30.3.15

List #264: The (Not So) GreatThings About Being in a Relationship

The boyfriend and I will be together two years come June. We've been living together for well over a year now. And we do raise a toddler together. Its safe to say we know each other pretty well. Love and quirks and everything in-between.

He's my love. And he really truly is a saint. He puts up with my weird neuroses, my desire to just pinch him at any given time, and my inability to sleep with even the tiniest bit of light shining. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not entirely grateful that our roads in life led us to meet nearly two years ago.

But all that being said, oh there are some tough times when you're in a serious relationship.

Here are mine:

  • Sharing a bed when all you really want to do is starfish wide in the middle.
  • Giving up and letting someone watch a movie that you came into in the middle.
  • Listening to someone chew. Loudly.
  • Seeing tissues that don't it to the garbage can.
  • Ignoring mugs of tea that pile up on tables and desks.
  • Getting up extra early so your loved one can take the later shower.
  • Sharing a bathroom.
  • Trying to fall asleep when someone has a light on in the room.
  • Adjusting thermostats for different body temperatures.
  • Meeting in the middle of Night Owl and Early Bird.
  • Understanding that you're the only one who will clean the litter box (the cat came with me).
  • Growing piles of laundry.
  • Conceding music selections.
  • Losing closet space and numbers of drawers to store all your regular amounts of stuff.
  • Sifting through more mail than you ever thought possible.
  • Having far less time to watch mindless television because you can't make your significant other watch hours of Teen Mom
Now for every one of the bullets on this list, it's more than likely that the boyfriend could match (or agree with) one for me. Seriously I am no picnic and I'm well aware.

But the little things are there. They are leftover crumbs from previous relationships, personal sensitivities, or just things you didn't really think about when you copied keys and unboxed your life in someone else's. It's just what happens when you're living with someone you love. 

I do plan on writing the (truly) great things about being in a relationship. And yes, the list will genuinely longer. But it's Monday and Mondays are for griping. Please feel free to share your own relationship gripes in the comments. 

23.3.15

List #262: A Weekend in New York City

I'my very fortunate to have a bunch of vacations days that need to be used. I'm also very fortunate to have a best friend that lives in Manhattan and is willing to put up with my in her apartment for a few days. So mix those things together, plus a tax refund, and it was easy to see that I'd usher in spring with a weekend getaway.

It was a wonderful weekend that was more heavy on the friendship than it was on sightseeing and traipsing around different neighborhoods and boros. And quite honestly, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I don't get as much girl time as I used to these days. And my friend in NYC is one of my oldest and best.

So here's to air mattresses, beer mugs and subway rides. A list of things you do in NYC with one best friend and a limited budget. Oh, and a snowstorm that laid inches in the city in just a few hours.


  • Rolling a blue suitcase straight into Hooters. 
  • Basketball. Lots of basketball.
  • New Girl best-of viewings.
  • Unbreakable! They're alive, damn it! It's a miracle!
  • Browsing history through museums.
  • Being completely confused by more modern museums.
  • Starbucks. 
  • Pizza.
  • Sleeping in.
  • Brunch.
  • Encouraging the youth of America.
  • Being on the the market for a lamp.
  • So many Greek dips.
  • Souvlaki.
  • Retsina.
  • Greek music.
  • Eurovision.
  • Window shopping.
  • Manicures.
  • Flirting with bartenders.
  • Eyeing up waiters.
  • Overhearing sidewalk conversations.
  • Hipster bars.
  • Will Forte's long-lost son.
  • Sliding on snowy sidewalks.
  • Shake Shack.
This is probably the prettiest photo I've ever taken. 

I have been spending a lot of nights alone the last few weeks, so getting some stress-free time away with one of the people I love the most was just what I needed. Now, I wish the feeling would have lasted a little while longer for both her and me, but oh well...we've already started planning a trip for our 35th birthday. 

17.3.15

List #261: When the Boys Are Away

It's been a rough two months at my house. The boyfriend has been traveling a lot for work and this week he began what is nearly a two week stint away from the homestead. In fact, because I'm taking a little mini-break and heading out of town to see a best friend, the boyfriend and I will see each other for less than 24 hours in the course of then next 10 days. Plus, when the boyfriend is traveling I don't actually get to the little guy either. It's not an ideal situation.

But! There is a silver lining. Most importantly I'll get to take a mental break from work and life and visit with one of my best friends for a long weekend. We have plans for Greek food and 90s dance parties. Basically all of that is awesome.

And even though the house is quiet and a little lonely, it some ways it's refreshing to have a few nights by myself.

With the boys gone, here is how I spend my evenings.

  • Doing laundry. And since our washer is actually broken, I have to set a timer to manually change each setting.
  • Eating tacos on the couch.
  • Loading and unloading the dishwasher.
  • Procrastinating packing.
  • Watching back-to-back episodes of Hindsight. Seriously, watch this show.
  • Reading long books.
  • Letting candles burn for too long.
  • Falling asleep on the couch.
  • Talking on the phone to my mom.
  • Folding laundry.
  • Watching too much HGTV. 
  • Playing too many games on my phone.
  • Dealing with a needy cat who sits on me way too much.
So yeah, super exciting stuff going on here. But really, I'll be away soon. Drinking a few more drinks than one should and riding subways all day long. One should always vacation in March.