Saturday . October 12 . 2002 . 10:03am |
movin' on down, to the east side Moving in with Joe has really made me realize what an insane control freak I am. Everyone talks about this adjustment period when moving in with a partner. What was once two are now one. What was once all mine mine mine is ours. What were once secret neurotic habits done in the privacy of one's own room are now freakishly exposed for the other to see. In some ways, moving in together is the ultimate leap of faith. Let's see if we still like each other afterwards. I have to admit, though, that the more difficult part of this deal is going to be for Joe to not strangle me before the adjustment period is over. MICHELLE (Unpacking) So where do you think we should put this chair? JOE I don't know. (Indicating one corner) Maybe here. MICHELLE (Stony silence) JOE (Sensing disapproval) Or...(pointing to another corner) here? MICHELLE Well...those are all very...interesting... ideas. But I think we should put it here (points to spot against the wall). JOE (Shrugging) OK, whatever. Hey hon, I'm putting the tape dispenser in the drawer, OK? MICHELLE There? THERE? That's the worst place for a tape dispenser ever! Illogical and inaccessible! Clearly the ideal place for tape dispensers is in this drawer next to it! Augh! You're sharing my tape dispenser! Gone are the days of free-wheeling tape dispensing, where I can position everything exactly how and where I want it! Your computer is on my desk! Your shoes are touching my shoes! Don't put your hangers on the rail like that, they're facing the wrong way! Aaaah! Aaaah! Breakdown! BREAKDOWN! JOE Honey, you need to relax. MICHELLE I AM RELAXED! (Panting) See...how... relaxed...I am? (To self) Inner Zen, inner Zen, inner Zen. Om. JOE Why don't we take a break from unpacking and go get some coffee? MICHELLE No! I hate coffee! JOE No you don't. MICHELLE Oh yeah. In most ways, I really don't appreciate how good I have it. Besides being extraordinarily easygoing in the face of my insanity (you might say he's the Smithers to my Burns, the calming yin to my raging yang), he is also one of the most compulsively neat men I have ever met in my life. He even has cleaning product brand loyalties. I'm a lucky lady. Today, Joe and I are taking my little sister and going on a field trip to an animal shelter out on Long Island. We haven't really made the shelter vs. breeder dog decision, but we have several prospective breeder litters that we're keeping tabs on, and we're going to check out what they have at the shelter, and more importantly, go though the screening process to see if they'll even let us adopt a puppy at all. I have a feeling that once we tell them that we're both going into medicine, they'll slap the cuffs on us right there on grounds of prospective canine neglect. xo Michelle |
