Monday
Dear Monday:
Last week, you were but a date somewhere in the distance. I spent much of that week wishing for the days to pass. Sweets and I had yet another weekend full of fun things. And I was excited for them to come.
Friday finally arrived. With permission to leave work a few minutes early, I raced into the city to see one of my oldest, Chicago friends. Though she now lives in Kentucky, she will always be considered one of my besties. A small group met for margaritas and Mexican before we sent her off to celebrate her brother’s 40th birthday.
Saturday morning was an early condo meeting to discuss security after a rash of break-ins in the neighborhood and an intruder in our building. It could have been contentious. Some wanting barred windows. Others refusing to consider it. Amazingly, it was a great meeting. Everyone agreed on a strategy moving forward. There were no hurt feelings. Yet another reason I love living in this building.
Saturday midday, I picked up another Chicago bestie and went to an AAUW luncheon. As we walked into the room, somewhat horrified, my friend asked if we’d be the youngest in the room. Yes, yes we likely were. But, you know what, Mr. Monday? We actually had a great time. Pow-wowing with women our mother’s ages. Talking about housing in Chicago. Life in Chicago. Hearing a speaker discuss the disappearance of tuna noodle casserole from standard cookbooks, like Joy of Cooking, and what that means for our society. Plus, I got to taste some great pot sticker crisps and Asian guacamole. I need to find a recipe for that!
Saturday afternoon, Sweets started a home improvement project around 4:30 or 5:00. You might think he was doing a good deed (and technically, he was). But the reality is, he started it to avoid doing something else. Going to two holiday parties we said we’d attend. I threw him a bone, suggesting we skip one and only go to the other. I told him what time we’d have to leave. He agreed. And yet, he continued with his project and threw a small fit when I insisted he get ready. Can you say People Hater? It wasn’t one of his finer moments, but he finally conceded and freshened up.
The surprise of the weekend? We had a great time at this party. It’s a friend of mine who I met through a personal trainer last year. We’ve socialized with this friend and her husband a few times. We ran into said trainer and his wife (both really lovely people) at the party. We met new people there. We joined a group toast with a shot of grappa. And then proceeded to eat some amazing homemade gnocchi and pasta and sauce. Can you tell my friend’s husband is a tried and true Italian? And what a paisano he is. Great hosts. Great party. Great surprise for the night.
Sunday, we rolled out of bed early. Took SoMi for a long walk. Rushed to the grocery store to do some last minute shopping. Raced home so I could put together my own version of an egg strata (e.g., casserole). I lined a 9×13 pan with croutons, browned pork sausage, asparagus, feta cheese, goat cheese and poured eggs over the mixture. I topped the combination with sliced tomatoes and cooked for about 45 minutes.
It was delicious. Especially since my gal pals came over for our next book club to discuss Impossible Motherhood: Testimony of an Abortion Addict. I was about 75 pages short of finishing the book and didn’t feel as engaged in this conversation as I did in the previous book club gathering. Yet, it was such an interesting discussion. We discussed this young woman who got involved with an older man. He was clear he didn’t want children. She agreed at first. And became less sure over time. We discussed her responsibility for the abortions. And his responsibility for letting her get pregnant. Abortion wasn’t the focal point of our round-table. The psyche of this young woman was. It was an interesting conversation. Once again, book club lasted hours into the afternoon.
While we chatted, Sweets finished his DIY project: putting up our new lights in the living room. I don’t have photos just yet, but will try to get you some soon. Sunday afternoon, we ran to the hardware store to get new light bulbs (11 of them between the two fixtures!) and some materials for Sweets’ next project: tiling our fireplace. It turned into a larger project than expected, but still one he plans to complete without paid help. Sunday night, we crashed in front of the TV after a busy, fulfilled weekend.
And here we are, face to face, Mr. Monday. You snuck up on me. Surprised me. And maybe disappointed me a bit. I’m not ready to face you. I still need time. Time for laundry. And straightening up our home. Finishing the book. And writing thank you cards. Oh yeah, and one important one: time for me. I know I have no choice other than to take a deep breath in and push forward. However, I think you should know, I’m feeling ill-prepared and am lacking eager anticipation.
Yours, Nilsa
December 14th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Lovely weekend! I am glad that your association meeting went well, the can get pretty heated. Ours is on the verge of forming and the meetings we have had so far have an underlying bit of power plays and hostilities.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I am so glad that the party was a pleasant surprise…I love it when that happens!
:)
December 14th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Sounds like an incredibly busy yet very enjoyable weekend. I am glad that you were able to squeeze in so many activities and that you had fun at your party on Saturday night. (And Sweets’ technique? I’ve used it myself.) I have Impossible Motherhood on request from the library, I’m guessing its quite an interesting read. I’m never quite ready for Mondays either. Hope you have a few evenings this week where you can enjoy some quiet downtime for yourself.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Even though Monday did come around (it always does, doesn’t it?) it sounds like you had a wonderful weekend! Hope you have many more like it. :)
December 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I was convinced that my clock was wrong when the alarm went off this morning. And Sweets and me? Yeah. We like to stay home.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:04 am
now this sounds like a nice weekend, and i enjoy the way you wrote about it style wise. it was like i was reading a story!
December 14th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I feel like Monday snuck up on me too this week. Some weekends go so fast!
Sounds like you had a fun (busy) weekend too.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I think my favorite part of this is the Saturday night party! Just you wait until you come to my parents house (someday) to visit!!! =)
Sometimes the weekends are just great big whirlwinds where nothing we wanted to get done is indeed done and Mondays sneak up on us. I know just how you feel!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Sounds like a nice weekend!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Last night as I was (finally!) writing my Christmas cards I realized I really only have a week to get stuff mailed out to people. I swear the holidays come faster and faster each year. How old does that make me sound?
Eek!
Sounds like you had a really good weekend!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Your weekend sounds lovely! I’m only sorry it isn’t still going on.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
mmmm….your egg strata sounds fabulous.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Sounds like an eventful weekend! Mine was a taste of the opposite. My car was acting funny and the repair shop wasn’t open on the weekend. I was pretty much stuck at home so I got a lot of cleaning, laundry and reading in. My sister did pick me up on Saturday to go to the Utah JAZZ game (we won the Lakers! It was awesome!) but other than that, mellow, mellow, mellow!
December 14th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
What a lovely weekend, and yes, I echo Alexa above: great style! That book sounds fascinating, too!
December 14th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I’m glad to hear that your condo meeting went well. I always dread ours, and only because of one or two people who have nothing to say but like to talk all night. If you have good condo neighbours you are truly blessed!
December 14th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I’m right there with you. While my weekend was fun, it was far from restful and I seem to have more to do now than when the weekend started. :-P
December 14th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
That’s quite a busy little beehive you two are running over there. ;)
December 14th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I always feel ill-prepared for Monday.
Glad you had such a great weekend…and the egg strata sounds yummy!!
December 14th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Sounds like a great weekend. My letter to Monday? Hurry up and be done, I’m ready for a new day to start. Tuesday better be much better.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:53 am
My upcoming week sounds like your past weekend!