Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Porch Picnic

I am taking some time off from work. Of course that means that i have been nursing a cold since Sunday (thanks for sharing, Matt) – i just don't understand how my body can possibly tell when i am going to be able to stay in bed and hold off getting sick until then. Sure, it is convenient for work, but means i always spend the first few days of vacation feeling lousy. I woke up feeling a bit better (10 hours of sleep will do that) and decided that i wanted to drive to one of my favorite parks – a little over an hour away, near Clarksburg – and have a picnic lunch while reading some of the 24 books i checked out of the library yesterday. Then i noticed the rain. Sigh. Refusing to be thwarted I packed my Madagascar bag with books, towels, camera and water. I went to the grocery store and bought picnic food – blueberries and yogurt, watermelon and cantaloupe, pretzels and cheese, salad, artichokes and egg salad, apples and pepperoni (yes, i have odd ideas about picnic food, but i like to be able to eat little bits of this and that and to use my hands). Off i drove, into the rain telling myself that it might be better where i was going and that as long as it wasn't actively raining at the park i'd be fine. I got about 2 miles before i came to my senses – i've been sick for goodness sakes! Feeling a bit dejected i went home. But i was all packed for a picnic; i didn't want to eat it at the dining room table. So i set myself up for a porch picnic. Settling in with music and Over Sea, Under Stone (i'm rereading the Dark is Rising series) i proceeded with my lunch, including my one concession to the weather – Italian wedding soup, which was not only fabulous, but had the greatest little pasta shapes, which i've never seen before they are somewhere between peonies and Stars of David. I looked up from my book thinking a bit wistfully of my original plan and noticed that the rain falling through the trees around my house was washing away the thickness and oppressive humidity of August in Maryland. The view of my pollen-covered porch and broken drain pipe might not be Little Seneca Lake, but it was still better than sitting at my desk or being cooped up inside after 2 sick days. Eventually a chill crept into the air, but a sweatshirt, thick butterfly socks and some hot raspberry tea took care of that. Despite the rain -or because of it- it turned out to be a perfectly lovely day for a picnic after all.

5 comments:

Erin said...

That sounds lovely...almost as fun as skipping out on work Friday to paint pottery....

Niki said...

i am shocked and appalled that you would suggest such a thing... 11:30 at your house, right?

Erin said...

I too am shocked and appalled at the thought of not going to work, without telling my boss...yeah, 11:30 is great...

curious george said...

um hello... shouldn't one of you go to work on friday... geesh who is going to play with me...

Erin said...

You could always play with Joyce...or Mo...muahahahahaha...or go with us...wait-shouldn't you be at home packing?