The Test Week

I’m staying at Dave’s house this week. You know how some people live together before they get married to ensure that they’re making the right decision? Well, we’ve one-upped those folks, and decided to turn a week-long sleepover into its own little trial run before we even commit to the idea of living together. It seems to make sense – if we decide within the next couple of days that we don’t like each other, I still have an apartment that I can go home to. Although, honestly, I think that’s pretty unlikely. I’ve been here since Friday evening and he hasn’t managed to irritate me yet.

So far, it’s been fun. We had a nice relaxing weekend. It snowed an inch or two on Sunday, so we went for a hike at a little nature preserve nearby, which was cool. It almost never snows in the Pacific Northwest, so we thought we should enjoy it while we had it. Although I was somewhat annoyed that my boyfriend, who smokes, was less winded than me by the time we were done. Obviously, this is a sign that I really need to work on getting in better shape. We grocery shopped for this coming week, rented a bunch of movies, came home and watched “Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle.” That was pretty funny, although it’s one of those movies that I think I would appreciate more if I had been stoned when I saw it. And seeing as how I haven’t gotten stoned in years (I do believe that there is a time and a place for everything, and it’s called college), I think some of the humor might have been lost on me.

What’s funny about staying here this week is that now I’m getting all domestic-y and planning out what I’m going to make for dinner every night, and printing out recipes that I’ve looked up online. I realize that’s very un-feminist of me, but I really enjoy cooking when I have someone to cook for. Last week, when my friend Opie was staying at my apartment, I made him dinner one night and then breakfast the next morning. He made the comment that I certainly was accomodating, but I’m not even sure that’s it. It’s almost like some sort of maternal instinct thing. Today, while Dave’s been at work, I haven’t really had a lot to do, so I started cleaning. (For the record, I do have a job, but I’ve been working from home for a while now, and today was one of those off days where I couldn’t do anything until my project lead returned my last email, and he never did. So I was kind of stuck.) Meanwhile, I swept the hardwood floors, vacuumed the carpeted floors, did probably half a dozen loads of laundry, tidied up the kitchen, and cleaned the master bathroom. I’m turning into a regular little domestic goddess. Who’d have guessed that one?

Anyway, my fella is going to be home soon, so I better go get the lotion ready so I can rub his feet when he arrives. (Yes, that is a joke. Please don’t send Gloria Steinem to kick my ass.)

15 thoughts on “The Test Week

  1. GAH! 🙂 Don't worry, Cindy, I know what you mean. It's only un-feminist when you start believing that you're *supposed* to be cooking, cleaning,… because it's women's work, or because it'd be "demeaning" for a man to do those things. Coming from the feminist who makes 100+ jars of homemade jam every year. But my housecleaning skills only extend as far as writing a check to the maid service. 😉

  2. Actually, I had such a feminist upbringing that I almost feel like I'm doing something wrong when I'm cooking & cleaning. But to be fair, Dave does a lot, too. Last night, he helped me make carrot-nut muffins, and he cleaned the kitchen after dinner. Oh, and Scott, I am *SO* pre-ordering that DVD. Hee hee.

  3. sounds like you have a pretty good situation there… I also like to cook and clean (sometimes), but it all works out nicely because Todd also makes dinner and cleans from time to time, too. We pretty much do our share of each of those things and it works out nicely and you don't have to feel bad about liking to cook, etc, because you're not *expected* to, and it doesn't all fall on your shoulders.I'm all about the live-in tester period. Hope it all goes well!

  4. Yeah,I'm not a great believer in the traditional roles of the guy being the one that gets to go to work and the girl getting to stay at home and cook and clean. I think its all about getting a good balance and divvying up the chores.

  5. Yeah, the chores and stuff all pretty much balance out in the end. Some of it — like cooking and moving furniture around — is actually pretty fun to do together. And, lest we forget, feminism is all about having choices. Choosing to build a home does not make you any less of a feminist.

  6. Why couldn't you just say "the Henry Rollins tour DVD?" Why do feminists have to make everything so difficult for everyone?

  7. Carl, as a writer, you should realize that context is everything. If I just said it was a Henry Rollins DVD, it leaves out the fact that it was filmed in Seattle, and that there's a possibility that Scott & I are on it. It's all about the details, no?

  8. Okay, Carl, for that I'm gonna sic Gloria Steinem on *your* @ss! Although you may enjoy that… Alissa says Ms. Steinem looks *fierce* in leather pants.

  9. Angie, if you could get Gloria Steinem to visit, I'd be very impressed. I'd even invite you to lunch or coffee or whatever activity for the likely discussions.

  10. Nah, Ms. Steinem and I will be watching Project Runway together, and I know how you feel about TV. ;)Hi Cindy, how are you?

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