It's here! It's here! Vacation is here!

Nine days of no work, (mostly) no alarms, visiting loved ones, drinking copious amounts of coffee, listening to podcasts, abiding with my Abide journal from Naptime Diaries, and reading - hopefully lots of reading.

I have a couple of books picked out already:

1. The Vacationers - This one has been all over the interwebs. Bloggers are reading it. Friends are reading it. Now I am reading it - courtesy of the Charleston County Public Library - thanks!

2. The Interestings - A story about a group of friends and how they change and grow apart/closer as the years go on? Sold. It was also the book club book for A Beautiful Mess once. I like having their stamp of approval.

3. Delancey - Written by blogger Orangette, this is basically Kitchen Confidential happening in someone's first year of marriage. I love foodie memoirs and I love reading about marriages. Hopefully, these two marry well - pun certainly intended.

Now, I will be driving A LOT, so if you have any recommendations on favorite podcasts or music - I am now accepting suggestions!

Well, people, it's time to get this party started - over & out. xo.

I'm going on vacation soon.

Charlotte to see Dave Matthews Band with Tonya. Hattiesburg to visit Tom. New Orleans to see Tony and his lovely wife. Atlanta to stay with Amanda and her hubs and drink coffee at Octane.

I won't be alone, but I am going (mostly) alone.

And I think of all the times I've done things like this before and I'm excited to have the time away and to myself. And I'm sad because I think these times end when you get married and have kids and live in a house with a fence and responsibilities. And I'm annoyed because I think of all the things I need to do before I have house guests and all the things I need to pack up and move and clean and paint to move into a new home.

And most of all I'm nervous about having a breakdown so I'm praying for patience. It's not patience with others, even. It's patience with myself. To grow and be and move into these next stages of life. It's similar to mourning, but with much happier results.

I love what my life is and what it's becoming, but I also loved my life before. Do you know what I mean?

Has anyone seen Life Happens? Such a great movie about the way life, well, happens. I think it happens to be quite beautiful.