Sunday, June 10, 2007

I Am On Vacation!

Awwww the views are great. The scenery inspiring. Where am I, you may ask? The beach? The mountains? Ah no... I am at home. But for 3 long (?) days, I am on vacation.

You see... it has not been a very good year financially. The outlook for taking any trips anytime soon is bleak. And so I declared this long weekend as one of many mini-vacations to come this year.

I left work behind at 6 pm on Friday. Can't even remember what I did 2 nights ago. Then Saturday, Luke, the 5 yr old grandson, came over and we played games, and watched a, no part of a, movie - Lady and the Tramp, checked out the scooter and helmet his mom had just bought him (Cool, Luke! And don't forget you can coast for 21,000 - that's 21 seconds!) and then went to see the movie SURF'S UP, rated PG. Why is it that they take a perfectly good G-rated movie and put in a few crude words and behavior to match, so that it comes out as PG-rated? Fortunately, Luke missed the crudity. (Is that a word?! You get my point.)

I met Bob at the mall where I bought long overdue makeup at Dillard's (a relief to all of those around me I am sure), and then went to Lenscrafters to get my glasses adjusted. Nice people, and it is nice walking in there and them knowing who I am. Thank you, thank you.

Next on the vacation trail, Bob and I went to Saltgrass - the new restaurant that opened in the old Joe's Crab Shack site - for their "early bird" or "late lunch" specials. Good stuff and being new to us and all, it did feel like we were out-of-town somewhere. Home to crash for awhile. I read. Finished the book "90 Minutes in Heaven". Wow! ya gotta read it. Aside from the Bible, the most awesome book about facing death and eternity. I am now looking forward to perfect vision and most beautiful, awesome music when I die and go to heaven. Don Piper (the author) said the noise was like the swooshing of angels' wings. I LOVE that phrase. "Swooshing" and "angels' wings". Music speaks to me here a song at a time. I can't wait until I get to heaven and hear like 100 praise songs going at once, and I can hear them all clearly, and if I open my mouth to sing, knowing that I will have perfect pitch! Wow! Good stuff.

Okay, then (are you tired of this travel journal yet?!) we got in the convertible and went out for a drive. 9:20 pm... perfect summer evening, except we are in the No Moon cycle. Now, since the price of gas is what it is, we can't just go out driving around. There has to be a purpose. So, we took my book back to the Book Drop at the Brentwood Library, and then took the movies I had picked out for Luke to the church drop-off box. THEN we went to Dunkin' Donuts and closed them out as their last customers of the day by getting hot cups of coffee. (Kinda cool with the top down on the car.) That pretty much finishes off Saturday.

We got up at 6 am this morning. Some of you may think that is rather early, especially since we are on vacation. However, Bob was awakened with leg cramps, and I was already slightly conscious with the cat scratching wanting out of his "bedroom" area. So 6 am it is. Going to the back of the house with all the windows overlooking the back yard, I see a black cat sitting outside the gazebo, while "Samantha" the cat from next door, is curled up at the base of my chaise lounge on the inside of the gazebo. So the 3 of us inside sit and watch that for 2 1/2 hours. (Springfield, Bob and I) I know... You probably think that is really pathetic... Up early on a Sunday morning sitting watching cats outside, while they watch us back. But it was really rather soothing... Watched the morning news and had a cup of coffee through it all. Neither Bob or I had responsibilities at the church so we played "hooky". It was nice not having anywhere we HAD to be at a certain time. Ahhh just what vacation is good for.

We did make brunch at Martha's at the Plantation. I splurged on my most favorite dessert in the whole wide world ever. A warm piece of fudge pie, covered with peppermint ice cream, chocolate sprinkles and REAL whipped cream. Sin doesn't get any better than that.

Home again, home again. We were worn out from the early start to our day (!*!), so we took 2- 1/2 -hour Sunday afternoon naps. I awoke and started working on laundry, and going through clothes in my bedroom, putting some away for the season, putting some in the "cleaners" pile, and the others in the "Goodwill" pile.

Enough work. Back to fun. Bob and I went walking! with the motivation of stopping by to see some friends and their baby girl, born last year on MY birthday!, who live across from our neighborhood. Perfect timing. We ran into them out in their front yard. Lexi Kate is just precious and looks SO much like her mama. This little family is such a sweet little family. Makes you feel good about the good things in life and making good choices!

I managed to get Bob to keep walking for a spell when LK had to go in for her evening bottle and bath. We saw a hot air balloon passing over! Back to the house and back in the convertible for our nightly trip, this time to the newest Sonic down the street. I had a coupon for BUY A BURGER, GET ONE FREE that was burning a hole in my billfold.

Back home and was going to do some housework, yes even on vacation, but was distracted by a new (or not previously seen by me) episode of LAW AND ORDER. It was a GOOD one! I did do laundry during the commercials. And now, I am finishing this night of vacation off by writing! It's nice knowing I still have 1 more day of vacation left. Bob has to work half a day, and I plan to read or study or write at a coffee shop. Ooh, la la... It's just been a really good mental break for me by taking this mini-vacation.

Gotta go now... My Yoga CD is calling!