Thoughts on a weekend alone.

Thanks to Jenni for the Crazy Hip Blog Mamas Thingy Thursday posting idea. I am unsure I qualify as Crazy Hip, but why not claim the title if I'm taking on the question of the week?

"If I had an entire weekend alone, I would..."

Leave my laptop at home, so I wouldn't be tempted to do any kind of productive work whatsoever or communicate with the hundred people I commonly owe an email or a note.

Go somewhere else, so I wouldn't be tempted to clean the house or do laundry or iron or any of the million little tasks that get interrupted when I am not alone in the house.

That somewhere else, for maximum relaxation, would have the following features:
--really cool independent bookstore
--coffeehouse with maximum yummy baked goods, including croissants and cakes of several varieties
--yoga studio
--clean, warm, airy public pool
--at least a few restaurants with good food and casual atmosphere
--an art museum
--cheap yet safe and functional lodgings.

I would choose a book and a magazine and read them both without interruption. I would go to a long yoga class and not worry about what I should be doing instead of meditating and stretching. I would buy a pretty blank book and write something in it besides to-do lists and organizational details. I would wander around an art museum and look at just what I wanted, taking as long as I wanted. I would go for a swim in a warm lap pool where no children are splashing and romping and running because it is adult swim time. I would go back to the bookstore and listen to some famous author I love talk about his/her latest book, and I would buy a copy and get it signed.

I would eat yummy healthy food that I didn't have to grocery-shop for or meal-plan for or dress up for or figure if anyone else will like or talk the bug into trying just one bite of.

At night, I would watch cable TV in the hotel room and get to be in charge of the remote, with no cartoons and no Discovery or History Channel unless I'm interested in what's on. Probably watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and maybe some girlie movie. No one would snore, kick me, try to climb on me, sneak in and pull away my pillows, or call for snuggling and re-tucking from another room.

I would probably get lonely at some point. The no-snuggling-calls would likely be that point. I would call home to remind my family I love them and to hear the bug snuffle-breathe in her sleep on the cell phone.

The next morning I would sleep as late as I wanted, go to church, have a big carbohydrate-loaded breakfast, and go for a challenging hike or go white-water-rafting or do some form of outdoor exercise in sunshine that I cannot do while encumbered by a young 'un. To take advantage of the moment. I would ask someone to take my picture because as my parents point out I am almost never in any photographs because I'm always holding the camera.

Then I would go home to my family refreshed. Just visualizing all this has had a similar effect.