Day 2 of pseudo sabbatical

Day 2 went just as fast as Day 1.

AM:
Had a call with Lisa at 9:30am. Let me tell you. This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for a lot of things but on that top of the list right next to Hak is having an assistant. And not just any assistant, but someone like Lisa. She is the bomb! Even though she is part time, she takes care of so much for me. I trust her and rely on her a great deal and it's only been a couple of months. When I think of her, I just get the urge to exhale and smile.

Lisa is wrapping up a bunch of stuff for me at work so that I can really let go the next several weeks. I am so lucky to have her!

After our 30 minute check-in call, I drove to my beauty appointment with Deborah. Every 3 weeks! Such a commitment of time, money and energy but so worth it. Something I do just for me.

Noon:
Got my yummy gingerbread latte, with whip (!) and a panini at Starbucks on Union.

Afternoon:
Ran errands with hundreds of others on the road until dark.

• Dropped off loads of dry cleaning. My guy is so good. He had my items for pick up when I walked in and before I even handed him the slip. I commented on this since there were other customers there before and after me but I was the only one who didn't have to hand him the receipt for pick up. He had seen me parking in front of the store and got it all ready while I was putting money in the meter. So good to be a regular customer. I come to this dry cleaner in Noe even though I don't live there anymore. Guess loyalty has its perks sometimes.




• Next stop: Costco. Not sure why I thought it would be quiet since it is a week day. It wasn't because I forgot that it was the day before Thanksgiving and everyone was there either food shopping or getting an early start on Christmas shopping. I was looking for luggage which Costco didn't have. So I just ended up buying stuff I sort of needed and stocked up on some staple items like chicken broth and shower gel.




• TJ Max. Still looking for the small luggage we can bring on the plane. The last Samsonite broke on us after just 1 year or 2. TJ Max had nothing but large suitcases.

It's not even Thanksgiving yet and already the shoppers are out. The roads are congested and it takes twice as long to get to anywhere, let alone park! Lines are long and patience short. Yes, the holidays have arrived.

PM:
Cooked dinner. Ate while watching Psych on USA. Laughed a bunch and now updating my blog.

I'm procrastinating of course. I need to pack. Only 5 days but lots of sweaters, warm clothing and boots to squeeze strategically into that suitcase...

41 days to go.

Day 1 of pseudo sabbabitcal

Preface:

I am taking 5 weeks off from work to 'live' my life which I've neglected to do for the last 4 years. To de-stress, to relax, to think and to start writing again.

I feel a little like James Caan in the movie Misery. I write better with a cigarette. And for me, it helps to be outdoors, especially since I'm smoking and I don't ever smoke in the house.

Day 1:

AM - Picked up Ivie and went to the DMV in the city. What an interesting place with lots of characters from all walks of life. All races speaking various languages. All working and non-working classes. Young and old. All shapes and sizes. Along with the sites and sounds comes all sorts of not so pleasant smells...

After Ivie passed her written test and finally got her California driver's license after more than 3 years of moving here from Florida, and I took my new photo, we went to La Boulange in Noe Valley for brunch. It was great to catch up and just chill. We always have a blast - laughing between every other sentence.

AFTERNOON - Went home after I dropped Ivie off to chillax a bit before my doctor appointment. It was my first time seeing Dr. Bricca. He's at St. Mary's near the Panhandle. A few colleagues recommended him as a primary. I was feeling feverish continously a week or so ago and wanted to check it out. Just need to make sure I don't have any infections and a general check-up.

Turns out as I suspect and knew, I didn't/don't have a fever and we still don't know why I am always feeling so uncomfortably hot. To make sure there isn't anything serious, of course blood had to be drawn to run some tests. Oh how I dislike needles. I actually thought about leaving without doing the labs but figured I should get it out of the way. Who actually likes having their blood drawn?

PM - Got home after 5pm and it was dark already...I really miss daylight savings. I was exhausted from not doing much of anything at all (though I did have 2 needed appointments). Time flies whether you are having fun, going to appointments, doing errands or doing nothing at all. Time is just passing by all too quickly!

Had some left over chinese food while watching TV and took a nap while waiting for Hak to come home.

Now it's again 11:30pm and I find myself wondering where the day went and how the hours passed.

Day 1 is almost over...42 more days left until I go back to the hectic life I am trying to let go of for a little while. Have to remember to slow down, live and enjoy the moments.

Cleaning and Organizing calms me

I woke up from a nightmare at 8am this morning. 9am really but daylight savings ended last night so though I technically gained an hour, I, who normally sleep in on weekends until 10am or 11am, didn't gain any more sleep but in face got up at 8am.

I think it was because I had a vivid nightmare last night. I dreamt I was going to miss my flight to NYC (My boss is flying to NYC today and long ago I had planned on going with him but changed my plans a while back.) and was doing everything I could to catch it. Including climbing up the Brooklyn Bridge on a teeny tiny rope ladder, despite of my fear of heights. The interesting thing is I was in NYC already but trying to catch a flight to NYC.

I woke up needing to do something productive and wanted to distract myself from the weird dream. While I would normallyl chill on the sofa catching up on some tv shows, I decided to start cleaning and organizing which sometimes overwhelms me since I am so detailed it may take me hours just to organize one kitchen drawer. But starting the process feels good.

I needed a break and wanted to write - something else that I used to do a lot to calm myself but I haven't taken the time in years to write regularly like I used to.

Life is short and why not make the time to do the things I love and makes me happy or relaxes me.

Today is a new day. Must start these habits and routines and do my best to keep them.