It was Glen’s first day back at work today which meant my first day of being alone in the house, wondering what to do with my time. So I slept until 8 when Glen, very kindly, send me an SMS to say how long it had taken him to get to work by the subway (25 minutes). Unable to go back to sleep (oh, the trials!), I lay in bed, chatted to a friend online for a while before deciding, at 9:30, it really was time to get on with the day.

I went to the gym (points for dedication). There’s a fitness centre in the apartment building which has most of the equipment and weights that I need, but is missing some others that I’d prefer to have. Will have to adapt.

It was busy. There were four other people in there. Packed! The two other guys who were there were a trainer and his client (I’ll assume there’s a paid relationship going on there as the trainer was motivational but exactly on the friend level). I had my headphones in and music on but it wasn’t enough to block out the trainer’s highly enthusiastic supportive sayings, like “Gooooood” and “Niiiiice”. It made me laugh.

In the afternoon I went for lunch at Freshii’s and had a big salad with quinoa (mmmm quinoa. Glen’s favourite) then grocery shopping to make dinner for Glen’s triumphant return home from his first day.

He came home early and there hadn’t been much work involved. It was orientation day so plenty of speechifying and bits of information flung at him at a pace of 20 yards. Lots of new residents and fellows. But he’s plunging into the deep end tomorrow.

A couple of people said they were “reaching out” (which made us laugh as a friend told us the American woman from their surrogacy agency likes to say, “I’m going to reach out and have a conversation.” It’s becoming one of our catch-phrases). Someone else said “robust”, which made Glen laugh (and then me laugh when he texted me) because it’s the central word from a Veep episode.

The plus side of Glen finishing earlier today meant I could get dinner out of the way and we could catch an advance screening of Despicable Me 2, all for $5 each. We love Cheap Tuesdays at the movies. I made a very nice chicken and vegetable sauce with brown rice. It’s been so long since I’ve cooked anything remotely creative without a Thermomix that it’s a bit disorienting. Not to fear though. We’re getting a Thermomix soon.

Me: “Not sure I quite trust brown rice that only takes 15 minutes to cook.”

Glen: “Don’t be ricist.”

*groan*

A quick subway ride and a walk to the cinemas to see the movie. There was a guy playing a piano, live, in the foyer. The theatre was packed with people. I wonder what the cinemas are like on other days and if they’re empty or just as full.

Despicable Me 2 was fun. I didn’t think it was good as Monsters University but it was still enjoyable. I’m glad we got to see it before I go away (it was an advanced screening and officially opens tomorrow) or else Glen and I would have wait two weeks to see it.

We then went out for a second dinner to Terroni. Eating at 4:30 or 5 makes for empty bellies at 9:30.