See- I do to know how to relax

va·ca·tion (noun) break from work- a period of time devoted to rest, travel, or recreation

 

Despite my “Energizer Bunny” image around Blogville (wholly & truly undeserved- see here), I have been markedly non-productive on my first two days of vacation, per the directive of my many friends who come to visit. I suppose “non-productive” is not really precise- “pleasantly occupied” would be more accurate.

Saturday started slowly- I’d been up half the night due to a loud party next door (the second in as many days). I kept hoping they would knock it off, but at 3:30 am, I finally called the police & within 15 minutes all was silent. I managed to sleep until after 8:00 & puttered around the house, doing a little cleaning & straightening, watering the plants front & back, then read the paper while enjoying some tea (my new favorite- Harney & Sons “Bangkok”, green tea with coconut, lemongrass, & ginger). After Sam got up & received his assignments for the day, I took advantage of the pleasant weather, walked over to the gym & had a decent workout (as my arms & legs will attest to today). I spent the afternoon doing some shopping for fun; I brought myself some new clothes, looked around for some shoes (no luck, but I’m pretty picky because of the arthritis), picked up a new book at B & N, & wrapped up at the garden center, picking some plants for out front & more potting soil. I picked up some fried chicken & fixings for supper, & we watched PBS for the evening, turning in before 10:00 pm - thankfully, blessed silence from next door!

Resurrection Sunday was pleasantly low-keyed. We didn’t do a big Easter production this year; instead, three people gave their testimonies about God’s work in their lives, interspersed with four songs by the choir, all following the theme “Some People Change”. I sang lead through both services, so I was able to absorb the words being spoken; I found myself in tears, hope flickering in my heart that my prodigal will return to the Lord. You know how I fear for her, but I have to consciously put thoughts & worries about her problems aside, daily handing them over to the Father, because there is nothing else I can do. I had to decide a while back to let it go, to the point of avoiding her company; otherwise the enemy will use my concern to rob me of joy & peace.

Anyway, the rest of the day was relaxed; Sam & I went out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse- I had the biggest chicken-fried steak I’ve ever seen; it completely filled the oval platter & hung over each side by an inch! After we managed to make a dent in all the food, we strolled over to Sears to poke around & left with some clothes for Sam. I took a nap with the girls for a couple of hours, then called Chris in Texas. He spent the day with the shop’s general manager & his family, going to church & then having dinner at their home. He says it’s a really nice location, with a brand new, fully equipped facility- they just don’t have any employees. He’s been working 10 hours a day, trying to get enough units ready to fill the bookings for the rest of the month, while they hopefully hire & train some staff. Other then the extreme cold, which was completely unexpected, & the ongoing drought situation, he says he really likes the area; I reminded him that we are not going to even consider a move anywhere until Sam is out of high school! (His family has been after us for two years to relocate to Oregon- I finally had to decree, in true Queenly fashion, that the subject is forbidden until the end of 2009).

Well, the neighbors are having another party- but as there are children present this time, I have great hopes that it will wrap up at a reasonable hour. Tomorrow morning, I’m off to the Bay Area with a group of Ravenswood docents for a meeting at Shinn House, another period museum in Fremont, & then maybe a bit of antique shop browsing- then again, I may just come home & put in my new plants, or do a little sewing, or maybe I’ll just sit on the patio in the sun, reading my book. Ahhh- see, I do listen on occasion.