The Barn House View
In a little less than 96 hours I will be officially on vacation from Job #1. Twenty-four hours after that, I will officially be on vacation from Job #2 AND HMOKeefe should be rolling up my driveway. By Sunday morning, I should be in full hedonism mode. I can’t wait.
Most of the time I rather enjoy HMOKeefe’s and my long distance relationship, but I haven’t seen him (except on Skype) since January 1st. And if seeing him weren’t enough, my vacation intentionally coincides with my birthday (August 3rd for those of you playing at home).
And if all that wasn’t enough, this is my first real vacation in several years and I’m taking two full weeks. I practically swoon at the thought. There’s only been one other time that I’ve taken a two week vacation. It was hectic and jam packed though thoroughly enjoyable. Still. I need serious downtime.
After minimal conversation, HMOKeefe reserved The Barn House in Berkeley Springs, WV for a week. [The photos I’m using here are shamelessly stolen from http://mountainmorning.net/images/barnhouse/index.htm – I consider it free advertising.]
The Barn House
This large vacation rental is a restored antique barn that sits in the middle of nowhere offering privacy and spectacular views. It feels wrong to be hyperactive and wildly excited about sitting and doing nothing – but here I am – wildly excited and hyperactive.
I can’t wait.
One day we’re planning an outing to Capon Springs. And on another, we have spa reservations. We also have tentative plans to trundle into D.C. and partake of tea at Ching Ching Cha and, as much as I like this teahouse, I think it’s likely these tentative plans will fall victim to inertia. Maybe not.
HMOKeefe has been cooped up for two years and he’s wildly excited about getting out and about. With any luck there won’t be any friction between my need to be a deck ornament and his need to explore and excavate.
I should be cleaning my house. I should be packing. I should be grocery shopping (less HMOKeefe perish of hunger while here). I should be doing a lot of things, but I’ve been doing a lot of things and I’m tired. By the end of the week, I’ll be bone weary. Hyperactive or not, I need to slow it down. So tonight? Tonight, I sit and do nothing but yammer at y’all, update my Twitter status, maybe take a bath – by candlelight. I’m considering these activities the dusting off and readying of my innate hedonistic qualities which are a bit rusty.
Actually, I do know how to operate an antique stove.
I may or may not be sorry for blowing off this evening later in the week. I really do have a lot to do. At present, HMOKeefe will fall over dead in shock at the pigsty that is my house. He might even break up with me. Or leave me home to clean up the mess while he enjoys Berkeley Springs. In any event, what I manage to get done will have to be done later this week.
I expect to be in full panic mode by Friday.
But right now I’m practicing my downtime vacation skills. I think there’s beer in the fridge. Some leftover black bean soup. I’m sure I have a half-finished novel somewhere.
[Connie wanders off in search of vittles and entertainment.]
W. Va. Fur and Root 
You’re planning on writing half a novel in the next four days! Well, then you deserve two weeks off!
(Or did you mean you’d only *read* half of it?!)
Not Nanowrimo but Najuwriwk? I suppose I could write half a novel in 4 days that would be just as good as a full novel in 30 days, but I really should be cleaning house.
I think I would like to try Snow Dragon or Golden Needle if I visited Ching Ching Cha. Take some back to the barn to sit and sip as you stare at the vista of West Virginia
The wonder of Ching Ching Cha is the atmosphere and the wait staff’s instruction on the proper brewing method for the tea you’ve chosen. While sipping Snow Dragon or that luscious Oolong on the deck would be wonderful, it will be more wonderfuller in the tea house. HMOKeefe hasn’t been there before and he isn’t a fan of tea, so we’ll see how that works out. Generally, if I’m enjoying myself so is he.
That place looks wonderful! Now I am really jealous! I would love to be in West Virginia in August!
Hey! No need to be jealous. There’re extra beds.
Oh my, you are really planning some good restorative time. I hope it is all as good as you want it to be.
It will be. Or somebody is going to die.
I need this vacation. So does Boston Boy.
No wonder you’ve not jumped at the Unknown Hinson show idea for Friday! You’ve got bigger and better fish to fry for sure!
Have a great time, but remind him that you asked me to marry you first (though my already being married and us not living in a sect in Utah makes it impossible). I was so hoping this would be the chance to have a meet-up. There’ll be other chances. Enjoy your beautiful views, time off, and your man in nonpixelated form!
Man! I feel stupid. I couldn’t figure out what you were saying to me. (It was early. I was tired.) Never occurred to me you were asking me out on a date. Sheesh and begorrah, I missed it.
Do it again, please. It’s only fittin’ I should meet my betrothed before the nuptials.
I haven’t started packing yet, but i have started thinking about what needs to come with me. Not much. I travel light. Excited! Yes! It’s been nearly 8 months since I last saw you. We have much to ummmm…catch up on. It’s been over two years since I’ve done any travelling. I am looking forward to a road trip. I will see you soon…very soon! How many hours?
So? You’re going to keep me preoccupied? (Connie waves hello at Private Benjamin.)
wait a fucking minute. . . you’re going on vacation away from the barn-house you live in to stay in a barn-house a few mile away?! WTF. I’m so disappointed. I thought you were more creative than that.
Well, enjoy the hedonistic side of things anyway. . . couldn’t you just do that in your own barn-house?
Now see, Sage, I was figuring someone would pick up on that bit of irony. ‘Course it was you. Truth is the barn we’re renting is more like the barn people think I live in and less like the one I do live in.