Mmm, vacation.

[rivka]

This is exactly what my vacation was supposed to be like.

I woke up around nine o'clock and spent some time relaxing in my bathrobe, getting caught up on LiveJournal and the blogs I read.

Late in the morning I walked a couple of blocks to the City Cafe, where I had a chai latte with just a hint of sweetness and the World's Greatest Oatmeal Cookie. (Thick, soft, and chewy, with big golden raisins.) I sat at a table in the sun and started reading The Golden Compass. Why haven't I ever read any Philip Pullman before?

When I finished my breakfast, I walked over to Neal's Hair Salon and Day Spa. I hung out at the counter chatting with people - including someone from my church, whom I've been wanting to know better - while I waited for my stylist. I didn't have any sense of impatience, which is rare for me. Neal gave me a piece of orange peel spice cake, luscious and moist, made by his mother. The assistant washed my hair and massaged my scalp with a shampoo that smelled of tangerines. Then my stylist, Ed, cut my hair ("nice and short for summer, honey?") while we sang along to show tunes and chatted with Neal and the other customers in the warm, light, soothing main salon.

I got a parting hug from Ed and the assurance that "you look fabulous. If I saw you in a bar, I'd send you a drink." Then I wandered home to find that I've been effusively complimented by someone whose writing and ideas I've admired for years. In a few minutes, I'm going to put a map, my first aid kit, bottled water, dried mangoes, and some cheese and crackers into my backpack, and head out to spend the rest of the afternoon in Patapsco Valley State Park.

Around 5:30 I'll come home and make cornbread and a salad to serve with the pork, black bean, and corn chili I'm giving curiousangel and wcg for dinner.

I feel - expanded. Relaxed. Not at all rushed or cramped or harried. I feel connected with myself. Lord, I've missed this.

Comments

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

That sounds lovely. I'm glad you're having such a restful vacation.

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

i'm so encouraged....your journal entry is making me want to see saturday morning come....

enjoy!!!!

[geminigirl]

I was saying last night that one of the big challenges for me as I'm preparing to get married is the lack of alone time/me time. Between things that need to be done, and work, I'm not sure I'll get a day to myself until some time next month. That's a big scary to me...

I'm glad you're vacation is doing well for you, that you are finding time to relax, to enjoy, to soak up what's around.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Yaaaay! Here's to finding relaxation in your own space. I'm all for it.

-J

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

What a *wonderful* sounding vacation!

[supergee.livejournal.com]

Always nice to be appreciated by people with talent. "You mean the person who wrote THAT likes my work?"

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

It's relaxing and happy-making just reading about it.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

Huzzah for happy relaxed Rivkas!

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

That sounds splendid. I think it's time for me to stop worrying about SQL Server installations (or lack thereof) and enjoy the day.

[aloha-moira.livejournal.com]

Isn't Phillip Pullman fabulous? I hadn't read anything by him but then "The Golden Compass" was the "fun book" for the end of my Brit Lit class this semester... terrific stuff. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequels. :)

Sounds like you're having a nice vacation!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful :) Glad to hear things are going so well!

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased that you're enjoying your vacation!

I sat at a table in the sun and started reading The Golden Compass. Why haven't I ever read any Philip Pullman before?

I'd love to hear all about your thoughts about the books since I have a low level obsession about them. I keep posting that in people's LJs when they announce that they're reading the series and nobody ever listens. *sniff* *look of utter patheticness* Maybe you'll be different! *hopeful look*

[puppytown.livejournal.com]

And you (Rivka) might like his I was a rat! book. It's excellent; I think minnaleigh can back me up on that. I just realized that my copy is missing.

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

Yes! I do second the recommendation for "I was a rat". It's quirky and fun.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I was keeping little mental notes for you, stuff like "I love the worldbuilding!"

And then I hit the part in the Golden Compass where Lyra finds the severed boy, and I sat right there in public in a cafe and cried.

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

And then I hit the part in the Golden Compass where Lyra finds the severed boy, and I sat right there in public in a cafe and cried.

Oh! That is so dreadful! Isn't he an amazing writer? I mean, I really felt the horror and grief about the severing even though it's not my world.

[aint2nuts.livejournal.com]

mactavish posted about you and I had to check your journal out. We have friends and interests in common so I added you. Blame it on mactavish

:-)