Staycation???

"Staycation" is the buzz word of the summer. According to the media, the high cost of gas has driven all prices through the roof so many people are choosing to spend their vacation at home. That's not news to me - I usually have at least 1 staycation a year - and this year is no exception. I made plans to take a week off work and enjoy the last week of summer. Okay I know that the last week of summer isn't officially until the middle of September, but when school starts, my calendar says summer is over!

I planned my staycation months ago and didn't have anything on the calendar...just 1 long week of sitting in the backyard, reading and drinking mint juleps - oops wrong story - I mean iced tea! Unfortunately for me by the time my time off rolled around I was over my head in projects. It started on Saturday with catering a 60th class reunion, then Monday we took the 3 oldest grandchildren to Northwest Trek for the day, Tuesday I babysat GC #5 AND finished all my projects for the 12:30 pm appraisal, then went to Lisa's and helped her paint. Wednesday I volunteered to babysit Jack and Micah, but Lisa needed help with Rory so I took him with me to Seattle and with Leah's help, we took care of 3 kids under 3! After dinner I went back to help Lisa paint (or hold Rory) whichever came first and then on Thursday I spent the day helping her put all her furniture back and getting the house ready for Kevin's return. Friday was a day of rest and Saturday we worked at the corn booth at the Evergreen State Fair with other members of our Lions club . Sunday was church and shopping for kitchen cabinets.

By Thursday night I was truly exhausted and during my pity party I kept telling myself that's what happens when you take a staycation instead of a vacation. BUT wait a minute...now that I think about it a staycation is when you use your own home as a "hotel" and take day trips around your own local region. What I just experienced wasn't a staycation or a vacation - it was a workcation or catchupcation or projectcation or whatever you want to call it. But the good news is it ended on Saturday night. Sunday was fun - we've been wanting to shop for our kitchen cabinets for a long time, Monday we went to a casino with our $20 and walked out an hour later with our $20 - for us that's a very good day at the casino! and then we went to a matinee and saw Get Smart. Two days of R&R!

My work week always begins on Wednesday and on Tuesdays I usually do all the necessary evils of housekeeping: clean the bathroom, sweep, vaccuum, dust, laundry, etc. This morning I started thinking about all the housework I should/could be doing and then I remembered - I'M ON VACATION! I might not have gone anywhere new and exciting, I might not have spent 7 days reading and relaxing BUT on this, the last day of my staycation, I don't have to clean the bathroom...I'll let the maid do it. Oh wait, I am the maid! BUT NOT UNTIL TOMORROW!