All Byyyyy Myyyyseeeeellllf

A lot of people tend to think that being alone or doing things alone is the worst thing that could ever happen. I'm sure being alone and cooped up in the house for an extended period of time could send anyone to Crazytown [see Geezerville post again]...that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about venturing out and doing things on one's own. I do it often, and I love it.

It's been a very, very long time since it was easy to just decide on a whim to do something with my friends and then do it immediately. We're all older now. People have commitments and responsibilities. It's hard to coordinate schedules. It's hard for everyone to agree on an event. It's just not the same as being 16 or 17 and piling in the car to go see a random band or movie, or go to the mall...or do anything really. People have shit to do. Including me.

Which is why, when I have the time and the "envie" to do something, I started doing it by myself. I get to go exactly where I want to go, at exactly what time I want to go. There's no waiting, no last-minute cancellations, no negotiations, no 30 minutes of "You decide!" "No, YOU decide!" "Well I'm not deciding." "Well, I'm not either...so you're gonna have to!" AHH! (It really would have paid off for me to have more demanding, decisive friends...But then we probably wouldn't have gotten along so well...)

For me...the slowest eater on the planet...it's really nice at restaurants. I can eat my food at the pace I'm comfortable and don't have to have everyone sitting there waiting for me or watching me eat after they've finished. People seem to watch me eat anyway, though. I eat in such a slow, calculated, OCD way that it tends to be interesting for people to watch. I'm used to it by now...but it's still nice to get a break from feeling like I'm holding everyone up while I'm taking my sweet time.

And movies. Movies are nice and fun to see with other people...but I do enjoy a movie alone. It's easier to pay attention. I always get more out of movies I see alone because I'm just not as comfortable when other people are there. I don't know why. I think it might be because I'm big on seeing people's reactions. One of my favorite things to do is watch a movie that I've seen with someone who's watching it for the first time - I know that's strange...but I love to see other people's reactions to funny things. What parts do they laugh at? Etc. Yes...I'm one of those weirdos that will look at you throughout the movie. Don't judge me.

Another good thing about seeing a movie alone is that you only have to scout a seat for yourself. You don't have to coordinate bathroom times with everyone else. And also, if you have to go during the movie, you don't have to try to find the rest of your party in the dark during the best part upon your return. You can just have a seat at the first available spot. Brilliant! And, perhaps the best reason to go it alone is if you have movie buddies who can't shut their traps. It's a movie! Not an open forum. We'll talk about it later in the car if you want, but for right now...stop talking...please. Unless it's a Twilight movie, then we can laugh and mock it the entire time because everyone else in the theater has seen it 12+ times already anyway. As long as we're careful. I would hate to get knifed by the pre-teens in the parking lot.

The only thing I don't like to do by myself is shop for clothes. Clothes shopping is one of the most traumatizing, horrifying things a girl can go through (unless she's skinny and loves herself A LOT). The sizes are always jacked up...too big, too small....Why does this even come in my size if it makes anyone wearing it who is larger than a size 4 look like a sack of potatoes? Why is everything on this shirt big except for the tiny boob area? FYI, big girls typically have big boobies. Why are the arm bands cutting off my circulation on this shirt that fits otherwise? They expect girls to be HUGE with skinny arms and teensy boobies. And that is just usually not the case.

So, rather than attempt to go this alone, I like to have my besties by my side. People who understand. People who will tell me what's good and what is not, and who will be honest about it. People who will laugh with me when my jugs look obscene but my waist is swallowed in that top that we all thought would be so cute. People who will help me rummage through sale racks to find the perfect thing. And people who will cry with me when those pants make my ass look like the surface of the moon.

And then we all go get milkshakes to expand the craters in our asses. Because that's what friends do!

By the way...ice cream in any form is also always better with friends.