What do you do all day long?

I am currently enjoying what could be my last summer "off" as I make a career transition. Every summer people who have never had summers off ask me what I do all day long. I have been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as it is most likely coming to an end. What do I do all day long? How does the summer go so fast?

So for those interested, read on, this is how I occupy myself:

- I work in the yard, A LOT. I weed, I mow, I mulch, I stake, I harvest, I water. Currently working on: Operation Grassy Knoll (not an assassination attempt, rather getting grass seed to grow in a newly landscaped area.)

- I read. This summer I am actually a full time grad student. But I also read the paper, journal articles related to my career field, books for fun, husband's blog (for those of you who do also, you know: this can be time consuming) and many other things during the day.

-I exercise. Yoga, walks around the lake, walks to the store or post office, trips to the Y (this part of the program is lagging behind currently). I also get ready to exercise- meaning I get our frisbee gear together, I prepare for softball, etc. This doesn't include clean up like laundry either.

-I work on the computer, A LOT. In past summers I have consulted for a school district and grant, most recently it has been a lot of grad school paper work and communication about my upcoming thesis and research. I am shocked at how much I am in front of the computer (like right now).

-I meet friends and family for lunch. Husband is a big fan of this, speaking of which... I also get a chance to visit friends who also teach, who have babies, etc.

-I plan and organize trips. Camping trips, trips to the cabin, road trips, trips to the Apostle Islands (Yippee, next week!) and trips to the BWCA (with the help of co-conspirators).

-I organize and do house projects that have gotten lost in the shuffle of the last school year. Currently working on: I just painted the inside and outside of both the front and back door. They really needed it. I also working on cleaning out the basement and re-potting most indoor plants.

-I run thousands of errands: Currently: New linen suit for interview, cat food, cancel checking account, buy glasses to replace ones husband has chipped, you get the idea, see also below.

-I am husband's personal secretary when needed: clean hideous Birkenstocks so they can return to public places, take obnoxious tag out of shirt, go to bank, bring book to post office. (This is consequently my most favorite part of being off right now, I love doing for him all the things he does/did for me while I was a frantic teacher/grad student this last year.)

-I relax: I sit in my crazy creek chair out in front of the house, play with kitties, once in a while take a nap, talk on the phone, watch old movies, and just do what ever I want to.

So there you have it. I do a lot, but it is not hard. I LOVE summer, but mostly I love the part about summer that allows me to see friends, be outside, and enjoy the beautiful earth we live on. I won't mind giving this up for a job that means my normal life will include more of the above and less constant school work while I am home. I am ready for it.

Happy summer.