My un-socially-sanctioned and non-religiously-recognized non-wife is living and working in Rome this summer. For the UN. In their offices across the street from the Coliseum. Y'know, like you do. Eating gelato and pizza all the damned time.
Certain things are more difficult around the house without her. One, there are about half as many dinner ideas up in here. Two, I *always* have to take out the trash, do the dishes, maintain the kittylitterbox, do the grocery shopping, clean the tub, etc. Three, to paraphrase the crass asshat t-shirt I saw a few weekends ago (seriously, dude, it is not funny or smart even if you are gay and you think you are wearing it as a witty act of detournement), "It's not going to lick itself."
I joined a gym, and as Atom would say, "...and I know it's not punk at all--I gotta look good and lower my cholesterol...." I've joined because My Big Corporate Employer has a kick-ass subsidized gym membership program and I am very, very out of shape. The desk job is not great for maintaining mah supple flexibilitah and the strength of my too-soon-to-fail joints, so I thought what the hell. But it's a completely different culture with different rules and codes, and the last time I was in a gym I was, ah, 13 and a freshman in high school. I had to purchase sneakers; up to now, almost every shoe I'd bought in the last 8 years had heels or steel toes. I've bought in to the hope that a sports bra will do something other than make my breasts smash into the dreaded "loaf" or "uniboob." But I am going to MAKE this work and I am going to get ripped. Also I am going to build stability in my knees and ankles in the hopes of alleviating back pain, but that is not as hott.
I drank a ton of coffee today, and I think--though I'd have to visit the mirror in the darkened bathroom to make sure--I think my teeth may actually be sparking against each other due to the massive caffeine wash to which I've subjected myself. Ruff.
I joined a gym recently too, and I spend most of my time there thinking about all the weird social rules. I find it oh-so compelling.
~All I ever wanted was to be your spine~