One of the major joys of an unplanned weekend is being able to go into a bookstore
and spend time in there. (Of course, it's also one of the perils-to-the-
checkbook.) I went all by myself, too, so I didn't have to worry about anyone else
being bored. I was reasonably moderate; I got the Harry Potter II audiotape I'd
gone in for (part of the ongoing campaign to turn Rudder on to Good Books, and
part of the plan to keep whichever of us is driving awake on next week's
megadrive), and only three other paperbacks (Chronicles of Chrestomanci II
and the two sequels to Mercedes Lackey's Knight of Ghosts and Shadows. The
latter are a little trashy, but entertaining and I enjoy how she weaves her
various elvendoms together.)
Lots of people have trouble with too
many italics or underlines, but I'm the only member I know of in Parentheses
Anonymous.
I'm finally getting over the silly feeling of guilt I
always have when I go somewhere on a weekend without Rudder. We get to spend so
little awake time together during the week (rowing on the same lake at the same
time in different boats -- or even at opposite ends of a quad or an eight --
doesn't count) and so we tend to spend all of our weekends together. However, we
both enjoy shopping far more if he's not there. When he is, he's bored and I'm
always rushing, not getting to stop and look at interesting things or buy
frivolous things. (Then again, there's something to be said for that last,
considering what I spent on skin-care today.) Because of that, shopping together
leaves us both cranky (and not shopping for things I want leaves me cranky) so
that we don't much enjoy each other's company anyway. Plus, I bought cat litter
and food while I was out, so everyone benefits. Therefore, my going to the mall
alone is actually a proactive way of strengthening our marriage. Yeah, that's it.
I'm selflessly sacrificing myself to the goddesses of commerce in order to build a
happier home. And practicing my logic skills at the same time, too!