Why? Well, my sister-in-law gave birth yesterday, and my in-laws, who were going to watch our Things, are instead helping her and her husband deal with the huge and crushing responsibility of a new baby. I didn't have backup childcare in place and the Spouse works 10-hour days and has no more vacation time.
Ergo, I'm sitting on my chaise lounge enjoying a lunchtime cocktail and working on my course prep instead of sitting in a room dealing with such topics as Branding and Marketing, Customer Service, and Strategic Planning (with its concomitant sessions on Vision; Vision, Values, and Marketing; and Stakeholder Outreach Planning, just to name a few). I am happy about shared governance, don't get me wrong. It's just that midwestern summers are so fucking short, and this kind of crap is better dealt with in January, when it's cold and shitty and NOBODY is yearning to be outside. And PS, the meeting continues into tomorrow. Blerg.
So yes, I'm playing hooky, and not feeling the least bit guilty. In fact, I'm savoring every minute of this day, since starting next Tuesday I'll be dealing with the same parade of snowflakes that so many CM'ers have already started seeing.
What's your favorite hooky-day thing to do?
I would like to streak naked across the campus while yelling like a madman.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that my fantasy involves me still being on campus.
I may have written this before BurntChrome, but I always liked your avatar....I read "Mona Lisa Overdrive" before "Neuromancer" and "Count Zero."
ReplyDeleteWhere is my Ono Sendai deck?
Your use of your day sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteBut secretly, I would love to play hooky and dedicate the day to my tweenage exploits: playing video games, eating potato chips, drawing pictures, riding my bike.
My days off these days seem so grown up: brunch or drinks. Let's break out some hopscotch!
I love going to a cafe in my neighbourhood, next to a uni campus (not the uni I work at, which is a long way away..), which sells only fair trade coffee, loose leaf tea and gluten free baked goods, and I lounge on the old chairs and couches that all look liked they were scavenged from the curbside, while using their free wifi to do some work. I'm still working, but it is my own research and I'm enjoying it much more than being bothered with students or admin crap in my office. I order a coffee only about once every 2.5 hours, so I'll only drink what would be my usual daily dose. For some reason, doing my work there makes me feel like a student again, even though when I was a student I couldn't afford to hang out in a cafe and drink coffee. Then I go home early and cook a dinner for the spouse and kids that actually takes some time and effort, one that I'm proud of, instead of the usual slapdash filler in the short time period between getting them home from school or daycare and then heading off to swimming/soccer/hockey/skating/gymnastics practice.
ReplyDeleteI like to journey to a nearby city, go to my fav brewpub, and sit at an outside table drinking a beer at 11 in the morning, watching all the working stiffs in their suits and ties scurry by. Sigh. Bliss.
ReplyDeleteEarlier comment deleted to fix grammar.
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you!!! I've actually never played hooky for any reason other than to visit my spouse (who used to live in another city).
If I played hooky now, I'd likely sit down with my hidden box of Crayolas and color; yes, in coloring books (that my mother refused to buy me because she thought it would better develop my imagination and artistic skills if I drew my own pictures and then colored them in; as if that's the same as "Color me Barbie" or the "Power Rangers coloring book").
I'd also curl up with a good trashy novel and read nonstop with a good book, so clearly, mom was right about my lack of imagination ruling my life.
Your day sounds heavenly. Good for your Things for letting you enjoy it in peace.
ReplyDeleteI like all you people! Can I come over and play?
What I'd like to do -- if I'd let myself not work -- is pull out the printmaking stuff I bought on sale at the bookstore a few years ago and see how it works with the animators' cel paint that was on sale the year before.
In reality, I play hooky about once a year, usually in the spring, when I have a cold coming on and a mountain of grading. I spend the day grading with liberal breaks for naps, tea and scones, and stroking my dog's ears.
We missed you at that meeting. The fact that you played hooky meant that some of us got assigned more busy work.
ReplyDeleteJust kidding. I played hooky from two such meeting during the week before the semester started. I stayed at home, worked a bit on my courses, on research, and had a few early drinks. It felt good.