All in a day's work on vacation

I took today off work and did my best at trying out this "vacation at home" thing. A big storm rolled in around 3 am and woke me up. My power was out. I noticed this only when things started coming back on flashing and beeping. Because I didn't have to worry about getting up for work, I decided to get out of bed and sit in the living room to watch the skies light up. It reminded me of storms up at the lake--so loud and close sounding, the rain coming down in sheets and pounding against the window. It was a perfect summer storm.

It was a good thing I didn't have to go to work. With my clock radio alarm screwed up because of the power failure I probably would have slept in. I woke up first at 7 am, in time to hear the bus I usually take go by. I then returned to slumber and didn't rise again until nine. I succeeded in achieving luxury number one of a day off, sleeping in.

Once up and dressed, I decided to go for a walk in the park. I packed a bag with a book, my camera, a snack (I didn't eat breakfast) and some money for a coffee break. I considered my umbrella, but felt it would be unnecessary added weight. So I left it behind.

On the way home from a lovely walk, which included some time spent playing with a chocolate lab puppy, I stopped at Sunstone Coffee for a latte. I took a spot at the counter in front of the window and grabbed an old issue of Fortune to read as I sipped my small bowl of coffee. I did not think of work for one moment. I did not call my mother. I was doing very well.

I looked out the window and noticed some very dark clouds moving in from the south. Knowing I was still about 20 minutes from home, I downed the last few sips and headed out. Clearly, a real vacationing woman would not have worried about the impending rain. She instead would have ordered another latte and waited for the showers to pass. But I had only brought enough change for one beverage and didn't want to overstay my welcome in the nearly empty coffee shop. Yes, I still have some work to do on being carefree.

As I was nearly home, the skies opened up and it started to pour big, fat rain drops. With no umbrella in my well-packed bag, I couldn't really do much else other than laugh and think of how much I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

When the skies cleared up in the afternoon, I sat outside on my front step with a book and a beer. I finished off the day with attending the football game with my sister, Lisa and Chris. We lost. Terribly. But it didn't bother me much; I was on vacation.