When the Bear is away, I do things that would bug him if he was around, like spend extra time at the gym, or go shopping, or take a long walk with the dog and an audio book, or watch chick flicks/tv shows on TV, or read some trashy magazines/novels, or do my nails.

Treat yourself a little and time will fly.

Lately, my favorite comfort food has been "pizza without the crust". I stir-fry all my favorite toppings with garlic, then add a dash of pizza sauce, smother it with romano cheese, and finish with fresh chopped oregano. Very low-carb.

Treat yourself a little extra sweetly this evening; treat yourself like a treasured guest, whatever that means to you. (For me, that might mean using the nice wine glass, a cup of tea in a proper porcelain cup with a sugar cube, or breaking out the good bath salts for a long relaxing soak.)

Or take some time to chat on the phone with a good friend --- give yourself time to expand and really catch up and laugh.

we're looking forward to our sweet-muttery phone calls in which I totally fall asleep on the phone

Is there any reason not to do that now, too?

"pizza without the crust".

Oooh, non-pizza pizza! I sometimes throw together pizza sandwiches or pizza quesadillas (known, obviously, as pizzadillas): cheese and sauce and toppings with plenty of oregano between two slices of bread or folded into a tortilla toasted on the stovetop.

I often entertain myself while The Fella is out by monopolizing all the household media: write or browse on the laptop, play a movie, and recharge my iPod all at the same time.

I take the time to watch shows my husband doesn't like!

Definitely treat yourself. I tend to spend all hours on the computer. Well, I do that anyway, but when he's gone I don't care if my "day" gets turned around - I am a natural night-owl, but don't indulge that unless he's gone. I usually eat more junk food and I'll even go to a restaurant on my own. I'd go to a movie theatre without him but we don't have a nice one in town; instead I'll rent dvds that he wouldn't mind missing.

PS: I am stealing the pizzadilla/stir fry pizza ideas!

(if you want to add pepperoni or salami, melt off the fat in a separate pan before adding it to the veggies)
(also, you can be extra generous with the garlic)
(also also, a minute under the broiler to melt the cheese)

Madamina may I tell you a bedtime story? There was once a one and a one. The were ones in a flood of ones. Eventually and luckily the ones became a two. And a wonderful thing it was. They were a two so long they forgot how to be ones. Until one day they had to be ones again. The change was terrible. The split was awful.

But then each one saw, within, a small part of the other one. And each one realized that they were no longer ones. They were always going to be a two. Because in the heart of each one is the other one.

I just want to say that obit writing is an amazing talent. Congratulations and thank you to you. I'm sorry if it brings you down, but what a wonderful gift a well-written one can be for friends and family.

I share a house (two apts) with my sweetie, and I still cherish time alone to bathe, eat weird foods, go to bed when I want.

Splunge that is a great story. :)

Aww, Splunge, that put a lump in my throat. *sniffles*

One guess what I had for dinner last night. Here's a hint: it starts with "pizza-" and ends with "-dilla."