Tales from a Relaxing Weekend

Well, after all my deliberating about going home or going back to work after training on Friday if we got out early...we didn't get out early. The exercises were so riddled with errors and problems that they took hours to unravel and the instructor didn't really know how to do much more than read the slides to us. That said, we did at least get out around 3, so it worked out to a regular day - and traffic was pretty light both ways on Friday so it only took about an hour each way (vs. the hour and forty five minutes that it took me on Thursday morning.)

Friday night we went to Chili's with friends but ended up just going home thereafter. Tim was tired. I was tired. It just seemed like going home was the better course of action. And I think, honestly, that after that we went to bed by 10:30. Yeah, we know how to live it up and party in the Sleepy household.

Saturday was Tim's and my 11th anniversary. We didn't make any big or elaborate plans as we're going away for the weekend soon and that will be our big, elaborate celebration. But it was still a lovely day because I got to do my very favorite thing in the entire world: spend the day just hanging out with Tim. He is by far my best and most constant friend, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

When I was letting the puppies out Saturday morning, I spotted a hummingbird darting here and there in my garden. I can't fathom that anything I attempt to grow would actually feed the little guys, so after feeding the girls, I dug out the hummingbird feeder I purchased in...oh, March(?) but never got around to setting up, gave it a good wash, made some nectar, and hung it out on the porch. Tim and I passed a very quiet, relaxing morning sipping coffee, eating French toast and watching the bird feeder. We opened the sliding glass doors so we could hear the little fountain we have on the deck and the girls stretched out in the sun, coming in only when their fur was so hot you could barely touch them, and only then to drink a little water before returning to sun themselves. The hummingbirds have discovered the feeder and I've spotted three distinct birds visiting (based on size). They're all the little ones and so far it's only been females (thus sporting only brown or brown and white feathers), but I'm hopeful that we might yet see a ruby-throated one. If they come up our way. Honestly, I didn't really know we had hummingbirds here, so it was a nice surprise to see one. Next to finches, they're my favorite birds. Well, and I suppose I should say I truly enjoy the two cardinal couples who are regulars at our other feeder.

As an aside - I liken the plumage of birds to eyelashes. The male birds are always the more colorful of the two and some female birds are downright ugly (have you ever really considered the female cardinal? She just looks...mangy. Mostly grey with just a bit of red that looks so incredibly out of place - especially next to her magnificently crimson man.) And so it is with eyelashes. Men seem to be the sole recipients of long, curly eyelashes. Women strive to lengthen, fatten, curl, and darken our lashes and men have been given these lovely gifts that they just don't seem to appreciate.

Toward afternoon we hopped in the car and toodled about with the top down, visiting various shopping locations to just browse about. We had a snack at the bookstore while we wandered, then made our way back home (with me having obtained only a slight sunburn in the crook of my elbow. Why do I never remember to put sunscreen there?) The weather couldn't have been more perfect for driving in a convertible.

I have to say I think I liked the relaxed pace of this anniversary better than the ones where we try to pack in massive "celebration". And Tim gave me the perfect card, even going so far as to write in it that now, "This one goes to 11." It's just him, and it's priceless.

Yesterday evening we watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Neither of us had seen it and, overall, I think it was a good installment. I've only read the first of the books - I just can't bring myself to buy the rest of them - so I can't compare it on that score. But the movies have all been well done - and this one is the first that I can honestly say I wasn't hugely bored and rolling my eyes for the first 20 minutes. Perhaps because they didn't include the obnoxious aunt, uncle and cousin. Maybe they finally understand that we get it - muggles, bad. Wizards, good. Beyond that I don't have a lot to say about the movie though, it's Harry Potter - if you like the other movies, I think you'll like this one. If you don't, then you won't. I give it 4 cauldrons out of 5 - and consider it the best in the series thus far. I really should read the books sometime I imagine.

And now we're back to work and life - and blogging - should return to normal. Happy Monday, people.