Three Day Weekends, for the Win.

Every weekend should be a three-day weekend.  I've been saying this for years, yet somehow this message is not getting through to the powers that be.  Now that I stop and think about it, who ever agreed upon the whole work/weekend ratio anyway?  5 to 2? I'm no math major but the ratio of those odds are simply not well planned.

But back to those three day weekends.  We're just coming off of one, as is most of the country.  The thing about three day weekends is that they actually allow you to plan for one day of fun/being out, one day for relaxation and rest, and another for errands/catching up on chores.

So my recent three day weekend was lovely, filled with the perfect mix of productivity and rest.  Friday night I managed to talk myself into a frigid run around my neighborhood after work and then snuggled down into the warmest PJ's and coziest blanket I could find to sit down and finally watch the Netflix DVD, Cinema Paradiso, that I've had sitting on my DVD player since before Christmas.  It was long - coming in at about three hours - but charming, nostalgic, and also totally and completely heartbreaking.  (I did not see the heartbreaking part coming.)

Saturday I met up with a dear friend who was up visiting from New York for the weekend, grabbing brunch and getting our nails done and just catching up in general.  My friend dropped me back at my apartment in the afternoon so I'd have time to primp for a friend's wedding that evening.  In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that initially I'd been slightly frustrated by the fact that the wedding was held over a three day weekend, as these are the weekends I like to get out of town, but I got over it when I saw what a gorgeous evening the couple had planned.  Their reception was held at the Boston Public Library, a stunning venue that felt absolutely perfect for a winter bride and groom.  My feet were sore and I was exhausted by the time I hailed a cab home at the end of the night, which meant Sunday was truly a day of rest.  I did manage to leave the house in the early afternoon for a run, motivated mostly by the fabulous 52 degree temps (and knowing that this week we were dipping back into frigid temps) and then, later, over to a friend's house in the evening to watch the Patriots...totally, utterly lose their chance at a return to the Superbowl.  (And I don't even really care all that much about football!)

Monday I met a friend at the movies to catch Les Miserables, where I found myself utterly and totally blown away by the film.  I'd seen the musical on Broadway once years (and years) ago and truthfully remembered embarrassing little about the entire plot line except for the most commonly highlighted songs.  Initially I had been hesitant about seeing a musical on screen, if only for that weird 'can I clap now?' feeling one gets at the end of every song but man.  I loved this movie - loved it. I think, one of the things I enjoyed the most, was how swept up in the story I found myself.  One of the reasons I adore going to the movies as much as I do is for their power of escapism (which is yet another reason I find it so dreadfully rude that people are texting or phoning or whatever else they're doing with their little white screens while we're all sitting together in the darkness trying NOT to think about our ordinary, every day existence for two hours, but I digress...)  Lately, while I have seen some movies I enjoyed, I have also occasionally found my mind wandering which frustrates me (with myself) to no end.  Not the case for Les Mis.  They grabbed me with the opening scene and didn't let go of my mind or my heart until the final closing notes.  Truthfully, I can't wait to see it again, I enjoyed it that much.

(And just one more parenthetical aside here for good measure.  How did Tom Hopper NOT get a best director nod for Les Mis?  Are you kidding me? Did the Academy even stop and think about what a feat that sort of movie is?  There is simply no justice in the world of Oscar!)

The rest of my extra day was spent humming Les Mis tunes to myself while I ran errands and then back home to watch the news about the Inauguration and play catch up with the most recent episode of Downton Abbey.  I shockingly even managed to find time to make further progress on my chest of drawers/soon to be a tv stand refinishing project which I'll tell you all about once it's completely done.

And there you have it.  In summary: God Bless Three Day Weekends, Everywhere.

Now, if you need me, now that we're back to reality with workdays, I'll be over here quietly daydreaming about barricading parts of Paris while using the power of song to unite the common man during a revolution...