project.  Some of which included paying off my student loan, doing my Nursing Certification, getting back in shape, making a better effort to stay in touch with friends, plan a kitchen reno, and redecorate our den, just to name a few. 

Anyone can attest to the enjoyment of a good vacation.  There is just something wonderful about visiting a place with friends or family, where the weather is nice, drinks are unlimited, and work doesn't exist.  Its like a fully body massage, but for your mind.  Therefore, there is no question that what I have found to be the most enjoyable and time consuming is my vacation habits!  In the weeks since Dan has been away, I have already gone to Orlando, Florida, and just recently returned from a week in the Dominican Republic.  

And when I am not globe trotting, I am planning when I will be next!  For example, what will Dan and I do, and where will we go while he is home for his break; and what all-inclusive will we visit next spring and who will want to come with us.  Most exciting though, is how I've almost completed the book "Italy for Dummies" and am ready to start my Italian language lessons for an Italy vacation next fall!  IO sono così eccitato!

Some of my friends have questioned my desire to vacation without Dan, wondering if this in fact only makes me miss him more.  And while I would love for him to be there in person, that doesn't mean he isn't there.  I think about him where ever I am, be it at home, work, or vacation.  And I always try to include him in whatever it is I am doing - my vacations are no different.... I mean, see for yourself! 

Couples who play together, stay together! 

Dan enjoys a Strawberry Daquari in Punta Cana 

Extra Arm Space

I'm sure we all remember the day our Mom taught us how to do our own laundry.  Or the day that you ruined your favourite shirt and learned these things the 'hard way'.  Regardless on where your lessons came from, we all learned the same elemental rules:
a) Don't mix white, colored, and dark clothing
b) Don't pour Javex on top of the clothes
c) Don't wash towels with your clothes (they get nibby)
d) Hang your clothes as soon as its dry to prevent wrinkles
e) How to iron when you didn't hang your clothes as soon as it dried
f) Don't overfill your closet, it puts back all the wrinkles you've been trying to avoid.

You might be wondering what the connection to well done laundry and having your boyfriend away actually is.  Especially since Dan probably does more laundry than I do while he is home, or has never been one of those boyfriends that just expects you do all the laundry cause its a "woman's job" (he knows better than this).

Despite working in a profession where a uniform is required, I have always had a surplus of clothes.  And since my size has only changed slightly since I was a teenager, I rarely need to get rid of clothes that no longer fit.  Ever since I have been 16 and started doing my own laundry, I have been having trouble following rule f) Don't overfill your closet, it puts back all the wrinkles you've been trying to avoid.   No matter how much bigger a closet I acquired, I still had the same problem - cluttered clothes.  In fact, having to wear uniforms has only complicated the issue cause that just means I have more things to hang in there.

Dan on the other hand has a very minimalist attitude.  Less is more in his world.  He is not a collector of things, and never has more of anything than is required.  So his side of the closet always has lots of space.  So much so that he neatly arranges his hangers like once inch apart as if he didn't want one item of clothing to touch another! (Sorry babe, this was a necessary description)

And here we are: with Dan away, his half empty side of the closet is even emptier now that he has most of his belongings packed up and taken with him.  It only seemed right that my things spill over into his side, ya know, to equally disperse the weight, and make the closet look more organized, and.....   My clothes were getting all jammed up in there.  Blacks touching whites, long sleeved mixed with short sleeved.  It was too much for me to handle.  And on top of all that, it was too cold in the morning to creep to the spare room (where I hung my uniforms) and get ready for work, so they made their way to his side as well.  So for the first time in my life, I can finally follow laundry rule f) and while it may only be temporary, these days my clothes are enjoying lots of extra arm space :)

No Snooze Actually = More Z's

First of all, I'd just like to say thanks for your patience ... the great thing about having your boyfriend home for a little while, is that you don't need to rack your brains for something great about him being away! :P

So as great as it was to have Dan home again for a little while, I did not miss the snooze alarm.  Let me stop here for a moment.  Here is what I have discovered about snooze buttons: You are either a snooze lover, or a snooze hater.  I have also recognized that your love or hate of the snooze button is directly related to if you are a light sleeper, or a heavy one.

Heavy sleepers love the snooze button, because really they didn't wake up in the first place, so they just roll over and continue to sleep as if nothing has happened.  When it is finally time to wake, and actually get out of bed, they feel like they've scored an extra 10 minutes of sleep (or more, depending on how many times they press snooze).  Light sleepers however, hate the snooze button.  Here is why: we actually wake up when the alarm goes off the first time, enough awake, that the 10 minute interval is not near enough time for us to fall back to sleep.  So we just lie there, anticipating that alarm going off again, and waiting for it to happen so we can shut it off and get up.

So this brings me to my next enjoyable thing about Dan being away... he is a snooze lover, and I am a snooze hater.  So when Dan has to get up for 7:30am, his alarm starts going off at 6:30am... and keeps going and going and going every 10 minutes until he finally drags himself up.  I on the other hand, wake up at 6:30, and lie there tossing and turning for an hour until he shuts that damn thing off for good.  And while he goes about his day feeling vibrant and refreshed cause he got an "extra" hour of sleep, I go about feeling drained and tired, because my last hour of glorious, warm, mind-healing, body-soothing sleep was completely disturbed by listening to his alarm continuously go off!

I never really understood the snooze button to be honest.  I mean, I like anyone else, love to sleep.  The worst part of sleeping, is hearing the alarm go off and knowing that it is time to get up.  So I cannot imagine why in the world someone would want to prolong that feeling, or experience that sensation over and over and over... I figure the "band-aid solution" works best: Like ripping it off quickly and having it over with, I wanna hear that alarm once and just get up and deal with it.

