What I Did This Weekend

Yes. I will admit it. I have been reading this weekend.

I didn't stand in line at midnight. Nor did I pre-order a copy, because a couple years ago The Boy managed to make The Grannie a huge Harry Potter fan so we spent the afternoon waiting by the pool for not one, but two copies of The Deathly Hallows, to be delivered directly to the door.

I am not as fast a reader as some people. But I am in the middle of the 12th chapter, which is pretty good for me since I am now having to read two fiction books at the same time (actually I temporarily put down a murder mystery I started a couple of weeks ago).

I read a lot of different things and it's usually in the very early morning with my coffee, or fiction at night before bed. Reading during the middle of the day is a challenge because two things will inevitably happen if I sit for too long: I will either get antsy or I will fall asleep. There is no middle ground.

Every once in awhile there is a book that comes around that I hate to put down and I find myself reading when I should be doing other things, like laundry, or talking to my kids, or making dinner for my man. Those times don't come very often because I like to enjoy my fiction reading. Especially books where the characters are fun to be with. I always hate ending a book with characters in it that I like. But I digress...

I am trying to finish The Deathly Hallows in short order because I don't want to know what happens in some other way. I want to find out on my own. Plus, I have a certain friend who may not speak to me until I read it because of an unfortunate event that happened after the release of the 6th book, in which she accidentally revealed the death of Dumbledore. This was not her fault because it was weeks after the book was released and she thought I was finished. But now she is guarding her tongue for the preservation of all things fiction...so I must read the book quickly or she may never speak to me again.

In short, I read a bit more than I normally would on a weekend.

On Friday I rented the old Annie DVD . You know, like the original. The one I saw in the theaters when I was a mere ten years old. The Girl and I watched it and did pedicures together on Friday night. Having a 7 year old girl is the greatest.

Early Saturday morning, I went running in the most amazing weather. It was overcast and 70 degrees and just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. The kind of weather that makes you feel like you could run forever! Of course I didn't, but it felt like I could, which is always what you are hoping for at the end of your run. After my run I ran (not really)in the house and asked The Boy if he would like to ride his bike while I cooled down. We walked, and peddled, and had good conversation about the book-that-was-to-arrive and various important childhood things. Having a 9 year old boy is the greatest.

Later we went to my parents house. The postman's delivery of goods was followed by hoops and hollers and The Grannie and The Boy sneaked (snuck, snook?) off to read the first chapter together.

Sunday started with an apology.

Actually it started with an alarm at 5:30 am. Every morning my alarm wakes me up at 5:00 am and tells me to go quickly to the coffee. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. On Sunday there are two things I do not do: I don't set the alarm and I don't fully make the bed. Why? Because Sunday's are for rest, so I sleep in, and I always hope for a short nap on Sunday afternoons. If the bed isn't completely made I am more likely to take it up on it's offer for an S.S.S. (or Sweet Sunday Siesta.) Anyway, somebody, who will remain nameless, but who shares my room, forgot to turn off his alarm. I was less than sweet about this oversight. Hence the apology.

We went to church, and the afternoon was delightful as we all hung out in our New Home in the Desert and read, and even dozed for a minute or two. Although not in the unmade bed.

My Dad's sister was in town for a visit from the east coast. In the late afternoon we met up at my parents house for some poolside pizza and homemade peach pie, and my brother was there with his family, and my grandmother (who was as cranky as ever). It was enjoyable.

When we drove home, the sun setting against a beautiful desert monsoon sky, and I realized that this was the first time in 12 years that I had been a part of a family gathering that I hadn't hung up the phone and felt a twinge of sadness that I wasn't with them. This was the first time that I was going home. To my house. Having been a part of the big picture instead of hearing the festivities through a phone that could not satisfy the want of sitting face to face.

So the weekend was busy and yet I feel satisfied and content.

Ah! Weekends! How lovely they are!

But now it's time to crack the whip...I've got 529 pages left!

La Vida Dulce!