When was the last time you took some time to yourself?  I don’t mean an hour or two.  I’m hoping that most of us can swing that every once in a while…

No, what I’m talking is, days.  Days away with hours alone in a car, regardless the weather.  Hours alone in a car.  Alone with Black Eyed Peas.  Alone with Nirvana.  Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Spirit of the West.  Shakira.  Gypsy Kings.  A little Eddie Vedder.  And hours alone with Anthony Bourdain and his clever, funny and totally time on the winter road consuming, Kitchen Confidential.  When can you do any of this for mindless hours, but in a car.  Alone.  Regardless the weather. 

Anyways, here on this Wednesday, as per above, I am away from home.  On my own.  A full 11 hours drive and two hour ferry ride away.  Away from dear Filipes.  Away from my most loveable, beautiful, dear miscreants. Away for a week. 

And how does this work for me on this Works for Me Wednesday?  How does a little selfish-ness: shopping where and when (for as long as) I want; real music or, whatever the heck I want, playing in the car; a book at any time of day; a movie; eating where, when and what I want; not speaking; not having to listen; work for me, this wednesday?  I get to enjoy my thoughts, uninterrupted. 

Thoughts of supportive, joyous, loud, beautiful, lovely, clever, funny, crazy, scruffy, perfect responsibilities at home… 

Time alone.  Fantastic.  A week on my own.  Necessary.  Free of responsibility.  A fresh breath.  Easily makes me know how much I love my responsibilities. 

A precious reminder. And if it comes in the way of some valuable time away, so be it.  In fact, I’d recommend it…

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Yeah…. Well, I don’t have any.  And if I did, do you really think, here. Travelling alone.  By myself.  Without anyone else.  I would actually pull over on to the side of this white-out, snowy, sleet-y, shitty bumper to bumper mess and try to strap a set of chains on to these.  All four.  Tires.  Of my mini-van?!?!  No.  I would not.

Drop ‘er into 1st.  Hazard lights a blinkin’.  Let chips fall where they may.

Winter driving across B.C.  Roger’s Pass.  Coquihalla.  And me.

Almost once a year I decide I must get away… OK.  In most cases at around this time of year oh so supportive Filipes is sincerely… strongly… suggesting I get away for a few days.  Get some space. Clear my head. Get my creative juices flowing.  And, most significantly, come back ready and eager to show him some hard earned love and appreciation. 

And so, yes, that’s great.  Until the 24 hours before I am about to leave, when the reality of leaving all of my responsibilities- read: my babies!- hits me and I am completely pissed off and resentful that nobody’s coming with me.  Or that I have decided to do this.  Or that I have been encouraged strongly by someone to do this.  All out of sorts.  All snuggly, buggly, wuggly while babies are playing x-box.  “Mooooooo-ooooom!”

So very early morning arrives.  Pack the van.  Coffee in hand.  Kisses to beautifully peaceful sleeping babes.  Quick kiss to offending party.  I’m off.

It’s good.  Necessary.  That’s clear within an hour of being gone. 

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I love it.  The last two hours spent in absolute peace and quiet…   Crank the heat and enjoy one crazy-strong cup ‘o joe and try to crank out last bits for next months issue.  Off to printers tomorrow for Friday newsstands.  December came together remarkably easy with little stress (other than the usual, waiting for entertainment submission from procrastinotoriously late music man!- he’s got a few hours before I put something together myself, his name attached… and it won’t be pretty…) 

Mildly bummed about Mel B losing Dancing with the Stars.  Bawdy.  I love her.  Will never be a Spice Girls fan, but love her!

Time for one more blast of caffeine to give me sufficient shakes to move this morning routine into gear and then get me out in the cold with Beasley and HoneyBeast for Challenge- day 3.

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This is the best- and no one is paying me to say so!!  Years ago we used a French Press.  It made a great cup of coffee, but I considered it something of a pain in the ass.  We then graduated to a drip, which after the frigging around with the FP, the no muss no fuss was a huge relief as it automatically brewed me a good cup ‘o joe every morning.

Well, with all the family coming in, I was searching our small town for a carafe in which to serve many cups of coffee (so that I wasn’t perpetually brewing pot after pot), but to no avail.  What I did find, however, was this lovely 12 cup perculator.

Freaking awesome!  Rich, hot, hot, hot coffee!  It is the best!  And it takes up less space on my counter!  Makes. Me. Happy.

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It’s been a great couple of days.  Certainly we are all (adults, anyhow- the kids have too much to do, to waste time eating!) suffering with extended bellies and in some cases, a little over hang…  Everyone leaves tomorrow- save for Uncle Richie, who takes off on Sunday- so we have one more day of T’giving festivities.  Today, The Turkey Bowl!  It will get up to a balmy -5C today, the coldest Bowl yet!  Leftover Bird today, too, so more time to relax…

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I’m not typically an addictive personality, but this blogging thing is crazy fun!  I like the reading and I love the posting.  Strange in that it doesn’t really even matter if anyone is reading them! 

‘The Americans’ (and one Brit: sis-in-law) arrive the day after tomorrow and as yet have nowhere to rest heads comfortably- today’s task!  A day of emtying, organizing, rinse, repeat…..  I have to be done by tomorrow as I need to return my mother’s Dyson- a friggin’ dream, by the way!

We also have over a dozen old bananas to transform into banana bread.

If you are looking for neat prezzies- baby and otherwise, I just visited a great site right up my alley: product reviews by real moms!  Mamas Like offers great gift ideas, particularly given the season.  Be sure to check it out!

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I woke up early this morning. There is nothing like the quiet before everyone gets up. I’m posting quickly before I get the boys up. At this time of year it’s dark. I turned up the heat- really high- it’s the only time of day I can do it. Filipes will be up in a few minutes and turn it down… He’ll put on a fire.

I love this time of day. My head is now in order… let the games begin!

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