days off

i have scheduled into my life approximately four days off. strange, i realize--but working a job that can be done at any time of the day (grant writing), i end up doing lots of random work every day. these days aren't entirely off, as i need to crank out a new essay before the weekend's over--but they're days away, which is pretty great & i'm only doing my own work (writing)--which i really enjoy, anyway.

i'm staying with an old wheaton friend, laura, today and tonight. i spent this morning in congress park (which i keep calling prospect heights, for some reason) at the great little cafe pictured in the above photo. i might go to the botanical gardens here in denver later or do something else i don't normally do. other than that: totally free day. when she's done with work, we'll go out to eat (preferably somewhere with very bland food for me.) then tomorrow and the next day, i visit another friend--from college! amy (leicht) decker.! i'll stay there two nights too, i think--and hang out with her and her daughter aeva and husband brian. they live in castle rock, with a great view of the mountains and a nice little downtown. then i'll end this stretch of fun with a night camping in wyoming, possibly with some friends from there, before getting back to my regular life. (assuming all goes as planned).

it's so strange and nice to have time off. and my medicines are working relatively well enough these days that i'm feeling up to doing stuff. i guess i had a lot of days off--sort of--earlier this semester when i was most sick, but then i was sick and always thinking about the many things i was supposed to be doing. but now i'm in the clear: i've found a house in missouri, all my stuff has been moved into storage and the next grant deadline for me isn't until august. hooray!