And I'll eat all the chocolate... today, 'cause you're not around

Dropped Dustin off at the airport this morning, for his 10-DAY vacation without me. That lucky duck gets twice as many vacay days as I do, plus all those bank holidays that non-bank corporations rarely recognize. But does he really have to use them all?

I know, I know, he's attending a close friend's wedding and then visiting his parents, and I'm staying here to conserve not only vacation time but money since we've got our own wedding to plan. It makes sense for me to stay home, but it sucks!!

So here I am at home, wondering what to do for the next week and a half... I've gotten so used to doing just about everything with him, especially since we're new to Orlando and don't have many friends here yet.

Is anybody else frustrated with how hard it is to make new friends once you're out of school? We're starting to wonder if we're really that boring... I mean, we do spend most of our nights serial-watching borderline-pornographic dramas on HBO (really, the rampant sex on Game of Thrones has become a bit ridiculous!) or walking our dog around Lake Eola in our sweatpants after dinner as the rest of the 20-somethings are gearing up to hit the nightclubs on Church Street - but isn't that what most long-term couples do? Umm... yeah, I guess we are pretty lame.

But I'm perfectly content - and super comfortable - with our lameness, because we are happily lame together. So when Dustin just up and leaves on me for several days, I panic just a little. I love coming home to his big hugs and cheerful "Hey babe!" every evening after work. It's going to be a lonely night tonight without having him around to cuddle (perhaps a call to the Snuggery is in order... totally kidding!).

Who will be there to steal the yummiest bite of dinner from my plate that I was saving for last on purpose? And who will be there to tune the TV to Sportscenter on sleep timer right before we go to bed, and then turn it right back on as soon as we open our eyes the next morning? Hell, I really don't even know how to use the remote control anymore, since Dustin always monopolizes the TV for his sports!

Hmm... maybe this won't be so bad, after all... there's lots of stuff I can do that I never seem to get around to when Dustin's here. Like shopping the latest sales on Gilt, painting my nails, watching Clueless for the 7000th time. Putting on that mud mask that makes me sooo not sexy. Eating ALL those Birthday Cake Oreos I bought today. Indulging in a Say Yes to the Dress marathon. Maybe I'll finally catch up with the rest of you girls and read 50 Shades of Grey. 

It's a ME retreat!

What do YOU like to do when your significant other is away?

P.S. - If you recognized that my headline was from a No Doubt song called "Panic" and not just me fiending for chocolate (which wouldn't be all that unlikely), you rock!

"Today is going to be easy
Today 'cause you're not around
I'll leave off my make up
I'll sleep in my bed
To pass all the time by
Today 'cause you're not around"
-Gwen Stefani

P.P.S. - I miss you already, babe. Bring on the ESPN!