Last week my husband took our son to the coast for two nights. I stayed home because I had two big work projects to finish, but I still had my evenings free. (To be honest, I had my late afternoons free as well.) What to do?

This was a big event for me, only the second time in over nine years that I’ve been home alone for more than 24 hours. I considered various celebratory activities – dinner with friends, drinks with the girls, a solo movie – but none of these seemed appropriate. After all, I can do any of those things when the boys are home. (I usually don’t, but I can.) What I can’t do when the boys are home is be home alone. So home alone I stayed.

I stocked up on supplies – videos; tamales, chips and salsa; a six-pack of beer – then I got reacquainted with the world-class couch potato I used to be. (I was supported in this endeavor by the Multnomah County Library. After months of being in the hold queue for Mad Men, Season 2, the precious DVDs became available the very morning my husband and son left town. If that isn’t a cosmic nudge to embrace my inner sloth, I don’t know what is!)

I wasn’t completely unproductive. In the just over 48 hours I had to myself, I completed both of my work projects, went to the bank and the post office, walked up Mt. Tabor twice, and even did a few loads of laundry. But I also watched an entire season of Mad Men, not to mention a movie or two! I had almost forgotten what an exceptional television/movie watcher I can be when I truly apply myself!

I know most people my age would be far more productive given a few days to themselves, but I like to think I’m not totally unique in my laziness. If you had two days to yourself, what would you do?

January 6th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized