The first day of my Spring Break I was off and running. No rest for the weary! Tracy came over Friday night and I made chicken with pasta and sundried tomatoes and Tracy brought over wine. Jon brought home some Olive Garden salad and breadsticks. We had a very nice meal and we got to bed early.
Saturday morning we were all up and running to get Rhi and Jon to the airport. We had a nice drive up and dropped Jon and Rhi off. Tracy and I then went to the Mall of America and started at IKEA. The IKEA in Bloomington is a three story monstrosity. We went in and promptly became lost in the confusing layout filled with tons of shoppers (Saturday) and their children. All of that might have been tolerable if we were actually interested in the product, which we weren't. I just really wasn't impressed and the whole atmosphere bordered on bizarre. We were happy to escape and head over to the Mall of America for lunch. It was a Saturday and very crowded so we opted to walk from IKEA. We had a lovely lunch at a wonderful Italian place but I was beginning to develop a hormone headache. The worst kind!We had a nice time shopping but my headache grew worse and other physical symptoms began to appear. We had talked about maybe getting a hotel room and staying the night but we both felt like we wanted to get back home.I was very happy with my purchases. I stocked up on tea at Teavana, purchased another piece for my copper core all-clad collection from Williams-Sonoma and found a few tops on sale.We had a nice drive home and had a dinner of pasta and salad leftovers while watching some Ghost Hunters. Tracy was kind enough to sleep in the guest room so I don't have to sleep in the house by myself. I truely love having time to myself but being alone at night with a deaf dog makes me a little nervous! I called Jon and Rhi and found they had a nice flight to New Mexico and were having fun with Aunt Rebecca. Today they have a BBQ planned so I know they are having fun. I look forward to some quiet time to clean and run errands and some time with Max this afternoon. Rachel called me today so I could listen to him say "ma-ma"! Big milestone! I'll be working on "gra-ma" with him this afternoon!;)I am also going back on weight watchers. Trying on swimsuits yesterday was really depressing. Not only do I have to shed about 10 lbs, I need to do some serious weight training. *sigh* Being a woman is hard...Today was it. My husband's official last day of school. His last day of Residency and his last day at Mayo was today! He will get a month off and then start a big person job! He has been in school since he was 4 and this is where it finally ends. Or does it? Learning never ends but the time does come when you have to step up to the plate and be the teacher.
Speaking of which, my job may be in jeopardy after all. It really won't be that big of a deal this time around. I would love to be home with my little Maxwell. I'm happy no matter what happens. We could always use more money for retirement but money isn't everything. Tomorrow morning I will take Jon and Rhi up to Minneapolis so they can get on a plane to New Mexico. Tracy and I are then going shopping at the Mall of America and other places! I have been waiting so long for this break! I really feel burned out and will be happy to stay home even though I will miss my family. They won't be gone long though and Rachel, Max and Tracy will keep me company. I haven't seen my little sweet love since Wednesday and I am going through withdrawl!This mamma is tired but I have a little laundry to finish first. I will be ready to sleep in some. More than ready!Jon recently had a patient that described herself as Native. When he inquired as to what tribe she claimed, "oh, you won't of heard of it". Upon further discussion, it came to light that her tribe is his tribe too! Now this is an Alaskan tribe, BTW, so most have not heard of it (Tlingit). She was thrilled to learn this and on her next appointment brought her mother who was very eager to meet Jon. She told Jon that she was a cousin to his family and remembered his father and uncles. This is about as strange as the guy who was a patient of Jon's brother up in Dutch Harbor and somehow ended up in the Wabasha ER months later as Jon's patient! Two Baines signatures on his medical record and both of them brothers half a world away. Things like this just reinforce my feeling that our lives are not so much within our own control and destiny sometimes comes out of nowhere and make the impossible possible. Jon and I coming together is certainly one of those "impossibilities".
One more week until Spring Break! I can't wait! I am so ready! I have been really excited planning our Idaho trip too! I can't wait to get up there and see my family! It should be a stark contrast to my mom's funeral. My nephews and nieces are all good eggs and my great nephews are all the sweetest. *Sigh* June seems so far away...I have had quite a busy little weekend. The weather was greatly improving until today. Snow hit and hit hard. We might get 5 more inches after we just got rid of the old stuff. So goes March! I cheered myself up the other day with just a few simple things. Nothing like a car wash, Noodles for dinner and fresh tulips to brighten your day!
We are going to stick with going to Idaho this summer. That much is decided. Rachel and Pete are going to drive along in their own car with Max. I think I would like to stop and see the Black Hills and drive up through the northern part of Yellowstone. I would also like to stay in a rented cabin or cottage in Coeur d' Alene this year as opposed to a hotel. When we leave CDA I'd like to drive down through Boise and go see mom's grave and make sure all is well there.We decided that next Spring Break we are going to Disneyworld. I have always wanted to go but we could never afford it. It will be fun to start planning that trip now so it's all set! I would like to take everyone down to Sanibel Island. That was one of the more memorable places Tom and I visited. The Thomas Edison home was one of the more interesting spots we visited there.Disney itself I am sure has changed since I was there in 1986! Seaworld will be a must. Epcot was OK but I can live without it.The *really*big plans might turn out to be for next summer. Jon mentioned Italy. We have always wanted to go see Pompeii. I will have to work up to that one. It sounds like one long plane ride to me! Not to mention that Pompeii is quite a ways from Rome itself. *sigh* We will have to see. I would love to learn some Italien. I am currently learning Spanish as part of staff development at my school. That plus the French I already know should get me by. It's all pretty exciting to think about!