Saturday, November 22, 2008

Saturday Run: Yard Sales and More

I wasn’t looking forward to this morning’s run. It was going to be cold and I was worried I’d set off my lungs like I did two weeks ago and end up on reduced workouts just in time for Thanksgiving. That would’ve sucked. But I had to go to the bank, which is the sort of errand I like to combine with a long Saturday morning run, so I did a craigslist search for yard sales to visit along the way and plotted a route.

It ended up being a very nice run. The day was sunny and there weren’t a lot of other runners out, which was nice. I’m always glad to see people exercising, but when the trails are full of people who don’t understand basic concepts like “keep to the right,” it gets annoying. My route included Hermann Park and Rice University, then I hit three different sales and did well at one. I paid for some items, gave them my business card, and made arrangements for pickup later, then went to the bank and deposited a check. And then I went home, pleased that I had enjoyed a fun run, after all.

This past week was pretty busy at the office. I’ve been drawn into a lot of special projects and reports, which I like, but my equity analysis and job create duties don’t go away just because I’m working on committee reports. I’ve got two training sessions on Monday, but I expect to be able to start getting caught up on Tuesday and Wednesday. A lot of people at the university take extra time off around Thanksgiving and other holidays, but I don't because I treasure having a few days where no one gives me extra work and I can get ahead of the game.

Dan and I have no family plans for Thanksgiving this year and we’re pretty excited about that. We had such a relaxing time last year having our own turkey dinner and visiting with each other, instead of making the rounds of local relatives with their worldviews so different from ours and their TVs that are never shut off. Dan and I often feel like strangers with our families, so it’s nice to not have to run that gauntlet and hang out with each other and our furry critters instead.

I also want to do some work on the studio, set up the sewing machine (manual arrived today, so I can figure out how to thread the damn thing) and do some work on some of my alteration projects. I also need to do some cleaning and reorganizing in the house, and maybe Dan and I can put up our Christmas lights. And I hope to get a lot of writing done, too.

Relaxing four-day weekend? Sure. It’ll be gone before I know it and then I'll be in need of a vacation.

12 comments:

RG said...

I can relate to some of that. I always liked a couple of days of work where most folks were off .. get caught up and even ahead :<) ... never can get too far ahead!

Gads some of our families are the same .. TV never off .. how do they even think?

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

RG, they don't think. That's why I try to keep my distance. I don't care if someone has different viewpoints than my own, but if they got them off a TV soundbite and can't back them up without someone else's slogans, I'm heading for the door because it's obvious I've got nothing to learn by staying.

Anonymous said...

A low-key, relaxing holiday with the furry ones sounds excellent! That's the way I like it, too :) Have fun putting up the Xmas lights!

the Bag Lady said...

OOh, are you excited about the sewing machine?

What's your first sewing project going to be?

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

There are very few of my family members I can be around without feeling like a stranger. This is the curse of following your own rhythm.

No wonder I'm such a hermit.

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Furry Holiday, don't forget the Craisins :~)......

Leah J. Utas said...

A quiet Thansgiving sounds ideal. I know how much easier its to get work done with no one around.
And it'll be Cadbury's first with you. That should be exciting.

Thomma Lyn said...

Ha, what Susan said. Enjoy your nice, quiet Thanksgiving! Hubby and I will be having one, too -- just us and the critters, no running. Mom is still flaming mad about it, but she'll see us in December, and it's up to her to make her peace.

I have a word for this time of year: the "Hellidays!" ;)

Have a wonderful four-day weekend, and give Cadbury a kiss from me.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

TL - Hellidays! I love it! And I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one who feels like they were switched at birth with the wrong family!

RoadBunner said...

I'm excited to hear about you sewing. I took sewing classes for two summers when I was little and all I can remember is how to put a button back on. When I went home recently I took tons of race tech shirts for my mom to alter for me. It would be nice to be able to do it myself.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Hi, Roadbunner! I haven't sewed with a machine in years, although I've done a lot of mending and alterations by hand. The bigger projects get tedious, though, and some are just off-putting without a machine.

My first two projects will probably be to finish an alteration I was doing by hand when I had no internet after the hurricane, and then there's a dress I want to make more current by unstitching the bodice and re-doing it in a more updated style. I may also re-shape some old skirts that are too long or could by freshened up in one way or another. I'll still do the smaller projects by hand, but it'll be great to be able to take on bigger projects now, too.

Deb Cushman said...

We hope you enjoy your quiet vacation at home (although it sounded like a lot of work in there and only a little vacation!) How true that it will be over before you know it! They go so fast!