my day off

As a middle school teacher, I'm out of my house every day by 7 (or so), at work from 7:15 to anywhere between 3:30 or 5pm (depending on how much energy I have to get stuff prepped for the next day). When I get home, I spend a few minutes with Zeus-man throwing a ball in the backyard or just watching him run around in the snow. Then, I usually fix a quick snack, turn on my computer, catch up on e-mails/blogs, and then begin work on homework, which I try to do a little piece of each night. Some days, I also clean the kitchen, do laundry, or run necessary errands that can't wait until Saturday. At least once a week I'm updating grades on the computer or creating worksheets for class. I make mental lists in my head during the day (while I'm teaching relative pronouns, imagery, and the like) of things I have to do in those few hours I am home and rarely, I mean very rarely, do I get everything done.

Saturday mornings I attempt to finish up those cleaning chores and laundry and run those last few errands before I really feel like my weekend starts. I usually spend a few hours with mom, either going shopping or going to movies or helping her around her house. Then I get home just before Ben gets home from work. We spend Saturday night catching up on our week since, literally, we see each other for a total of three hours during the week. Sometimes we go grocery shopping, catch a movie, or go visit family. Sunday we're up early for church meetings (though, no more since we're both being released) and at church from 9-12. Our Sunday afternoon tradition is to take long, snuggly naps in our completely dark room after eating lunch (one of the two or three meals we actually eat with each other in any given week). 3 out of 4 Sunday's a month, we have dinner plans or family get togethers to go to and our goal is to be home from said events at a decent time of 8 or 9 so I can prepare for a new week and so that Ben can figure out his homework.

And then on Mondays, the week starts all over again.

Unless it's today, President's Day, and I have a day off.

With all the busyness in life, you'd think when I have a day off I'd try to go do something fun or different for a change. You'd think I would forget about things like cleaning or laundry and treat myself to a true day off.

But, you're wrong.

Today I slept in--and amazing feat in and of itself--until 9 (granted, I was up at 6:30 going to the bathroom, again, and eating something, again, and moving into my office to sleep on my twin bed and watching the Today show until I fell asleep, again, but still...). I worked on dishes and laundry and dusting and vacuuming. I had intentions of going out to spend a day shopping or getting a hair cut or something different. I even wrote a list of stuff I usually wish I could do during the week but don't get to because a) I'm so freaking tired by 3pm or b) oh yeah, I am working all day.

But today I have been so exhausted and lazy. I caught up on some DVR shows from last week, took a warm bath, snuggled with Zeus while I read, and have looked up really random stuff on the Internet. I did get out of my pajama's, which is a step up from some day's off in the past, and I have managed to eat decently even with the Valentine's candy taunting me from the cookie jar. I think I may now go take a nap and then read some more until Ben gets home from work.

I suppose it may not be anything exciting, fun, or different, but it has felt nice and well deserved. But I know that tomorrow, somewhere around 3rd period, I'm going to be working on that mental list, kicking myself for not being any more productive today...

I hope those of you who, too, had a day off today have had a good one! Happy President's Day!