the search for a nap

Not that you asked, but I had a great Spring Break.  Wanna hear about it?  Wanna see photos?

My first day of Spring Break started off with some good old fashioned manual labor.  Coming off of two days of plaster pouring with the freshman 3D Design classes, I could have used a no alarm morning and a nap.  Instead, I got up early and drove back to school for a full day of hard work.  

One of my upper level classes has taken on a public art project with the Ninety Six Neighborhood Mill Society.  We've been waiting for a while to get our laser cut designs in the studio and now that we have them, we need to do a lot of work.  These beasts are heavy (the pieces of steel, not the workers) and it takes all of our muscles to move them around.  These beasts are hard workers (the workers, not the steel) and we all got so much work done.

The next day, I could have used a no alarm morning and a nap, but instead, I had planned the Art Hike.  It's not so much of a choice when it was literally the only Saturday I had available when we made the plans.  

And when you have a gorgeous day with wonderful humans AND WALTER, you can't be mad about it.  I happily got up early and opted for an afternoon coffee with the gang instead of a nap.  It was a beautiful day in every way.  

Sunday, I could have REALLY used a no alarm morning and a nap.  I didn't get up too early, but I still had to set an alarm.  After my run, I loaded up 48 drawings into my Toyota and Violet and I drove them to Greenwood to deliver them for an exhibit.  When we got home that afternoon, I did, in fact, take a nice little nap.  

After my nap, I had a little porch time and allowed my mind to get still.  Now I was ready for Spring Break.

It's been a few years since I observed "The Spring Break Of Waffles" but I haven't been making a lot of waffles lately, so I decided to indulge a little.  Each weekday of Spring Break, I made a different type of McAbee waffle.  I may be a little thicker and now you know why.

The real news of Spring Break was the little guy with the very long nose.  My friend Wilbur came to visit for the week.  We have been pals a long time but I wasn't sure if he'd like my dogs.  I was pretty sure my dogs wouldn't like him.  Mine are attention whores and Wilbur would definitely get a lot of attention.  Luckily, my boys took to him pretty quickly and they got along great.

Walter may not have understood exactly why this little creature was in his house, but he was an absolute angel to Wilbur.  

Yes, I took selfies like a 12 year old girl but if you had Willie kissing you and licking your nose, you would too.  Monday and Tuesday were dedicated Wilbur watching days for me.  There would be no welding or grinding this Spring Break.  I was on high alert as a solo act until people got home at night.  I knew I couldn't just leave Willie inside alone with my dogs while I ran each morning, so I had to set a very early alarm each day so that I could be back inside before everyone left for school and work.  The cuteness was worth it.

Wednesday, Wilbur had a different watcher while I had some work to do.  I still had to get up early, but G was able to be home with Willie while I delivered and installed a public sculpture in Anderson.  

I've learned to make the most of these road trips and I'm a sucker for a good coffee.  Bonus points if the coffee is aesthetically pleasing.  I recommend the Common House in Anderson for both.  

You just can't beat an average hot dog served on a slip of paper.  Skins is not pretentious and you get exactly what you pay for.  Hey, at least the coffee was pretty!

While I was installing a sculpture, Blue was enjoying his Spring Break in Pigeon Forge, TN.  He was getting ready to head home and he spotted a couple of celebrities out shopping.  That's Chris and his wife from 1000 Pound Sisters, a show our family started watching ironically about a year ago.  Blue was so excited to see them.  

Back home, I resumed my Wilbur watch.  I should have quit school and gone into professional dog sitting.  I'm perfect for this career.  Wilbur and I got some TV time in each night.  I was able to finish Barry (highly recommend), I watched Mona Lisa Smile and I watched an Agatha Christie movie.  I tried to watch a couple of other movies but I lost interest pretty quickly.  Willie just slept.  

Some time during the week, Violet and I had dinner with some friends who roasted me about showing my nipples on Instagram.  I jokingly told them they'd never see my nipples again.  I'm on day 3 of trying to use the Austin Powers joke of hiding behind props.  I'm running out of natural props.  Related:  I ran every day and it's always one of the best parts of my day.

The Wilbur watching and the really nice weather gave us a lot of outside time.  We did some porch sitting and some sunshine walking.  These guys got along so well during the week and they loved their outside time.  There were three days of walking where we got at least a mile in.  

I did accomplish some creative things, but those were either not ready for public consumption or they were not very photogenic.  I customized two pair of shoes on commission and I put so many freakin' coats of paint on these three new sculptures.  The sculptures are still not done but if they do turn out, they'll be really cool.  

Wilbur went back home this afternoon and Sundays are usually my day to get ready planning for the upcoming week.  This means Spring Break is almost over.  I was able to be still for a bit and now we brace for the crazy marathon to graduation.