on my own

This week my beloved has left town. He's gone to a birthday party.

In Scotland.

I know - lucky guy, eh? What was I going to say, "No honey, you can't go to your best friend's 40th birthday party, I have a lot of training scheduled for the weekend"?

(it was tempting).

Luckily, I had happy and available grandparents at my disposal all week, and was able to hit everything on my training program for the entire week. Thanks Nana! My kids love their Nana, Nana loves them, it's just one big love affair. She spoils them, they love it. Sigh.

Before he left last weekend, he took the People shopping whilst I went for a ride. Shopping, in this case, involved corndogs, and lemonade, and a ride on the carousel. They came home and pronounced him "the fun daddy." I suppose he set this up because he knew he would miss them, and wanted to have fun and spoil them good before he left (thanks, Daddy).

And Mommy? Well, I take them grocery shopping. That's fun, right? Ok...it's Trader Joes - they love that. TJs + Kids = Heaven. I suppose it's a distant 2nd to a ride on a carousel, though.

Single parenthood is mighty tough, especially if a gal is PMSing...but we don't need to talk about that now. When I get to do whatever crazy distance I have on my schedule, I feel much happier to spend time with them, and am less likely to lose my cool - that's almost as good as spoiling them. So having Nana & Co as the hubby stand-in is a pretty good deal.

Plus, if I'm truly wrecked after a big effort, we play fun games like Let Mommy Take a Nap and Eat A Big Snack. Actually, it's fun for them - we end up watching the Discovery Channel and eating apples and cheese.

Good times.

Saturday is typically date night for me and Mr. me. We usually get to leave the People with Nana and go eat something before we go to bed early or go to a movie. It's our standard arrangement.

Yes, our life is an exciting one. Thrilling adventures in our house: watching a video and sleeping in! Ooo!

...in fact, we still reminisce about the Awesome Lie-In of Last Month...the fresh sheets, the alarm clock turned off, no kids. It was heaven I tell you. Heaven.

Since my Man was out of town, I had a night all to myself. Nana took the people for a sleep-over and there I was. Alone. Of course, I'd been so busy during the week training, working, and mothering that I'd completely forgotten that I would be dateless on datenight. So I didn't set anything up.

I dropped off the kids and there it was: a vast open space of time. No training plan. No work to do. No People to entertain.

I gotta say - it was pretty scary.

I was lost. What would I do for entertainment? What would I do for company? Spend time ALONE? I could do that on any long run or swim. Not Saturday night! Saturday night was meant for debates, and discussions, and catching up on the week, and talking about our children in admiring tones...without being interrupted.

I never thought I'd say it, but I miss my husband, the big lump! He gets back Tuesday - and then he'll turn around and go away again for a work trip. I can't remember if we get a date-night before he goes.

He dang sure better be around for next weekend - I have a long ride scheduled!