random thoughts – Day 1,417 – (Friday) – vacation day too

It was another scheduled vacation day, but this one lacked even a whisper of a plan. It seems I will never learn.

On a roll...

There was mild sleeping late (7:30). Coffee and all the too-familiar morning rituals – news, email, Wordle, Words with Friends, and Duolingo, where I hit Day 1300 on my streak after completing a Spanish lesson. The cell phone battery was depleted to 23%, though it had started the day full.

There was a rare weekday visit to the gym, which was moderately busy at 11:00, but there was an available treadmill followed 35 minutes later by the massage chair and then a shower at home. As usual, the only conversation/human interaction was when the desk clerk said, "Number Two" to tell me which chair to use after my on-screen sign-up, scan of my app code, and confirmation of the reservation. It's not really the kind of place where people chat. Not with me, anyway.

Suddenly, it was 3:00. On a working day, the thought would be, “ugh, still two more hours until it’s done.” On a vacation day, the same time on the clock elicits “crap, where did the frigging day go?”. Although the ideas had flickered earlier, there was no drive to the beach. No visit to a store or a coffee shop. The house wasn’t magically tidied. Artworks were not created. Puzzles weren’t assembled. It was like I had spaced out for three or four hours.

Activities that proved I’m not completely brain dead all of the time included emptying the dishwasher and looking at the available pets on the Humane Society website. And there was supper.

Winter veggie supper.

The winter vegetable medley of Brussels sprouts, broccoli, mushrooms, onion, carrots, garlic, and ginger were sautéed in butter and olive oil, then tossed with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. It was finished with plain ramen noodles tossed with Korean hot pepper paste. So yummy. The ramen increased the textural interest, but probably lowered the health level. Whatever. It’s definitely better than Thursday’s supper of the remaining half of the family-sized bag of barbecue chips.