Life of the Lintee Bean

I figured it’s about time to give an update on the dating situation. Honestly, I didn’t even THINK about Valentine’s Day when I decided that. I’m not much of a romantic, if I’m any sort of romantic at all. In spite of that, the dating situation is going pretty well, I think.

My boyfriend is pretty awesome. Now I’ve been on my own for a LONG time, and it’s been an adjustment to be in a relationship. It’s not an adjustment I’ve made easily – not one I’ve finished making at all. In many ways, we’re different species.  I’m a vegetarian and he’s a carnivore. He’s nocturnal, I start fading around 9 p.m. I admit, I get annoyed when

• he lives the toilet seat up or a closet door open, or
• he’s running late, or
• he buys a new TV and decides to keep BOTH the new TV and old TV in the same room so we can watch two TVs at the same time, or
• he doesn’t read my mind and take the trash out for me, or
• I’m waiting outside a store for him to pull the car around, only to discover he’s gone back inside and is chatting with an ex-coworker.

However, he does do a lot of really sweet things. The other day we had a huge snowstorm, and he woke early, drove over, and shoveled my sidewalks. Then he drove me to the train station because he said there was no way I “could walk to the train in THAT!”  “That” is snow, and I’ve managed to walk in it for years, but it was sweet that he drove me.

I met his family.  We went out to dinner with his mother, two sisters, and two nieces. I don’t know if I made much of an impression – at least not a GOOD impression.  I stole food off a niece’s plate, but I don’t think she was going to eat it. I had to struggle not to watch the hockey game airing in the other room – just visible over other diners’ heads. I drank three coffees – Irish coffees, with whiskey in them. When my boyfriend stole his niece’s phone, teasing her and refusing to give it back, I grabbed his earlobe and twisted, retrieving the phone.  (I may have made a good impression on that niece.)

Friday, we took the day off work so we could spend some time together.  My awesome boyfriend took me to a yarn store, and pretended to be interested as I fondled hundreds of skeins of yarn. Then we went shopping at Kohl’s!  They were having a SALE!  (Kohl’s is ALWAYS having a sale.) Sunday he took me SHOE shopping!  He even checked out all the shoes I was considering and commented on the great deal I got, three pair of shoes for under $90.

So, I’m not much of a romantic, and I hadn’t even thought about Valentine’s Day. I did get a Valentine’s card today – from my cats.  A friend and my boyfriend helped them with it, putting their pictures in it and everything.  My boyfriend is learning to give my cats eye drops and asthma medication. For a crazy cat lady, I don’t think it gets more romantic than that.

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Submitted for publication in The Greeley Citizen.