Accordingly, for the next several months I can enjoy sleeping all the way until 7:30am.. or whatever time it is that my alarm will go off only once :) And that last glorious, warm, mind-healing, body-soothing hour of sleep will be all mine until Dan comes home!

Open Door Policy

Now before you get yourself all excited and head to the liquor store to pick up your favourite drinks, this post is not about to say that I've turned our home into some kind of party central, gathering place, or brothel to fill my void with an assortment of wild and fun activities. In fact, my doors are actually locked 24/7, even if I am home.  And while I do enjoy a good time here and there with my friends, that's not what I am talking about...

For those of you that have the type of relationship where doors just get in the way and you are comfortable with public displays of urinating (or worse), then this will seem insignificant.  However, Dan and I are NOT one of "those" couples.  As much as I love him,  leaving the door open while I'm in the bathroom crosses some lines that I'd rather avoid.  I mean, there is just no sexy way to sit on that porcelain throne as your digestive system goes through the inevitable.  Heck, at this point Dan hasn't even heard (or smelled :P) me fart! I wish I could tell you that the reverse was the same but a nice moment curled up in a blanket at a soccer game was interrupted by such an occurrence.

All that being said, I'm no door Nazi either; closing the door, locking it, relocking it, then stuffing a towel under the door to prevent the transmission of sound and possibly smell... yes people do that.  In fact, I suppose I wouldn't even say it was bothersome, only its not just Dan that I am keeping out.  My furry little shadow insists on following me into the bathroom as well which results in one of two things:
1) I let him in, he sits on the bath mat watching me intensely (which often results in stage fright of my bladder), until he gets bored, or worse - the smell is too much for his canine nose to take - then heads back over to the door crying, begging, scratching to get out as if he was locked into some kind of gas chamber!  I mean really, I'm not gonna sit here and profess that "my shit don't stink" but it's not THAT bad :P

2) I keep him out, which requires making sure the door isn't just "kinda" closed, but that the lock has hitched and its good and tight cause that dog is gonna fight so hard to get in there.  Which by the way, also elicits the bladder stage fright, to the point that I stretch over to the door, let him it, until I am faced with problem number one.

So by now you have probably discovered the significance of my "Open Door Policy." With Dan away, I can go to the bathroom and leave the door open whenever I please! It solves all of my problems :) Kovy can come watch as long as is necessary, he can then escape once he see's fit, and I know that he will eventually leave so its just a matter of sitting there until that happens.  At which point my inner royalty emerges to sit on my throne for as long as I need to (which once has been so long that Kovy came back to check on me).

Parking Galore!

Dan and I have an abundance of parking space as it is, even with our two vehicles.  However, with one car gone in storage, now I have even more.  There is something fun about knowing I can come home and park my car which ever way I choose, front-ways, back-ways, side-ways, diagonal even if I want to!  Also, its super easy to back into the driveway which is convenient given the driveway opens onto one of the main streets.

With parking space being such a coveted asset here in the city, especially this time of year with the parking ban on, its a comfort knowing that I have an abundance of space.  Making it easy to have guests and sleepovers and knowing no one will wake up with a parking ticket on their window!

 However - got the news this week that Dan will be home for the majority of February!! So while my extra parking space may be temporarily limited while he is home, at least someone can help with the shovelling haha!

Healthy Tear Ducks!

Okay, so departure day has come, and well has almost passed at this point, and despite my emotional instability throughout the week - I held it together great at the airport... until I got to the car at least, but hey, that's commendable right?

I've had my sporadic bouts of crying, sobbing, and just tearing up... not to mention I've felt like I could of had strep-throat for weeks trying to swallow the lump that's been sitting there.  And while my white pillow case didn't make it out in great shape (damn not washing off my mascara before bed), I feel that all in all I am doing great! I mean, there is no better way to ensure my tear ducks are in perfect health :)

In fact, just to give them an extra go for their money, I came home from the airport and watched Grey's newest episode and the movie The Help - holy tear jerkers!!  It was good though, I feel better just letting myself have a moment here and there rather than holding it all in, inevitably exploding at some insignificant event like realizing I'm sat at the toilet with no toilet paper and now there is no one to call out to to bring some in.... but I digress....

So far, Day One has almost been accomplished and it wasn't that bad.  Besides, Dan has only made it as far as Gagetown, NB yet... my tear ducks will really get a run for their money the day he actually deploys!

PS - Big shout out to all my great friends who checked in on me today to make sure I was okay!  Just being checked on made me feel great. :)

A Great Group of Co-workers :)

I am extremely fortunate that I was able to get some of my shifts covered before Dan makes his big voyage.  As my friends in the industry will tell you, getting a day off in the field of nursing can be a challenge. I was extremely fortunate to have this weekend off - Dan's departure weekend. (Side note - if you see a blubbering mess at the airport on Sunday, its probably me)

In addition to getting those few extra days to snuggle, laugh, cry, and whatever else we will end up doing it was so comforting to see how my friends here at home are on my side, and super supportive.  Afterall, that is who I am going to spend the majority of my time with for the next 10 months!  Not only are you guys great to me, but Dan can fly across the world with peace of mind knowing that I have people watching out for me. 

I would like to say a special thank you, to my manager, Kelly; and one of my co-workers, Megan, who made it possible for this time off to happen.  I can not express to you how important it was to me, and how grateful I am that you helped make it happen. 

 Some people go to work daily, dreading it, counting down the hours, minutes, seconds until its time to go home again.  I will be the first to admit, that my days at work are, more often than not, less than glamorous.  That being said, I still look forward to going.  I have an amazing group of co-workers who make me laugh and make my job enjoyable by making the best out of bad situations.  Having Dan do this tour has given me the opportunity to really step back and appreciate you all.  Having him gone is not all bad, so thanks for helping me make lemonade!!