Back to Reality
Vacation...what can I say? Vacation was awesome. The perfect mix of keeping busy and not, of being social and staying solitary...it was exactly what I needed to re-charge. Though I wish I could have taken a second week...I have the time, but my projects wouldn't allow it.
Took a lovely afternoon hike on Tuesday. The trails were deserted, and the one person I actually saw (outside of the ranger) was an older gentleman who is an expert in the local flora. He was an absolute trip to talk to. Did you know that the Tulip Tree is the tallest tree in the east? Though I have to say--hearing the train whistle while surrounded by cliffs is a bit unusual. Tuesday was also the night i saw Mama Mia! with a friend from work. It was absolutely hysterical! If you want to be entertained and can suspend your movie snobbery, go see this flick.
I spent Thursday on the beach in Rye listening to the water, the seagulls, and a pleasant silence in my head. No music, no voices telling me that I should be doing something else. I brought a book, but only spent an hour or two reading it. No, it wasn't the ocean...but it was still peaceful and rejuvinating.
The rest of the week was spent in LI with Al and Mishu, and, as always, that was a wonderful trip.I got a late start on Friday, hit traffic, and ended up killing a couple of hours wandering around Port Jefferson on my own waiting for Mishu to get Al from work. A year ago this would have caused a panic attack, but this time I just parked my car, grabbed my purse and a book, and set out. I walked through a few shops, grabbed a fish sandwich from one of the local resturants, and found a small gazebo at the end of a weathered dock that stretched a few hunderd feet out from shore. It was lovely just to sit, eat, and enjoy the sun and salty breeze without the bustle of people all around me.
Saturday was spent waiting for Al's sister and her boyfriend, and on Sunday the five of us headed out to the North Fork for an afternoon of farm visits and wine tasting. The weather was glorious--bright, breezy, and not overly warm. I sampled some wonderful wines (even came home with a few), learned how to find the flavors that everyone talks about in the reds, and enjoyed the beautiful coutryside that we drove through. We ended the day in Greenport with visits to a couple of incredible little shops and dinner at a place on the main street.
Drive home on Monday after a last visit with Al's sister and her boyfriend and nice lunch. I swear that my car flew--I made it home under an hour and a half, which is probably a new record.
Reality isn't nearly as enjoyable....
Took a lovely afternoon hike on Tuesday. The trails were deserted, and the one person I actually saw (outside of the ranger) was an older gentleman who is an expert in the local flora. He was an absolute trip to talk to. Did you know that the Tulip Tree is the tallest tree in the east? Though I have to say--hearing the train whistle while surrounded by cliffs is a bit unusual. Tuesday was also the night i saw Mama Mia! with a friend from work. It was absolutely hysterical! If you want to be entertained and can suspend your movie snobbery, go see this flick.
I spent Thursday on the beach in Rye listening to the water, the seagulls, and a pleasant silence in my head. No music, no voices telling me that I should be doing something else. I brought a book, but only spent an hour or two reading it. No, it wasn't the ocean...but it was still peaceful and rejuvinating.
The rest of the week was spent in LI with Al and Mishu, and, as always, that was a wonderful trip.I got a late start on Friday, hit traffic, and ended up killing a couple of hours wandering around Port Jefferson on my own waiting for Mishu to get Al from work. A year ago this would have caused a panic attack, but this time I just parked my car, grabbed my purse and a book, and set out. I walked through a few shops, grabbed a fish sandwich from one of the local resturants, and found a small gazebo at the end of a weathered dock that stretched a few hunderd feet out from shore. It was lovely just to sit, eat, and enjoy the sun and salty breeze without the bustle of people all around me.
Saturday was spent waiting for Al's sister and her boyfriend, and on Sunday the five of us headed out to the North Fork for an afternoon of farm visits and wine tasting. The weather was glorious--bright, breezy, and not overly warm. I sampled some wonderful wines (even came home with a few), learned how to find the flavors that everyone talks about in the reds, and enjoyed the beautiful coutryside that we drove through. We ended the day in Greenport with visits to a couple of incredible little shops and dinner at a place on the main street.
Drive home on Monday after a last visit with Al's sister and her boyfriend and nice lunch. I swear that my car flew--I made it home under an hour and a half, which is probably a new record.
Reality isn't nearly as enjoyable....