Could it be any more relaxing?

Wednesday's agenda:
Drank Starbucks
Made homemade chicken salad for lunch
Sat at Starbucks, reading for a few hours
Took a nap
Took a walk
Texted friends and fam
Visited a new library
Ate a steak dinner
Watched TV

Thursday's Agenda:
Drank Starbucks
Ate breakfast at the diner
Took a nap
Shopped at a vintage clothing store: got 3 shirts, 2 jackets, 1 sweater, 1 dress for $36
Ate homemade chicken salad for lunch
Read another book
Texted friends and fam
Went for a walk
Visited a small, privately owned books store
Went to an open mic poetry night
Ate fantastic BBQ for supper
Watched tv

What got accomplished on the agendas? EVERYTHING!!!!

Mags

Great Family Day, too!

Spent the day in the capital city with Daddy-O and two of my cousins from the southern part of the State.

It cracks me up that we met and hung out at a Barnes and Noble for a few hours, sitting in the cafe, chatting and doing book stuff. I got Daddy-O an early birthday gift- a Nook Color and we all 4 played with it there at the store so if he had problems or questions, we were there to take care of it ASAP.

We also ate a fab lunch at Red Robin and laughed and talked more.

It was a fun day with some family. I love these cousins and it was nice to just relax with them

Another great vacay day!

Mags

Hiatus due to a much needed break

Going on a vacay so I have no idea how much I'll be blogging this week while I'm on spring break! But never fear, I will BE BACK! (<--- say that in your best Arnold voice!)

Mags

Spring Break Books and other vacay plans& dreams

So spring break starts on Friday!!! This is the big perk of education. That being said... what am I going to do with a week off? Well since I never have any money, I shall dedicate myself to the pursuit of fine literature. Or I'll read a bunch of stuff I have in my TBR stack that in no way, shape nor form is declared "fine" nor "literature" but I'm going to read it nonetheless.

Though... a brief aside... since I haven't been teaching for several years I feel rather shabby about the fact that i neglect reading anything considered to be a classic. Since I had to teach classics I was always reading such along with my personal selection of material but now I just read anything that suits my fancy and of late, that runs toward the... well... the beach reads, if you will. Cotton candy for the brain. something delicious and fun and that I can devour in hours or even a day. The running joke in my family is that no one reads what I like because I read "smart intellectual analytical" books, either of the fiction or non-fiction variety. But lately that hasn't been true at all, and the trend will continue through my Spring break. After all, I should read beach reads even if I won't be at the beach, right? I can PRETEND!

So the Spring Break line up of reading is Kill Alex Cross (Patterson, James- like I need to even put his name here?), Defending Jacob (William Landay), Home Front (Kristen Hannah), The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern) and Explosive 18 (Evanovich). If time allows I'll finish my Pat Conroy's My Reading Life. This should take care of all the books I have from various libraries and will then let me dedicate my reading time to stuff on my Nook- either that I bought or that I checked out as a library ebook.

I have plans to have a girlie day with my friend Lilith and another one with XRayGirl, and a family day with some cousins. That's it, other than reading.

Unless a windfall comes my way, that is. If so, then I'm temporarily ditching the books and heading to Memphis- Elvis is calling my name.

Mags

Perfect ending to a nice holiday

I wish I had another week of vacation to recover from my vacation. I didn't do anything I wanted expect relax and run around. I want more time. Oh yes, me so stingy with it.

It's got to 86 degrees here and sunny today. It was incredible.

It was such a great day to end spring break that we grilled out. ITSam bought steaks and brats. I made roast garlic and rosemary roast potatoes and a huge salad. And, of course, iced sun tea and strawberry shortcake. Ah, yummy. The first grilled meal of the season. I plan on grilling 3-4 times a week from here on out. I think I might actually learn how to use the grill so I can do it anytime and not rely on anyone else to cook for me like that.

I remember once when I lived in Northern Civilization about 9-10 years ago. I had a nice grill that was charcoal. I thought I knew how to use that. I had people over and was going to grill. I thought, "how hard can it be, really?"

We were all standing outside in the driveway, drinking margaritas and beers. For whatever reason I wanted to speed things up so I squirted some lighter fluid on the coals and flicked the lid shut. Then opened it five minutes later and a huge flame ball burst straight up into the air.

Catching the garage of my rental condo on fire. Shit.

We grabbed a garden hose and sprayed down the garage and the grill and the yards, my car and each other. By the time it was all said and done with, we put the grill stuff away and ordered a bunch of pizzas. And drank more.

Then over the next few weeks my friends showed up to help me repair and repaint the garage since my landlord was in Iraq. I was really glad I was close friends with her, and with his fiancee who was watching over things. And who was also at the house the day of the "infamous Maggie learns to grill day."

Today was a much better grilling experience. I stayed in the house and made salad, the potatoes, the Italian bread, and the homemade shortcake. Daddy-O kept ITSam company and they manned the grill. We ate until we were stuffed. The cleaning up was easy.

And the nice walk after dinner in the breeze was just grand.

Spring has sprung for sure.

Maggie

Spring Break so far

I've been a complete and utter bum since spring break started. Well, sorta. I did work a 15 hour day on Friday.

Saturday I slept late and hung out with XRay Girl for a little while. I ran some errands. i read a book. I made a card with Daddy-O. I just chilled.

Sunday XRay Girl and her hubby, and ITSam and I all went to see a movie (Source Code, which was pretty good) and then to Northern Civilization to hang out. We went to the bakery and used book store. The guys went to a hobby store. We had dinner and coffee. We just chilled out and had a good time and lots of laughs. Then we did ITSam's furniture and rent a movie we never finished because it got to be so late.

I was supposed to have a birthday lunch with my Sis-In-Law today but she's sick! (I hope you feel better soon!) I was supposed to have a day with Lilith tomorrow but she's going to visit with her mom who's battling cancer (so I completely understand that change of plans). I was invited to go shopping with Daddy-O and Curley today but since I didn't have any money I thought it was would be better to just stay home.

I slept in until noon and have just lazed around on the computer and made a pot of coffee. I'm going to read.

My big plan for the week ahead is to drive a return transport on Wednesday. I plan on reading and hanging out with ITSam in his newly furnished place. I want to watch movies and maybe scrapbook and maybe quilt. But my brain needs a rest so that comes first.

I love spring break.

Maggie