i heart vacation days

i really like having the day off sometimes. I was thinking about how it seems like this year I've really been lacking in the days off arena. That could be because last year I took a good 2 1/2 weeks off in April to get married and go on a honeymoon, and also another week off in October to visit my brother and sister in-law in Connecticut. That was awesome. Weeks off, especially multiple weeks off work kick butt. Not so much fun coming back to piles of paperwork and probably pages of phone messages, but definitely worth it.

I haven't been using much vacation time this year, and I think I can feel it. I've been way less excited about going to work, way less enthused about doing my work, generally not wanting to be here at all...I think it's because I haven't been taking adequate amounts of vacation time. Sure, I ended up taking a sick day in January, and then a week to go to Cornerstone in July, but that's been about it, except for a half-day or day here and there. It means I have a whole 40 hrs to carry over into next year, but at what price?

I took the day off yesterday because my sister was in town. I love my sister. I also love my brother in-law and my niece, who were also in town. I enjoyed my day off IMMENSELY; I slept in, went to the Salvation Army and bought clothes with my sister, and then went to the grocery store and made dinner for Kevin and Khris (it wasn't nearly as awkward as that interview, thank goodness!!) and all the time thought that the next day would be Monday. Now I'm at work, still half thinking that it's Monday, and when I realize it's not, there is no panic in thinking that I've got less time to take care of everything today, NO! There is a serene joy in realizing that I've only got less days to worry about in the week already. I would seriously encourage people taking days off to do it on Mondays, because there's just something about starting the week late that makes everything go a little smoother, I think.

My next day off isn't going to be until Thanksgiving, that makes me sad. But it's about a month away so I can handle it, I suppose. It also helps that I have the Monday off after Thanksgiving as well, because my brother and his wife are in town over the weekend. I love having family visit and give me an excuse to take time off work! I'll have 5 days off in a row, which is like a whole week off, and it only actually costs me 1 day! Ahh, the joy of it all...