Dear Friends,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am on vacation, and you are not. \nUnless of course you are. On vacation. Are you? I am. And I’m\nenjoying every minute of it. Please pass the Lemon Flavored Soil\nTesting Kit while I rake these flavor crystals into a small, gently\nseasoned skillet full of fresh asparagus, mushrooms, peppers, and\nDondo Frijole Jumping Beans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See there?? That’s what happens when\nyou work for a very long time, and then vacation comes. Well OK\nmaybe not. But if I remember correctly, vacation is a time for\nescaping reality, at least to some extent. Reality is this: I like\nto eat food, and I also enjoy living in a home with electricity that\npowers various things I use to enhance my tender hair follicles and\nskin cells. Therefore, these conditions (among others) require\nmoney, and that means I need to go to work. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not sure about you folks, but I work\nbecause: \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A) I’m too proud to be a bum and \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9Z6) I’m too chicken to be a criminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I must work for my money. However,\nI have earned vacation so I am taking two whole days in conjunction\nwith the Memorial Day weekend. Do the math: that means I get 16\ndays off in a row!! What?? No??? 5…? OK… 5. 5 days off in a\nrow!! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel sad for those who feel compelled\nto do work stuff while on vacation. I almost always do not…\nalthough this time I actually got a call from the Help Desk and did a\nlittle \u201ccoordinating from the remote position\u201d to help things\nalong. That was yesterday. Today, I peeked at my work e-mail\nbriefly, then put the iPhone down and ran away screaming. Or maybe I\njust put the iPhone down. OK I picked it up several times later; but\nno more e-mail peeking. It’s just not healthy to let my mind be\nconsumed with work all the time. So I don’t allow that. I’m pretty\ngood at maintaining strong boundaries that separate work from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My mission this weekend (5 DAYS!!!) is\nto get at least SOME of the garden planted. I’m so far behind… but\nas I always tell my Beautiful Girlfriend, \u201cwork interferes with my\nfree time.\u201d Next year at this time I’ll have a reeealllllyyyy\nlooonnnggg <\/strong><\/em> vacation because I’ll be retired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Got a bit of a start though. Bought some peppers, eggplants (not eggs from chickens. Eggs from plants) tomatoes and herbs. Yesterday I mowed the garden. HUH?? Yes, the quack grass was already out of control, so I took the garden tractor and put the mower deck into soil scrape mode. In other words, I put it on the lowest setting possible and scalped all the weeds and such. Then I began the laying out of the beds in preparation for tilling. And of course: rained much of the day today. I suppose I could <\/strong><\/em>have done more garden stuff, but I would have become very soggy. And yes, all this takes some preparation; which of course is time consuming. But the rewards are very great. We not only get wonderful food, but it is also very good for my spirit. And speaking of the spirit, I’m very happy to announce that I’m definitely in vacation mode now. I know this because I forgot what day it was today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Success!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This vacation is for staying home. \nVery few plans. Plant da garden. Be with my Honey Pie. Maybe catch\na movie. Just not sure; and that’s OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I hope you are also on vacation. \nIf not, well nyaa nyaa na boo boo to the likes of YOU!! Ha ha!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yours with 3 more days,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenny \u201cAm I Retired Yet?\u201d Compostflinger<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now I’m off to learn new gardening techniques from Porky…<\/p>\n\n\n\n