May 12, 2008
Sophie Jordan Blogs on When the cat’s away, the mice will play …
Written by Sophie Jordan in Jaunty PostThat’s right. It’s just about that time. About every six weeks or so DH jets it for work … destination often some really cool places. Today, for instance, he’s headed to L.A. Since he gets to go to places like that for work, I figure I’m entitled to a little guilt-free fun while he’s gone. Especially since he always manages to squeeze in a little fun when he’s away, too. Also, for those who don’t know, like me, DH works from home. We see each other day in and day out. And while we enjoy the arrangement – I mean how many couples get to work from home together? – it’s no hardship when he leaves town. It’s healthy to have a little time apart now and then.
My daughter sees it as a treat, too. She gets to sleep in Mommy’s bed … and well … shhhhh… but if the food’s not too messy, we eat in the living room.
Today’s agenda? After the daughter’s gymnastics, it’s off for Mexican food with a girlfriend and her daughter and - if she’s free - my cp, Tera Lynn Childs. This place has great margaritas, and, perhaps best of all, a sandbox for the girls. The baby can be passed around between me and my gal pals. When I get home, it’s throw kids in the tub, then bed. Then, because DH is out of town, and I have no distractions, it’s uninterrupted writing – which is hugely important right now since I have a book due in July. Actually, even with all the “playing” going on, I get quite a bit of writing done when DH leaves. When the daughter’s at preschool or the baby is napping (which is quite a bit), I work instead of chat it up with DH – remember, he’s hanging about the house with me?
The rest of the week will consist of little to no cooking – which translates to little or no dishes. 
The laundry, well, it can wait, too. I either eat out with friends (of course, it’s always at the restaurants I love but DH doesn’t!) or a sandwich/leftovers will do nicely for dinner. Somewhere in the week, there will be a run to Barnes N Noble and coffee with some writer friends. Oh, and I manage to watch a movie (either with a friend or by myself) that DH never wants to see. It’s either a romance-ish type period piece – you know, I’ve never seen North and South – that could be a possibility. Or a scary movie (I like scary movies, but not gore-fests. There’s just a difference, you know?!). DH is a big baby when it comes to those. Harry Potter is about as scary as he can handle, and even then I hold his hand. I’ve been itching to see Thirty Days of Nights. Yes, it looks terrifying, but the paranormal writer/reader in me is intrigued at its premise!
What about you? What do you like to do when “the cat’s away”?
Hugs,
Sophie
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Shana Says:
Welcome, Sophie! I like to spend a quiet evening reading with the TV off.
Margo Maguire Says:
Sophie - I do all those things when my husband is away, too! And when my kids were young, I used to set the clocks about a half hour forward so they’d get to bed on time and I’d have some peace and quiet at the end of the day. My daughter was a stickler (and ringleader) for making sure she didn’t even start upstairs before EIGHT PM! - when I wanted them all in bed BY eight.
Emily McKay Says:
I sleep late! Every week day morning I’m up with hubby, which is usually 6 or 6:30. So when he’s gone, I sleep until the kids get up, usually closer to 8. It’s so nice!
And we have breakfast for dinner.
Sophie Jordan Says:
Margo, you sneaky thing!
When the kids start reading the clocks, I’ll probably have to do that, too!
Breakfast for dinner? Hmmm, that sounds like a possibility for tomorrow.
I’m just so pumped to go out for margaritas tonight!
Sophie
RobynDeHart Says:
Oh, we have breakfast for dinner all the time. Or lunch when The Professor is home in the summers with me. As for when he’s gone, if he’s just gone for the evening I tend to watch something I know he’s not interested in - either rent it or do Pay-Per-View. Or I’ll snuggle in and read a book. This summer though there will be a 2-week period when he leaves me and I get bummed every time I think about it. For the most part we don’t like to be away from each other so 2 weeks is sounded like an eternity. I suppose since I’ll be working on another deadline by then, I’ll find something to keep myself busy.
I know what The Professor does when I’m out of town though. He sleeps. A lot. Without my nagging he can fall asleep on the couch in his clothes with every light in the house on…
Lisa Hendrix Says:
Sophie, your husbandless time sounds exactly like mine, right down to my daughter wanting to sleep with me. Even now, at 13, she wants to join me in the “comfortable bed” (we have a very expensive pillow top because of my hubby’s back and my bout with fibromyalgia). Most meals are designated as “fend for yourself,” and I read in bed until late.
Much as we love the dh’s, isn’t it nice to have them gone for just a few days?
Buffie Says:
Sophie — I pretty much do the same things you do when the dh is out of town. I love to meet one of my girlfriends who has two boys (like me) and they are about the same ages — so each one has a playmate and us gals get to gab. It’s great! I’m not much of a stickler on bed times on the weekends, as long as the kids are watching tv or playing games and are quite — they are free to stay up until around 10 or so. Who doesn’t love a little free DH time!!!??!!
Buffie Says:
Margo — I just have to tell you that I finally got Temptation of the Warrior last week and man oh man I loved, loved, loved, loved it!!!! It is your best book yet!! I have put in on my annual re-read list. I fell in love with Merrick and his protectiveness over Jenny. Great, great story!! You should be extremely proud of yourself!
Sophie Jordan Says:
Wow, women the world over do the same stuff when the dh is gone! We’re wild and crazy ladies!
Buffie, DH’s never gone over the weekend, or I would probably let the daughter stay up, too. Not the baby though!! That would just be work. I can’t wait for 7:45 to roll around. He’s a crank-monster if he’s not in bed by then.
Sophie
Buffie Says:
Sophie — I hear on putting the baby to bed on time. I always did that. But now my boys are 9 and 5 and like to stay up a little later. Of course, that all depends on how my day at the office went.
AndreaW Says:
Howdy, Sophie!
My DH doesn’t go out of town, but he does work late (like midnight) two nights a week, one is a school night, the other a weekend night. The kids and I usually eat something quick, like TV dinners or breakfast for dinner on those nights. And it is during those weekend nights that one or both of my sisters will come over to watch a scary movie, because like your DH, my DH doesn’t like them either.
Margo Maguire Says:
Isn’t that funny - all those husbands who don’t like scary movies! Mine doesn’t like violent films - but he’ll watch stuff like ALIEN with me, or INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Anne Mallory Says:
I surf the Internet…without repentance!!!
And breakfast for dinner…mmmm…Emily we MUST do dinner together…
Virginia H. Says:
The only time my cats away is when he as work then he comes home wanting his dinner fixed. If I ever had that time I could read without the TV going and that would be a relief.
Sophie Jordan Says:
Thanks all for chatting with me today. The kids are in bed and I’m writing … but debating going to bed myself.
I did enjoy my play night though! The margaritas were excellent, the company great, the girls happy in the sand, and even the baby was quite thrilled with his mashed avocado.
Hugs,
Sophie
Fedora Says:
Going to bed early would be lovely! And yes, I do try to get the kids off to bed a touch earlier if I can when DH’s out of town. I love to curl up with a book then
And I love not stressing about meals–the kids really don’t care much one way or another 
Hope you enjoy your time apart 