Thursday, August 20, 2009

How I Spent My One Day Vacation

Started out with a little Twitter and the important e-mails and coffee. Lots of coffee.

Took the book I was reading and left the house (the laptop stayed home). Picked up a latte at a nearby coffee shop. Drove to a wonderful quiet place and read for three hours with no interruptions. Made it more than halfway through the book.

Went home and did a few minor chores (couldn't just sit all day long). Checked for important e-mail and sent out a couple of tweets.

Went to Whole Foods. Bought Norwegian salmon steaks for only $6.99 lb. and three ears of sweet corn (Colorado grown) for only $1.00.

Went home and sat down in comfortable chair with the book and a tall glass of ice water. Got within 60 pages of the end and stopped to fix supper. Decided to check in on e-mail and Twitter one more time before shutting down the laptop.

Suddenly realized I was supposed to submit my chapter to my critique group on Tuesday evening (for critiquing next Monday night) and forgot to do so. Stuck to my vacation plan, however, and just sent an e-mail promising my submission this morning.

Husband left to play bridge. I popped popcorn, watched The Boy in Striped Pajamas, cried, wished I'd picked a less intense movie for my vacation day.

Then I picked up my book and finished reading Inhuman Remains. Excellent thriller, excellent writing. I now have to add all of Quintin Jardine's books to my reading list.

Even with the tragic movie and the forgotten critique submission, I had a great day. I might have to do this again very soon, whether I have something to celebrate or not.

6 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Sounds like a wonderful, peaceful day Patricia. I may have to have one of those soon (even though I'm not celebrating anything!)

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

joe doaks-Author said...

Takes discipline to have an undisciplined day. Huh? Yeah, I think that’s true. Sounds like you have lots of discipline. Should you find any extra, attach it to an email and forward to me, please. I have none.

Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog

Patricia Stoltey said...

Good morning, Elizabeth, Galen, and Karen. I highly recommend taking that day now and then. I'm anxious to get to work this morning, and I definitely feel well rested.

Galen, discipline is often elusive. I have to keep reining it in. My tendency is to be a workaholic (like in my old working days), and I don't want to go that route any more.

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Sounds like a perfect way to spend the day - even without something to celebrate. Maybe we should simply refer to relaxing days as - celebrate life days.

Elspeth Futcher said...

Quiet days are essential for the soul. It's time to power down and have peaceful thoughts and listen to life. I have always found my writing draws a fresher breath after such a day.
Being on vacation right now (obviously with my laptop) I have resolved to take a few of these days to just drink in the miraculous scenery and listen to myself breath.
Glad you appreciated yours.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good day. I just watched Defiance - great movie.
Now get that critique to us :)