Day 22: a functioning member of society

I feel at this point that I'm a responsible, functioning member of society, unlike the person I used to be.

In the time since Stimee's been gone, I have accomplished the following feats:
--Got my car out of no man's land
--Fixed his car
--Paid the landline phone bill
--Paid the cell phone bill
--Paid the electric bill
--Gotten us car insurance
--Handled the housing issue that arose
--Ran a kitchen for a week on my own
--Increased how many calories I can burn in 33 minutes on the elliptical by well over a hundred
--Cooked many homemade meals
--Stood up for myself and told off someone who deserved a punch in the face

That last one happened last night. I tersely informed a former flame that his advances were not acceptable, giving him a shove (which I wish would've been a punch in the face in retrospect) and eliciting a "whooooaaaaa" and a look of admiration from the person he'd been talking to at the bar. When he tried to explain anything away, I wouldn't have it. I merely gave him a steely glare and the words "Watch it." He stared back and was the first to break eye contact.

Something any independent woman would have done; but something that I would not have done in the past. I'd have either waited for someone around me to confront him, or I would have laughed it off, happy for the attention. (?!?!) But, before Stimee, I never realized that I'm a human being deserving of respect. I also think maybe I never respected myself. And I now realize that self-respect is an integral attribute of the independent person.

The encounter made me realize that, although this person claims to want to be friends, I will from now on make every effort to avoid him at all costs. It seems that just wanting to be friends with him may have led him to believe that I am still the pathetic lonely girl I was over a year ago or that I'm not happy to be in a monogamous relationship with the love of my life. I have no room in my life for "friends" who don't respect me!

In other news, today I finally got the car insurance all figured out for Stimee and me. It was easier than I thought it'd be, and cheaper. It feels good that, without him here to do everything and/or remind me to do the things I say i'll do, I'm still taking care of everything that needs to get taken care of. I'm taking care of the house (paying the bills, resolving issues, and cleaning); I'm taking care of the car (fixing it, getting insurance, cleaning it); I'm taking care of myself (working on my own; demanding respect; getting in shape; socializing and having a good time) all without needing someone else to do these things for me or ensure that they happen.

Although it now seems that my five weeks to independence will be cut short, I think I've done a good job of expediting my progress.