Saturday.

During the long summer off you can forget how exquisite Saturday is.  You can forget how a chill breeze through an open window charms you awake, whispering tantalizing promises of the delights a free day offers. 

The first week back to work was excellent, though one woman's last-minute departure for greener fields made for scurrying to fill the gaps in staffing, a problem that will remain unsolved for a "while".  After a summer of following my own schedule and inclinations, getting in step with the rest of the world has been playing hopscotch, patterned hops and pauses that are familliar and easily managed if I just concentrate a bit and don't go wandering back to my own ways.  To keep my mind on the business of the work week, I've sent the things that I wanted to do to Saturday where they've impatiently waited for me to show up and keep my promises to them.  They've been quarreling a bit among themselves and some have been snuffed out in the crush.   No Sheep and Wool Festival today--it's too far and I'm still drive-weary from last weekend's wedding and Minneapolis trips.  No early morning outings today either.  I'm going to sip my coffee in leisure this one morning this week and take my time with a second cup, too.

It's going to be a fine afternoon to go sketching, though.  I'll be out getting resource sketches for Landscape class which begins Wednesday or as I have begun to think of it, "Saturday Jr.".  I've dug up a substitute to work for me for two months of Wednesdays and though I'll be out of the house even earlier than I would be for work, other than that Wednesdays will be for that westward drive I enjoyed so much over the summer, for playing with color and line, and for good company while I play.

(New information:  The substitute will be offered the job left vacant by the woman who left and the pool of substitutes is so shallow this year that her leaving will leave the pool empty.  I'm certainly glad I won't be at work on Wednesdays when the place is really short-handed.  I will be at Landscape class, of course.)