Recovering

We spent 10 days in Seattle last week, returning to Harrisburg on Monday. Returning after a red-eye flight that was delayed, followed by a 2.5 hour layover in Chicago, and another flight that was delayed.  After two hours of sleep total, we finally got home around one in the afternoon.  Exhausted, but I pushed through the feeling to take a nap.  So, instead, I caught up on my beloved blogs, which I had purposefully put-off reading in Seattle (mainly because my parent's computer is so freakin slow).  And it was a delicious way to spend an exhausted afternoon.  Then, I picked up a very homesick puppy, bathed her little behind in a kiddy/puppy pool in the backyard, and still did not sleep.  She slept.   That's all she did when I brought her home. 

It takes a couple of days to readjust after traveling, especially when there's a red-eye involved.  There's so much to do when you get back--clothes to unpack and wash, mail to sort, weeds to remove.  The day after we got back, I made a list of things to do, because that's what I do, make lists.  And that first day consisted of this:  make your bed, eat something, wake-up before 11, feed the dog.  So far, so good.  Today, I'm almost back to normal.  Some weeds have been pulled, a corner of my room is cleared, the suitcase is at least downstairs and not in the kitchen, the dog went to the field today.  Tomorrow, watch out. Ha. 

Yes, it was a good trip.  We got a lot done.  Family was nurtured.  Things went as well as they possibly could.  Pictures and stories will be posted soon.  Not very soon, but soon. That's not on my list yet. 

For now, it's shift after shift, because an agency nurse like me does not get vacation pay.  So, I'm working now for the play of last week.  And yet, I don't mind.  I really don't mind.  I'm actually psyched.  Right, I just said that.  I'm getting satisfaction with every shift I put in.  I feel accomplished.  I may not feel that way on Saturday, but right now I'll savor it. 

But, it's not all work.  It can't be.  And since I have so many shifts this week, I need more moments where I look around and savor. 

Like:

Wanting nothing more after work today than running home, putting on shorts and my engagement ring, and grabbing the camera and the dog for a walk.

Getting ice cream with K after a Target run and dreaming up ideas for our upcoming engagement party.

Enjoying my dinner at work last night even more because I had a new magazine to share it with.

The anticipation of our new backyard lawn that will be put in tomorrow, and still thinking about how the professional gardener was impressed with my own backyard creation.

Watching Top Chef tonight with a glass of raspberry Crystal Light and a bowl of popcorn sprinkled with Johnnys Seasoning Salt.

This article. I dig it.

Watering and weeding my garden in the dusk while the puppy chews blades of grass in the cool breeze.

Going to bed tonight already content with tomorrow, breathing in the lavendar mist that I spray on my pillow.

And thinking about how tomorrow will be my second July with this blog.  More great things to come.