Joie de vivre

I had no time for breakfast: for lunch I had french fries (because I WANTED to, that's why) and a small cup of plain old coffee. Plain coffee. No extra shots of expresso. Not even any chocolate. Just coffee.

I've been working for almost an hour on merging 20+ pictures into a composite for our home page, showcasing our spring break programs. Suddenly I realized I was jittering all over the place, shaking and nervous. Odd, thought I. I only had one cup of coffee. Caffine never affects me.

But today it did. I'm now eating Ritz Mini Smores and crackers with brie to counteract the effects of the coffee. I hope. But at least the brie is excellent.

Saturday I decided it was time to take some time for myself. After closing up the library at noon, I had lunch at the brand new coffee shop just down the street. Finally, my town has one of those quaint little European places with cappuccino-brown walls and wrought iron tables where you can sit as long as you please, feasting happily on soup or bread or pastries or icecream...or coffee of all types. I am so happy. The coffee is wonderful; no more having to drive 60 miles to find a latte or macchiato! And the place is decorated so beautifully: a perfect little place to sit and read or write. I plan to keep them in business with my frequent patronage.

And then I was like melyndie and discovered a place right in my backyard that few people seem to know about. I spent a little more than an hour hiking on a nature trail just a few miles from the library. It's amazing to find such a secluded area almost in the middle of town.

I started out on a nice wide, level path surrounded by tall straight trees. It was perfect for walking or jogging.

I saw Large Trees and felt quite dwarfed.

Despite being the middle of winter, there was color to be found: red berries

and white trees!

My shadow was feeling silly and felt like waving to the world.

I came upon an unexpected river and thought it a good opportunity to try out my new gumby tripod (thanks for 'making' me buy it, Melinda!)

Uh oh! Two roads diverged in a wood; which one should I take? The path, or the bridge?

I took the one less traveled (possibly): the bridge, so that I might lie on my stomach and take a picture of my waving reflection in the water.

And this has nothing to do with hiking: Sunday was a Bad Hair Day and so I put it up and tucked roses in...and it became a Good Hair Day. Voila!

The time away from work and worry did wonders. I feel quite revujanated.

Even with just a mild cold, I don't feel anywhere near 100%. At least I can function, which I usually can't, and function well enough that no one else can tell I'm sick, but between the cold, the lack of sleep, and all the coffe, I am so jumpy that it's not funny. This is what my mom is like only if she takes Exedrin AND drinks coffee.

(If I take cold medicine, which I'm not, and then drink coffee, my heart races besides the jittery part.)

I have to work til 9:00. Of all the days.

*jitters off to work*