Monday morning Susan heads out to Baltimore for our branch’s yearly Computer Specialist meeting. Usually when Susan travells she takes one of the two kids with her, depending on the circumstances of the trip. Unfortunately (for me), this time she’s being required to attend meetings and functions both during the day and after hours. With nothing for them to do but sit in a hotel room all week, the kids will be staying home with me next week.

Which means this weekend, we’re doing nothing. It’s kind of like getting ready for hibernation. Collectively we slow down our pulse rates, our breathing, our activity levels, until everyone is nice and calm and relaxed going in to next week. I don’t know if it really works or not, but it does seem to make the week go by a little smoother. Plus, not really having the morning routine “down” works as an advantage for me — we’ll have the kids’ (and my own) clothes laid out the night before to make the mornings easier. I also tend the let the kids stay up 30 minutes later or so when Susan’s gone; makes em’ nice and tired in the morning. Sluggish = hassle free.